The day before the wedding, Lireania came to visit me at my house. I greeted her with a sullen face, clutching Milk in my arms.
“Oh my, Lady Ariel, your eyes are so swollen.”
“They’ll go down by tomorrow.”
“Why have you lost so much weight? Have you not eaten anything?”
Suddenly, she stood up and rang the bell by the bed loudly, her face stern.
“Selvia, where are you? How can a maid of the Marquis’s household neglect her mistress like this!”
Perhaps it was because she would become the hostess of the Marquis’s household tomorrow, but there was an air of noble authority in Lireania, who usually hesitated to order around the maids. I quietly sat there, observing her newfound poise.
“Did you call for me, Madam?”
Lireania began to scold Selvia, who rushed into the room in a panic.
“Go to the main house and prepare onion soup right away. Make sure it’s smooth and not too chunky.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“Also, bring some apples soaked in honey until they’re soft. And instead of tea, brew some grains—it’s easier on the stomach.”
She rattled off more instructions, all while berating Selvia for not taking proper care of me. It made me feel both grateful and guilty.
“I’m sorry. You must have so much to worry about with the wedding tomorrow… and now this…”
At my apology, she came over and sat beside me on the bed—on the bed Kasion had gifted me, which I hadn’t had the chance to replace yet.
“It’s alright. I’m fully prepared. And it’s not your fault, Lady Ariel. It’s those two foolish men’s fault.” Her voice rose at the last part, and she seemed genuinely angry and annoyed.
“What did my brother and Kasion… do after that?”
“It’s better if you don’t know. They’re like ignorant little puppies.”
It was the first time I realized Lireania could curse. She was definitely insulting them, but only loud enough for me to hear.
“But Lady Ariel, are you planning not to forgive Lord Serhen?”
“It’s not that…”
How could there be such a thing as forgiving or not forgiving between siblings? We were born under the same parents, sharing the same blood. But the hurt in my heart wouldn’t go away easily.
“Since our parents passed, my brother has been my whole world.”
“I know.”
“He was always my sturdy wall, the big tree I could rest under, always…” Tears welled up in my eyes again. “But I never imagined that he would spy on me and invade my privacy because he didn’t trust me. And Kasion’s proposal… that was my decision to make.”
If it were me back then, I probably would have accepted Kasion’s proposal. There weren’t any other noblemen I was particularly fond of, and I had known Kasion for a long time. I didn’t feel any aversion to him either. That was how I felt before I found the book. In that sense, Serhen had saved me… but still, I resented him.
“I understand. I think Lord Serhen’s love went too far. But, as he said, he was your guardian. Reviewing proposals is something parents would normally do.”
Lireania’s words were true. But even parents tell their daughters when a proposal has been made, even if it’s to be rejected.
“I’ve spent my whole life thanking the heavens for sending me a brother like no other…”
“Excessive love can sometimes be worse than none at all.”
That was true, but… something else weighed on my mind. It was a matter of my heart recently—the way my heart raced when it shouldn’t have. That’s why I was so upset.
“And that kind of deep love can make a person suffer.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lord Serhen is fasting too, just like you.”
Lireania shook her head in disbelief, and I almost mirrored her motion unconsciously. How foolish. Was this really the time for that? The groom-to-be, on the eve of his own wedding?
“Madam, I’ve brought the lady’s meal as you requested.” Just then, Selvia returned to the room, pushing a trolley. She looked nervous, probably because Lireania had been so strict earlier.
“Bring it here.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Selvia’s tension made her movements stiff. She walked toward us awkwardly, and her apron pockets were strangely bulky. As I stared at them, she became flustered, and the trolley wobbled precariously.
“I’m s-sorry! I’ll go get another one.”
In her haste, the soup spilled, soaking her apron. Lireania frowned and moved toward Selvia, but I stopped her.
“It’s fine, Lady Lireania. Let’s just eat at the main house with my brother.”
“Oh my, really?”
“I need to make up with him anyway.”
