Ariadne could barely steady her racing heart as she finished her duties as bridesmaid.

All she had to do was walk ahead of the bride and set the tone for the ceremony, yet even that had made her tremble uncontrollably.

After completing the procession, she stepped down from the aisle with Jade and returned to the seating area.

She found her place beside Kieron in the front row.

“Good work.”

The moment she sat down, Kieron spoke softly, as if he had been waiting just for her.

His blunt-sounding words were strangely comforting, and Ariadne let out a slow, shaky breath, pretending to look forward with composure.

“…Did I do well?”

“Very.”

His answer was brief. But when his fingertips found her hand and gently caressed its back, Ariadne felt her heartbeat gradually slow down.

If he — rather than Jade — had escorted her down the aisle, she probably would have felt far steadier, because even the simplest word from him eased her more than anything else.

It stung a little, yes, but it still meant something that her husband was the one to comfort her afterwards.

She turned her hand to hold his, her eyes fixed on the backs of another beautiful couple who were just beginning their new life together. They were completely unaware that they were being watched.

They were unaware that anyone else was watching them.

“Do you, the groom, swear before God to take the bride as your wife, and pledge her your eternal heart?”

“I swear.”

Just as Ariadne and Kieron had done before them, the couple pledged their eternal and genuine love to each other in front of the priest.

Back then, Sylvia hadn’t even been able to look at the man beside her properly, her face burning with embarrassment. Now, however, she and Heidel exchanged calm, steady gazes.

Ariadne had often witnessed their warmth and affection in everyday life. Watching them now, all she felt was envy. Back then… and perhaps even now.

She and Kieron had yet to build a relationship grounded in trust and companionship like theirs.

How could she ever achieve that?

This question lingered throughout the ceremony.

Their relationship wasn’t bad — not at all.

But she still couldn’t convince herself that he loved her completely, or that he was overwhelmingly affectionate towards her.

They had simply agreed to get along from now on, and from that, they had formed a reasonable, workable bond.

They checked on each other’s well-being. They asked about each other’s schedules and ate meals together. They slept in the same bed, cared for each other, and worried about each other.

Their relationship was built on effort, on doing things that should have come naturally.

However, compared to the deep bond between her brother and his wife, Ariadne could only feel envy. She knew it was childish to want only love, yet she found it hard to abandon a desire she had held since childhood.

She watched the ceremony with eyes full of longing and quiet yearning.

Would they be able to look at each other the way those two did someday, once enough time had passed between them and Kieron?

While Ariadne watched the wedding with wistful hope, Kieron’s thoughts were elsewhere.

No matter how often he thought about it, he could not summon any fond memories of their own wedding.

From beginning to end, the Marquis’ household had arranged everything according to Ariadne’s wishes.

His opinions had not been considered — not that he had any strong preferences about such things — but not even the simplest courtesy of asking him beforehand had been extended to him.

Now that he knew Ariadne, he could easily imagine how their wedding had come about.

Instead of insisting on what she truly wanted, she had probably changed her mind each time someone around her offered a new suggestion.

Ultimately, the ceremony didn’t reflect either of their wishes.

The only thing he had requested was for it to be as small as possible.

It was a wedding born of his discomfort towards her, and of her naïve admiration and untested affection for him.

Had she really been satisfied with a wedding like that?

When he stole a glance at her, she was watching the couple at the altar with unmistakable envy.

So she had wanted a grand, dazzling wedding after all.

The thought stirred an unpleasant feeling inside him.

Did he wish he could give her something like this too? But what would be the point of having another wedding? They were already married.

Nevertheless, another thought rose quietly within him.

If they were already a couple, what harm would it do to hold a small wedding just for the two of them and their closest family?

A ceremony like a tea party, just for the two of them?

Lost in their thoughts, the two of them watched as the ceremony slowly came to an end.

It was a joyful and beautiful wedding that left even those with mixed feelings smiling and wishing the happy couple all the best.

***

“Exhausting.”

As soon as the wedding ended, Kieron jumped into the carriage, pulled the curtain shut, and undid his cravat.

He felt as though he could finally breathe.

The ceremony and reception had both been t*rture.

