Serena felt like she was about to faint from exhaustion even though she had only taken off her wedding dress in the reception room prepared for the ceremony.

“My lady, please drink some water.”

Anna, who had forcibly pulled Serena up from the sofa, handed her a glass of cold water.

Serena drank all the water that tasted unusually sweet today and tried to collapse back onto the sofa, but Anna narrowly stopped her.

“You need to put on your reception dress now.”

“Just five minutes.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince has already joined the reception. You can’t be late.”

Today, Serena had to change her clothes three times, but unfairly, Lucas, the groom, could simply move around with just one formal attire.

“It’s unfair.”

“Pardon?”

“…No, it’s nothing. Let’s change clothes first.”

Anna nodded and brought the dress that Lady Hailey had put the most effort into for the reception. As expected, the main color was white, symbolizing the bride, and the flowers and waves embroidered with silver thread shone elegantly.

“Luckily, since it’s the same color, you can keep the gloves on.”

Serena nodded, glad that the work was giving her something, but the brilliant diamond on the ring sparkled again. It was natural to feel awkward since she had only put on the ring for the first time a little while ago.

“It’s truly beautiful. The jewels prepared by our ducal family are also of the highest quality, but the royal family’s treasures are indeed different. Moreover… look.”

Anna beamed as if it were her own matter while looking at the ring.

“It has a faint blue hue like your eyes, my lady. He must have chosen it very meticulously.”

Serena also liked this ring. She would have liked it more if only it wasn’t a wedding ring, but that couldn’t be helped.

“Ah…”

Suddenly, while looking at the ring, Anna’s exclamation was heard, and her expression hardened.

“Anna, what’s wrong?”

“I apologize.”

Anna quickly stood up and bowed deeply in front of Serena.

“Why all of a sudden? What’s the matter?”

“I made a slip of the tongue.”

“Huh? What?”

In front of the puzzled Serena, Anna looked at her with a faint smile.

“Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

Serena blinked slowly at the unfamiliar title.

“But it’s just the two of us…”

“No. From now on, you must never forget your status as Her Highness the Crown Princess even for a moment.”

Serena didn’t know she would already miss the days when Anna affectionately called her ‘my lady’.

Peter always strictly adhered to etiquette and called her ‘young lady’, but only Anna always called her ‘my lady’ lovingly. The people remained the same, but it was a bit regrettable that their special way of addressing each other had become a memory.

“Now, let’s hurry.”

Perhaps reading the bitterness in Serena’s expression, Anna spoke even more lightly. The young maid Lily, who was brought from Astel, also nodded with a smile and arranged the hem of her dress.

“Yes.”

Even if the way of addressing and status changed, these people were family who had followed her. So Serena had no choice but to smile as well. She shouldn’t be gloomy alone when the people who came with her to the unfamiliar royal palace just for her sake were smiling.

“Well, let’s go.”

Although it was a bit different from the attitude of a bride facing the wedding reception, it was good to see Serena strengthening her resolve while shining her blue eyes.

When Serena appeared at the reception, everyone made way for her. In between, Lucas walked quite confidently and took her hand, making it truly feel like they were a married couple.

“We should greet Their Majesties first.”

Lucas naturally reminded her of the procedure. When Serena nodded, he held her hand tightly and stood in front of the emperor and empress at the head table.

Serena was a little nervous, but fortunately, Lucas squeezed her hand to give a signal and bowed, so she was able to keep the timing without being noticed.

“Greetings to Your Majesty the Emperor and Your Majesty the Empress.”

Fortunately, her voice didn’t noticeably tremble.

“Come, raise your heads.”

At the emperor’s voice, Serena carefully raised her head. The two elders hadn’t changed at all from six years ago, and especially the empress, Adeline, was still very beautiful.

“Just as the bond between Us and the Duke of Astel is deep, may the bond between you two also be deep, and may you live as husband and wife for a lifetime and enjoy conjugal harmony.”

“Indeed. The Crown Prince cherishes the princess very much, so the future of this imperial family and the royal family is bright.”

When the two each gave their blessings, Lucas confidently nodded, and Serena expressed her gratitude with a nod. The title of princess was already burdensome, but now she had no choice but to get used to it.

“As you have held the wedding ceremony and become husband and wife, we are now one family. Moreover, the investiture of the Crown Princess was also included in the wedding ceremony, so you are now a proper member of the royal family.”

Was there such a procedure? She couldn’t remember well due to nervousness, but it was an unchanging fact that Serena had become the Crown Princess.

“Since you two married late, a quick heir…”

“Your Majesty, they just got married, so don’t put too much pressure on them.”

