Encountering the two in this situation would only bring on a headache.

Laine let out a groan.

“You’re Marquis Theo from the Kingdom of Kunda, right?”

“I’m honored that you remember me.”

Unaware of his feelings, Marquis Theo smiled kindly.

“Eileen, I’m sorry, but who are these people?”

When Cordelia asked, Eileen introduced Laine and Marquis Theo.

“Then enjoy your time.”

After a brief greeting, Laine tried to turn away. But a gentle voice held his steps.

“Ah, I actually had something I wanted to tell the prince.”

It was none other than Aaron who stopped him. Aaron took a sip of his steaming coffee and continued.

“If it’s alright, would you care to listen before you go?”

His relaxed attitude grated on Laine’s nerves.

As if saying he had the upper hand.

“That’s fine. I have that much time.”

There was no reason not to respond if provoked first. When Laine agreed, Aaron curled up the corners of his mouth.

As annoyingly as possible.

Then he spoke clearly so that not a single word would be missed.

“I will be getting married to Lady Eileen here in spring.”

Snap.

It felt like something broke in his head. There wasn’t even a moment to hide his expression.

Laine’s expression hardened, but Aaron continued relentlessly.

“Duke Kyle has also awakened, and Eileen wants to get married as soon as possible.”

“……”

“Ah, if it’s alright, I’ll send an invitation to you as well, Your Highness.”

It wasn’t provocation but bombardment.

He felt like he might collapse at any moment, but Laine forced strength into his legs.

“……Congratulations, Lady Eileen.”

The corners of his mouth trembled as he forced a smile. Laine clenched his fist and continued with difficulty.

“Please send the invitation to the detached palace. I’ll postpone my trip until your wedding.”

“It’s truly an honor, Your Highness.”

Each of Aaron’s words became sharp thorns piercing his heart.

It was miserable.

* * *

The snow that had painted the world white had somehow turned to rain.

The bitingly cold air also began to hold warmth.

One day, two days.

As time continued to accumulate, the long winter passed through Bereut.

During winter’s passing, Eileen and Aaron spent busier days than ever before.

The wedding required more preparation than expected.

From the venue for the wedding to the wedding dress, guest list, invitation design, and more.

Thanks to Aaron following Eileen’s opinions, decisions were made easily, but it was something they never wanted to do again.

Additionally, there was an unexpected obstacle.

As soon as the wedding date was confirmed, the emperor visited almost daily with requests close to threats.

The persuasive lines he brought each day were different.

— Two ducal families of Bereut are getting married, wouldn’t it be more meaningful if the emperor officiated the ceremony?

One day he came with a plausible reason.

— Why are you refusing when I’m offering to officiate your wedding!

One day, he even got angry.

But there were happy things too.

— Lady Cordelia, could you be a bridesmaid at my wedding?

— To be Lady Eileen’s bridesmaid…… it’s such a great honor!

After breaking the emperor’s stubbornness and doing dress fittings, the day for writing invitations, the last item on the schedule, approached.

“……”

Eileen stared blankly at the mountain of paper. Wondering where the end might be, she lifted her head up.

“My goodness……”

With a slight exaggeration, the end was only visible after lifting her head quite high. What was more depressing was that there were five more paper mountains of equal size.

“Do I have to write all of these……?”

“Yes, you have to write them all yourself, just like party invitations.”

At Mary’s answer, Eileen let out a scream like a death rattle.

“I only have Lady Cordelia, Eden, and Luke as friends, can’t I just write to the three of them?”

Then she began making absurd suggestions.

“I’m sorry, Miss.”

But Mary shook her head as if there was no other choice.

“Duke Aaron will arrive soon, so you can start writing in advance.”

“Okay……”

“But don’t worry, the servants can attach the sealing wax!”

As if it wasn’t her problem, Mary left the study with just a refreshing smile.

“Hah……”

She needed a printer. If only she had a printer, she wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of writing by hand.

Feeling overwhelmed, Eileen idly tapped the invitation papers.

“……Let’s work.”

But that feeling didn’t last long. The longer she put it off, the more painful it would be for herself.

Eileen sat at the desk and pulled out the paper with the guest list.

“First, grandfather and grandmother.”

Eileen wrote according to the predetermined format, addressed the recipient, and signed.

“Next, my uncles.”

Her hand hurt, but it was satisfying to see them pile up one by one.

It was when Eileen was writing the seventh invitation.

“Eileen.”

A voice flowed in between the scratching sounds of the pen.

“Aaron, you’re here?”

Eileen put down her pen and welcomed Aaron. Then she pointed to the mountain of paper stacked beside her.

“We have to write all of these.”

