Love Me Just Once - Chapter 50

When asked why he did that, the old butler replied with different words instead of answering.

“Become a wise ruler.”

Where else in his life would there be such a clear demand?

Even in his previous life, Lisana had maintained his position throughout all the twists and turns Idren went through. Even if he wasn’t his friend, and would never be, Idren highly valued that one aspect of the man.

Lisana was competent, and because he lived with a belief deeper than loyalty, he did not mix personal feelings into his work.

Idren instructed the old man who looked exactly as he remembered:

“There will be a procession that accompanied Penrel from Reden. They are Ophelia’s share, but dispose of them without letting them reach her and assign new ones.”

The butler, with eyes no different from years ago or now, bowed to him just as he had done to the previous king.

“I will do as you say.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Nothing had happened since returning from District 7 of Galisa.

Although she had entered the castle as the king’s betrothed, since the wedding ceremony had not yet taken place, Ophelia was no different from a guest at Sigrasal Castle. She quietly enjoyed a life without any authority or obligations.

Idren seemed worried that she might be ill, staying cooped up in her room sleeping all day, but when she said it was the first time in her life she had such leisurely days, he understood.

“What kept you so busy in your previous life?”

Ophelia replied to the man who came to her bedroom every night, saying they should have separate rooms since they weren’t married yet, and fiddled with her hair. This and that. If he demanded an explanation, she could give one, but it would be too long and tiring.

Fortunately, Idren didn’t ask her any more. Ophelia thought it was good that he had become more perceptive as she turned over. The man’s hand with firm fingertips brushed her ear a little more before withdrawing.

But that laziness ends today.

Ophelia thought as she sat in front of the dressing table with a large mirror attached.

Today was the day of their wedding ceremony. Almost two months earlier than in her previous life.

A nervousness she had never felt even in her first marriage rose up. Ophelia slightly furrowed her brow at the unfamiliar sensation rising from deep in her stomach. The maid combing her hair asked:

“Is there something uncomfortable?”

Ophelia shook her head at the maid who spoke in a voice as sweet as if she had swallowed sugar. The only uncomfortable thing she had was in her mind, and that wasn’t something the other person could do anything about.

So she should have combed comfortably, but the maid styled her hair with a much more careful touch than before. That attitude, unseen in the servants from Reden, made Ophelia freshly realize that she was one of the new ones Idren had assigned.

Even though she said she could manage on her own, Idren had insistently reorganized the people from Reden.

One day, Ophelia saw the butler she had been introduced to at the castle gate sending away the people from Reden to other places, saying it was the king’s order.

It wasn’t something she had specifically asked for, but it was true that it made her more comfortable, so she should thank him someday. Ophelia thought as she swallowed her nervousness.

In fact, what made her anxious was not just the ceremony, but whether the task she had entrusted to Starlet would be successful.

In her previous life, Starlet had once boasted to her about raiding several ships from Brinwell. He had even said he had captured the prime minister’s son and staged a hostage situation, so he must have been good at plundering.

Nevertheless, Ophelia was anxious that Starlet might not succeed. It wasn’t because she didn’t trust him, but rather because her desire for the task to succeed was so great that it caused anxiety.

“We plan to have a fleet on standby at the port in case that pirate fails. So don’t burden your mind.”

Idren had said that, but Ophelia hadn’t forgotten his words that direct armed conflict could be troublesome.

So Starlet absolutely had to complete the task she had assigned. That would make Idren more at ease and save her face as well. Ophelia wanted to prove to the man that the funds he had provided were not wasted.

The maid who put the final jeweled ornament in her hair, which she had interlaced to hide her nervousness, said:

“You look truly beautiful today.”

Only then could Ophelia properly look at her reflection in the mirror.

A woman in a white wedding dress with lively makeup was in the mirror.

Not long after, Heizel, also dressed in ceremonial attire, came to fetch her. Ophelia was now confident she wouldn’t forget the name of that knight Idren had assigned her sometime ago.

