“……I suppose so.”
After answering with a slight delay, Kisa shared something he wouldn’t have known.
“That’s why my father visited the Marquis Lowens residence yesterday to check on his condition.”
While people who had heard rumors might know about Daniel’s accident, the information that Count Vansfelt had gathered would be unknown to him.
Kisa also shared her speculation that Daniel would likely be sent away by Marquis Lowens soon.
Seyard silently walked through the garden, listening attentively to Kisa’s words.
The garden of Duke Hillan’s mansion, blooming with autumn flowers, created a profound atmosphere.
“I see. Daniel Lowens is leaving…… To be honest, that’s a relief.”
He wrapped one arm around Kisa’s waist.
“At least for a while, he won’t be able to send you strange letters or visit you as he pleases. I hope he doesn’t show up in the capital for as long as possible.”
“That’s what I’m saying. I wish he would just stay there for good. Fortunately, Marquis Lowens seems to be as stubborn as his son, so I don’t think Daniel will return anytime soon.”
“That’s good. At least we can have our wedding ceremony in peace.”
Wedding ceremony. At that word with its strange resonance, Kisa unconsciously stopped walking through the garden.
Seyard also stopped in place, meeting his lover’s gaze.
With a gentle expression, he slowly took in the sight of her from head to toe.
Despite having already prepared a wedding dress, Kisa still couldn’t fully grasp the fact that after autumn and winter passed and spring arrived, she would be marrying this enchanting man.
In truth, Kisa and Count Vansfelt were of the opinion that they could hold the wedding ceremony earlier.
However, Seyard had insisted that he wanted to be united with Kisa in spring, when all living things are reborn.
‘It would be more convenient for him to get married sooner and return to his territory……’
The hardships Seyard faced managing his territory’s affairs from the capital were certainly not trivial.
“Seyard.”
Knowing well his desire to give her the best wedding possible, Kisa felt a tightness in her nose.
She wanted to completely trust this incredibly kind man, both now and in the future.
“This might sound silly, but please don’t walk around alone and always take guards with you. The world is quite dangerous these days.”
Looking up at him, Kisa continued.
“They say it will be difficult to catch the criminals who did that to Daniel. I’m scared. Even someone as confident as him nearly had a serious accident because he got caught up in someone’s malice.”
What if Daniel had hit his head badly while rolling down the slope, or if he had been struck in a vulnerable spot when beaten by the perpetrators?
Although Daniel was an unpleasant person, it was only natural to feel chilled at the thought that someone who had been perfectly fine until yesterday could be harmed in an instant.
“Don’t worry, Kisa. As you say, I promise to be careful and remain vigilant in everything I do.”
Seyard caressed Kisa’s soft cheek and smiled charmingly.
“I can’t make such a lovely bride like you look so worried.”
“…….”
After a very brief silence, Kisa answered softly.
“Yes, thank you.”
There were words she hesitated to speak until the end, but ultimately couldn’t bring herself to say.
‘You know, Seyard.’
Daniel seems to be claiming that you hired those criminals to attack him.
Is that true? Did you really do that?
Kisa was afraid. But she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what she feared.
Was she afraid of discovering that Seyard had truly silenced Daniel through such violent means?
Or was she afraid that even if she heard he was innocent, she wouldn’t be able to fully believe him?
Or perhaps she feared that he had actually done it but wouldn’t tell her the truth?
Not knowing, Kisa spread her arms and embraced Seyard tightly.
At least this way, she could feel certain that he was by her side right now.
“Kisa…….”
His somewhat surprised voice fell on Kisa’s ear.
Was it her imagination? He seemed a bit overwhelmed.
“This is the first time. The first time you’ve actively shown desire for me.”
Thinking about it, this indeed seemed to be the first time Kisa had initiated an embrace with him.
Until now, her greatest show of courage had been to take his hand first and interlock their fingers.
“……Was this not a good moment for this?”
At Kisa’s cautious question, Seyard answered by trapping her in his arms.
“Not at all. I’m delighted.”
The two stayed like that for a while, feeling each other’s warmth, before facing each other.
Unlike the first time, Kisa could anticipate what would come next.
Their intertwined gazes told her as much.
Soon, Kisa and Seyard’s lips met.
Feeling his thick tongue invading her mouth, Kisa tried to focus only on Seyard.
