“I’ll wait here for a moment. They’ll be here soon.”

“What? Your Grace…!”

However, before Lina could grab Bellige, he had already left the chapel.

“Where is he suddenly going?”

Thinking for a moment whether to follow him, Lina eventually gave up and decided to wait for the Duke in the chapel.
Feeling that following without a purpose would be a waste of time if the paths diverged, Lina, who had decided to trust the Duke and wait, carefully explored the chapel.

‘I thought the inside of the chapel would be entirely made of white marble like the exterior, but it seems that’s not the case.’

The faint scent of old wood brushed past Lina’s nose. With each step she took, the creaking sound echoed from the worn-out wooden floor. The table in front, once used for gatherings, was covered with a thin layer of dust, indicating that no one had used it for a while.

“It seems to be an older place than I thought.”

Examining the items that bore the traces of time, Lina suddenly turned her head at the sound of the wind.

Then she noticed a slightly open window not far away.

Through the gap in the window, the cool breeze, saturated with moisture, brushed against her clothes.

“Is it going to rain?”

As the air turned chilly, Lina closed the window softly. Unexpectedly, her reflection appeared on the window glass.

Although her hair was tousled by the wind, it couldn’t hide her beauty. The silvery hair, fair skin, distinct facial features—it was the appearance she had dreamed of for a very long time.

‘I thought I would be overjoyed when I returned to this form…’

The past self who believed she would be happier in this form flashed in Lina’s mind.

“Really, has the curse been lifted…?”

If the curse had indeed been lifted, could she stay by the Duke’s side and live a normal life like an ordinary person?

Excitement, anticipation, anxiety, and worry—various emotions surged like a tide.

Footsteps, as if someone were running, echoed from the entrance. When Lina looked towards the door, Bellige was panting heavily.

“Why did you run so far…?”

Before Lina could finish speaking, Bellige extended what he held in his hand towards her.

“This is…”

In his hand were some wildflowers, whose names were unknown, picked from somewhere.

“Still, it’s a wedding, and I thought we might need flowers. But no matter how hard I looked, these were the only ones I found. Next time, I’ll give you more splendid flowers.”

As Lina gazed at the flowers in his hand, something warm seemed to bloom in her chest.

Lina hugged Bellige’s neck before he could finish his sentence.

“No, this is enough.”

It wasn’t expensive jewelry or fancy roses, but her heart swelled more than receiving any other gift.

“I wanted to give you a wedding as splendid as anyone else’s.”

“Duke.”

As Bellige hugged Lina back and whispered softly, Lina placed her hand on his cheek.

“I’m already wearing a beautiful dress, and you look so handsome. What could be lacking here?”
It wasn’t a white dress typically worn at weddings, but rather a cream-colored dress for the bride, Lina, and Bellige, the groom, in ceremonial attire rather than armor. And in her hands, a bouquet of flowers. She had no regrets. Bellige, in response to Lina’s words, let out a soft laugh and said, “Now that you mention it.”

Lina and Bellige smiled at each other, facing each other. Soon after, along with the officiant, a priest who looked like Viscount Cork entered, and the wedding began.

Outside the window, the moonlight in the dark night sky shone more splendidly than ever, and the candles illuminating the dark chapel flickered softly. The wedding was more abrupt than the engagement held at Duke Fermannes’ mansion.

There were only a few wildflowers that Lina held as a bouquet, but they were more beautiful than any other flowers. It might have seemed modest to others, but no one present thought that way.

Inside the small chapel, the officiant solemnly recited the words of God. There was no typical music or guests who came to congratulate; it was a quiet wedding.

“…By this, Bellige Fermannes and Lina Fermannes declare themselves married in the name of heaven.”

With the officiant’s final words, they became a married couple. Lina and Bellige looked at each other. Their gazes entwined in the air. Bellige gently kissed Lina’s fourth finger, where she didn’t even wear gloves.

“Lina.”

“Yes?”

“Nothing will happen. Don’t worry.”

“Yes…?”

At the moment when Lina seemed to ask for clarification about Bellige’s last words, the chapel door creaked open, and a crowd of people poured in.

“His Excellency Duke Fermannes.”

One of the armored figures approached Bellige and bowed respectfully.

“It’s the command of Her Majesty, the Empress. Duke Fermannes and Lady Lina Fermannes, please accompany us.”

Thus, their wedding ended very briefly, leaving no time to savor the moment.