Even as Kisa was getting to know new people through Aria’s introduction, the preparations for the two’s wedding continued smoothly without any problems.
“Um… how does it look?”
Kisa’s vision captured Seyard’s slightly surprised expression as he stared at her.
After being unable to speak for a while, he finally answered in a somewhat husky voice.
“You’re beautiful beyond belief, Kisa.”
She thought this was truly the best response a man could give when facing his lover dressed in a pure white gown.
Just then, a woman approached the two with a friendly attitude and said:
“Thankfully, Duke Hillan has given quite generous praise. Is Lady Vansfelt satisfied as well?”
After checking her appearance once more in the full-length mirror, Kisa nodded willingly.
“Yes, it looks extremely beautiful to my eyes too. You’ve wonderfully transformed the dress in such a short time.”
“Oh my, thank you.”
The woman who covered her mouth shyly was a fairly famous dressmaker in the Kingdom of Sorbi.
There were others who were considered to have more excellent design skills than Madame Estes, who had made Kisa’s engagement dress.
However, in certain areas, she showed results that surpassed even Madame Estes, who exclusively handled dresses for the royal family.
Her true specialty wasn’t creating new dresses, but transforming existing ones into something new.
It was widely acclaimed that no matter how old a garment was, it would be reborn after passing through her hands.
Kisa had thought from the moment she first heard this story that if she were to get married, she would want to entrust her wedding dress to this woman.
Because…
“Your mother left you a precious gift.”
Seyard, who had somehow approached right behind Kisa, whispered softly.
Kisa lowered her gaze, conscious of his hands encircling her waist.
“Thank you so much for indulging my stubbornness about wearing this dress, Seyard.”
“What’s there to thank me for? Whatever dress you wear, it’s your heart’s desire.”
“But there’s no day more important than our wedding.”
How many grooms would welcome a bride wearing a musty dress made more than twenty years ago on such an important day?
Moreover, Seyard was none other than the master of the great noble house of Hillan, the Duke of Hillan.
It could easily become a laughingstock among those who didn’t think highly of him.
“Nonsense. This is such a wonderful dress.”
However, Seyard answered with a confident appearance.
“Besides, even if you were wearing rags, my eyes would only see you.”
As if he wouldn’t let anything ridicule him and his bride.
“Seyard…”
Kisa unconsciously intertwined her fingers with his, then realized there was one more person besides the two of them.
The young dressmaker was waiting at a distance with an awkward expression.
“Ah! Is it finished now?”
When Kisa hurriedly broke away from Seyard’s embrace and asked, she replied kindly.
“There are still a few places to adjust, such as the measurements, but it’s almost finished.”
“I see.”
“But may I ask once more if you’re truly satisfied with it? I apologize for the repeated confirmation, but it’s an important matter.”
Kisa took one last look at herself in the mirror.
This was the wedding dress her mother, the Countess Vansfelt, had worn long ago when she married the Count.
The Countess must have cherished it greatly, as if it were an object of attachment.
[My dear Kisa, I hope that someday you too will wear this dress and marry someone you love.]
Her mother’s smiling face as she said those words still remained in Kisa’s mind as a faded memory.
The dress, reborn with a new look, had changed to better match current fashion trends, but its basic form remained just as she remembered.
‘Just as you said, Mother, I’m wearing this to marry someone I love.’
Are you watching from heaven?
Asking this to the beloved one whose face had grown dim in her memory, Kisa spoke:
“Yes, I love it. It’s perfect.”
The red-haired man beyond the mirror gave her a gentle look.
Kisa silently took his hand again.
After leaving the dress shop located a bit away from the bustling streets, they boarded a black carriage.
In the carriage heading to their next destination, Kisa carefully began to speak.
“Actually, I can’t really recall my mother’s face anymore.”
Though he hadn’t asked, and there was no particular reason she needed to say this now, it was something she wanted to share.
“Of course, I can see what she looked like from portraits, but the memories themselves are becoming increasingly blurred. How she looked at me, what her voice sounded like…”
Seyard quietly listened to her words.
“I’m sure she loved me very much.”
Only the shock she had received when her mother passed away after her illness worsened was still vivid.
The impact must have been so great for young Kisa that even her memories of that time were hazy.
