16. My One and Only Savior

At the tail end of exciting spring.

The sky was beautifully dyed blue and the garden was full of fragrant flowers.

On this very day when even the weather was sunny and naturally uplifting, was the day of Eileen and Aaron’s wedding.

“Miss, you look so beautiful!”

The tiara and veil that accentuated the golden hair and shoulders slightly revealed between the pure white wedding dress.

Mary kept admiring the absolutely perfect appearance.

“Duke Aaron will fall in love with you all over again!”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

When Mary nodded with all her might, a clear laugh escaped from Eileen’s lips.

Knock knock.

Amidst Eileen’s laughter, a polite knocking sound echoed.

“Miss, it’s time to go now.”

“Yes, I understand!”

At Gabriel’s voice coming from outside the door, Mary once again adjusted the dress.

From the tiara to the hem of the dress.

After perfectly arranging everything, Mary handed over the bouquet placed on the table and said.

“Miss, I sincerely congratulate you on your marriage.”

Her voice was soaked with moisture as if tears would burst at any moment.

But not wanting to cry on such a good day, Mary did her best to lift the corners of her mouth.

“Thank you, Mary.”

Knowing her feelings better than anyone, Eileen smiled along with her.

* * *

“Hah……”

Aaron exhaled a long breath at the oncoming tension.

Despite being the day he had waited and hoped for so much, he was extremely nervous.

“Aaron, are you nervous?”

Eden, who was standing beside him, asked playfully.

“……A little.”

“It doesn’t seem like just a little?”

Eden giggled and poked Aaron’s side repeatedly.

“By the way, I can’t believe you’re getting married, Aaron. I thought you’d never get married!”

“What?”

“Aaron, your personality is so terrible, you know?”

At Eden’s teasing full of mischief, Aaron clenched his fist.

He wanted to hit him, but it was quite regrettable that he couldn’t.

As the two bickered, the tension surrounding Aaron faded.

Returning to his usual self, Eden put on a slightly serious expression.

“Aaron, I always thought I wanted you to be happy.”

“What nonsense are you trying to say now.”

Having suffered a lot until now, Aaron slightly furrowed his brow.

But as if it wasn’t a joke this time, Eden’s eyes turned slightly red.

“Maybe it’s because your wedding is approaching, but I’m getting emotional without realizing it?”

Aaron relaxed his furrowed expression and looked at Eden.

“I’ve always jokingly said that your personality is bad, but.”

“……”

“Actually, after the late Duke and Duchess Monston died in an accident, seeing you gradually lose your smile was really painful for me.”

Eden continued with a small sigh.

“But then one day, a smile like when you were young appeared on your face?”

The moment he saw that smile, which he thought he’d never see again in his lifetime, it felt like decades of pain that had been eating away at him flew away.

With the memory still vivid, Eden smiled slightly.

“I wondered who had created such a miracle, and it turned out to be Lady Eileen.”

“……Eden.”

“So even though you might think I’m being sentimental, I’m really grateful to Lady Eileen.”

As Eden smiled with the corners of his eyes curved, Aaron let out a hearty laugh.

“You should always live happily.”

“Of course.”

“If you make Lady Eileen cry, Cordelia and I won’t let you off.”

“I know that well.”

At the answer without a hint of hesitation, Eden patted his back.

It was a bit forceful, but it seemed to be filled with just as much love.

* * *

As if announcing the start of the wedding, the slightly noisy venue settled down calmly.

The orchestra’s melody also changed to a gentle one to match.

“……”

Eileen gulped as she looked at the many people in front of her.

“Are you nervous?”

A gentle voice flowed into her ear. Eileen nodded slightly and turned her gaze to Aaron.

The silver hair neatly swept back that sparkled brilliantly, the tuxedo with gold embroidery, and even the gentle smile he held.

It was a mesmerizing sight enough to dispel all nervousness.

“Wow….. You’re really handsome.”

At the sight, Eileen couldn’t help but admire him.

Aaron chuckled lightly in response.

“Eileen, let’s go now.”

Aaron quickly composed his smile and held out his hand.

“……”

Eileen quietly looked down at that hand. I’m really marrying Aaron. Somehow, tears welled up a little.

“I’d prefer if you saved your tears for tonight.”

Aaron teased and carefully caressed her eyes.

The gentle touch that brushed past was still full of tenderness.

