Side Story: Family (2)

“Groom, enter!”  

At the host’s proclamation, the grand doors opened. For today, Tehis, dressed in a black suit instead of Escalante’s usual navy, walked down the red carpet with a stiff expression.  

Amidst the applause welcoming him, a few nobles whispered softly.  

“Wasn’t this supposed to be a love marriage? He looks so tense…”  

“His Grace, the Grand Duke, is always expressionless.”  

“Still, I thought he’d be different for his wedding. Poor bride.”  

While those unfamiliar with Tehis murmured, others had completely different thoughts.  

‘He’s nervous.’  

‘He’s definitely nervous.’  

‘He’s so tense.’  

Riel, Kaishan, and Helena watched Tehis with subtle expressions. Regardless of the mage clicking his tongue or the Imperial Family stifling their laughter, the groom of the day ascended the podium without faltering.  

‘I hope she’s okay in those high heels.’  

Though his sharp senses picked up the voices around him, Tehis didn’t hear a word. His entire focus was consumed by thoughts of Chloe, who was about to enter.  

She had shaken her head, claiming she’d gained weight because he fed her too well. She had grumbled about what to do if the dress didn’t fit anymore. And now, she would even be wearing high heels she wasn’t used to. There was no way he could stop worrying.  

“Bride, enter!”  

Whatever the case, it was too late to undo anything now. Tehis stared at the illuminated doors, fully prepared to rush over if Chloe stumbled…  

And then, he stopped breathing.  

“Wow…”  

Someone’s exclamation filled the quiet hall. The corners of Chloe’s lips curved gracefully as she stepped in, adorned in a pure white wedding dress.  

Rather than covering her face with a veil, it was swept back to reveal her beautifully styled face. Her striking features, naturally bold and radiant, shone even brighter with the delicate makeup that enhanced her allure.  

‘They said the Grand Duke of Escalante fell for her at first sight.’  

As a few nobles who had never seen Chloe before admired her silently, the sound of her heels echoed through the hall. With each step, the long train of her dress rippled across the carpet.  

The applause welcoming her erupted belatedly. Amidst the clapping, the chatter of children’s voices mixed in.  

「Friend, she’s pretty!」  

Chirp, chirp!  

「I want to dance with my friend soon!」  

Chirp, chirp!  

“Be quiet, I said.”  

Lucas, cloaked in a robe borrowed from the Mage Tower, ground his teeth. Though he had cast a soundproofing spell just in case, he himself couldn’t escape the chatter of the legendary creatures clinging to both his ears.  

「We were quiet! This is an adventure? A false accusation!」  

Chiiirrrp! Chirp, chirp!  

“Argh, don’t pull my hair! Fire! Put out the fire!”  

Riel sighed at the commotion beside her. She casually used an illusion spell to make the three beings appear invisible, prompting Isrion to smile as he turned to her.  

“Wouldn’t it be more fun to just leave them be?”  

“Chloe wouldn’t like it… …Sir.”  

Riel, adding a formal tone due to the official setting, quietly gazed at Chloe, who had just reached the podium. Holding Tehis’s hand, Chloe ascended, her face glowing with radiance. Her bright smile reflected her happiness.  

<Chloe, emotions are fleeting. You’re a mage.>  

<I know, Riel. You’re telling me not to do anything I’ll regret, right?>  

<If you marry, the Empire won’t leave you alone. If you go beyond supporting the Grand Duke and start getting involved in politics, even you could be expelled from the Mage Tower.>  

<That’s why you broke your seclusion and stepped up as the next Mage Tower Master for me. You said you’d refuse all future commissions from the Empire if they tried to drag me in.>  

<…You heard about that?>  

<The Emperor you threatened is still my friend, after all.>  

It was the last conversation they had shared before Chloe left the bridal waiting room. Riel had tried to hold her back one last time before crossing an irreversible river, but Chloe’s resolve had been firm.  

<Thank you, Riel. For stepping up for me and for worrying about me.>  

<Then->  

<But it’s okay. Like I said, I love Tehis, and…>  

Riel’s retinas seemed to burn the image of Chloe’s shy smile into memory.  

<I believe I’ll be happiest by his side.>  

“Chloe is going to be happy.”  

Isrion’s voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts. As if he knew what Riel was thinking, his warm voice whispered as he placed a hand on her shoulder.  

“The lifespan of love as an emotion is short. So is a human’s life. From a mage’s perspective, it might be better for Chloe to stay safely in the Mage Tower.”  

“……”  

“But Riel, sometimes fairy-tale realities do come true. The kind that ends with, ‘And they lived happily ever after.’”  

“Did you see? Sir?”  

In response to her question about the future, the great sage smiled. His warm green gaze turned toward the newlywed couple on the podium.  

“Well… is there really a need to rely on magic? Let’s just watch together. Let’s see what kind of future they’ll create.”  

* * *  

“You seem to like this makeup. You can’t take your eyes off me.”  

At Chloe’s teasing remark, Tehis replied with a serious expression.  

“If you were dazzlingly beautiful before, today you’re breathtakingly beautiful.”  

“What’s the difference?”  

“It means I’ve always been unable to take my eyes off you.”  

“Oh my.”  

Tehis loved the moments when Chloe smiled like this, her eyes curving softly. The look in her gaze, as if she were admiring something precious, made his heart race.  