And for Lireania’s sake too. Though my foolish brother deserved more scolding.
* * *
As luck would have it, Serhen was lingering near the rose tunnel. Just as Lireania had said, it was obvious he had been fasting too—his cheeks were sunken, and there were dark circles under his eyes. And this was the groom-to-be, with his wedding tomorrow.
“Brother!”
When I called out to him, he hesitated, about to run toward me, but stopped short. He couldn’t quite cross over to my side.
“I’m sorry, Ariel. I thought I had to protect you… but I went too far.”
“I know. My brother was like a parent to me, after all. You were doing that for the first time too…”
“I’ve formally apologized to Kasion as well.”
“Good, you did well.”
“He said… he’s going to send the proposal again soon. This time, I promised not to interfere.”
His eyes were bittersweet, but there was also a glimmer of hope behind them. Since we were making up, I decided to grant him that hope.
“Don’t worry. I’ll reject him myself. Like I said, I want to stay in Mellin.”
Then, he suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace. “No, if you truly find someone you love… I’ll let you go, even if it’s Kasion.”
“Liar.”
“I mean it, for real this time. If there’s someone who truly loves and cherishes you… I’ll allow it, even if it’s Kasion.”
There was a steely resolve in Serhen’s voice that I hadn’t noticed before. It was as if he had made some sort of decision. He hesitated before speaking again.
“Kasion… he fasted too when he heard you weren’t eating.”
“What? Both of you are such idiots.” I laughed at the absurdity, but my heart started beating strangely again.
When I heard Serhen was fasting, it felt like my heart was being torn apart. But now, it wasn’t that. My heart felt oddly ticklish, as if I could sense someone’s sincere feelings—feelings that had always been directed solely at me. My heart pounded faster, as though something was wrong.
“Shall we eat together, Ariel?”
“Yes. And tell Kasion I’m fine too.”
Serhen didn’t respond. Instead, he awkwardly rubbed his belly and smiled. That was the spot where Kasion had punched him before.
* * *
Finally, the morning of the grand wedding arrived. The household was in chaos. There were so many people to get dressed and prepared, especially me since I was both the bridesmaid and the groom’s only family. I had to rush from early in the morning. Before the main event, I had to go and get ready.
“Milady, please come in now. You need to change into your dress.”
At Selvia’s call, I entered the dressing room.
“Wow, it’s been fixed up beautifully.”
I had almost forgotten in the commotion, but the cross Kasion had picked up had been returned in perfect condition.
“The dress looks amazing. But is it okay for a bridesmaid to stand out this much?”
“Have you seen the wedding dress? Mine’s just a feather compared to the peacock’s plumage.”
“That’s true. The bride’s dress is even more extravagant. She really does look like the main star.”
“Right?”
Lireania was still in the bath and had not come out yet. Preparing the perfect bride was quite a process—it was exhausting just to watch.
“I need to hurry up and get ready.”
“Yes, I’ll help you.”
With Selvia’s assistance, I changed into my dress. Next up was my hair and makeup. But for some reason, Selvia looked troubled. We didn’t have time for this.
“What’s wrong?”
“That, Milady, it’s been bothering me since the bathroom. Um, I think we need to do makeup up to here.” Selvia pointed to my collarbone. Her face turned slightly red.
I followed her gaze and lowered my head. My eyes widened in embarrassment. “Wait, this is, it’s not…”
“Ahem, you don’t need to explain.”
“It’s not like that!”
“Come to think of it, it was that night, right? The night you returned with the duke.” Selvia blushed and kept giggling.
It was easy to misunderstand the situation. So, I needed to clear this up immediately.
“Lady Ariel, I’ve just finished my bath—”
At that moment, Lireania, who had finished bathing, entered the dressing room, and her reaction was exactly the same as Selvia’s. Except she used even more explicit words.
“Oh my, why is there a kiss mark on Lady Ariel’s shoulder… Oh my, could it be? Don’t tell me you’re already that close with the duke?”
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