Epilogue.1

That summer, Theodora Hazel, who had been at the center of a noisy kidnapping incident, returned to Melhem around the following spring. Until she and Adrian Devon safely returned, the South was rife with rumors that couldn’t be confirmed.

One rumor said the eldest daughter of the Hazel family had eloped at night with the eldest son of the Huxley family. Another claimed that the man kidnapped her out of spite because she didn’t accept his love. Everyone gossiped freely, but the truth was revealed later.

People were shocked to learn that Robert Huxley was a tremendous criminal, and this time they all united in condemning him.

The fact that returning home was delayed by nearly a year was unexpected for Theodora. From the start, she had planned to wrap up the incident and return home quickly once she was physically and mentally stable in the capital. Even with Adrian by her side, staying as a guest at the Duke’s mansion wasn’t entirely comfortable.

However, circumstances did not favor Theodora. Unexpected obstacles kept arising.

First, she fell ill. Whether it was the shock of experiencing a kidnapping for the first time in her peaceful noble life, or perhaps the first night with Adrian being too intense, Theodora had to endure a significant illness.

With a sudden onset of fever and chills, she was bedridden for at least a month until she fully recovered, and Adrian shed tears again, worried she might worsen.

By the time Theodora finally left the sickbed, the engagement ceremony of Duke Bachelet and his wife was imminent. As Adrian’s fiancée and a member of the Hazel family, she couldn’t miss it and attended as a guest. Another month passed like that.

Another month went by preparing for Adrian’s discharge, and one or two more months as a witness in Robert Huxley’s trial. Time flew by quickly. Finally, after witnessing the Duke couple’s wedding, she had the leisure to return to the South.

It was rare for an unmarried noblewoman to be away from home for such a long period, but her parents didn’t mind at all. In fact, in the letters they occasionally sent, they seemed pleased that Adrian and Theodora’s engagement had solidified.

So, Theodora returned home with spring, and in the same summer, she had a dreamlike wedding with Adrian.

The continuous celebrations of the Bachelet Ducal Family prompted the Imperial Family to send generous congratulatory gifts, and the wedding was a grand event with all the nobles from the South and the capital gathering to see the Grand Duke and Duke couple who came down from the capital. The fact that the Duchess pointed out the inconvenient transportation between the South and the capital during the wedding led to the acceleration of the Southern railway project, a fact that was talked about for a long time afterward.

In any case, none of that mattered to Theodora. What mattered was that the person holding her hand at the end of the aisle was her precious childhood friend.

* * *

“Are you ready to go out, Theo?”

Adrian entered the powder room attached to the couple’s bedroom, tying his cravat without the help of a valet. Through the mirror where their eyes met, Theodora returned a vague smile. Although she was fully dressed, her ears and neck were still bare, which made him frown slightly.

“Is there no jewelry you like? That’s a big problem.”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Let’s go to the shops in town tomorrow. Or should we call a merchant from the capital?”

“It’s not because I lack jewelry, Ian. It’s just… I don’t feel like going to dinner tonight.”

Stopping him just in time, Theodora quickly took out a diamond necklace and matching teardrop-shaped diamond earrings from the jewelry box and put them on.

“Let’s not buy more jewelry. What I’ve received so far is enough.”

Adding a comment in case he still had any lingering thoughts about buying jewelry, she slipped on her wedding ring over her gloves, completing her preparations.

Just as she said, the jewelry she received as gifts upon marrying Adrian filled ten jewelry boxes to overflowing. Starting with the first engagement ring, the wedding ring received as formal dowry, the tiara passed down in the family, various earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. All sorts of precious metals of different shapes, colors, and types were hers.

Perhaps because the sudden proposal in the wilderness had been on his mind, Adrian continued to be very sensitive about the gifts he gave her even after the wedding.

Having finished her preparations by lightly spraying perfume on her neck, Theodora got up from the stool with ease. As Adrian quietly looked down at her, he suddenly lifted her up, causing her to let out a small scream.

“Just thinking, if you really don’t want to go, should we postpone dinner?”

He murmured, tilting his head to press his lips against her freshly perfumed neck.

“They’ll probably understand. They’re your parents, after all.”

Barely holding his face with both hands as he tried to move lower past her collarbone, Theodora smiled and shook her head.

“No, we must go today since Eloise and her husband are coming too. I was just saying it because today was quite tiring, having spent the day touring the garden.”

Recently, her main task was landscaping the garden of the Marquis of Devon’s residence, where construction had just finished. While all the hard work was done by hired gardeners and workers, walking around outdoors under the strong sunlight was quite a strenuous job.

“I’m looking forward to the garden you’ll create, but don’t overdo it.”

“Don’t worry, Honey. I’ll save some energy for you.”

The implication was significant. Adrian briefly wondered if he was too easy a man for getting heated up with just a word, but it wasn’t a long contemplation.

“Please remember that, Madam.”

Finding him adorable and amusing as he matched her tone, Theodora laughed out loud.

Literal love for each other dripped like honey from their eyes, and their presence alone made the place a perfect paradise. Exchanging sweet glances for a moment, Adrian suddenly furrowed his brow as if something was bothering him.

“Ian?”

Startled by the sudden change, she called him, and he looked up at her with a rather pitiful expression.

“Sorry, Theo. It’s just that… suddenly, this moment feels so happy that it scares me.”

“Scares you?”

“If I hadn’t insisted on marrying you, if I had let you marry another man, I would never have known such a life existed until I died… Isn’t that terrifying?”

As if the thought made him shiver, he gave a small shudder.

“What if I’m dreaming now? What if I wake up and you’re not here?”

Seeing Adrian bury his face in her dress as if seeking comfort, Theodora smiled faintly.

