Although I was looking forward to the wedding a lot, I didn’t plan to make it overly grand.

Given the circumstances, we trimmed down the guest list as much as possible and only sent invitations to families that absolutely had to be invited.

Upon hearing the sudden news of the wedding, the guests rushed over in surprise, and we welcomed them warmly to strengthen our bonds.

Unfamiliar faces, familiar faces – despite trimming the list, an overwhelming number of people flocked to the duchy.

So it was constantly busy, but greeting Johannes was especially difficult.

It was because he showed an attitude of denial, unable to properly accept reality.

“Sister… Is this a lie? Isn’t it too sudden?”

Johannes asked bluntly as soon as he arrived at the Habicht ducal residence, calling me out separately.

Before I could properly answer, he muttered with a panicked face.

“A sudden wedding… And suddenly I have a niece or nephew… How could this happen overnight…”

“It didn’t happen overnight.”

I explained with a calm face as much as possible so as not to surprise him.

“I’ve had tender feelings for the Captain… no, for the Duke, long before you knew.”

“…”

“Of course, it’s not just my one-sided feelings. Unlike when I had a crush on the Emperor, we love each other and have clearly confirmed those feelings.”

“…”

“The child in my womb is the fruit of that.”

“…”

Johannes didn’t say a word while I was speaking.

He had a blank expression, as if unsure whether he was in a dream or reality.

Only after waiting for quite a while could I hear his response.

“Honestly, I feel a bit hurt.”

“Huh?”

“If you were really in a serious relationship, couldn’t you have given me a hint? To suddenly announce you’re getting married like this. Besides… I don’t know Duke Habicht well. We’ve only exchanged greetings a few times.”

Johannes stared straight at me with eyes that seemed more mature than before.

“It may sound a bit hurtful, but… I’m not sure if he’s really a suitable match for you, Sister.”

Although his words were a bit impertinent, I could understand to some extent.

Probably if I were in Johannes’ situation, I wouldn’t have viewed the Captain favorably either.

I too had opposed Johannes and Adelheid’s relationship before I regressed.

When he suddenly brought an unfamiliar young lady and introduced her as his lover, I couldn’t easily believe it.

So instead of scolding Johannes, I said this:

“Why don’t you get to know him now?”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s take some time to get to know each other over tea with the Duke. Right now.”

“R-Right now? I was planning to greet him properly in the evening… Isn’t he very busy right now?”

I shook my head, holding Johannes’ hands.

“Even if it’s a busy time, he won’t put off meeting you.”

“It’s too sudden—”

“I don’t want to leave my precious brother distrusting my precious fiancé.”

Johannes, who had been expressing his burden by saying it was too sudden, closed his mouth upon hearing my words.

I continued to persuade Johannes.

“If you meet him in person, you’ll understand too. How wonderful a person he is.”

I could be certain.

Right now Johannes was saying such things because he didn’t know the Captain properly, but if he had a conversation with him, he would realize how needless his worries were.

The Captain was handsome, cool, and reliable enough for anyone to acknowledge.

“Hmm…”

Johannes hesitated to answer as if considering.

But I knew.

That he wouldn’t avoid it.

As expected, he replied to me with eyes that showed he had made up his mind.

“Alright. Let’s meet him right away. I’ll see for myself and judge.”

There was no need to hesitate in this situation.

I immediately went to find the Captain and asked him to meet with Johannes.

As expected, he paused all his busy work for a moment and arranged a meeting with Johannes.

And so, at present.

We were gathered together in a secluded garden behind Habicht Castle.

Johannes’ partner Adelheid was touring the estate, so only the three of us were here.

And soon I regretted not bringing Adelheid.

With just the three of us gathered like this, the atmosphere was a bit… no, quite heavy and quiet.

I had expected it to be quiet when we met since none of us are particularly talkative, but it was to an extreme degree.

Were these two such taciturn men…? They were both maintaining a heavy silence to the point where it felt unfamiliar.

Fortunately, the Captain took the initiative to break the frozen atmosphere.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Viscount Schnesthern. I’ve heard a lot about you from my wife.”

“Wife…? Have you already decided on such a title? Isn’t it too early when you haven’t held the ceremony yet?”

