While Kisa got to know new people through Aria’s introduction, the preparations for their wedding proceeded smoothly without any issues.

“How… do I look?”

In Kisa’s view as she asked that question, Seyerd’s slightly surprised gaze was fixed on her.

After being unable to easily open his mouth for a while, he answered with a somewhat choked voice a moment later.

“Breathtakingly beautiful, Kisa.”

As a man before his lover clad in a truly pure white dress, Kisa thought that was the best answer he could utter.

Just then, a woman approached the two and spoke in a friendly manner.

“Thankfully, His Grace the Duke of Hillan gave praise bordering on excessive. Is Lady Vanspelt also satisfied?”

After checking her appearance reflected in the full-length mirror once more, Kisa readily nodded.

“Yes, it looks incredibly beautiful to my eyes as well. You wonderfully transformed the dress in such a short time.”

“Oh my, thank you.”

The woman, who covered her mouth as if embarrassed, was a fairly renowned dressmaker in the Sorby Kingdom.

There were indeed some people evaluated to possess even more outstanding design skills than Madam Estes, who had made Kisa’s engagement dress.

However, she showed achievements surpassing even Madam Estes, who was in charge of royal family dresses in certain areas.

Her true specialty was not creating new dresses, but transforming existing dresses anew.

No matter how old a garment was, it was well-known that it would be reborn after passing through her hands.

From the moment Kisa first heard that story, she thought that if she were to get married someday, she would entrust her wedding dress to this woman.

Because…

“Your mother left behind a precious gift.”

Seyerd, who had approached right behind Kisa at some point, whispered softly.

Conscious of his hands wrapping around her waist, Kisa lowered her gaze.

“Thank you so much for granting my stubborn wish to wear this dress, Seyerd.”

“What is there to thank? Whichever dress you wear is your choice.”

“But there won’t be another day as important as a wedding.”

How many grooms would welcome the bride wearing an outdated dress made over twenty years ago on such an occasion?

Moreover, Seyerd was none other than the master of the great noble house of Hillan, the Duke of Hillan.

It could potentially become a laughing matter for those who regarded him condescendingly.

“Nonsense. This dress is so magnificent.”

However, Seyerd replied with a confident expression.

“Besides, even if you were to wear rags, my eyes would only see you.”

As if he wouldn’t allow anything to ridicule him and his bride.

“Seyerd…”

Kisa absentmindedly interlocked fingers with him, then realized there was one more person present besides the two of them.

The young dressmaker was waiting at a slight distance with an awkward face.

“Ah! So, is it finished now?”

As Kisa hurriedly escaped Seyerd’s embrace and asked, the woman kindly responded.

“There are still a few places left to work on, such as size adjustments, but it’s almost complete.”

“I see.”

“But may I ask once more if you’re truly satisfied? I apologize for repeatedly checking, as it’s an important matter.”

Kisa took in her own reflection in the mirror one last time.

Her mother’s wedding dress, which the Countess of Vanspelt had worn long ago when marrying the Count.

It seemed to have been a cherished item, as the Countess had taken great care of it.

“My lovely Kisa, I hope that someday you’ll also wear this dress and marry the person you love.”

The face of her mother, who had spoken those words with a smile, still remained in Kisa’s mind as a faded memory.

Her dress, reborn with a new appearance, had changed to suit the current trend but retained the basic form as in her memory.

‘Just as you said, Mother, I’m going to marry the person I love wearing this.’

Are you watching from heaven?

Asking the dearly missed one whose face had become hazy, Kisa opened her mouth.

“Yes, I like it. It’s perfect.”

The red-haired man beyond the mirror sent her a gentle gaze.

Kisa silently held his hand once more.

Leaving the dressmaker’s shop located a bit away from the busy streets, they boarded a black carriage.

Inside the carriage heading to the next destination, Kisa carefully began to speak.

“Actually, I can’t recall my mother’s appearance well anymore.”

He didn’t ask, and there was no particular reason to mention it now, but she somehow wanted to share this story.

“Of course, I can know her features if I look at the portrait, but the memory itself is becoming more and more blurry. How she looked at me, what her voice was like…”

Seyerd quietly listened to her words.

“I’m sure she loved me a lot though.”

The shock she had received when her mother passed away as her illness worsened was still vivid.