“You know that’s nonsense, right, Ian?”

“I’m serious. So, hug me, Theo.”

The friend who once confidently called himself her “eternal companion” seemed to have become the empire’s greatest spoiled child.

* * *

“So, the verdict ended with life imprisonment?”

“Yes, Miss Eloise. It would have been better if it were the death penalty, but unfortunately.”

“In my humble opinion, under imperial law, it’s difficult to sentence someone to death without direct murder. There are few precedents, and the relevant laws are lacking.”

During dinner, when Eloise suddenly brought up the trial of Robert Huxley, Andrew showed interest and joined the conversation.

“I wanted to attend the trial if possible, but it’s a shame. It was a case that marked a significant milestone in the establishment of drug trafficking laws.”

As he spoke passionately, adjusting his glasses, Eloise slowly leaned toward Theodora, keeping her gaze fixed on him.

“Every time Andrew gets like that, I just want to squeeze him.”

Hearing her sister’s whispered words while looking fondly at her husband, Theodora stifled a laugh and nudged her side with her elbow.

“Don’t, Eloise. If Mother and Father hear, they’ll scold you for being unladylike.”

“What’s the point when I’m already married? Honestly, you’re the same, aren’t you? You look at the Marquis like he’s candy.”

“I’m not that indiscriminate.”

She tried not to lose the dignity of being five years older than her sister, but it was unclear if she succeeded. After the topic of Robert Huxley passed, the conversation at the table turned to the Marquis of Devon’s remarkable wedding and the recent newlywed life of the two.

The Countess of Hazel mentioned that the rumors about the Marquis couple’s connection had been exaggerated, leading to a trend in the South where young noble boys and girls were paired as childhood friends. Theodora smiled bitterly.

Eloise’s sudden marriage announcement couldn’t be overlooked. The two announced their surprise marriage less than a month after Adrian and Theodora’s wedding. In fact, it was more like Andrew being dragged by Eloise to sign a handwritten agreement to marry her, rather than an announcement. Still, it was clear they deeply loved each other.

Hearing the backstory, Eloise had been eyeing Andrew for a long time and began her passionate courtship after her debut. Andrew, secretly liking her as well, was pleased but couldn’t actively respond due to the difference in their social status.

Andrew tried to let Eloise go, telling her to find a better man, but Eloise didn’t.

“I still can’t believe you both got married.” 

Said the Countess. The Earl of Hazel cleared his throat, seemingly displeased. In fact, he had vehemently opposed Eloise and Andrew’s marriage until just before the ceremony.

“Ahem. Are you keeping up with etiquette and management lessons these days?”

Whether he had a change of heart or finally accepted the situation, the Earl spoke to his second son-in-law for the first time since the wedding, and Andrew seemed deeply moved.

“Yes, I’m doing my best.”

“If you are to inherit and manage the family and business with Eloise, you should start learning diligently now. Legal knowledge and such are of no use in noble society.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Seeing her father, who initially didn’t even want to look at Andrew, begin to accept him as a son-in-law, Theodora felt a bit relieved.

“It’s all thanks to you, Sister. Father realized that since his first daughter became a Marchioness, he doesn’t care who I marry.”

She smiled slightly at her sister’s second whisper. Before the harmonious sisters, Adrian was delivering the most important news of the day.

“Now that the trial is roughly concluded, we’re thinking of going abroad for a while, combining it with our honeymoon, once the estate situation stabilizes.”

“Oh my, that’s unexpected news. I suppose you haven’t had time to enjoy yourselves. When do you plan to return?”

“We’re considering a period of about three years.”

“For that long?”

Seeing the Countess surprised, Adrian glanced at Theodora. There was another piece of news to share with her parents tonight.

“Actually, while staying in the capital, I happened to meet a renowned botany professor from the Imperial Academy. He showed considerable interest in my passion for plants and suggested I formally study at the Academy.”

Continuing Adrian’s words, she added to the story. In fact, the professor first contacted her after being impressed by a tulip variety that Adrian had seized as evidence, but she didn’t feel the need to explain that in detail.

“After the trip, I plan to stay in the capital and attend the Academy. Adrian agreed, and I also wanted to try it.”

Hearing the calm declaration of their usually quiet eldest daughter, the Earl and Countess of Hazel paused their meal to look at her. She felt a bit sweaty in her hands for no reason.

“No matter how much your husband allows it, a married woman not taking care of the household…”

“That’s great, Theodora. There’s no need to throw away an opportunity that comes your way. Congratulations.”

Theodora blinked. It was the first time she saw her mother interrupt her father, and the unexpected response took her by surprise. The Countess shook her head slightly as she looked at her husband, who seemed ready to grumble.

Everything felt drastically different from before.

Dinner ended with everyone smiling. Although the Earl seemed to have a lot left to say, he eventually gave up, realizing it wasn’t the right atmosphere.

Eloise and her husband, being newlyweds, couldn’t take their eyes off each other even as they saw Theodora and Adrian off. Though she and her husband were also newlyweds, thankfully, they weren’t as ostentatious a couple in public.

“Madame, the night breeze is chilly.”

Or maybe not.

Theodora tried to ignore Eloise giggling at Adrian, who was putting a coat on her. Just before boarding the carriage, her mother held her hand for a moment. Seeing her hesitate as if she had more to say, Theodora waited without climbing the steps, and the Countess spoke in a small voice.

“It might be a bit late, but Theodora, your father and I always wanted the best for you. But we now realize our way was a bit wrong.”

The sincerity in her trembling voice was evident. Theodora held her mother’s hand without saying much. The reluctance she felt about attending tonight’s dinner seemed to fade a little.

For the first time since childhood, she gave her parents a genuine smile and could say goodbye to her not-so-distant past self.