“Looks like I’ve aged quite a bit too.”

Odin, attending the wedding reception, smiled at the scene before his eyes.

What particularly caught his attention was the sight of a couple dancing to the music in the center of the reception hall.

The combination of hair that looked like black velvet and snow-white hair created a contrasting yet harmonious atmosphere.

Even more striking was the fact that those two, to whom smiling seemed awkward, were genuinely smiling as if they were truly happy.

‘I thought he hated dancing.’

Odin knew that Admund usually disliked dancing.

The reason he made him dance was simple.

Seeing his child so happy, he wanted to tease him a little.

Though knowing he shouldn’t as an adult, Odin went ahead with it.

And this was the result.

“We too had such times,” said Elina, who was beside him.

Odin let out a laugh at her words.

“Do you miss those times?”

It was quite a painful period.

Although Odin did his best to protect her, there were limitations when he was the crown prince.

The open opposition from the previous empress who should have protected them as adults, the unity of the powerful families in politics, and finally even Elina broke down.

Someone might think it was the worst of times, but Odin knew how Elina would answer his question.

“I do miss them. Because we too shone like those children back then.”

“You stepped on my feet so many times when I reluctantly danced.”

“Ha, how long are you going to bring that up? And you should put yourself in my shoes back then. Her Majesty the Empress glaring at me fiercely, and the nobles looking at me with such resentment.”

“I know. It was a tense moment for me too back then.”

The shining times.

At those words, Odin looked at his wrinkled hands.

Time was so colorless.

As time passed, they were regarded as old and worn out.

The things of the past remained mere memories, and the number of people who remembered and talked about them gradually decreased.

The rapidly flowing time felt spiteful, but that was all.

“Still, when I look at those two, I think the present isn’t so bad either.”

The bright sun rises every day. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow too.

Clea leading the dance gracefully, and Admund, though clumsy, with a smile full of joy on his face.

Looking at these two, he had such thoughts.

That the continuation of new things as time passes isn’t all that bad either.

“Then shall we dance too, so as not to fall behind those two?”

As Elina rose from her seat and offered her hand, Odin quietly looked at it.

It was the hand he had vowed never to let go of for a lifetime.

He smiled slightly, still looking at her soft hand.

“Step on me gently this time.”

“I haven’t stepped on your feet once since that day!”

* * *

“It seems the in-laws are enjoying themselves too.”

“Hah, who’s supposed to be the main characters here.”

As Admund and Clea continued their dance, voices from Odin and Elina were heard from the highest seat.

Though unintended, the gazes that were directed at them naturally shifted to where the two were.

‘It seems they are enjoying the moment too.’

Hearing their joyful laughter, Clea and many others thought this.

That the imperial couple genuinely liked this wedding.

But Admund, seemingly displeased, was looking towards where Odin was with an unhappy gaze.

“What does it matter? I’m just glad that they like our marriage too.”

“You’re more important than those two right now.”

Knowing that his words about her being more important weren’t just flattery, Clea was inwardly delighted.

But as it wasn’t good for Admund to keep glaring fiercely at where the two were, she gently stepped on his foot.

“Focus on me right now.”

Was it because of those words telling him to focus?

Admund, as if he had never had a fierce gaze, looked at Clea with gentle eyes.

“I’ll try not to make you worry like that.”

Then, timing it with pulling her body close, he whispered in her ear.

“I’ll only look at you, now and in the future.”

His red wine-like eyes shone alluringly.

Those short words he uttered were seductive.

Clea could pride herself that anyone who heard would probably have fallen for him.

Because she too was moved by his words right now.

“It doesn’t matter anyway.”

Despite her heart wanting to possess him quickly, her expression remained composed.

Clea, maintaining her poker face with effort, quietly said to him.

“Now that we’ve made our marriage vows, you won’t be able to escape from me anyway.”

Meanwhile, Admund, suppressing a laugh inside, asked.

“Doesn’t that sound familiar?”

“I remember that it’s what you said to me.”

“Right, so you remember.”

Admund was happy.

He thought he was the only one obsessed with their relationship, but now he knew that she wanted him too.

* * *

As time passed, the music reached its climax.

