“Oh my, what to do. It must hurt, but she’s not even crying…”

“Even as she fell, she’s holding onto the basket tightly…”

Sympathetic exclamations flowed from the watching guests.

Blanche, tightly holding the basket, did not stand up, perhaps embarrassed by her fall.

Just as Lumière’s eldest son was about to approach Blanche at Ayla’s signal.

‘…Jade?’

Jade, who had been standing aside, slightly blocked Lumière’s eldest son.

Jade stepped onto the aisle and slowly approached Blanche.

‘Oh my.’

Jade helped Blanche stand up and dusted off her dress.

“Shu Shu, ruined it…”

Blanche mumbled, unable to lift her head.

Jade extended his hand. As if to say it’s alright.

Blanche hesitated for a moment before taking his large hand.

Watching Jade and Blanche, I felt touched and imagined.

In the future, Blanche becoming a bride, entering holding Jade’s hand just like now.

Blanche went to where Lumière’s eldest son and Ayla were and held out the basket.

Lumière’s eldest son smiled gently as he took out a box from the basket and removed two pairs of rings.

Lumière’s eldest son and Ayla placed the rings on each other’s ring fingers.

“May Stella’s blessing be upon the two who have become husband and wife.”

The Pope rang the bell three times.

Lumière’s eldest son embraced Ayla’s waist and kissed her.

Jade covered Blanche’s eyes, hugged her, and came down from the aisle.

All the watching guests burst into laughter.

As the wedding ended in a warm atmosphere, the reception held at night also continued in a joyful mood.

Some of the guests who attended gathered around Blanche and me, who were in a corner.

Blanche, frightened by the sudden crowd, hid behind me.

“I’m sorry, the child is a bit shy with strangers.”

“It’s alright. By the way, I didn’t expect Count Rowe to help the child up earlier, it was so touching.”

Among them, Countess Asitan stepped forward and pointed at Blanche.

“Is this child who served as the flower girl today the daughter of the Viscount?”

“Ah, yes.”

I nodded slightly, thinking that denying it would only draw more attention.

“Oh my, look at me. It’s not Viscount anymore, but Count Boston now, right? I forgot to congratulate you. Congratulations on inheriting the title.”

“I only hope not to dishonor the late Count.”

“My goodness, the Count is so humble.”

After dealing with them appropriately, my gaze met with Duke Belaste on the right.

‘I didn’t expect him to attend even the reception.’

I quickly turned my head, but Duke Belaste’s eyes tinged with sadness bothered me.

“The child seems sleepy, so we’ll be leaving first. I hope everyone enjoys their time.”

Uncomfortable with the constant gaze, I left with Blanche. Fortunately, Duke Belaste didn’t follow.

The corridor was quiet. It was comfortable to the ears without the noisy sounds.

“Mommy, Shu Shu wants to take this off now.”

“Blanche. You did very well today.”

I said as I untied the mask and smoothed her disheveled hair.

“Shu Shu fell today…”

“Even if there was a small mistake, it doesn’t determine everything. Thanks to Blanche, everyone was happy. That’s what’s most important.”

“Hehe, Shu Shu… I was so embarrassed earlier, but when the Count came, I got courage!”

Blanche clenched her fists and smiled brightly.

‘It was good to accept Ayla’s suggestion for her to be the flower girl.’

I was happy too, thinking it would remain a happy memory.

“I thought so, but it really is the Viscount’s child.”

The Pope, approaching from the opposite side, brightened up after confirming Blanche’s face.

“…Your Holiness.”

“The Viscount’s appearance seems different from back then…”

I was currently wearing the pendant, so I looked like Diane.

The Pope glanced around, seeming to want an explanation.

“With so many nobles gathered here…”

Unable to explain everything, I smiled awkwardly and held back my words.

“I see. Has the bracelet I gave to your child been helpful?”

The Pope didn’t inquire further and showed interest in Blanche.

“Yes… Shu Shu doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Blanche rolled up her sleeve to show the bracelet she was wearing on the inside.

“I’m relieved it doesn’t hurt anymore. The preparations for the saint education are complete, so please visit the Great Temple starting tomorrow.”

The Pope, who had been kind, suddenly frowned.

“Why can’t I feel the power…”

“Your Holiness, what’s wrong?”

He stared at Blanche and then smiled bitterly.

‘Why is he acting like that?’

It was a forced smile that anyone could see.

“…I apologize. I have an urgent matter to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes. Take care, Your Holiness.”

