“Step back.”
Kasion had turned into a fierce guard dog. I wondered if Milk would be this vigilant when he grew up.
“Duke, please don’t misunderstand…”
Dertis waved his hand in embarrassment, but it didn’t work on Kasion. Perhaps it was the fate of a powerless imperial family member.
“Ariel is my partner. Taking a partner away at a banquet is no different from challenging someone to a duel, isn’t it?”
“Come now, Duke. I wouldn’t challenge you to a duel; before I could even touch my sword, my head would be already rolling.”
“Then why are you coveting my woman? Or did you miss the imperial decree that His Majesty granted me?”
I glared at the back of Kasion’s head. His well-trimmed, round head made me want to slap him. Why did he keep getting ahead of himself?
“I’ve never heard of the bridesmaid and groomsman being called partners before.”
At Aenix’s sarcastic remark, I quickly hid behind Kasion’s back.
Diana, who had been warm toward me earlier, was now glaring at me as if she wanted to devour me.
“Well, considering my brother’s first love and the woman you confessed are the same person, it’s understandable to be cautious.”
I widened my eyes at Aenix’s words. The guests reacted similarly, and the lively banquet hall seemed to freeze over. Everyone was staring at us.
“And the reason you’d bring that up in front of Ariel…”
“Oh gosh, Duke. You look like you want to kill my brother right now. Are you really considering committing murder over a woman?”
This was too much. Insulting, even.
“Well, the Pertelian family has always been like that, haven’t they? A cursed family that we have to send to the battlefield regularly to quench their bloodthirst.”
“Your words go too far, Your Highness,” I said, stepping forward without thinking. I forgot that the opponent was a perverted and ill-tempered villain who only had the advantage of being the imperial family member.
“Ariel, it’s alright,” Kasion’s lips twitched slightly.
Is he in his right mind? He had sacrificed so much and was being insulted like this, and he was smiling?
“How is this alright? The Pertelian family is a house of heroes who have risked their lives for the empire. The duke is the same. So, please don’t insult him for crimes he hasn’t committed.”
It seemed I had been too bold. Seeing the crown prince frown, my courage, which swelled more than Kasion’s muscles, vanished in an instant. Why had I gotten involved in Kasion’s affairs? I was the lowest-ranked person here.
I glanced around in embarrassment, and my eyes met with Dertis, who was also at a loss for words. We might be on the same side, so I thought I’d reach out to the prince’s hair as if grasping at straws.
“D-Don’t you think so, Your Highness?”
“Lady Mellin is right, Crown Prince. There’s also the recent decree from His Majesty… Crown Prince!”
The crown prince took a large step toward me, his eyes looking as if he might kill me. “How can you be so sure that the duke hasn’t committed a crime yet? Isn’t it strange? It seems like someone who should be here hasn’t arrived yet.” He was speaking as if Kasion had already murdered someone.
Should I say something else? Before I could, Kasion stepped fully in front of me.
“Enough, Your Highness.”
“Ah, a bold bird needs its wings clipped and to be caged, don’t you think? Lovely little canary?”
The crown prince’s threat sent shivers down my spine.
Kasion seemed angry too. He might actually kill the crown prince, regardless of his imperial status. Kasion’s muscles were visibly tense and twitching, even from behind.
Aenix seemed to sense the danger and quickly took a step back. What a coward.
“Oh, it seems the bride and groom are arriving. Hey, priest, let’s start the wedding.”
Aenix should have treated Serhen as his savior. If their carriage hadn’t arrived just then, he might have ended up sprawled on the red carpet.
* * *
Soon, the carriage carrying the bride and groom arrived at the temple. The guests took their seats, and the priest stood at the end of the flower-adorned aisle.
“Wow… so beautiful.”
Lireania, who I hadn’t seen since she had left things in the hands of the maids, stepped out of the carriage holding Serhen’s hand. Her layered dress, more extravagant than the rose petals scattered along the steps, swayed elegantly with every step she took. She looked nervous, her steps stiff.
“Serhen seems nervous too.”