Aaron also gave a weary look. Deciding they shouldn’t slack off, Aaron sat down in the prepared chair without complaint.

“Shall we start?”

“Yes.”

After the brief conversation, only the scratching sound was heard in the study.

“Hmm?”

A familiar name caught Aaron’s eye as he moved his hand busily.

〈Laine Adolf / Prince of the Kingdom of Kunda, provisionally assigned as Aaron’s guest.〉

‘He said he would postpone his trip to attend the wedding.’

As if to keep that promise, Laine was still staying at the imperial palace.

Though there was a predetermined format, wouldn’t a special guest need a special invitation?

Aaron immediately took out a clean invitation paper.

‘Let’s see your true colors, Prince Laine.’

Just as Duke Kyle had said, no matter how much they investigated, information about Laine was scarce.

Though he was from another country, being a prince, they expected to find something.

But all that came up was useless information.

A kind prince, a prince who cares for his people.

His image was so well-crafted that his reputation was excellent.

“Aaron, who are you writing to so diligently?”

Aaron gathered his thoughts and answered.

“Laine Adolf.”

“Ah……”

As his name was mentioned, a shadow fell over Eileen’s face.

“Is it right to invite him?”

Having heard Aaron and Duke Kyle’’s theory about Laine, she felt uneasy.

“Dad also said it’s right to invite him……”

“He probably won’t come anyway.”

After signing at the end, Aaron set that invitation aside and continued.

“I wrote such a terrible invitation that he won’t want to come to the wedding.”

“What?”

Eileen opened her eyes wide.

They had set an invitation format from the beginning, so what was he talking about?

“Show me what you wrote.”

“No.”

Aaron answered firmly. Then he sealed it with wax so Eileen couldn’t open it.

“Huh.”

It was such a quick action. While Eileen was dumbfounded, Aaron rang the bell.

“Did you call?”

As soon as a servant entered, Aaron handed over the invitation and said,

“Please send this to Prince Laine who is staying at the imperial palace right away.”

* * *

“……”

About 10 minutes, no, 30 minutes must have passed.

Laine was staring at the front of the invitation neatly placed on the desk.

〈Groom: Aaron de Monston / Bride: Eileen Lia de Ceres〉

No matter how long he glared at it, nothing changed.

“……”

It had finally arrived. He had asked for the invitation to be sent at the festival, but it was actually closer to a rash impulse.

What madman would attend the wedding of someone he had a one-sided love for?

“D*mn you, Aaron de Monston……!”

If it weren’t for him, he wouldn’t have to endure this kind of pain.

Laine took a sharp pen and drew lines across the front of the invitation, as if slashing it.

He quite liked how the black lines were drawn across Aaron’s name.

For a moment, he felt very childish.

Although he had promised to cling desperately to win love, well, this didn’t seem right.

“Hah……”

Laine covered his face with both hands and let out a long sigh.

That’s when it happened.

Knock knock, a dull knocking sound flowed into his sigh.

“Come in.”

There was only one person who made such a peculiar knocking sound.

Laine pushed the invitation aside.

“Prince Laine.”

The person who opened the door and entered was Virtanen.

He was dressed exactly like the servants to avoid being noticed.

“Count Virtanen, what brings you here?”

He tilted his head slightly and sent a cold gaze.

“I believe I told you to hide like a dead mouse until I found you.”

“Well……”

Virtanen rolled his eyes around and then opened his heavy mouth.

“It seems Duke Aaron and Duke Kyle are investigating Your Highness.”

“……Say that again.”

His eyes were already coldly sunken. Virtanen felt a chill as he spoke with difficulty.

“I picked up some information while hiding.”

“Continue.”

“Revenant is the largest guild in Bereut, and according to rumors, Duke Aaron is the actual owner.”

It wasn’t that surprising. Someone like Aaron would likely own an underworld guild.

When Laine gestured, Virtanen continued.

“So I was keeping an eye on it, and one day the guild master Jackson started moving.”

“……”

“Since I contacted the lowest rank, it’s unclear, but they mentioned the target was a man with platinum blonde hair.”

Platinum blonde hair.

It was clearly aimed at him.

Laine shifted his gaze to the invitation. The groom’s name was slashed and not visible, but the bride’s name remained intact.

“It would be best to deal with both of them definitively this time.”

“……Pardon?”

“They keep getting on my nerves, why should I let them live?”

Laine took out a paper from the drawer and wrote a letter declining attendance at the wedding.

Then he handed it to Virtanen and said,

“I will return to the Kingdom of Kunda before the wedding takes place.”

“Yes……”

“This is your last chance. Make sure to deal with them properly this time.”