Chapter 121

Imperial palace, the residence of the Emperor and the center of the Capital.

If one was to pick the quietest place among the tall and small castles that made up the Imperial Palace?

The nobles would unite and say the Iasa Cathedral.

It was a place where they could only hear the clergy walking around in their Priest’s uniform. Because of the dazzling cathedral and the quiet enough space to create unbelievable faith, nobles who come to pray bow their heads.

However, today the cathedral was not just very noisy, but there were a lot of people. All were workers for the Duke’s marriage.

A hardworking servant cried out from the top of the ladder.

“What do you think? Does this look a little out of balance?”

White wedding decorations hung from the arched ceiling with very delicate eyes. The ceiling was so high that two people had to cling to the ladder and support it.

“Put the decoration on the right, above each shaped pillar. Straighten them out so that the left and right will balance. There are rumors that the official will come to check after a while.”

“His Majesty told me to make such a great wedding that even the high-ranking people come to the scene? Phew! It’s still not summer, but it’s hot.”

Iasa Cathedral was a holy place used as a wedding venue for the main descendant line among the Imperial Family.

The Duke’s wedding had such a great meaning.

As time passed, nobles entered the waiting hall of the cathedral, which was decorated as a wedding hall, one by one in luxurious clothes.

“It is decorated as if the Emperor was getting married.”

The festival procession that had already started from the square of the capital seemed to have lost its spirit. Even the fan that covered the mouths of the noble girls looked dull compared to it. Instead of talking about how depressed they were, they frankly expressed their envy.

“What kind of blessing does the Duchess have! I really wish I could get married like this.”

“His Majesty is still single, isn’t it? So, it’s not like it’s completely impossible.”

“He is kind, but I don’t know if he really is interested in women. I want to walk to him one more time…”

What was His Majesty the Emperor Oscar, that was envied by the ladies, doing now? Befitting his position, he may be preparing for today’s appearance in the crowd. Or perhaps, he could enjoy the solitude close to the roof as if the walls were hidden…

Contrary to the speculation of such ladies, Oscar stood like a folding screen in the small room where the Ducal couple was waiting.

He came to see if the Duke and Duchess were doing well just before the wedding though he couldn’t even speak properly! It was because Ian couldn’t take his eyes off Laritte. Not only that, but he acted as if there were only him and Laritte in the world.

Ian sat down with Laritte on a long red sofa and engraved her wedding dress in his head.

“It’s really beautiful. I saw it before, but the wedding dress looks more gorgeous today. Like… Well, I’m sorry. It is difficult to express my feelings with whatever word there is.”

‘I never thought Ian would say something like that in my entire life…! That’s not just it, he’s not sugarcoating it, he’s serious!’

Oscar endured the pain with an ‘ugh’ look.

Even if Oscar was his best friend, it was difficult to see with Ian’s eyes blinded by love like that. As he came out of the corner, the Emperor peeked over to the sofa where the Ducal couple was sitting then asked.

“You see me, right?”

“Laritte. I remember the first time we met at the villa. There was a time when you wore a dress like this, too…”

“Excuse me? Ian? Madam…?

“If my mother were alive, she would have been very happy to see you in her dress.”

Ian, of course, and Laritte, didn’t even notice Oscar’s request to speak to them, as Ian kept her occupied.

Oscar sighed and returned to the corner of the room.

‘Cathedral… And, this room… The chandelier, the sofa, every little thing I lent you…’

Ian did not seem to gaze at the castle when there was Laritte in his eyes. He leaned closer on the sofa and took her hand.

The wedding rings on the ring finger of each other’s left hand twinkled in the light. It was a custom-made ring that was crafted just like the ring made of wildflowers with memories of the proposal.

Laritte listened to Ian’s pouring words with no expression.

Do I have to say something, too?

Feeling a sense of duty, she looked up and down Ian and told him.

“Uh, you are pretty as well?”

Laritte really had nothing to say. There was a decoration on his chest, and the blue half-cloak that draped over one of his shoulders was pretty cool, too. However… Wasn’t he good-looking on a daily basis as well?