He had been relentlessly pestered by the Peyton siblings — specifically, Hermes Peyton and his sister-in-law, Lady Dalia Peyton.

Hermes was calm and quietly alert to everything around him, and Lady Kassia was far more composed than her husband. At least they were easy enough to handle.

People like them rarely spoke much to strangers. All that was required was a polite exchange. But Hermes and Dalia were the problem.

They were the complete opposite of their spouses — bright, energetic, and sharp-tongued beneath their cheerful smiles.

They were the type to be friendly while openly teasing someone to their face.

For the entire reception, the two of them did nothing but poke and prod him about his relationship with Ariadne.

“So, what kind of dates do the two of you go on?”

“My dear, what exactly do you like about His Grace?”

“So, is the Council of Elders matter settling well? Our Rene has been so worried about it lately.”

“And what part of His Grace does our young lady like the most? Not that she isn’t always adorable, of course.”

The worst part was this: Every single person among all these couples was an Ariadne loyalist: Hermes and Hern Peyton, along with their wives Lady Dalia and Lady Kassia, all treated Ariadne as if she were their youngest and dearest sister.

They insisted, with dramatic certainty, that even if they gathered everyone who was still alive, no one could ever be as lovable as she was.

Sitting among such people, Kieron was overwhelmed by exhaustion. It wasn’t that he found her unlovable. Nor did he misunderstand their meaning.

He was simply drained from being surrounded for so long by people with completely different temperaments to his own.

Was it only temperament?

No — their personalities were worlds apart.

Kieron preferred quiet, steady conversations, whereas the Peytons seemed to thrive on noise and laughter.

With Hermes and Lady Dalia Peyton leading the way, the others occasionally joined in with the jokes. Even Ariadne, so familiar with their lively atmosphere, laughed and chatted comfortably with them.

Kieron alone felt out of place, forcing an awkward smile as he took sip after sip of wine.

By the time they returned to the ducal residence, he was utterly exhausted, having expended far more energy than usual.

Leaning back in the carriage seat, he felt a heavy wave of fatigue wash over him, sensing Ariadne steal a cautious glance at him.

“Are you all right, Your Grace?”

Her voice sounded as though she were checking on him; yet, to his ears, it sounded almost apologetic, as though she felt sorry for tiring him out.

Kieron opened his eyes, which he had been closing.

This was entirely because their natures didn’t match.

No one had done anything wrong, least of all Ariadne.

There was no reason for her to feel guilty.

“I’m fine. And you—aren’t you tired?”

“I’m all right. I had a really good time… It’s been a while since the whole family gathered.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke. After living quietly in the mansion with only him, meeting her family again seemed to have made her happy.

Kieron looked at her and let out a soft laugh.

“As long as you enjoyed yourself, that’s what matters.”

“But Your Grace…”

Ariadne glanced at him again, sounding apologetic.

He gave a small wave of his hand.

“There’s nothing for you to feel sorry about. This is just… I’m different from your family in temperament, that’s all.”

“Hermes was too mischievous, wasn’t he? I’m sorry.”

If Ariadne hadn’t stopped him several times, Hermes would probably have gone so far as to ask how often they shared a bed.

Ariadne knew how relentless and rude her brother could be, and she couldn’t hide her guilty expression.

“I really did try to stop him…”

She had snapped at Hermes more than once. She knew her brother was worried about her, but there were limits.

With Hermes, who would normally rein her in, remaining silent the whole time, she had been left to fend off the rudeness alone.

Only Jade knew that Ariadne had once been determined to divorce. But even she couldn’t help wondering if her brothers’ behavior meant that Jade had told them something. Of course, Jade quickly signaled that he hadn’t said a word.

“As I said, it isn’t your fault.”

He simply wasn’t used to an atmosphere like that.

Kieron let out a sigh and shook his head.

If she ever thought he was uncomfortable because of her family, she would probably say that she wouldn’t see them for a while.

Knowing her as well as he did, he immediately dismissed the idea and tried to reassure her.

“Don’t take it seriously. I’m really fine.”

“If you say so… that’s a relief.”

Ariadne gently took his hand, already determined to firmly warn her brothers the next time she saw them.