“Aachen Requier, Grand Duke of Belzette. And Princess Hilane Peztein.”
The modest vow ceremony consisted only of the bride and groom and the officiating high priest.
“Do you vow before Freya to always respect and love each other under any circumstances?”
The high priest asked the two in a solemn voice.
“I will always respect and love her.”
Hair like a night sky adorned with stars and blue eyes deep as the sea.
The man, who looked as if he were crafted with great care by an artist, answered with a smile.
Aachen Requier Belzette.
He was the former crown prince of the Requier Empire and the leader of the North, the Grand Duke of Belzette.
“… Forever.”
Muttering softly enough for only the bride to hear, Hilane was taken aback.
‘It’s just a ceremonial vow… why does he add such a thing?’
He was still an inscrutable man.
“Princess Hilane?”
“Ah… I vow.”
Hilane hurriedly answered, snapping out of her thoughts at the high priest’s call.
“May Freya’s blessings be upon you, now that you are husband and wife.”
When the high priest rang the bell three times and made the sign of the cross, Aachen bowed slightly to Hilane.
“We will leave for the North immediately after the ceremony here in Peztein.”
“Yes.”
“Later, we will have a grand national wedding. One that befits my noble bride.”
Aachen offered his hand with a slight smile.
Hilane smiled back and placed her hand on his.
As Aachen bowed and his lips softly touched the back of her hand.
Bang―!
Suddenly, with a loud noise, the firmly closed temple doors opened.
Startled, Hilane turned around.
‘Revan?’
It was a familiar face.
Her ex-husband and the father of her beloved daughter, Chevelyn.
Marquis Revan Rata.
“… Hilane.”
Revan stared at Hilane, who had just taken her marital vows with Aachen, in shock.
‘Hilane, he said…. How ridiculous.’
His voice, calling her just like in the warm old days.
Hilane took a deep breath.
Her chest ached.
Was it because she breathed deeply into her lungs?
Or was it because of the longing for the past that made her heart heavy?
‘Don’t indulge in useless sentimentality. Have you forgotten what Chevelyn suffered because of Revan?’
Hilane steadied her weakening resolve.
Both Aachen and the high priest must have been taken aback by Revan’s sudden appearance.
‘Who tipped off Revan?’
How did Revan find this secret location?
The fortunate thing was that there were no guests, only a modest ceremony, so no prying eyes.
‘The Grand Duke of Belzette….’
Although he was the groom whose wedding had been interrupted, Aachen did not seem overly surprised or offended.
Despite the situation potentially leading to a dispute between two nations, Aachen seemed more amused, even wearing a faint smile.
Well.
A former husband showing up at his wife’s remarriage.
‘Could there be a more entertaining situation?’
Hilane suppressed a scoff and hardened her expression.
“Marquis Rata.”
“… Hilane.”
“What is this commotion?”
At her sharp rebuke, Revan’s eyes wavered.
“Not only did you show up uninvited, but you also dared to call a princess by her name and disrespect her?”
“Hil, I was wrong.”
Revan, stepping closer, pleaded as if he were about to kneel.
“Can’t we start over? It was all my fault.”
“……”
Then, Aachen, who had been watching Revan indifferently, murmured.
“So, this is the uninvited guest they mentioned.”
Revan’s gaze moved to Aachen at the cold voice.
“Even if it’s a modest ceremony, it’s still a union of two nations, and such rudeness…”
“……”
“I could overlook it as ignorance.”
Aachen’s eyes, which had been gentle, had turned fierce.
He deliberately kissed Hilane’s hand again and said.
“But I cannot tolerate disrespect towards my bride.”
Then he pulled her waist toward him.
“!”
Hilane flinched at the sudden closeness and the firm body of the man.
“Revan Rata, was it?”
“……”
“If you value your life, it’s best to behave properly.”
With a heavy and stern warning, Revan’s face twisted.
On the other hand, Aachen’s expression, with one corner of his mouth lifted, was extremely relaxed.
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