She was unashamedly serious.

What more could she say here? Laritte lacked the vocabulary to evaluate others highly. It was clearly evident that she did not like compliments. Still, Ian had a heart attack and was about to die hearing her compliment.

Meanwhile, Oscar blankly counted the number of glass eggs on the chandelier. When he counted about forty, he remembered something.

“By the way, where did the parents go?”

The parents of the bride and groom would preside over the wedding. Ian lost his parents early, so Olivia was the only parent for this wedding.

Ian finally turned his face away from Laritte.

“Ah… Olivia went out saying that she would prepare her heart. I don’t know where she is now.”

“You have to find her. It is time for the ceremony to begin soon.”

Ian went out the door to find Olivia. Soon enough, the invited nobles filled the hall quite a bit. They watched Ian with half fear, half respect and excitement.

‘Hmm…’

Ian stood in the exact center of the hall. In such a condition, the true value of a Sword Master’s husband was revealed. He kept all five senses open. After a while, the men’s shoes are heading to one place…

Olivia, hiding behind the curtains, saw him and said.

“I can not.”

At this wedding, she was Laritte’s second face. Not only that, she was the only family member of the Ducal couple’s family, so she had a lot of work to do, such as greeting people… Olivia was afraid.

What if she made a mistake and tarnished Laritte? Like a dancer who survived in the back word, Olivia excelled at everything. Nonetheless, she recently lost confidence in her old heart once Laritte was involved.

Ian sighed, hiding his head behind the curtains.

“You can do it.”

The distance between Olivia, as a dancer, and the nobleman was great, so it was not that he didn’t understand her concerns. He remembered Olivia’s expression when he told her to attend the wedding as a parent.

‘She was so awkward that she was trying to avoid the situation by shutting her mouth right away…’

Still, Olivia prepared hard for today. She steadily learned the steps of the nobles and memorized the names of numerous invited nobles all night long. Still, all of the preparations have come to nothing today.

Olivia bit the inside of her cheek.

“Do you know the nobles who passed by here before? If they had heard that a commoner mother had come, they would laugh, wondering what to do with me.”

“….”

“If I make a real mistake and make Laritte’s first marriage a joke…”

“Whenever you call me a frigid and ask Laritte to run away.”

“That, that…”

Olivia quickly became numb as she remembered her shameful past.

“Laritte thinks you are a shameless person.”

Ian realized that his own word choice was wrong.

“So… I believe that you are a person who lives wisely by acting shamelessly and confidently in any situation. At least Laritte said so.”

Olivia looked lost in thought when he said that her daughter believed in her.

“Why don’t you put a little trust in yourself that your daughter believes.”

Ian did his best to encourage her, and it seemed to work. Out of the curtains, he brought Olivia out.

A lot of eyes were on her.

“That person…”

“…The Madam’s—”

Amidst the gossip, Ian glanced at Olivia with a worried look.

‘I hope you won’t make a mistake…’

At that moment, Olivia had a more serious expression than anyone else. Like a lady who lived her life in a noble way, she had dignity in every step she took.

‘Laritte, mom is coming!’

Ian swiped his arm in the rising goosebumps.

The window in the room where only Laritte and Emperor Oscar were left suddenly opened. It was on a high floor, so it couldn’t be opened from the outside!

Oscar peered out at the window in surprise.

‘Is it an assassin? No one would dare send an assassin?’

Eventually, Seta and Ikar stepped inside with only wings attached to their human form.

“Hey, female human!”

Oscar was even more surprised.

“D, dr, drag…”

His mouth studdered.

Originally, dragons were the object of envy and fear. Moreover, because Oscar was a member of a royal family with faint dragon blood, the feelings were more dominant.

At the same time, Seya smiled broadly when he saw a human who was worshiping him in fear after a long time. He stood sternly and coughed out of place.

“Human. It would be an honor to meet me! First of all, prepare for me ten kinds of fruit of the highest quality…”

Following behind Seta, Ikar landed in the room, and gave a disgusted look at him. Then, he slapped Seta on the back of the head.

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