Lucas, who had sent away the emperor and empress using Luana as his secret weapon, was leisurely circling the banquet hall, receiving congratulations from the main guests and fulfilling his role.

“Your Majesty, congratulations.”

“Yes, it is a great occasion for the empire.”

Lucas raised his toast with a dignified smile.

“Thank you all.”

In the past, the impression that he was weak and small, unlike a descendant of the Tern imperial family, had already been erased by his present self.

He was even taller and more robust than his martial father who had once made a name for himself, and he was so composed that it was hard to believe he was only twenty years old.

“Cedric.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After exchanging greetings with almost all the guests, Lucas called for Cedric, who was standing in the corner of the banquet hall.

“What time is it?”

No matter how leisurely his smile was, it was obvious where the bridegroom’s heart lay.

Although he could not fulfill everything tonight due to Serena’s intimidation and the promise he made, he already missed her face.

“It’s 8 o’clock.”

Cedric took out his pocket watch from inside his jacket and said. Lucas could not frown because there were many eyes watching, but instead he let out a long sigh.

“It seems time passed faster when I was on the battlefield.”

“Time is always the same.”

Today, he could not continue the conversation with the stifling Cedric. Anyway, everyone in this banquet hall had gathered to celebrate Lucas’s marriage, and there was a need to show that the crown prince, who had been absent for the past 6 years, was still alive and well.

“Let me know without delay when it’s 10 o’clock.”

“Yes.”

Tuk, Lucas tapped Cedric’s shoulder in a friendly manner and turned around. His heart was already at the crown princess’s residence, but he could not neglect the guests who had gathered for today.

Serena fell asleep in the bedroom as if she had fainted. It was as if it was a lie that she had been flying around vigorously in Astel until sunset, and today had been too long and tiring.

“Madam, the bath is ready.”

Anna nodded at the words of the young maid Becca. Everyone was walking on tiptoe and lowering their voices for the tired crown princess.

The young maids from the imperial palace were so calm and quick to act that there was nothing more to teach them, which pleased Anna.

“His Majesty the Crown Prince will not leave the banquet hall until after 10 o’clock. He will probably send a message first, right?”

“Yes. When His Majesty the Crown Prince leaves the banquet hall, an attendant will come and inform us first.”

Indeed, everything was well-organized like the imperial palace. However, they could not let their guard down yet.

The crown prince had to spend the night here, and only after Anna burned the sheet as a witness tomorrow could all the procedures be considered finished. Even that process required Anna’s secret manipulation.

“It’s only 8:50, so let’s wake her up at 9 o’clock.”

“Yes, madam.”

Fortunately, there was not much for the bride to prepare on the first night. All she had to do was take a bath, put on a plain white nightgown, and wait for the groom on a bed draped with white curtains.

Then the palace maids who served the crown princess would close the door tightly and not even come near until the next morning.

“Where is the nightgown?”

“It is in the box sent by Her Majesty the Empress.”

Everything was perfect for the first night except for the resolution of the bride, Serena. However, that first night would not even take place. Knowing that fact, Anna’s heart was also quite complicated as she was busily preparing.

“Madam.”

Becca, who had been decorating the cushions in the drawing room without rest, came and knelt down. At those words, looking at the clock on the wall, it was 9 o’clock.

“I’ll go, so prepare to assist with the bath.”

“Yes.”

Anna carefully opened the bedroom door and went in to look down at Serena’s face, who was sound asleep. The young lady, who was always full of energy, was so exhausted that the wedding ceremony was indeed a tremendous event that should only happen once in a lifetime.

“Your Highness, Crown Princess.”

She whispered to the sleeping Serena, but perhaps because the title was not yet familiar, there was no sign of her waking up from her sleep.

“Your Highness the Crown Princess, you must wake up now.”

Instead of calling her by the familiar old title, Anna gently shook Serena’s shoulder to wake her up. She could never call Serena ‘young lady’ forever. Serena also had to accept that fact.

“Mmm…”

“It’s 9 o’clock. His Majesty the Crown Prince will be here soon, so please wake up and take a bath, okay?”

Serena, who was still opening her eyes sleepily, was still lovely in Anna’s eyes. However, today’s schedule could not be delayed any further.

“Anna… not yet…”

As she spoke, she tried to fall asleep again, but when Anna shook her shoulder a little harder, she finally opened her eyes.

“His Majesty the Crown Prince will be here soon.”

Serena’s sleepiness receded at the unwelcome fact.

“Take a bath first.”

“What time is it now?”

