FTP-EP04

“What are you talking about? The flower decorations are my job.”

 

“Don’t talk nonsense. The reception team is the one who should decorate. These are flowers that go on the tables.”

 

“The location is the table, but I was the one in charge of the flowers. Let go of this and get lost to the pots over there.”

 

The sight of two rugged men—muscular, covered in scars both big and small—glaring at each other was enough to make the surrounding people tense up.

 

However, the vase they were gripping with all their strength, refusing to let go, was filled with bright red and yellow wildflowers, completely out of sync with the intense atmosphere.

 

“I’ll do it.”

 

“No, I said I’ll do it.”

 

“Enough!”

 

Amidst their growling voices, Aunt Meg shouted as she intervened. Somehow, the colorful vase had already found its way into her hands.

 

“How many times do I have to tell you, boys? I told you not to get worked up on such a joyous day!”

 

The Fitzroys, who had been too busy with their farm school, finally found time to hold their long-overdue wedding ceremony after the new year.

 

Meg, who had been eagerly anticipating their ‘re’-wedding, was disappointed every time it got postponed. But at the same time, she was relieved that they could finally have it on such a perfect spring day rather than in the cold, bleak winter.

 

The problem was these men—retired soldiers who were making their presence overwhelmingly felt at the venue. Of course, Aiden’s old comrades, including Doug, were all in attendance, and many students who felt grateful for the farm school had also shown up.

 

‘I’ll set up the chairs.’

 

‘Then I’ll put up the arch here!’

 

‘I… I’ll spread the tablecloths.’

 

‘What about me? Do I have nothing to do?’

 

Wanting to show their gratitude to the Fitzroys, they took it upon themselves to find tasks, even though no one had asked them to. Even for the simplest job of gathering petals to scatter along the aisle, they ended up fighting over who would do it.

 

Meg had to yell multiple times to keep them under control, assign even the smallest tasks as ‘fairly’ as possible, and step in every time a dispute broke out. She was exhausted.

 

“Sigh… This is exhausting. It’s just as draining as taking care of my nieces and nephews.”

 

For reference, the nieces and nephews in question were all under ten years old at the time.

 

“Auntie, should I give you a massage?”

 

“Hey, you get lost. I’m the one who’s going to do it!”

 

As Doug and Walter started bickering again, Meg sighed but smiled slightly. These boys were impossible, but their eagerness to help wasn’t something she could dislike.

 

Thanks to the volunteers’ enthusiastic efforts, the wedding venue in front of the Dilton farm quickly took shape. Instead of a carpet, flower petals were scattered along the path for the bride and groom. Since there weren’t enough chairs, long, thick logs were laid down and carved with shallow seats.

 

Under an arch draped in vines, the village pastor stood, ready to officiate. In front of a piano—hauled all the way from the school by carriage—sat Miss Sally Case.

 

“Let’s see. The food’s ready, everyone’s seated, the piano’s tuned… Are the bride and groom ready?”

 

“Yes, Auntie.”

 

“Perfect.”

 

Jean and Mary, stepping out of their (Fitzroys) home, answered energetically.

 

Meg nodded firmly at Sally, giving her the signal. Receiving the cue, Sally began playing a lively processional march.

 

The moment the very first notes rang out, the gathered crowd erupted in cheers.

 

“Woooaaah!”

 

“Oooink!”

 

Thanks to Anje’s insistence, even Pa-Pi-Pu, who had been brought along to the wedding, wagged their tails enthusiastically. Their ties around their necks—chosen just for today—were a dazzling mix of red, yellow, and green.

 

Aiden turned to the bride beside him.

 

“Shall we go?”

 

Normally, the groom would enter first, followed by the bride escorted by her father. However, they had chosen to walk down the petal-strewn aisle together.

 

For Anje, a father figure was essentially nonexistent. More than anything, Aiden didn’t want her to walk alone again, like at their last wedding. Back then, she had looked so small, so lonely, and so sad.

 

Now, with a completely different expression, she nodded.

 

“Yes, Aiden.”

 

The cheers of the guests who saw the bride and groom grew deafening, only to be instantly silenced by Aunt Meg’s threatening “Shh.”

 

“You’re working hard, Auntie.”

 

“My voice might be gone by tonight.”

 

Hearing Aiden’s response, Anje, who had already grown familiar with Aunt Meg’s loud shouts indoors, giggled beneath her veil. The bouquet made of lily of the valley swayed, releasing a subtle fragrance.

 

It was their second wedding ceremony, yet there were far more guests than the first time, easing the nervousness that had settled in.

 

“I should make him some tea later as a token of gratitude.”

 

The wedding dress that Jean Penny had made was crafted by reusing the fabric from the dress worn at the previous wedding. It had a delicate and beautiful design, resembling lily-of-the-valley flowers. Moreover, it adhered to her design philosophy, making it incredibly comfortable to move in. Since Anje planned to dart around like a squirrel, greeting her guests, this was a crucial detail.

 

Sensing her enthusiasm, Aiden gave her a sweet warning.

 

“Please conserve some energy, my lovely bride. You’ll need it soon enough.”

 

He had no desire to become a neglected husband again, starting from their ‘second’ first night. Anje pouted, narrowing her eyes at him.

 

“You fool, seriously.”

 

Even though it was just a whisper between the two of them, there was nothing he wouldn’t say. If he weren’t dressed so impeccably, she would have poked him in the side as she usually did.

 

They exchanged playful glances and stepped forward in sync, walking over a soft carpet of flower petals. Though it was just a short procession, it felt like a symbolic representation of the life they would walk together. They took each step with care, ensuring they wouldn’t stumble even once.

 

The young priest, glowing with warmth, greeted them with a bright smile as they reached the arch and began his blessing.

