As the waltz ended, the reception began with various nobles taking turns giving congratulatory speeches or proposing toasts.

“I am truly delighted to be able to participate in this glorious and joyous occasion today. I only wish for His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and Her Imperial Highness the new Crown Princess to be happy…”

“To the eternal glory of the Tern Imperial Family!”

“Congratulations on the joy of the Empire.”

Serena was holding a champagne glass, but she was so tired that she barely touched it to her lips. Instead, it was enough for Lucas to drink all the toasts in a refreshing manner, befitting his large stature.

“I, too, cannot help but offer my congratulations.”

Attention was drawn to a slightly different congratulatory speech. It was Marquis Sherwood, whom they had first met this morning through a translucent veil. Miranda was confidently standing by his side.

“We are especially grateful and joyful as the Sherwood Marquisate has been preparing for Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess’s royal wedding.”

Although they never saw the Marquis’s face while staying at the Sherwood estate to prepare for the royal wedding, there was nothing they could say as he was taking credit for playing a big role in this royal wedding.

“Above all, I cannot express enough gratitude for Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess’s generosity and affection in sharing a sisterly bond with my inadequate daughter.”

Hmm, could the few times they had interacted to gather information about Elise be called a sisterly bond? Moreover, the Marquis wasn’t even at the estate at that time.

“Lora, pay your respects to Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess.”

Miranda naturally pushed the shoulder of Lora, who was standing behind her. Normally, a young lady would not have the qualifications to give a congratulatory speech, but it was a quite natural development as Marquis Sherwood had mentioned a sisterly bond.

“Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, Your Imperial Highness the Crown Princess, I sincerely congratulate you on your marriage today.”

Lora paid a perfect and elegant curtsy, not disappointing Miranda’s strict education.

“I pray that happiness will always be abundant in the future of Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess, who shared a sisterly bond with me, young and lacking.”

As the Marquis and Marchioness of Sherwood had planned, all the influential nobles gathered here paid attention to Lora.

“Thank you.”

Serena rarely answered a congratulatory speech directed only at her.

At that, the nobles’ eyes scrutinized Lora even more fiercely.

Golden hair shining in a golden hue, deep navy blue eyes, girlish shy cheeks, and an elegant level of education… Anyone with a child of marriageable age would take notice of such qualities.

“Until the day I pay my respects to Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess in the future… May you always be at peace.”

After saying what she needed to say, Lora elegantly curtsied again and stepped back. Although it was a brief moment, from this very moment, Lora had become the most talked-about young lady in high society.

Moreover, if she had even shared a sisterly bond with the Crown Princess, there was room to consider her as the top priority, beyond just bonus points.

“I didn’t know I had a sister.”

As Lucas muttered, Serena shook her head slightly.

“Well… That’s how it is.”

Lucas knew the behavior of the nobles better. Although he had been away from the imperial palace for six years, he had not forgotten his status as the imperial crown prince and had always been paying attention to the political situation. Thanks to that, he had known for a long time that Marquis Sherwood harbored considerable ambition.

“By the way, how long will this banquet last?”

It was really not easy to wear a dress and shoes all day while smiling to the point of getting facial cramps. To what extent? It would have been better to ride a horse all day and endure a typhoon in Astel.

“It depends on whether you want comfort or truth.”

“Both would be nice, but if I have to choose, I’ll go with the truth.”

“Wedding banquets usually end after midnight.”

At those words, Serena’s blue eyes shook wildly.

“That’s for the guests.”

Lucas wanted to watch Serena’s more vulnerable appearance a little longer, but today was a special day and there were many eyes on them, so he couldn’t tease her more. Above all, he wanted to monopolize this side of Serena for himself.

“You will go to your quarters around 8 o’clock first, and I will leave around 10 o’clock.”

Serena unconsciously searched for a clock with her eyes, but there was no such useless existence in the banquet hall.

“Sorry, but the sun hasn’t even set yet.”

As he said, the sunlight coming in through the window was bright. It was a disappointing fact that made her want to sit down right there, even if there weren’t so many eyes watching.

“Of course, I have prepared options for you who are not used to such banquets.”

When had Lucas’s words ever been so tempting?

“I just prepared it, so don’t be too obviously happy.”

“I’ll hear it out first.”

Right now, she just wanted to take off this frilly dress and shoes, lie down somewhere no one could see, and do nothing.

Although there were many attendants and helpers, it was inevitable that the bride would be the most tired at the wedding, even if it was a royal wedding.

“Strictly speaking, the two Majesties should leave first, and after a suitable amount of time, you can leave.”

“And?”