Nothing else was needed at this moment.
****
Time flowed like running water.
Autumn quickly disappeared, and winter arrived.
Seyard, knowing that Kisa was sensitive to cold, always spent most of their time indoors where warmth could be felt whenever she visited.
Regrettably, they had to postpone their walks in the garden of the Hillan mansion until spring.
Incidentally, Daniel had to leave the capital less than a week after his accident.
Kisa didn’t know exactly where he had gone, as Marquis Lowens hadn’t told even Count Vansfelt, but she wasn’t particularly interested either.
She just felt relieved, as if an aching tooth had been pulled out.
With Daniel gone, there was no one left to bother Kisa.
In Princess Arta’s case, she had thoroughly ignored Kisa’s existence since the Gabriel incident.
Not only did she not invite Kisa to her tea parties, but she also didn’t send any letters of greeting.
Although Kisa didn’t know what the princess had said to them, ardent followers of the princess like Lady Welf and Melissa no longer picked fights with Kisa.
As months passed without any conflict between Kisa and the princess, people who had been busy gossiping about the two gradually lost interest.
Kisa focused on her wedding preparations and building new relationships without any problems.
With plenty of time on her hands, she attended all the gatherings with Aria’s friends.
With Aria’s help, Kisa was able to become friends with them quickly.
“Well, according to my husband, the gatherings at the Willow Tree café are on the verge of falling apart due to various circumstances.”
This was the news she shared one day.
“Well, their most enthusiastic member has disappeared claiming to be going for treatment, and there are widespread rumors that the host was fooling around with a taken man. No wonder the atmosphere is chaotic. Who would want to participate enthusiastically? Even existing members are leaving one by one, they say.”
Watching Aria laugh as if it served them right, Kisa managed an awkward smile.
She seemed to think that Kisa was curious about Hazel’s recent situation, but in fact, Kisa wasn’t curious at all.
If it hadn’t been for Daniel in the first place, she would never have been involved with such a person.
‘Let her do as she pleases.’
Whether she went to look after Daniel during his illness or continued to run the café in the capital, it had nothing to do with Kisa.
The people who truly mattered to Kisa were those currently by her side.
Especially Seyard. The man who loved Kisa and whom Kisa loved.
Recently, Kisa spent time with him almost every day.
As the wedding approached, she felt somewhat anxious in a corner of her heart, but being with him made her forget that feeling.
Today was the day they visited the largest department store in the capital to look at items for their newlywed home.
Of course, the Hillan mansion where they would live after marriage was already fully furnished, but Seyard said Kisa could change anything she wanted.
So Kisa decided to purchase some tableware and furniture that caught her eye.
“How about this? I think it’s pretty.”
“Yes, it’s beautiful. The pattern is delicate.”
“Oh, but that one looks nice too.”
“I agree. The overall shape is sophisticated.”
“……Haven’t you been saying everything looks good?”
“But if it pleases you, everything looks good to my eyes as well.”
Kisa was secretly pleased but replied somewhat sulkily.
“But that makes it hard to choose one.”
“Hmm, should we just buy them all?”
“No! That’s not what I meant!”
For Kisa, who had been raised under the relatively frugal Count Vansfelt for a noble, buying multiple pieces of the same type of furniture was excessive.
In the end, it took about two more hours before the couple finished shopping for their newlywed home.
As they left the department store, they headed toward where their carriage was parked.
At that moment, a shabbily-dressed man approached them.
He had unkempt black hair and a hunched back.
“Ex, excuse me…….”
“Hey, step back.”
The man tried to speak in a hoarse voice but was blocked by the couple’s guards.
In places like this where many people gathered, there were often street vagrants begging.
They typically targeted nobles in fine clothing, and nobles in turn considered it their duty to give alms to those in need.
Seyard and Kisa were no exception.
“Here you go.”
One of the guards handed the man some bills.
“…….”
But the man didn’t take them. He just stared at them with wide eyes.
“Se, Seyard.”
After a while, a name burst from the man’s mouth like a cry.
“I’m, I’m sorry. For breaking my promise and running away then…….”
At that moment, Kisa witnessed Seyard’s expression, which had been indifferently glancing at the man, change completely.
“Cobi?”
In an instant, Seyard moved past the guards to stand in front of the vagrant and grabbed his slumped shoulders.
“Is it you, Cobi?”