It had been so shocking to young Kisa that even the memories from that time were hazy.

Kisa’s hand resting on her lap trembled with indescribable emotions.

“Kisa.”

At that, Seyerd enveloped his lover’s hand with his firm and warm one.

He merely shared his warmth without uttering any special words.

Kisa was rather pleased with that aspect of him.

In fact, she herself wasn’t quite sure what exact emotions she was feeling at the moment.

However, this one thing she could clearly know.

‘As expected, Seyerd is a good person.’

The things you wanted to have but couldn’t.

I’ll have them all for you.

It was impossible to think he was someone who had harbored the resentment glimpsed in that diary for so long.

Perhaps the hatred that had burned fiercely had also died down in the long flow of time.

It must be so.

If he held onto such negative emotions, how could he be this caring and warm?

Kisa felt the warmth Seyerd provided while entertaining such thoughts.

Some time later, the place where the two alighted from the carriage was in front of the opera house.

According to the rumors known to others, it was also the place where Seyerd had fallen for Kisa at first sight.

That day, Kisa, who had come here after receiving an opera ticket from him as a gift, had narrowly missed Seyerd.

‘To think the Duke of Hillan, who moved about with a crowd of people like clouds, was Seyerd.’

As Kisa was reminiscing about the past that felt like a distant memory despite being just a few months ago, Seyerd extended his hand towards her.

“Shall we go?”

When Kisa placed her hand in his, he brought his lips to her soft hand.

“This time, allow me to escort you properly.”

A chuckle escaped 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 together with you that day.”

Those were the words Seyerd had uttered in a slightly sulky tone when the topic of opera came up while having a different conversation before.

Finding that unexpected side of him endearing, Kisa had suggested going to see the opera again.

To watch the same opera performance from the seat Kisa had sat in last time.

Fortunately, the opera play ‘The Lord’s Castle’ that the two had separately watched that day was still being performed at the opera house due to its enthusiastic popularity.

Additionally, securing the best seats was an easy task for the Duke of Hillan.

Receiving people’s gazes, Kisa and Seyerd entered the theater.

This time, they could sit right next to each other and enjoy the performance.

Despite already knowing the entire content of the play, strangely, Kisa had a more enjoyable and fun time than the first viewing.

A few hours later, as the play ended, the two left the opera house before anyone could approach them to strike up a conversation and boarded the carriage.

“Wow, that was really fun.”

Kisa, still lingering in the afterglow of the performance, exclaimed.

“To be honest, I thought it would be less enjoyable since it was a performance I had seen before, but I noticed new things I hadn’t seen then and could think more deeply about the lessons this work imparts.”

Seyerd nodded briefly as if agreeing with Kisa’s words.

“I enjoyed it too.”

Seeing him like that, Kisa felt a desire to share more of their impressions with each other.

After all, there had been no one with whom she could open her heart and engage in such diverse conversations as much as with Seyerd.

“You know, there’s something I’ve been thinking about regarding the work’s ending. Overall, it’s a story I really like, but there’s one part I can’t quite accept.”

“What is it?”

“At the end, the male lead reprimands the female lead for doubting his love. The female lead, upon hearing that, deeply regrets and reflects.”

“That’s right.”

“In the end, the male lead forgives the female lead with love, leading to a happy ending, but is that really desirable?”

Kisa mustered up her courage and continued.

“In my opinion… given the situation, the female lead had no choice but to doubt the male lead, separate from love. So I’m not sure if her doubt was such a great wrong.”

The male lead, the lord, continues his secret meetings with the female lead, who was captured as his prisoner, while concealing his identity.

His feelings, as the leader of a territory, unable to acknowledge falling for the daughter of the opposing force’s chief, were understandable to some extent.

However, from the female lead’s perspective, wouldn’t it be natural for her to find it difficult to trust him unconditionally?

She doesn’t even know by what means the man she loves appears at the tower where she is imprisoned each time.

Moreover, whenever she inquired, the lord evaded her questions with ambiguous answers.

“Of course, secretly going through his belongings while her lover was asleep wasn’t a good act, but I think she had reason to do so.”

That was the conclusion Kisa reached.

“Well, my opinion differs.”

“Pardon?”

At the sudden remark, Kisa reflexively looked at Seyerd.

“I believe doubt should not accompany love.”