My shoulders flinched at Johannes’ bold question.

I had felt this before, but this guy had a habit of being overly bold to those above him.

He seemed to become particularly ill-mannered in situations involving me, as he had been like this when meeting the Emperor too. It seemed I needed to give him a bit of caution.

“We agreed on the title together. And with a child in the womb, it would be stranger not to call me wife.”

“A child… in the womb…”

For some reason, Johannes’ gaze became even sharper upon hearing my words.

He shot that sharp gaze at the Captain and said:

“I was very surprised. To suddenly hear the news from our sister. Everything was too sudden.”

“Johannes.”

“I’m just saying I was surprised, Sister. Isn’t it true that it was sudden? Many procedures that should be gone through before marriage… for example, family introductions and such, those procedures were skipped.”

The atmosphere became as cold as the middle of a winter snowfield due to Johannes’ sharp rebuke.

At that point, I seriously regretted it.

Bringing Johannes to meet the Captain without preparation.

It seemed Johannes wasn’t mentally prepared yet, but I had arranged the meeting too forcefully.

The situation had become one where it wouldn’t be strange for the Captain to express displeasure and get angry.

But.

“The Viscount’s words are correct. I was hasty. I was too negligent towards the precious family of my future wife. I apologize.”

Surprisingly, there was no anger in the Captain’s voice as he responded to Johannes.

His tone, his gestures, were impeccably polite.

Johannes also seemed surprised by that attitude and flinched for a moment, but he still didn’t seem to have let go of his wariness.

Still looking at the Captain with eyes full of doubt, he asked:

“I heard you’re rushing to prepare for the wedding. I’m a bit worried about this too. It’s such an important, once-in-a-lifetime day for my sister, I wonder if it might be prepared inadequately if you hurry too much…”

“You don’t need to worry about that at all. Even if time is tight, I’ll prepare a wonderful wedding on my name. And our wedding won’t end with just this one time.”

Both Johannes and I became confused at the words “not just once”.

The Captain smiled at both of us and explained:

“This time we couldn’t invite many other families due to various circumstances, right? Once urgent matters are settled, then I plan to hold an unprecedentedly grand wedding inviting all the nobles of the empire. I have both the will and ability to do so.”

Johannes became blank-faced for a moment at the Captain’s confident words.

Meanwhile, the Captain placed an elegant box he had brought down to the garden earlier on the table.

Then he opened it to show the contents, and Johannes murmured with wide eyes:

“This, this is…”

“Chess pieces carved in the era of Brunhild. I heard you have a hobby of collecting such antiques. Please accept it as a gift to commemorate becoming family.”

“My goodness… This item is not something that can simply be called an antique. If my eyes are correct, this is an item used by royalty in diplomatic settings at the time. It’s a true treasure with historical value as well. Can I really accept something like this?”

“Of course. I’m glad you like it.”

To my eyes it just looked like dirty old chess pieces, but it seemed different to Johannes.

Johannes, who had only shown a sharp expression until now, smiled for the first time.

After the Captain handed over that bribe to Johannes, our atmosphere changed noticeably.

The Captain and I were able to smile more comfortably, and Johannes had a smiling face throughout.

When the meeting was wrapping up well like that.

Johannes came to find me separately and said:

“As expected, Sister’s judgment is accurate. You’ve found the best husband material.”

“Did you like those old chess pieces that much?”

“Ahem, no, it’s not just because of the gift. It’s just, how should I put it—”

He seemed to be struggling to find the right expression, then opened his mouth:

“After talking with him, I could tell. He’s definitely not someone who will make you suffer.”

I nodded in full agreement, and he gave me a feather-light smile.

“You’ll be happy this time, right?”

“Of course. I plan to be so happy that anyone who sees will have a stomachache from envy.”

It wasn’t a lie.

For the sake of Johannes who wished for my happiness, I intended to be happier than anyone else.

Even if there were unfinished ill fates or unovercome obstacles remaining, it didn’t matter.

With a reliable husband and brother protecting me, I would be able to overcome them without much difficulty.

“Thank you,” I whispered, hugging Johannes tightly.

Afterwards, I patted his back until my shoulder became damp from the tears he shed.