Her hand resting on her knee trembled with an indescribable emotion.
“Kisa.”
Seyard then enveloped her hand with his strong, warm one.
He simply shared his warmth without offering any special words.
Kisa was rather grateful for this aspect of him.
In fact, she herself didn’t know exactly how she was feeling right now.
But one thing she could clearly understand:
‘Seyard really is a good person.’
[The things you wanted but couldn’t have. I’ll take them all for myself.]
It was impossible to believe that he was still harboring the resentment glimpsed in that diary.
Perhaps the burning hatred had also faded over the long years.
That must surely be the case.
If he were still holding onto such negative emotions, how could he be so considerate and warm?
Kisa held these thoughts as she quietly felt the warmth Seyard was giving her.
After some time, the place where the two got off the carriage was in front of the opera house.
According to the rumors known to others, this was also where Seyard had fallen for Kisa at first sight.
That day, Kisa had come here after receiving opera tickets as a gift from him, and they had passed by each other by a hair’s breadth.
‘Who would have thought that Duke Hillan, who was moving around with crowds of people, was Seyard?’
Towards Kisa, who was reminiscing about the past that felt like ancient history although it had been only a few months ago, Seyard extended his hand.
“Shall we go?”
As Kisa placed her hand in his, he pressed his lips to the back of her soft hand.
“This time, I’ll escort you properly.”
A chuckle escaped from Kisa’s lips.
This was the very reason the two had visited the opera house today.
“To be honest, I’m disappointed. I actually wanted to enjoy the opera with you that day.”
This was what Seyard had said in a slightly sulky voice when they were discussing something else and the topic of opera came up.
Finding his unexpected demeanor cute, Kisa had suggested going to see the opera again.
To watch the same opera performance from the same seat where Kisa had sat before.
Fortunately, the opera play “The Lord’s Castle,” which the two had watched separately that day, was still being performed at the opera house thanks to its enthusiastic popularity.
Additionally, securing the best seats was an easy task for the Duke of Hillan.
Receiving people’s gazes, Kisa and Seyard entered the theater.
This time, they could enjoy the performance sitting right next to each other.
Even though she already knew the content of the play, strangely, Kisa had a more fun and enjoyable time than before.
A few hours later, when the play ended, the two left the opera house before anyone could approach them to start a conversation and boarded their carriage.
“Wow, that was really fun.”
Kisa, still immersed in the afterglow of the performance, exclaimed.
“To be honest, I thought it would be less enjoyable since I’d seen it before, but I noticed new things I hadn’t seen before and was able to think more deeply about the lessons this work conveys.”
Seyard nodded briefly as if agreeing with Kisa’s words.
“I enjoyed it too.”
Looking at him, Kisa felt a desire to share more of their impressions.
Until now, there had been no one with whom she had opened her heart and shared various stories as much as with Seyard.
“Um, there’s something I’ve been thinking about regarding the ending of the work. Overall, it’s a piece I really like, but there’s one part that I find hard to understand.”
“What is it?”
“At the end, the male protagonist criticizes the female protagonist for doubting his love, right? And she deeply regrets and reflects upon hearing this.”
“That’s right.”
“In the end, the male protagonist forgives the female protagonist with love and there’s a happy ending, but is that really desirable?”
Kisa gathered her courage and continued.
“I think….given the situation, the female protagonist had no choice but to doubt the male protagonist, regardless of love. So I’m not sure if her doubt was such a great mistake.”
The male protagonist, the lord, continues to have secret meetings with the female protagonist who is his prisoner, while hiding his identity.
To some extent, she could understand his feelings as the leader of a territory who couldn’t admit to himself that he had fallen for the daughter of the leader of an enemy force.
However, from the female protagonist’s position, wouldn’t it be natural to find it difficult to show unconditional trust in him?
After all, she doesn’t even know how her beloved man manages to appear in the tower where she is imprisoned every time.
Moreover, the lord avoided her questions with evasive answers whenever she inquired.
“Of course, secretly going through someone’s belongings while they’re asleep isn’t good behavior, but I think she had reason to do so.”
That was the conclusion Kisa had reached.
“Well, my opinion differs.”
“Pardon?”
At the sudden statement, Kisa instinctively looked at Seyard.
“I believe that doubt should not accompany love.”
