He would have been a good husband. At least until he handed over the bunch of keys to his wife, which anyone could see was bait to test her.

‘Even his kindness might be deception. I guess he’s come up with a different strategy than the one he used on Karen. But does he think this approach will work on me?’

It might have worked if Cedine were really twenty-one years old. But the current Cedine is one who has lived to twenty-seven and then regressed. It means she won’t fall head over heels just because a cold, handsome man is nice only to her.

If anything, it makes her more wary.

“We’ve been waiting for your arrival.”

The elderly master craftsman came out personally to greet the guests. He seemed to be acquainted with Ivlik and skipped the greeting. Instead, he nodded slightly towards Cedine.

“So you’re the one who will become Viscountess Wintermore. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m honored to be entrusted with the ring you’ll wear for the rest of your life.”

They haven’t even registered their marriage yet, so strictly speaking, she wasn’t Ivlik’s wife yet, and she was about to say so. Cedine held her breath the moment the craftsman opened the lid of the ring case.

The 12.03-carat blue diamond had a truly mysterious hue. Rather than being purely blue, it was closer to a clear navy color. It was as if the water from the deep sea, where light barely penetrates, had been frozen solid.

“There are larger diamonds available. However, bigger isn’t always better. The delicate cutting, the brilliantly emitted radiance, and the color reminiscent of the night sea — I stake my 35 years of experience as a craftsman when I say you’ll be hard-pressed to find a blue diamond as beautiful as this again.”

Cedine listened to the craftsman’s explanation in a somewhat entranced state. Ivlik said he would put it on her himself and asked for her left hand. Even as she placed her hand on his white-gloved one, Cedine felt as if she were walking in a dream.

The ring fit perfectly on Cedine’s ring finger. When placed on her slender, white finger, the blue of the diamond seemed to deepen. Cedine couldn’t take her eyes off the jewel on her hand.

“Do you like it?”

Ivlik asked in a low, almost whisper-like voice. Honestly, she liked it so much she didn’t want to take it off. Cedine now thought she understood what it meant to be captivated at first sight.

“It’s beautiful……”

“I’m glad you like it. I was actually worried you might say it wasn’t to your taste.”

Does taste even matter in front of such a jewel? Cedine looked at the man saying such strange things. Ivlik’s gaze was fixed not on the ring, but on Cedine who was examining the ring. Meeting his eyes made her suddenly self-conscious.

‘Did I show too much that I liked it?’

Just moments ago, she had declared that she wasn’t really twenty-one years old, and therefore wouldn’t fall for his kind attitude and gift offensive.

‘Even if the person is suspicious, the jewel is innocent.’

She found herself rationalizing without realizing it. Cedine left the workshop still wearing the ring. Is it okay to walk around wearing such an expensive accessory?

She even recalled an urban legend about someone who drank a drink given by a stranger at a travel destination, only to wake up with their entire finger with the gold ring missing. It seemed absurd even to her. Why would someone go as far as to remove a finger when they could just attempt pickpocketing?

Besides, no one would be foolish enough to attempt theft in a high-end shopping district with police on every block. Even if there were, it would be a problem Cedine could handle on her own.

‘If you receive an expensive ring as a gift, you should just be happy about it. Why worry about losing a finger?’

Ivlik might laugh if he heard this. Suddenly, something she was curious about came to mind.

“It might sound strange to ask this now, but why do you keep using formal speech with me?”

“Do you dislike it?”

“Ah, no. It’s not a matter of like or dislike, I’m just curious. In the past……”

She almost said ‘in the past life.’ Cedine continued as naturally as possible.

“I remember you consistently used informal speech during the special tutoring last summer.”

“Back then, I had to maintain distance from you even by using speech that emphasized our hierarchical relationship. I was an instructor, and you were a trainee. In that situation, if I hadn’t kept my guard up, I might have asked you out on a date.”

Asked what?

“That would have been inappropriate, of course.”

Her mind, which had gone blank, didn’t recover quickly. Ivlik’s words repeated like a round in her head.

I might have asked you out on a date. I might have asked you out on a date.

“You’re joking, right?”

Cedine couldn’t help but stop abruptly on the street.

“Are you saying that was the attitude of someone who wanted to ask for a date? Putting aside when you started feeling that way… No, do you even know what a date means when you say that?”

“Isn’t it meeting someone you like because you want to be with them? I’ve never actually been on one, but that’s what I understand it to be.”

“Like? Be with?”

“It means wanting to get to know the other person more deeply.”

At this rate, he’ll be performing an autopsy if he wants to know deeply twice. Cedine didn’t know how much of his words she should believe. Like, interest, wanting to get to know. Couldn’t a serial killer use similar expressions when choosing their next target?

“Cedine.”

“…Yes?”

“Let’s get in.”

Ivlik was holding the passenger door open, looking at her. First, he’s pulling out chairs, now he’s opening car doors. This treatment as a young lady is really something she can’t get used to.

Meanwhile, women passing by all glanced at Ivlik as if by agreement. It’s not often you get to see a tall, handsome man in a designer’s black three-piece suit. Especially when he’s not just handsome, but a god-of-war type with sculptural side profile — that’s even rarer.

Cedine climbed into the passenger seat with a sour expression and lowered her gaze to the ring on her finger. The clear navy blue diamond had the power to hold one’s gaze. It’s truly beautiful, she likes it, and doesn’t want to take it off her finger. But separate from that, a question slowly arose.

‘Can I handle this?’

That question was directed not only at the blue diamond ring but also at Ivlik in the driver’s seat. Suddenly, she thought that the color of the jewel reminded her of Ivlik.

Deep blue seawater, white foam, his wet hair that she had never seen before.

‘What kind of delusion is this……’

Her cheeks were burning. Cedine turned her head as far as she could, pretending to look at the scenery outside the window. Why did the image of Ivlik with water dripping from his hair after a shower suddenly come to mind? She wondered if he had deliberately chosen a diamond that resembled his own hair color for this purpose.

* * *

It was a grand wedding. Cedine entered alone, wearing a beautiful wedding dress tailored from the finest atelier.

At first, the dedicated team expressed reluctance about proceeding without a male adult. However, the groom who was footing the bill was entirely on the bride’s side. Moreover, with the bride’s sister glaring with fiery eyes that seemed to say ‘Just try to object to my sister’s words’, the team couldn’t insist on tradition.

While tradition is important, the money from a big client is far more important.

Thus, Cedine was able to have the wedding she wanted. The May wedding held on a bright sunny day was the kind that many young girls dream of. It was truly unexpected when Karen, acting as the bridesmaid, wiped tears with her handkerchief.

‘Sister knows this is a fake wedding……’

Was she acting the part of an older sister overcome with emotion watching her younger sister’s wedding? But to Cedine, it didn’t seem like acting.

When they gathered to take group photos after the main ceremony, Karen smiled a bit sheepishly. It was then that Cedine became certain. Karen’s tears earlier had been real.

“I didn’t expect to cry at that moment either. But you probably don’t know this about me — I often cry at weddings. Last time, I even got choked up at a stranger’s wedding.”

Karen belatedly seemed embarrassed and made up an excuse. It was a carelessly fabricated statement. Cedine, who had attended Karen’s fake wedding as a bridesmaid, remembered how calm and composed her sister had been that day.

Anyway, the reception of the Viscount of Wintermore family boasted a splendor that rivaled a royal ball. Dance music played continuously in the hotel banquet hall rented for the entire day. Guests poured champagne, danced, and ate food.