He wanted nothing more than to capture her lips right then and there, but the officiant’s words stopped him.  

“Ahem, ahem. Now that both the bride and groom have entered, we will proceed with the marriage vows.”  

Regretfully, Tehis brushed Chloe’s hand with his thumb for a moment before letting go. Turning to face forward, he placed his hand over his left chest in a pledge.  

It was time to recite the marriage vows they had written together.  

“I, Tehis Escalante…”  

“Wait a moment.”  

“Chloe?”  

Caught off guard by the interruption, Tehis turned to her. Chloe, holding onto his arm, looked up at him with a playful smile.  

“There’s something I want to show you first.”  

“Right now?”  

“Yes, right now.”  

Tehis glanced at the officiant. Judging by his bewildered expression, this wasn’t part of the plan.  

‘It’s off track.’  

Tehis had wanted a perfectly executed wedding, but the one interrupting it was Chloe. If it was something she wanted, Tehis was willing to abandon his plans and go along with it.  

“What is it?”  

“When you proposed, you said you followed the traditional mage’s way.”  

Tehis instinctively rubbed the ring on his middle finger. He had indeed said those words when putting the pair ring on her.  

“I did.”  

“Most mages don’t hold weddings, but since we’re already doing this, I prepared something. My own way, like a mage.”  

Like a mage?  

A flood of possibilities rushed through Tehis’s mind. 

Would she blow up the wedding hall into the sky, submerge it underwater, or set off fireworks?  

‘No way.’  

Dismissing the absurd thoughts, he moved forward decisively.  

“Show me.”  

Though he couldn’t entirely shake off a sense of unease, he trusted Chloe. He knew she, too, had been looking forward to this day.  

Chloe responded to his faith with a radiant smile.  

“Watch closely, Tehis. I worked hard to make this.”  

With a flash, she summoned a small crystal orb into her hand and glanced around. Shrugging off the curious stares of the guests, she snapped her fingers.  

In an instant, the lights went out, and curtains covered the windows. As the room darkened and murmurs of surprise filled the air, the crystal orb floated upward.  

Dun, dun-dun, dun, dun…  

A simple ballroom dance tune began to play from it. It was a melody often heard at balls, but for Tehis, it carried a different meaning.  

“This is…”  

It was the song he had used when teaching Chloe her first dance. They had practiced for a full month and danced to it alone during the Emperor’s birthday banquet.  

-Well then, handsome Grand Duke, would you care to dance with me?

With a flash, a translucent image appeared above the crystal orb. In the Imperial Palace’s garden, Chloe winked mischievously as Tehis pulled her close.  

-I would be delighted to, Lady Chloe.

Their faces grew so close they seemed about to touch before the image dissolved into a burst of light. The next scene replaced it—a dining hall from a few months prior.  

It was when they had just begun their contract.  

-Tess, be honest. You’ve met many women, haven’t you?

-I don’t know why you think that.

Setting down his utensils, Tehis fixed his gaze directly on Chloe.  

-You are my first, Chloe.

Once again, the light scattered.  

The backdrop shifted to an alley within the Grand Duchy.  

-……Don’t do that.

Chloe, yanking sharply on Tehis’s cravat, scolded him.  

-You’re mine for now. Take care of yourself.

The next scene transitioned to Chloe’s private quarters.  

A gentle voice, as tender as the hand stroking his back, resonated.  

-You’ve worked hard. Thank you for growing up well in such an environment.

-…Yes, Chloe.  

Hesitant, Tehis pulled Chloe into an embrace. His trembling hands glimmered with light.  

The scene shifted once more to the inside of a carriage heading to a banquet.  

-You are sly, Tess. Since when did you become such a fox?

-Do you dislike this side of me?

Chloe let out a small laugh, loosely wrapping her arms around Tehis’s neck.  

-No. You know you’re my ideal type. 

The following scene was set on a terrace.  

In a dangerously close distance, a whisper could be heard.  

-Your ears turn red when you kiss.

A spell never to be forgotten.  

-And right now, your ears are red.

As their faces overlapped, the scene transitioned again.  

This time, it was the study in the Grand Ducal Mansion.  

-So, in the end, you enjoyed everything?

-Because I spent the time with you, Tehis.

It had been an unusually long birthday.  

-I like you, Tehis.

Chloe’s eyes curved sweetly as she rested her forehead against Tehis’s.  

-I like you. I don’t know when it started, and that frustrates me, but I’ve come to like you.

And so, Tehis…  

-If there is such a thing as destiny, it must be that I’ve come to hold you in my heart.

As the image of himself pulling Chloe’s hand to his chest played…  

-It’s yours. It beats only for you. I’ll say it again—I like you…  

As their overlapping faces transitioned to the next scene…  

-You’ve given me permission, Chloe. I told you I would be jealous.

From their secret midnight meetings…  

-If it’s truly what you want.  

To the love whispered during the war…  

-You’re safe. I was worried, Chloe.  

To their reunion…  

-You’d better not take those words back. You can’t run away, saying it’s too much.

To his declaration of…  

-I want to spend my life with you, Chloe.

To every memory he had shared with Chloe…  

“Ahem, ahem. Tess, can you see it clearly? I used spatial memory magic for this… It’s a bit embarrassing to talk to myself in an empty space.”  

And to the new memories she gifted him.  

In the end, he covered his face with his hands.  

He had no idea what kind of expression he was making at that moment.