 

“On this day, filled with grace even in the weather, I thank you all for gathering here…”

 

A gentle breeze made the white veil and the hem of her dress flutter, creating an enchanting silhouette.

 

Though they listened intently to the officiant’s words, the bride and groom often stole glances at each other, exchanging smiles. Their happiness was so overwhelming that they could hardly believe their fortune.

 

The wedding was so beautiful it could bring tears to one’s eyes. Meg, determined not to cry, widened her eyes to keep the tears at bay. If she lost even a second of this sight because of her tears, she would regret it forever.

 

“You may now kiss the bride.”

 

The vow-sealing kiss of their second wedding was far more exquisite and sweet than the first.

 

Perhaps it was because, this time, they were kissing in paradise.

 

TL/N: OMG OMG, I’M LITERALLY CRYING, LIKE REALLY A LOT, THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFULLY IN LOVE, MAY THIS LOVE FIND ME ONE DAY 😭

 

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The cheers that followed the bride and groom’s vow-sealing kiss were so loud that the birds resting around the Dilton farm all took flight in surprise.

 

For once, even Aunt Meg didn’t try to quiet everyone down. Instead, she joined in, shouting along with the crowd. Encouraged by the commotion, Pa-Pi-Pu, oinked loudly, refusing to be outdone.

 

The commotion was so overwhelming that no one noticed the suspicious carriage parked along the forest path.

 

“Looks nice.”

 

William, who had been absentmindedly peering through the curtains, commented flatly. David grumbled in response.

 

“If you find so nice, why don’t you stop hiding and attend properly instead of watching from the shadows?”

 

After all, William had sent over a whole crate of expensive wine, yet here he was, skulking around like a thief. David found the situation rather irritating.

 

William raised an eyebrow.

 

“You really don’t know how to read the room. If I showed up again as the groom’s family like last time, do you have any idea how awkward and chilly the atmosphere would get?”

 

“How very considerate and kind of you. I never realized.”

 

“As long as you realize it now.”

 

As the guests began moving toward the reception, David decided it was time to leave and signaled the coachman. Thinking about the long journey back made him sigh.

 

‘Did I really have to come all the way out to this remote countryside? I could have just listened to the reports.’

 

For some reason, William found great amusement in the Fitzroys’ activities, often laughing while listening to Peter’s reports—the very spy he had assigned to watch over them.

 

‘The power of love is truly something.’

 

Indeed, the fact that Lady Anje and Sir Aiden were dedicating themselves to an unusual education that was no different from charity work was surprising even for David. He even felt a slight sense of respect for the two of them.

 

…That being said, Leslie was far too rural. Thinking about the uneven, narrow roads made David let out another deep sigh.

 

“If there’s another occasion to celebrate in the future, let’s just send a wreath and a gift and be done with it.”

 

Surprisingly, the emperor nodded readily.

 

“Sure. This time, I was just curious about the farm and village that changed Lady Anje Glasster, so I came along. Now that I’ve seen it, I doubt I’ll come again.”

 

As the coachman pulled the reins and the horse stomped its hooves a few times to loosen up, a young boy came rushing toward the departing carriage in a fluster.

 

“Wa-Wait a moment!”

 

“What is it, kid?”

 

David cracked the window slightly to greet the boy. If any guests found their presence suspicious, he planned to pass them off as late-arriving school officials.

 

The boy, his face full of freckles, grinned brightly and handed over a bundle wrapped in cloth.

 

“Mrs. Fitzroy asked me to give this to the guest. She said she was too busy attending to the other guests to come herself and that she’s sorry.”

 

What else had that pretty lady whispered again? The boy strained his memory to recall the rest of the message.

 

“Oh! And she said thank you for the wine and for matchmaking. She said she’s very happy, thanks to you.”

 

Having successfully delivered the message he had memorized so diligently, the boy quickly scampered away. His secret mission from the bride was now complete, and it was time to go enjoy Aunt Meg’s special syrup.

 

A note, hastily scribbled, was attached to the bundle, which seemed to have been pre-wrapped as gifts for the wedding guests.

 

「A special pound cake from Aunt Meg’s cookbook, one of her most popular recipes.」

 

Both the Emperor and David both blankly stared at the note before raising their heads and meeting each other’s gaze.

 

“She’s surprisingly quick-witted, isn’t she?”

 

“Indeed, I’m surprised as well.”

 

It made sense—Anje would have quickly realized how high-quality the wine was and that only the Emperor could have gifted something of that caliber.

 

David unwrapped the bundle to check its contents. The pound cake, studded with dried fruits and nuts, had a rich, glossy sheen that made it look irresistibly delicious.

 

Normally, William would have waited for David to take the first bite, but this time, he was a step ahead, cutting a small piece and putting it in his mouth.

 

Then, he casually declared,

 

“It seems I have a knack for matchmaking.”

 

“If you say so.”

 

David dismissed it as just another one of his usual nonsense remarks and tore off a large piece for himself.

 

Since the cake was a gift for the guest who provided the wine, and he was the one who had chosen and delivered it, he figured he also had a rightful share of the pound cake.

 

“David, you’re still unmarried, aren’t you?”

 

The ever-loyal attendant grimaced in horror, his brows furrowing deeply. He had a bad feeling that the emperor’s meddling might soon reach him as well.

 

The carriage from the capital moved slowly, then disappeared in an instant, as if swallowed between the trees.

 

From the direction of the farm, distant sounds of singing, laughter, and the clinking of glasses could be heard—a lively melody, as if they were holding a small festival of their own.

 

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–Epilogue Fin–

 

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Only 6 more chaps to go😭😭, stay tuned for the remaining side stories chaps, aka Honeymoon chaps 🤭🤭🫣, and thanks, y’all, for your support and kind comments that always make my day and keep me going!

 

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