Heizel was supposed to escort her to the castle’s great hall where the wedding would take place. Idren was already there. It was Aglante’s wedding custom for the groom to wait during the day and the bride at night.

When they finally arrived at the hall, someone draped a veil woven with gold thread over her face. That veil obscuring her vision would serve to hide her face until the wedding vows were made.

When she reached the old altar, walking on the red carpet holding the knight’s hand, Ophelia saw that Idren was already standing there.

He was both a party to this marriage and the officiant of the wedding vows. Originally, one of Sigrasal’s direct lineage should have taken the role of officiant, but with no remaining direct lineage, it fell to him.

Ophelia saw Sigrasal’s sacred object fitted on the hand extended to her. Reden had something similar to that.

That necklace, called God’s Tear, should have come into her possession when the royal family’s assets were seized in her previous life, but Ophelia never received it in the end. Because it was lost before reaching her.

Of course, that was just an excuse, and it was surely with King Dares in reality, but the king insisted to the end that he had lost the sacred object.

Recalling that brazen behavior for a moment, Ophelia resolved. This time, I must take it no matter what. She wasn’t interested in the royal legacy, but she didn’t want to leave anything in her father’s hands.

The wedding procedure proceeded as she remembered. As before, Ophelia recited as Idren instructed.

Vows made in Aglante’s ancient language, whose meaning she couldn’t understand, brushed past her lips. Ophelia suddenly recalled what Idren had said on the ship.

At that time, Idren had asked if she remembered the wedding vows, saying that strictly speaking, they were already as good as married.

Ophelia looked up at the man facing her. Just then, as he lifted the veil, she could look straight at his handsome face.

Before she could ask about the meaning of the wedding vows, his hand touched her forehead. Idren, looking down at her with eyes slightly wavering like gold being refined, lowered his head. Soon, the first kiss landed on her forehead.

Holding the woman’s slightly warm and soft face, Idren thought Ophelia wouldn’t know how much he had wanted this moment.

In reality, she knew nothing about him. Ophelia didn’t know how much he loved her, nor that the man who acted like a fool in front of her was quite proper at other times.

In her eyes, he was just that kind of man, a man who didn’t even know the obvious.

It doesn’t matter. Fiddling with the small hand in his, Idren thought. It didn’t matter whether Ophelia saw him as a madman or a fool. He would repeat all of this over and over again.

So if he could only make her stand in this place, he would do anything.

Lifting his lips from her round forehead, Idren kissed her left cheek. It was the second kiss. Ophelia whispered to him, Tell me the meaning of the wedding vows.

He finally smiled at this typically her behavior of not hesitating to ask what she wanted to know. Idren stroked the woman’s white cheek, now tinged with a faint blush.

Would Ophelia ever know how deep this feeling was?

Wishing for that moment that always felt so distant, he opened his mouth.

“As long as love remains.”

And the man carefully stroked under her chin. His lips still bore traces of a smile.

Ophelia realized he was about to give the final kiss.

Aglante’s wedding required three kisses. The forehead, cheek, and lips were the order.

Tilting his head, Idren whispered so only she could hear,

“It also means that marriage is eternal.”

And the man kissed her lips.

Ophelia saw his neatly lowered eyelashes following his closed eyes.

On the ship, Idren had said they were as good as husband and wife. So, the meaning of what he had said was…..

And Ophelia stopped thinking any further. She didn’t want to analyze everything even in a moment like this. Even if it wasn’t important to her, today was an important day for Idren. So shouldn’t she go along with it to some extent?

Ophelia closed her eyes following the person in front of her. The kiss, containing nothing but warmth, ended right after.

Ophelia blinked in surprise at the lips that immediately pulled away. Idren also looked down at her with surprised eyes.

Why would that man have such eyes, when it might be understandable for her? As she was thinking that, he whispered in a small voice.

“I didn’t think you would be someone who closed her eyes when kissing.”

Ah. Ophelia let out a small sigh upon hearing those words.

Because in her first marriage, she hadn’t closed her eyes at all.