I found the Pope’s hasty disappearance suspicious.

‘Rather than having an urgent matter, it feels like he was surprised by Blanche. What does he mean by not feeling the power?’

The Pope’s words lingered in my mind, making me uneasy.

“Larien, what are you doing there?”

Hearing footsteps behind me, I turned to see Jade.

“Count!”

Blanche ran to Jade and hugged him.

“I saw you having a long conversation with the Pope. Do you know him?”

“Ah. Previously, when Blanche’s holy power was depleted, I received help from the Pope.”

“Holy power?”

“Yes. He said it could be dangerous if it goes out of control later, so he offered to teach how to control it in exchange for saint education.”

I explained Blanche’s situation to the puzzled Jade.

“But there’s one strange thing.”

“A strange thing?”

“Earlier, he suddenly looked at Blanche and said he couldn’t feel the power, and his extremely friendly attitude changed abruptly.”

I felt uncomfortable, wondering if something had happened to Blanche.

“By power, does he mean holy power?”

“Maybe. Blanche hasn’t experienced the same phenomenon since then… I should ask in detail when we go to the Great Temple tomorrow.”

Jade speculated that the ‘power’ the Pope mentioned might be related to holy power.

“Proposing saint education when the child is still so young, it seems they’re already clamoring to use her.”

Jade expressed his displeasure at the Pope’s suggestion.

“It’s okay, I’ve set limits on the candidates.”

“But, so the child had holy power. Wasn’t holy power usually not hereditary?”

“…Huh?”

I was momentarily flustered when Jade raised this question.

“Larien. You wouldn’t have holy power.”

“I, I guess it must be in the Boston or Belaste family.”

Even though I could reveal the truth to him now, I wanted to quietly inform him through a letter.

‘There are too many people here anyway.’

Jade didn’t ask further and picked up Blanche.

“Count, you looked so cool when you came to Shu Shu earlier!”

“Does it still hurt where you fell?”

“It doesn’t hurt at all!”

Jade, who had mistaken the wolf ears that appeared on Blanche, didn’t even imagine.

That Blanche was his own daughter.

‘I wonder how he’d react if I told him she’s his daughter. He doesn’t suspect it at all.’

Blanche yawned and leaned against Jade.

“She seems sleepy. Jade, I’ll be going now.”

“It’s late, stay the night. Ayla will leave tomorrow morning, it’s better to say goodbye then.”

“That’s true…”

I could clearly imagine Ayla being disappointed if I left without saying goodbye, having come out in the middle of the reception because of Blanche.

“I’ll take you to the guest room.”

I entered the main building with Jade and went up to the guest room.

Blanche had already fallen into a deep sleep, chewing her lips.

“Is she sleeping?”

“Yes. It’s a sleep habit. She often dreams of eating something.”

“That’s quite a unique sleep habit.”

Jade put Blanche down on the bed.

“Mmm, Shu Shu… hot.”

Blanche kicked off the blanket, saying it was hot.

“Seems she has more than one sleep habit.”

Seeing this, Jade unfolded a nearby throw and covered Blanche with it.

This time, Blanche didn’t toss and turn, falling into a deep sleep.

“Larien. The pendant. How long are you going to wear it?”

There was no reason to keep wearing the pendant.

“That’s better.”

As I fumbled with my neck and took off the pendant, Jade let out a satisfied groan.

The light from the east reception hall, where the reception was still in full swing, shimmered.

He drew the curtains, filling the room with darkness.

“Jade. Don’t you need to go back?”

“It’s not like I’m the main character of the wedding, so not really.”

Saying he disliked places with many people gathered, Jade sat down in a chair. I perched on the desk in front of him, searching for his red eyes.

“Now that Ayla is married and living at the Lumière estate, aren’t you feeling lonely?”

“It’s nice that she won’t wake up noisily every morning, but should I feel lonely?”

Jade didn’t show any emotion even when he entered with Ayla in front of the ceremony hall.

‘He must have lived with just Ayla since his parents passed away, how could he not feel lonely? It’s not like he doesn’t care for Ayla.’

He was still awkward with expressions. It seemed he was used to suppressing his emotions.

“Try to be a bit more honest, Jade.”

“Even if born of blood, when a new family forms…”

“Jade. Even if Ayla uses Lumière instead of Rowe as her surname, she’s still your sister.”

Jade fell into thought for a moment before quietly murmuring.

“…That’s true.”

Jade, who was looking at me again, stood up from the chair.

Gradually approaching, Jade came very close to me.