“Wouldn’t it be the same for you, Kasion, if you were at your wedding?”
“I wouldn’t show my nerves for my bride.”
“Lucky for your bride then, Kasion.”
Kasion’s eyebrow shot up at my offhand remark, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he scanned the wedding hall.
“Are you looking around to see if Viscount Kainum will come?”
“No, he absolutely won’t show up here today. Nor will he appear in front of you again.”
“Why?”
Kasion’s golden eyes seemed to frost over as he answered with a cold, deadly look. “Well…”
His words were drowned out by the cheers of the guests as the bride and groom began their march toward the priest.
“Was there any objection from the Baron Soler family?” Kasion leaned down and whispered into my ear. His breath tickled, making me flinch.
“It’s fine. Their family is like leeches, just like Viscount Kainum… My brother already cut them off.”
At my response, Kasion glanced toward the crown prince. There was a troubled look on his face.
“I see… so that’s why…” He trailed off, now looking even more alert than before as he surveyed the area.
“Is there… something I should be worried about?”
“You don’t need to worry about anything.”
“But this is my brother’s once-in-a-lifetime wedding…”
“Do I seem like the kind of person who would ruin my best friend’s wedding?”
Normally, I would have nodded. But now…
“No.”
“Good. So just relax and enjoy the wedding. It’s the marriage of someone very dear to you.”
I couldn’t help but smile at his words. Although people around us were still glancing at me, I was no longer bothered, not even by the crown prince’s ominous sneer from afar.
“But Ariel.”
“Yes?”
“About what the crown prince said, that you were the second prince’s first love…”
“Didn’t he say that just to provoke you, Kasion?” I answered nonchalantly.
Honestly, Dertis and I barely knew each other. Unless he had fallen for me at first sight recently, it didn’t make sense.
“Do you have no interest in him? He’s kind, well-mannered, and a favored imperial family member who’s cherished by the future emperor.”
“Not really.”
I wasn’t just saying this to please Kasion, but his lips twitched again, though not as much as when he had been eyeing the crown prince and his siblings.
My heart pounded loudly, unaware of the reason. I really didn’t know why this was happening. Quickly, I averted my gaze and focused on the wedding.
The wedding lasted longer than I expected. Long enough for my concentration to wane a bit.
“Are you bored?” Kasion whispered in my ear again.
“No, not at all.”
“If you’re bored, I could change the customs for our wedding.”
What nonsense. I ignored him and focused on the bridesmaid’s next task.
“The couple will now exchange rings,” the priest announced.
As soon as he finished speaking, I stepped forward and handed the rings to the bride and groom. Watching the nervous couple was heartwarming, and I knew I would tease them about this moment for years. Even my cheeks flushed as I watched them.
When the rings were taken out of the box I held, I was so happy that I stomped my feet. This made not only the guests but also the bride and groom burst into laughter. The tension between the two eased, and they placed the rings on each other’s fingers with the most loving expressions.
Even though I didn’t dream of getting married to someone, I felt a bit envious. Seeing love exchanged like this was truly beautiful.
The priest’s voice boomed again, “I now pronounce the Marquis and Marchioness of Mellin.”
Finally, I had achieved my goal. Serhen was married without getting killed. I had saved my brother. The overwhelming joy brought tears to my eyes.
“Are you that happy?” Kasion asked.
“Of course.”
“Not envious?”
“Rather than envious…” I left the sentence unfinished, feeling a swirl of emotions.
In my past life, my parents, and in this life too, the people I had loved had always died too soon. At one point, I had wondered if I was a cursed being who brought misfortune to others. But now I knew that wasn’t true. I have proven this by witnessing my beloved family find happiness.
“I feel like I’m surrounded by happiness.”
Just then, I heard the priest’s final words.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
I was about to turn and watch the kiss, but something stopped me. My hand suddenly rose. The back of it touched Kasion’s cheek. It was rough but warm.
I stared at him in shock, and his eyes were locked on mine as if he had been waiting for me to look at him.
“Can I make a vow to you too?”
It was a very polite and earnest request.
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