“It’s 9 o’clock. I’ll comb your hair after you take a bath.”

Serena nodded and got up with Anna’s support. The unfamiliar bedchamber still didn’t feel like her own and was too awkward.

In particular, the white marble and the water flowing from the lion-shaped relief, the symbol of the imperial family, and the bathtub were too splendid, so she felt burdened for no reason.

“Your Highness the Crown Princess, we will assist you with your bath.”

Two young maids from the imperial palace knelt side by side to greet Serena. However, she didn’t want to show her naked body to unfamiliar people right away, so her gaze naturally went to Anna.

“Your heart is commendable, but today I will assist with the bath alone, so go out and see if anything is lacking in the bedchamber.”

“Yes, madam.”

After the maids left, Serena looked at Anna while immersing her body in the warm water.

“Thank you.”

Someday she would get used to the new maids, but today she didn’t want anyone but Anna. She thought marriage had no meaning to her, but it was strange that she wanted to act like a spoiled child like this.

“Did His Majesty the Crown Prince really agree to what will happen tonight?”

Anna asked cautiously. Lucas did not hide his affection and desire for Serena in the Astel territory, so it was difficult to understand how such a negotiation was possible.

“Yes. He will only stay in the bedroom. Nothing will happen.”

Serena said firmly. Usually, she would have wanted to grab Serena and give a long speech about what marriage is, but today didn’t seem to be the day for that.

Anyway, since the two had a royal wedding, they would have to wait and see what would happen in the future.

“Tomorrow… please take good care of it.”

“Don’t worry.”

Serena, relieved, blinked drowsily for a moment. Anna bathed Serena with more care than usual and thoroughly wiped her wet body with a towel.

“What should I do now?”

“Just put on the nightgown given by Her Majesty the Empress, and I will comb your hair nicely, and then everyone will leave the bedchamber.”

The bride of the first night could not possess anything other than a white nightgown. It seemed to be a custom that arose when the times were chaotic in the past, out of concern that a noble groom might be injured.

Of course, it didn’t make much sense to Serena, who had left a blue bruise on Lucas’s shin without any tools.

“You are truly beautiful today.”

Anna said sincerely as she combed Serena’s hair nicely in front of the dressing table. Serena’s appearance without a single piece of jewelry was indeed pure.

“Then, I’ll leave for now. When His Majesty the Crown Prince arrives, a bell will ring… Don’t be too nervous.”

Serena nodded. Now, what remained was a matter for just the two of them, which no one could intervene in. Anna and the maids paid their respects to the crown princess, who would spend the first night today, and left, closing the door tightly.

“There’s nothing to do anyway, so what’s the point of being nervous?”

Contrary to her own words, Serena was pacing the bedroom. Then, one thing that looked very useful caught her eye.

“Good.”

Serena forcibly pulled out the long cylindrical pillow under the pillows placed side by side and placed it in the middle of the bed.

“Today is the defense wall operation. It would be best not to use this.”

How many couples make history overnight after saying they will just hold hands and sleep? However, if this defense wall was there, it was perfect for drawing the line.

A mere pillow could not stop him, but if he crossed the line, Serena’s violence would be waiting.

“Just in case.”

Serena had never shared a bed with anyone before. It was even more unthinkable if it was a man.

Fortunately, the bed was the largest and widest she had ever seen in her life, but she felt like she wouldn’t be able to sleep properly if she lay next to Lucas.

When Cedric whispered in Lucas’s ear exactly at 10 o’clock, a smile automatically spread across his face.

The guests’ banquet would continue, but he especially liked that they were not talking to him considerately. Now it was time for the groom to finally leave the banquet hall and face the most exciting moment of the day.

“Then.”

Lucas nodded to the Duke of Astel and slipped out of the banquet hall. One attendant who saw him was seen riding a carriage and running first with quick steps.

“This moment has finally come.”

Serena insisted that nothing would happen on the first night, but she had previously stated that she would never marry him. So it was not unreasonable to unconsciously have expectations.

“I will take you to the Crown Princess’s residence.”

Normally he would have ridden a horse, but today Lucas obediently followed the rules and got into the carriage, lost in thought for a while.

“I will only escort Your Majesty to the entrance, and when you send a message tomorrow morning, I will come again.”

He was half-listening to Cedric’s words, recalling the moment when the two of them made their wedding vows and kissed earlier.

According to Serena, that could never have happened either, so he didn’t know what would happen in the future.

The two people who had just become husband and wife were already dreaming different dreams.