“I can confidently declare this to be the masterpiece of my life.”

Madame Pomfenu, who had visited the Grand Duke’s residence early in the morning to prepare the new bride, choked up with emotion as she looked at Aidel in her wedding dress.

“I’ve heard the myth that the Fluor family received the blessing of the flower fairy. This wedding dress was designed inspired by that. As expected, but to think you’d wear it so perfectly!”

Over the pure white silk symbolizing the innocent bride, the signature bobbin lace of the Charlotte atelier was embroidered like blooming flowers.

It was a dress that Madame Pomfenu had painstakingly created stitch by stitch, spending almost every night on it.

“After the wedding, I’m sure countless women in the empire will be interested in this wedding dress.”

Could there be a more excellent model than this! Madame Pomfenu was certain that prospective brides would flock to the Charlotte atelier.

“That’s right! I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a delicate and beautiful wedding dress before.”

The maids attending nearby nodded with excited voices.

While she had always been beautiful even in casual dresses, the bride-to-be in her wedding dress exuded an indescribably noble aura.

The dress was a décolleté style that revealed her slender neck and collarbone. It beautifully accentuated her rounded bosom while the lace slightly overlaid above the plunging neckline was both alluring and elegant.

Below the slim waistline, voluminous folds flowed down like waves, and tens of thousands of crystal embroideries densely stitched on the silk lace sparkled like the Milky Way.

“My goodness! Lady Aidel… You’re truly beautiful.”

Marlin, who had just entered the Grand Duchess’s dressing room, also marveled at Aidel in her dress.

“You’re already dazzling, but of course, jewelry is essential for adornment. This is a special gift sent by His Grace the Grand Duke.”

With a broad smile, Marlin opened the jewelry box held by the maid who followed her.

It was a set of earrings and a necklace adorned with pale green gemstones. The light green gems, resembling Aidel’s eyes, shimmered brilliantly.

“This doesn’t seem to be emerald, does it? Could it be…”

Madame Pomfenu, with her keen eye, covered her mouth in surprise as she guessed the identity of the gems.

“That’s right. They’re green diamonds.”

“To think it’s those rare colored diamonds…”

Colored diamonds were highly valuable due to their rarity. Judging by their flawless, clear sparkle, they were undoubtedly of the highest grade.

“Now, only the final touches remain.”

After Aidel put on the earrings and necklace, Marlin opened another box held by a different maid and took out something well-preserved.

“This is…”

“This is the tiara and veil inherited by the Empress from the Duchess of Roman. It’s a family heirloom passed down for generations.”

The tiara made of hundreds of diamonds and the pure white, voluminous veil looked as good as new despite the passage of time, having been meticulously maintained.

Madame Pomfenu, closely examining the lace decoration embroidered on the veil, opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“Isn’t this the Beljoule lace that can no longer be embroidered! To think I’d see this masterpiece in person…”

“That’s right. Its meaning and value are immeasurable.”

Nodding, Marlin approached Aidel and personally placed the tiara and veil on her. Marlin whispered softly in her ear.

“It’s time to be happy now. Enjoy the happiness given to you to your heart’s content.”

“Marlin…”

With a gentle smile, Marlin warmly embraced Aidel’s stiff shoulders.

In truth, Aidel had been smiling outwardly amidst the constant praise from Madame Pomfenu and the maids, but inwardly, she felt differently.

The weight of a dress bearing the name ‘wedding’ was distinctly different from that of her usual dresses.

‘If I were truly his bride… would I feel different?’

Seeing others doing their best for the wedding, there was a feeling of guilt weighing on a corner of her heart.

In fact, she couldn’t shake the feeling that all this preparation was just an act for a contract marriage…

While she was grateful for the genuine care of those who knew nothing, she also felt sorry.

Marlin’s words brought momentary peace to her mind, which had been full of anxiety and confusion.

‘Time to be happy…’

For someone whose life had been denied from birth, no word felt as unfamiliar as ‘happiness’. She hadn’t even been able to enjoy small happiness comfortably…

Aidel carefully looked at the faces of the Grand Duke’s maids, Madame Pomfenu, and Marlin, all beaming with vitality. They were sincere faces truly wishing for her happiness.

Though disappointment might appear on their faces when they learn the truth in time, at this moment, she wanted to live up to their expectations with all her might.

“Thank you. Everyone. Sincerely.”

With a face softened as if all worries had vanished, