Kajiian Zeren Duke was frowning. Lorina had suddenly come here, putting him in a difficult position.

“Why do you insist on going there?”

It was true he had proposed a marriage discussion to Luden. However, that was a kind of show—pretending to help Luden publicly. It was a trap to gauge Luden’s ambition for power.

That’s why it was somewhat awkward for Lorina to personally meet Luden, who had canceled the marriage discussion. There was the imperial family’s dignity to consider, and rumors might spread that Lorina was clinging to Marquis Charlot. Kajiian didn’t want such rumors circulating.

“I’m just going because I’m curious.”

Lorina said, sweeping back her hair.

“I want to know what kind of man he is.”

Lorina hadn’t been particularly interested in Marquis Charlot. What happened in his childhood was unfortunate, but it had little to do with her. However, after he rejected her when she hadn’t even been paying attention to him, she looked into him.

And when she heard Luden was supposedly so handsome, she thought she wanted to see him in person.

“I can at least congratulate him on his wedding day.”

“Even so!”

“I’ll go as the imperial family’s representative instead of you, Father.”

At Lorina’s request, Kajiian groaned. He knew well that once Lorina became interested in something, she wouldn’t be satisfied until she resolved it.

“Fine.”

Kajiian’s permission finally came.

“Thank you.”

Lorina bowed her head to Kajiian.

‘I finally get to meet him.’

Lorina hummed. An event had occurred that would satisfy her curiosity.

“But are you really going?”

Since they were meeting, Kajiian asked again.

“You mean the knight training?”

At Kajiian’s topic, Lorina spoke matter-of-factly.

“Reytan is going, so I should go too.”

Lorina said with a smile.

“Lorina, you’re very greedy.”

“That’s a compliment, right?”

“I wonder.”

When Reytan said he would go to knight training, Lorina also said she would go. She didn’t like that Reytan was trying to draw people’s attention through knight training. She hated seeing a prince who wasn’t even born to the Empress daring to make a fuss.

“Anyway, have a safe trip.”

When imperial family members went to knight training, they received their own treatment. Even though they trained differently from regular knights and it was supposedly fine, Kajiian was worried.

After Lorina left the room, Kajiian sighed. There was absolutely no way to stop his daughter.

* * *

I looked at the wedding dress. I pinched my cheek because I couldn’t believe tomorrow was finally the wedding.

When I just got engaged to Luden, I didn’t attach meaning to this.

“My lady, does seeing the wedding dress give you strange feelings?”

Andre entered, opening the door. In his hands were pure white shoes. They were shoes made as a pair with the wedding dress.

“They were made just in time.”

‘The designer broke out in a cold sweat because I didn’t like the shoes and changed them.’ 

But the heels were too high! I couldn’t walk in them.

Luden also said they seemed too dangerous and asked to lower the heels. Everything else I liked.

So they did major work lowering the heels. And the heels of the resulting shoes were about 5 centimeters—neither too high nor too low.

‘This is just right.’

I slowly put on the shoes Andre set down. Since they were made to my size, they fit my feet perfectly.

I walked around wearing the shoes. They were comfortable to walk in too.

“I’ll decide on these.”

“Understood.”

Andre bowed and left. Now that the shoes were ready, I just had to get married tomorrow.

I buttoned up my clothes and went downstairs.

It was time to be with Anan.

* * *

“What is Annelia doing?”

Luden asked Andre. Then Andre came near Luden’s desk and smiled.

“Well, my lady is with Lady Anan.”

“I see.”

After Anan’s health recovered, Annelia visited Anan without fail. She had never broken her promise to her even once.

Even though his mother might be uncomfortable, she acted like she was at ease. That was Annelia’s charm.

“Annelia said she likes Mother.”

“She did say that. Isn’t that why you’re more drawn to her?”

Andre asked with a smile. Luden stared at him, then turned his head.

Since it was true, he couldn’t say no.

“Lady Annelia tried on the wedding shoes and they fit perfectly.”

“Really?”

“Everything is ready now.”

“My father-in-law also said everything is ready, and to see each other at the ceremony tomorrow.”

If it were like before, Anan couldn’t attend the wedding, but not now. She had recovered her health considerably and often took walks, so it seemed like it would be fine.

“But are you really not going on that business trip?”

At Andre’s question, Luden nodded.

“If I go on that trip and come back, it’s immediately knight training. I won’t have time to spend with Annelia.”

“If it were before, you would have gone without hesitation.”

Andre looked at Luden and smiled warmly. He felt good that Luden, who used to handle work alone, seemed to have learned how to rely on people.

* * *

After taking a walk with Anan and returning her to her room, I also returned to my room. Since we were taking a walk anyway, I also ate dessert with Anan. 

However, since it was the day before the wedding, I couldn’t eat much. I ate lightly for tomorrow’s wedding. I opened my room door after coming up eating only fruit and salad.

“You’re just getting here?”

Luden looked at me.

“Were you waiting for me?”

I tried to sit in the seat across from Luden. But Luden tapped the seat next to him with his hand.

‘He means for me to sit there, right?’

“Did you wait long?”

When I sat next to him, Luden closed his documents and turned his gaze to me.

“I waited quite a while.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Just, I was curious about something.”

Luden looked at me, then kissed my lips. Then he parted my lips and something hot entered. After kissing for a while, he whispered in my ear.

“Isn’t Annelia uncomfortable with Mother?”

“Just because it’s me doesn’t mean I’m completely comfortable with Lady Anan. But Lady Anan maintains appropriate courtesy, and I also maintain courtesy, so we’re getting along well. She treats me comfortably too. I don’t think I need to unconditionally dislike her from the start just because she’s my in-laws.”

Annelia spoke her thoughts carefully.

“And it’s not like she treats me like a pushover.”

Luden nodded.

“Thank you for being close to Mother.”

Luden said this and whispered.

“If Mother makes you feel slighted, tell me. I’ll listen to you.”

“Luden?”

“Just, Mother told me. If Annelia expresses feeling slighted, I should unconditionally take my wife’s side. That’s how we can continue to get along well.”

‘Anan is wise.’

I smiled quietly.

“Understood.”

I pulled him close. Then he kissed me again.

“We can’t sleep together today.”

“I know.”

He said that and unbuttoned me.

‘If you know, why are you doing this!’

“That’s why I’m doing it during the day.”

‘No, doing what!’

There was a reason he waited here.

I was dumbfounded, but I didn’t dislike him wanting to covet me, so I quickly pulled him close.

* * *

Caromiel quickly boarded the carriage. Today was the day his daughter was getting married, so today was special.

She was a daughter who resembled him more than his wife, but still traces of his wife remained.

Originally, when his wife died, the family told him to take two more wives. But Caromiel refused. 

And when he said he would adopt someone from among his relatives to continue the ducal position after Annelia married, those around him quieted down.

He raised his daughter alone like that, and already it was her wedding.

Annelia getting married at such a young age was partly his fault too.

He felt guilty, which was difficult at first. But seeing Annelia shrewdly make contracts and get along well with Luden, he was somewhat relieved.

Still, he wanted to diligently grow his business and leave many things to Annelia before adopting an heir.

Entering the wedding venue, Caromiel headed first to the bride’s waiting room with his escort knights. Annelia in her white wedding dress was extremely beautiful. 

The dress covering her chest was modest yet had lines that gave a strangely feminine feeling. The light green gems set in her necklace and earrings were similar to Annelia’s eyes.

“Father!”

Annelia stood and approached Caromiel.

“You’re dazzling.”

“Really?”

“They say the bride is the prettiest, and that’s right.”

Annelia’s cheeks were red.

“Did you meet Luden?”

“I came to see you first.”