Eileen smiled slightly and grabbed Aaron’s hand. The wedding was decided to be conducted by reading the marriage vows without an officiant.

The emperor had insisted strongly several times that he wanted to officiate, but it was ultimately ignored.

“Then, Duke Aaron, please read first.”

When Luke, who was in charge of the ceremony, spoke, Eden, the groom’s side attendant, took out a well-sealed envelope from his pocket.

“Here.”

“Thank you.”

Aaron opened the envelope he received. After taking out the thick paper from the envelope, he cleared his throat.

“Lady Eileen Lia de Ceres.”

It was a low but pleasant voice.

Her full name, called after a long time, felt awkward but not bad.

“Before I met you, I was selfish and always prioritized my own interests. In other words, I was the kind of person who lived for my own self-importance.”

Eileen’s eyes widened at the self-criticism that poured out from the beginning.

“That was only on the surface; in fact, I was a weak person. I suffered from guilt all my life and couldn’t escape from nightmares.”

It was a story told calmly, but the many memories that passed by made one part of his heart ache.

As a shadow fell over Eileen’s face, Aaron slightly squeezed their joined hands.

“But after meeting you, I changed. I no longer suffered from guilt and was liberated from nightmares.”

“……”

“Eileen, you are my one and only savior. If it weren’t for you, I would still be struggling in the mire.”

Aaron pressed his emotions firmly into the word ‘savior.’ It was the only word that could express the weight of his heart.

“In this solemn place with our families, friends, and His Majesty the emperor, I swear.”

Aaron turned his head and took in each person with his eyes.

“I, Aaron de Monston, will love Eileen Lia de Ceres for my entire life and will put her before myself.”

As soon as Aaron finished his last words and handed the marriage vow to Eden, applause erupted as if they had been waiting.

“Then, Lady Eileen.”

When Luke gestured, Cordelia, the bride’s side attendant, handed an envelope to Eileen.

“Aaron wrote his marriage vow so well that I’m a bit embarrassed to read mine.”

At her complaint, laughter briefly spread throughout the wedding venue.

“But I can’t not read it, right?”

Eileen opened the envelope she received. She took out the thick paper from the envelope and composed her breath.

“Duke Aaron de Monston.”

Her voice was already full of moisture.

“If someone told our past selves that we would get married, neither of us would believe it.”

Those two who were so passionate they even had a secret romance?

People sent puzzled looks.

“We might even get angry and tell them not to talk nonsense.”

But Aaron laughed softly as if he understood well.

“Our first meeting was terrible, and even after that, we hated each other, blinded by prejudice.”

Thinking about it now, it was really a waste of time.

A wasteful and regrettable time.

Aaron gently stroked the back of Eileen’s hand with his thumb.

“But on that day when you willingly showed your back to me, which I thought would never happen, on that day when only you believed in me.”

“……”

“I realized that contrary to my prejudice, you are a tender and kind person.”

Eileen shifted her gaze from the paper to look at Aaron.

“Duke Aaron de Monston, if it weren’t for you, I would have surely collapsed.”

“Eileen……”

“In this solemn place with our families, friends, and His Majesty the emperor, I swear.”

Amidst Eileen’s vow, a scream like a death rattle burst out.

“Huh……?”

Eileen put down the vow she was reading and moved her gaze following the scream.

“What is this……”

There was a person wearing a black mask, who was rushing toward Duke Kyle with a knife.

“Block him!”

However, as if he had already anticipated it, Duke Kyle shouted.

Immediately, the Ceres Knights who had been hiding surrounded him, the emperor, the guests, and Eileen and Aaron.

After that, everything happened quickly.

The knights subdued the masked man in one go, tied him up, and dragged him away.

“Check thoroughly if there are any other accomplices!”

“Yes!”

At Harvey’s command, the knights thoroughly searched the wedding venue. Fortunately, there were no remaining accomplices.

“Phew……”

Just as everyone was breathing a sigh of relief at the quickly resolved situation,

“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to die.”

Another masked man appeared from somewhere and rushed toward Aaron.

It was so sudden that there was no time to avoid it. Even the knights had no time to react.

At that moment, someone hugged Aaron tightly.

“Ugh……”

The cool sensation of a blade that she felt through the thick dress layers on her back was so unfamiliar.

Along with a choking feeling, the bright red blood that soaked the pure white wedding dress was also strange.