No matter how strong Serena’s personality was, she didn’t have the power to drive the emperor and empress out of this place. And it would be the same for Lucas, even though he was the crown prince.

“There doesn’t seem to be any options.”

“There is. Just one way to make the two Majesties leave their seats immediately.”

Normally, she would have snorted, but now the pain in her feet and the desire to lie down right away were so great that Serena’s eyes sparkled.

“Do that. Whatever it takes.”

“No, I didn’t say I would do it for free.”

“Don’t tell me… You’re going to be petty even at this wedding?”

Lucas shrugged his shoulders. Anyway, he was the one holding the valid card now, and it seemed he wanted to enjoy it a bit as it was an unusual situation.

“Am I being petty?”

“…No.”

It was humiliating, but Serena couldn’t control her body that was already longing for the bed.

“Your Highness is never petty. So you will help this pitiful me rest, right?”

“On second thought, I am being petty.”

Why is this man being contrary again?

“So you’re not going to help me? Even after preparing a way?”

“I can help. If you make just one promise to me.”

Of course, he’s not an easy opponent.

“…What is it?”

“I know very well about the vows and promises that guarantee your freedom. And you’ll probably use that to prevent me from even entering your bedroom tonight.”

Lucas knew what kind of woman Serena was. However, he also knew that if he hadn’t guaranteed her freedom, he couldn’t have truly obtained the real Serena.

“That issue is non-negotiable. Didn’t you already resolve yourself?”

Serena deliberately mentioned the wedding night as if it was nothing. In reality, she couldn’t consummate the marriage with Lucas tonight.

After all, even if she was a woman of this era, a submissive and obedient heart did not arise in her nature just by making a marriage vow.

“I did resolve myself. However, I also know that if I don’t spend the night in your bedroom today, our marriage will become suspicious.”

“What will you do if it becomes suspicious?”

In fact, the consummation was the completion of the marriage ceremony.

In reality, there were cases where the marriage became invalid if the groom went to the battlefield after only holding the ceremony and couldn’t consummate the marriage. Of course, it was something Serena never wanted to mention.

“Receiving questions about our wedding night every day from many people, including the two Majesties… is not a pleasant thing, right?”

That was precisely what Serena wanted to avoid. Just talking to Anna made her lips feel parched and her head dizzy for no reason, so if the Empress or others asked about the wedding night every day, it would be faster to go crazy.

“Let me spend the night in your bedroom tonight.”

“Please be more specific.”

Lucas’s eyes were filled with desire, so it was impossible to let it slide sneakily.

“I promise to just stay in the bedroom, and the rest will be according to your decision.”

If he didn’t make this much of a condition, Serena would never let him into her bedroom.

“Does it count as the promise and vow you gave me?”

“Yes.”

Serena swiftly ignored Lucas’s somewhat disappointed tone.

“Okay. I will let you stay.”

It was pitiful that even after holding the wedding, he had to get permission from the bride just to stay in the bedroom.

However, since he had brought an unwilling woman and made her the crown princess, not even a proper wife, Lucas also had to compromise on something.

“Then, before I faint here, you’ll give me the help to escape, right?”

Lucas nodded.

“But how?”

No matter what method there was, it would be useless if the emperor and empress did not leave the banquet hall. However, Serena’s fatigue was almost reaching its peak.

“There’s a way.”

Lucas signaled with his eyes to Cedric, who was standing in the corner of the banquet hall watching him.

“Just wait a bit. Soon, that method will do its thing.”

Lucas grinned, looking at Serena’s still puzzled expression. Although he didn’t even hope for the wedding night, just imagining being alone together made him look forward to the night he would spend in her bedroom.

“So, what kind of method is that…?”

Serena still looked up at Lucas with a puzzled expression. However, before Lucas could answer, something small and cute came running out from the entrance behind the head table of the banquet hall.

“Ababababa!”

Judging by the dark brown hair and face, it was clearly the Empress’s daughter.

And as soon as the little toddler appeared, waddling, the Emperor, worried that she might fall over, got up in a hurry, forgetting his dignity, and ran quickly to pick up the princess.

“See?”

Lucas put on a confident expression.

Indeed, the Emperor, holding Luana, smiled blankly, but as the child whimpered at the large crowd, he left the banquet hall holding her like that. Naturally, the Empress sighed and followed after him.

“Just now, that child was…”

“My younger sister. The only little one who can order Abamama around right now.”

I don’t know if this method is right, but as soon as the emperor and empress left their seats, the heat of the banquet cooled down. It seemed that it would no longer be a problem even if the bride quietly disappeared.