“I’m curious how he was, but no one will tell me!”

Annelia grumbled. Caromiel thought he knew why they didn’t tell her. Annelia’s reaction was too entertaining.

“Luden will be curious too.”

“You think so?”

“Of course.”

Caromiel thought Luden would probably also ask what Annelia was like. After telling his daughter to live well, he found Luden standing at the ceremony entrance and approached. Luden in black ceremonial dress wearing a red ring greeted Caromiel.

“Welcome, Duke.”

“It’s father-in-law now.”

Then Luden smiled.

“Father-in-law, it’s good to see you. But did you happen to meet Annelia?”

“I did?”

“How is she? Is she perhaps anxious or anything?”

Luden was worried.

“Because no one will tell me.”

“My daughter looked happy?”

Caromiel spoke like he shouldn’t worry. However, he didn’t tell him that Annelia was extremely beautiful.

Luden tried to go to the bride’s waiting room. But Andre stopped him.

“The groom should see the bride last.”

Andre’s words were correct, but Luden found it hard to wait. He grumbled and looked at the bride’s waiting room where Annelia was.

* * *

I was walking holding Caromiel’s hand.

In the novel, this part was just written in one line.

Since Annelia was a supporting character, she wasn’t an important person. She was just a woman Luden met out of necessity before meeting the female lead.

I was afraid I would become like that too, but I thought it didn’t matter. Even if that happened, the fact that Luden cherished me wouldn’t disappear. I decided to attach meaning to that.

I quickly approached Luden. Luden was staring blankly at me from the end of the v*rgin road.

“Luden?”

‘Why is he making that expression?’

“Haa.”

He exhaled, then took my hand. Our clasped hands were so hot.

“I really don’t want to leave for knight training.”

He said this and took me away.

‘Why would he say that?’

But he didn’t say anything more related during the wedding ceremony.

Anan stood up and firmly grasped both our hands.

Everyone seemed surprised looking at Anan’s appearance. Well, no one would have thought she would become this healthy.

“Live well.”

Anan spoke sincerely.

I also wanted to live long and well with Luden.

* * *

Lorina was standing at the wedding venue. She came as the imperial representative, but arrived a bit late and entered after the wedding started.

Entering the venue, she saw the famous Marquis Charlot.

‘Luden Charlot.’

His flowing black hair touched his shoulders. And warmth circulated in his cold red eyes. A feeling like the brightly shining sun approached her.

“He really is handsome.”

She had seen countless people in the imperial palace, but this was her first time seeing a man like that.

‘So a person can look like this.’

Kanarosa said Luden was as handsome as Sorean.

That wasn’t true. Luden shone purely.

“Father proposed a marriage discussion to a man like that?”

‘A man of that caliber would be fine.’

She was surprised at herself for thinking that.

“Goodness.”

Her face flushed on its own.

* * *

After the wedding, I greeted people at the reception. Sorean and Kanarosa, and those who came together to my engagement ceremony greeted me. I also greeted Father’s friends and Luden’s relatives.

But there were no relatives from the ducal family.

Father didn’t send invitations to Millen and the others this time either.

Luden said Caromiel directly handled it himself this time.

“Father really does things for his daughter.”

I muttered that and took off my clothes. Since Lella removed all my hairpins, my head felt light.

After changing into pajamas, I thought of Anan.

‘I’ll be with Anan from now on. Since Luden leaves for knight training in a month.’

“Annelia.”

Luden entered, opening the door. We had already crossed the line, but we held the wedding today. So tonight was a somewhat special night.

Luden was wearing a robe. I was also wearing a robe with a slightly low neckline.

“Luden has a pretty chest.”

I approached Luden and placed my hand on his chest. Then Luden grabbed my hand, flustered.

“What are you doing?”

“Seducing you.”

At my blatant words, Luden looked at me for a long time.

“Your very existence is already seduction to me.”

He said heart-fluttering words even though he doesn’t love me.