There was surprise in the eyes of those watching the dancing couple.

During the wedding, except for when walking down the aisle, it was difficult to see their expressions as the two were facing the direction of Hayden, who was officiating.

In contrast, now their expressions could be seen from all directions.

Not a single guest was missing from the reception.

While it was partly because it was a major royal event that couldn’t be missed, the desire to confirm the rumors was greater.

‘To think the rumors were actually true.’

Because they had heard news that Clea and Admund, the protagonists of the wedding, would take the lead in dancing.

They were curious.

It was hard to believe that Admund truly liked someone else.

Especially liking Clea, who had been rumored to be a villainess throughout their academy days.

Even after seeing the wedding ceremony with their own eyes, those in attendance only became certain after seeing Admund’s varied expressions.

That the rumors were true.

“Those who couldn’t give up their attachment to the Hersher family will be in big trouble.”

“Still, it’s becoming in-laws with the Grand Duke’s family, how big of a deal could it be?”

“You call that a proper statement? What use is there anymore now that that ruffian has been discarded from the heir position.”

“That’s right. Despite being a direct descendant of the Grand Duke, being cast out from the heir position is no different from being abandoned by the family.”

Even now, some people were looking for Duke Hersher.

Those who had held onto hope until the end, even when news of Admund and Clea’s marriage spread throughout the empire, finally had to give up.

Once the marriage was confirmed, nothing else would change.

All that was left for those who became dumbfounded was anger.

They intended to find Duke Hersher somehow to demand an explanation for this matter and to get back everything they had given.

But Duke and Duchess Hersher were nowhere to be seen.

“Young Lord Lloyd! Aren’t you Duke Hersher’s son-in-law! Where is Duke Hersher now?”

“Don’t just stand there, answer us quickly, answer!”

Middle-aged heads of families and heirs who had not yet inherited titles began to send fierce glares at those remaining.

The same was true for Lloyd, whom they had been busy flattering before.

As he was no longer the next successor to the Grand Duke’s family, the politeness that had been directed at him was nowhere to be seen.

At this, Lloyd was initially angry.

But he was alone, and the others were many.

Surrounded by people, Lloyd became frightened by the gazes full of not just simple ill feelings, but anger and hostility.

“I have nothing to do with this!”

“Nothing to do with it? Then why are the clothes you’re wearing the same as His Majesty’s?”

“That, that’s!”

Lloyd tried to argue further, but before that, his attitude made people even angrier.

In the end, Lloyd looked around.

He was sending glances to those who had always been by his side and furthermore to those who could protect him now.

However, they all just watched Lloyd without offering any help.

No, rather, they were glaring at Lloyd with cold eyes.

“Tsk, if he had any sense, shouldn’t he have worn different clothes?”

A noblewoman whispered behind her fan.

Many nodded in agreement to those words.

Lloyd bit his lip and broke out in a cold sweat.

He was already slowly becoming isolated, and he sensed that there was no one on his side at this gathering.

Even the people he thought he had been close with until now, the Hersher family he was supposed to marry into, even his own name.

None of it was of any help anymore.

In this situation, Lloyd looked towards the Grand Duke and Duchess.

‘Please, just this once, I’ll admit everything I’ve done wrong until now, so please…’

His eyes were filled with desperate pleading for help.

The Grand Duke and Duchess, meeting Lloyd’s gaze, also knew well what he wanted.

But in this place, only he failed to realize.

That he had already been abandoned by them.

“Dear, let’s move to another spot.”

“That would be good.”

Lloyd had already been given plenty of chances. But it was he himself who had kicked them away.

It was too late to beg for forgiveness.

Lloyd tried to call out to the departing Grand Duke and Duchess, but they simply moved towards where Clea was as if they couldn’t hear him.

“It seems all the people who would protect you have disappeared now.”

“Well then, will you tell us now? Where are the Duke and Duchess?”

Surrounded by the crowd, Lloyd broke out in a cold sweat as he was quietly dragged away to a place unknown to anyone.

Whether Lloyd really knew the whereabouts of Duke and Duchess Hersher no longer mattered.

What they needed was a target to vent their angry feelings on.