Chapter 4

On the day of the wedding.

The weather was bright and clear, and although the marriage had been suddenly announced, many guests gathered to celebrate it.

“Groom, lift the bride’s veil and kiss her.”

After Kiaros and Letina exchanged rings, the officiant spoke.

Kiaros carefully lifted the veil of Letina, who was standing opposite him.

Letina waited for Kiaros to kiss her. But even after a while, his lips did not come down. Puzzled, she noticed the hand still holding the veil.

‘Is his hand trembling right now?’

‘Why?’

She wondered, then realized the reason.

‘He’s so horrified at having to kiss me, he’s actually shaking.’

She glanced up and saw that Kiaros couldn’t even meet her eyes, frozen in place.

Letina clicked her tongue inwardly.

‘Still, I don’t dislike Kiaros Gatiel that much.’

She felt a little disappointed. She thought those feelings had disappeared long ago, but apparently, they still lingered.

Letina sighed.

Anyway, if she just stood still like this, all the invited guests would think something was wrong.

‘I’ll do it myself, then.’

She was wearing high heels, so she thought she could reach him if she stood on tiptoe, but the distance was still lacking.

So she grabbed the hand holding the veil and pulled it down. Fortunately, Kiaros followed the pull and came down.

His face came down to just the right position for a kiss.

Peck.

Letina boldly tilted her head and kissed Kiaros on the lips.

‘Done.’

Just as Letina was about to pull away, having completed her mission—

Whoosh.

“Mmph!”

Kiaros grabbed her by the back of the neck and kissed her fiercely, almost as if he was about to swallow her.

He bit her lips roughly and even pushed his tongue into her mouth.

‘Is he suddenly trying to make it look like a love marriage after all?’

Kiaros, with his eyelashes lowered and lips pressing in, looked almost desperate. Letina, flustered, blinked at him.

It was strange to be kissing Kiaros….

‘Isn’t this a bit much? He could stop now.’

His soft, damp tongue persistently explored her mouth, making her feel odd. It was a passionate kiss, especially in front of all the guests. And it was going on for far too long.

‘At this rate, my lipstick will be completely erased.’

It surely didn’t taste good, but he seemed determined to endure it.

She felt she had to break away now. The mood among the guests was starting to stir.

Letina tried to pull back, but the difference in strength meant she couldn’t move at all. Even when she pressed against the arm holding her, Kiaros showed no sign of stopping.

‘What should I do?’

As she rolled her eyes, a saving sound came from the side.

Ahem.

Ahem, ahem!

Kiaros Gatiel!

The officiant cleared his throat several times and called his name, and only then did Kiaros finally lift his head.

“Ah….”

“I know you love the bride, but please restrain yourself for now.”

“…Sorry.”

Kiaros, embarrassed, covered his flushed cheeks with his hand. People laughed or whistled at the passionate new groom.

After leaving the ceremony hall and being alone together, Letina spoke up.

“At first, you couldn’t do anything, so I tried to help, but later you acted really well.”

“…….”

Letina didn’t see Kiaros’s eyes trembling.

“…That’s nothing, really.”

***

They moved to the garden where the wedding reception was held.

The tables were decorated with beautiful, vibrant flowers, and delicious food and drinks were set out. Kiaros and Letina went around greeting the people who had come to the reception.

“So this is how it ends up, huh.”

“Congratulations!”

“Hey, what was that kiss earlier?”

These were Kiaros and Letina’s academy classmates who had come as guests.

“What do you mean, ‘how it ends up’? Isn’t it a total surprise that we’re getting married?”

Letina tilted her head.

“Whenever you two met, it was always icy and you avoided each other.”

“Right, I was shocked when I got the wedding invitation. How did you become a couple and get married? I was disappointed you didn’t tell us. How did you end up together?”

Letina’s friend asked.

Yes, that was the expected reaction.

“Huh? What, you still don’t know? Then how did you two get together and decide to marry?”

Kiaros’s friend asked, confused.

“Don’t shove your ugly face at me.”

Kiaros pushed his friend’s face away.

“Treating a friend who came to congratulate you like this, huh.”

The friend, annoyed, soon narrowed his eyes and grinned slyly.

“Hmmm, so Letina still doesn’t know.”

“Me? What don’t I know?”

“Id.”

Kiaros, frowning, sent Letina behind him and glared.

‘Say one more word and you’re dead.’

His burning eyes said as much.

Id, quickly backed down.

“Fine. I’ll let it go, I’ll let it go. That temper of his. Letina, how did you get caught by him… Good luck.”

“Don’t act friendly and call her by name.”

“Wow, haha. Ridiculous guy.”

“And I won’t make you suffer.”

“…Yeah.”

Id patted Kiaros on the shoulder.

‘What is this?’

Letina felt oddly uncomfortable, as if they were talking about something only they understood.

“What is it I don’t know?”

Letina grabbed and shook Kiaros’s jacket. Kiaros stared down at her hand.

“Ugh, cringe. You two should leave quickly.”

Id shooed them away as if driving them out.

‘…I’ll let it go for now.’

Letina pouted. There were many people to greet, so she needed to hurry.

“Live happily!”

She thanked her friends for their blessings and moved on.

“Your family and your friends all firmly believe we’re marrying for love. I thought at least some would be suspicious.”

Letina expressed her doubts as they walked.

“Not ‘your’ family.”

“Huh?”

“They’re your family now too.”

Kiaros pointed out.

“Ah…. Right. But don’t you think it’s strange?”

“…Well. You never know how relationships will turn out, so maybe they just let it go.”

“Maybe….”

After greeting the guests from Feymun and Gatiel, they finally had a moment to catch their breath. Letina saw her father, mother, and brother resting on the left side of the garden.

“I’ll go for a bit.”

She pointed to her family, and Kiaros nodded.

“Oh, Letina! Are you greeting everyone properly?”

“Yes.”

Approaching them alone, the Countess lightly hugged Letina and looked at her warmly.