Ciela looked at her reflection with a feeling of unfamiliarity. 

A snow-white wedding dress and a veil of red flowers framed her figure. 

Her hair had been meticulously styled since early morning, and her face was delicately adorned with make-up. 

Since the wedding had been planned, it was only natural that this day should come. 

But now that she was fully dressed, she found herself unable to look away from the image staring back at her.

‘I’m really getting married.’ 

She had known this yesterday, a week ago and even a month before that. 

And yet, for some reason, a restless feeling stirred in her chest. 

“Ciela.” 

At the sound of a gentle presence approaching, Ciela turned her head. 

“Mother, you’ve arrived?” 

Grace gave a small nod, answering without words.

“I am the first to see you looking so lovely. I’ve never felt more grateful to be a woman than I do today – after all, men aren’t allowed in here.”

Ciela laughed softly at Grace’s playful tone. 

Just as their way of addressing each other had become more natural, so had the atmosphere between them. 

The bond they shared could no longer be described as ” familiarity” – a deep, unspoken affection had naturally blossomed between them.

More than a year had passed since she had received the proposal, and now they were approaching their second year. 

Right after the proposal, while the two of them were walking and chatting quietly, Calix made a suggestion. 

Since it hadn’t been long since she had found her real family, he asked if they should postpone the wedding for a while. 

Ciela gladly accepted his thoughtful proposal. 

It was a practical decision. 

If they insisted on getting married immediately, they would probably face strong opposition from her family. 

Besides, the wedding needed to be properly prepared. 

Instead, Ciela decided to use the time to ensure that her family would no longer bother Calix.

If they ever tried to prevent her from seeing Calix by overloading him with work, she had already made up her mind – she would skip all formal procedures and simply climb over the palace walls to escape. 

“I never thought such a childish threat would actually work.” 

For the record, it was Aisha who had given her the idea. 

From that day on, her unnecessary sulking towards Calix came to an end, and the two of them were able to meet comfortably again – just like before. 

Their meetings were no longer driven by obligation or ulterior motives. 

From then on, they met simply because they wanted to see each other.

And so the time passed, and finally today had come. 

“How are you feeling?” 

At Grace’s soft voice, accompanied by a warm touch on her shoulders, Ciela met her gaze. 

“Hmm.”

Ciela smiled softly and walked away without finishing her sentence.

“Even though I’ve been preparing for this for a long time, this moment still feels strange. At the same time, I’m beginning to realise that I’m really getting married. But to be honest, I’m not quite sure. It still doesn’t feel quite real to me.” 

“Is that so? Well, I think I felt the same way when I got married.” 

“Really, Mother?” 

“Yes. Marriage is very different from courtship. It’s also one of the biggest events of your life. At first it didn’t feel real at all. But when they stopped calling me ‘Lady’ and started calling me ‘Her Majesty the Empress’, that’s when it really sank in that I was married.”

As Grace reminisced about the past, a distant, nostalgic look appeared in her eyes. 

It wasn’t just the move from the mansion where she had spent years to the Imperial Palace that made her realise she was married. 

It wasn’t just the absence of family dinners with her parents. 

It was the change in her surname that made her realise that her life had truly changed.

“You are not worried or anxious at all?” 

“No, not at all.” 

When Ciela answered without a moment’s hesitation, Grace’s eyes widened slightly in surprise before softening into a smile. 

“That’s a relief. Many brides struggle with anxiety just before their wedding, so I was afraid you would keep it to yourself.”

Her gaze, soft as a spring sky, lingered warmly on Ciela.

She told her that if she had anything to hide, she could speak freely – that she would always be there to listen. 

With Grace’s kind and caring words, Ciela imagined the days ahead after she married Calix. 

“I don’t think I’m afraid at all.”

She imagined the future, even the day when her hair would be completely white, but try as she might, she couldn’t imagine a future filled with fear. 

All she could think of was the way he looked at her and the firm grip of his hand. 

Perhaps the reality of their marriage hadn’t sunk in yet.

“I see. I understand.”

Grace looked down at her daughter softly. 

‘So beautiful.’ 

As she looked at Ciela, so elegantly dressed, her eyes filled with emotions too complex to put into words. 

Because the dress, layered like delicate petals, suited her so perfectly. 

Because the sight of her, so beautifully adorned, filled her heart with love. 