Fortunately, the empress understood a woman’s heart well.

“We will do our best to meet Father’s expectations.”

Unfortunately, Lucas didn’t hesitate to give an embarrassing answer with a grin. Then the emperor also laughed loudly, seemingly in a good mood.

“Then go and greet the Duke of Astel and enjoy this banquet.”

“Yes.”

Serena bowed to the two elders again and went to where the Duke of Astel was sitting, and knelt again.

“Father.”

When the Crown Prince and Princess approached, Roger quickly rose from his seat and smiled broadly.

“Congratulations on the marriage of Your Highness the Crown Prince and Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

Even though Serena was his daughter, she was now a member of the royal family, so he had to use honorifics and titles. He wasn’t a very affectionate father, but it felt strange to be more distant than before.

“Neither I nor our royal family will forget our gratitude to the Duke of Astel.”

“I am honored. I always pray for blessings in the future of you two.”

Lucas offered a handshake to the duke. It was the maximum respect he could show as the Crown Prince. The Duke of Astel gladly accepted it and sent a look of support to Serena.

Behind him, the Marquis and Marchioness of Sherwood were waiting for their turn with an earnest gaze, but when the waltz began, Lucas took the bride’s hand and went to the center of the hall.

“It’s the first dance.”

His large hand held Serena’s hand and took an elegant posture. Thanks to Lady Abigail’s special training, Serena was able to handle at least one waltz without making mistakes and twirled around in time with the beat.

Then the hem of her dress fluttered like waves, drawing exclamations from everyone.

“I might step on your feet.”

When Serena approached him and whispered in his ear, Lucas’ smile deepened.

“I endured even being kicked in the shin, so what’s this.”

“That was then, this is now.”

In the eyes of the guests, it would seem like a beautiful new couple blushing and being shy while dancing their first waltz together.

“Ah.”

Serena accidentally stepped on his foot, but Lucas didn’t show it at all. Thanks to that, the guests didn’t notice her mistake either.

“Excuse me.”

“This is just our first dance.”

Perhaps it was because of the formal attire or the situation, but Lucas’ smile looked particularly dashing today. Moreover, rarely holding hands with a man much taller than herself and struggling to keep up with the beat gave her a strange feeling different from before.

“And your last dance will also be with me.”

Marriage was a vow to be together from the beginning to the end. It was still a fact that was difficult for Serena to fully accept.

“Isn’t that so?”

“I’ll consider that much for dancing. I won’t have many occasions to dance outside the palace anyway.”

Even at Serena’s innocent answer, Lucas’ smile did not fade.

Why wouldn’t it be so? He had completely erased the humiliation from six years ago, put a ring on the finger of the woman he had wanted so much, and made her his wife, so he was as happy as if he had the whole world now.

“There will be many… first things to do as a married couple.”

“Only to the extent that my freedom is not infringed upon, I suppose.”

As the waltz ended, the two held hands and faced each other with a smile. No one knew that it was a fierce battle of nerves.

“Don’t worry.”

As Lucas pulled Serena’s hand, his whisper was heard right next to her ear.

“I have strong patience.”

Serena still maintained her smile while gritting her teeth.

“What a coincidence.”

Today was a special day, but she was not yet swayed by Lucas’ momentum.

“So do I.”

And before Lucas could answer, the second waltz began. As always, the second would be easier than the first. Just like the wedding was better than the engagement.

“At least I got one promise from you.”

“What? I…”

“The last dance is with me.”

She didn’t know if it had any great meaning, but when she saw Lucas’ dark eyes filled with joy, her head nodded.

“Alright.”

The reason she didn’t want this marriage was that she preferred being single over Lucas. So if she had to hold hands with a man and dance an awkward waltz, she preferred Lucas, who had a reliable back that could cover all her mistakes.

“I don’t know when it will be… but the last dance is together.”

The dancers moved like flower petals scattered by the wind, following the melody. And at the climax of the melody, Lucas held Serena’s waist and leaned her far back.

“No, how about all the dances with me.”

Lucas’ lips moved as if they were about to touch Serena’s forehead, then he pulled her waist and faced her straight.

“Yes.”

Regardless of Serena’s feelings, it was undeniable that Lucas had become a dashing man.

And it was also true that his sincerity had come this far after six years, and that she didn’t dislike his unique scent and jet-black eyes.

“I’ll give you at least the dances.”

“It’s a promise.”

Another song ended. Lucas lifted Serena’s left hand, which was nodding, and pressed his lips to the diamond ring proving their marriage.

It was the birth of the most beautiful and perfect couple on this continent.