Because just as she had finally embraced her, she was now leaving, and it felt unfair. 

Because she selfishly wished she could stay just a little longer. 

And yet…

She should not hold back a bride who was certain she would not be unhappy. So the Empress set aside the countless emotions stirring within her and gently lowered her gaze to a soft smile. 

“Ciela, my daughter.” 

At her call, Ciela blinked slowly. 

During her time in the palace, at the Empress’s request, she had spent many moments with her. 

The Empress had often called her “daughter” instead of her name, but today, for some reason, her voice carried a deep, resonant warmth that made Ciela’s heart swell.

“The brightest star in the Empire.” 

Grace planted a soft kiss on her cheek. 

“Congratulations on your wedding.” 

For some reason, the words didn’t come easily. 

Ciela looked at her for a long moment, the same eyes – identical in colour – meeting her own. 

Even her slightly parted lips seemed to tremble. 

“Thank you… Mother.”

* * * 

On the day of the newlyweds’ wedding, even the sky seemed to bless them, clear and bright. 

It had not been many years since they had discovered that the princess they had thought dead was actually alive, and now a joyous occasion had arrived. 

Not only the nobles who had received invitations were present, but even those who hadn’t found their way to the wedding hall. 

Amidst the already packed rows of guests, the attendants bustled about, making sure that everything was in order. 

“The wedding ceremony will now begin. Honoured guests, please take your assigned seats.”

At the announcement, the orchestra began to play a sweet melody, perfectly suited to the occasion.

The unmarried young ladies among the guests held their breath and watched in anticipation as the groom entered. Their eyes sparkled with excitement. 

And there was a reason why their eyes, in different shades, glistened like dewdrops in the sunlight. 

The Imperial Princess, Ciela Astina, who had been known for over ten years as Ciela Arcel. 

She had once been considered the biggest troublemaker in high society – a notorious scoundrel, scorned and despised by many. 

But then she became the talk of the Empire for a very different reason. 

From her passionate love for the man her younger sister secretly admired, to her influence in shaping the trends of high society, and most notably, her remarkable role in rescuing Imperial citizens who had been kidnapped by an illegal human trafficking syndicate. 

Moreover, she had carried a secret about her true identity all this time. 

And now here she was – having achieved everything, and most importantly, having managed to marry the man she loved.

‘How romantic.’ 

The young noble ladies, who had once fantasised about love marriages rather than arranged unions dictated by family alliances, blushed as they saw Calix standing on the platform. 

Calix swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple moving visibly. 

‘I don’t think I’ve ever trembled so much in front of an assassin’

His first and last wedding felt even more overwhelming than when he first turned into a cat and was hunted. 

It was as if his heart had become a wild horse, galloping uncontrollably. 

He swallowed several times, consciously trying to loosen the stiffness in his expression. 

At the same time, he couldn’t help but eagerly anticipate the moment when she would walk down the aisle towards him. 

‘I want to see her already.’

The royal family no longer disturbed him, but Calix still hadn’t been able to spend much time with her. 

According to tradition, newlyweds had to move to their territory and stay there for three years after marriage. 

That didn’t mean they couldn’t return to the capital at any time, but most newlyweds were expected to spend the first few years in their domain. 

So Calix had been busy wrapping up his affairs in the capital and preparing for their move.

As Ciela stood next to Calix, she stole a glance at him. 

Seeing him so immaculately dressed in his ceremonial attire, she couldn’t help but tighten her fingers slightly. 

‘It suits him well.’ 

He must have been extremely busy the last few days, but fortunately he didn’t look tired or unwell. 

Just as she thought that, their eyes met.

His eyes widened as he turned to face her. 

For a long moment he remained completely still, as if under a spell. 

Fortunately, he managed to turn his head towards the bishop before the vows began. 

Ciela watched him carefully. 

At first glance he seemed fine, but from the moment their eyes had met until now, his shoulders had remained tense and his movements unusually stiff. 

His complexion didn’t look unpleasant, but was there something wrong with him? 

Or… was there something on his face?

Did it not suit her? 

No, there was nothing to worry about – Daisy’s designs had always been the best. 

As she pondered this, still preoccupied by Calix’s reaction, the Bishop turned to him solemnly and asked: 

“Do you take this woman to be your wife, to love her, to cherish her and to be by her side in all her moments, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, for the rest of your life?.”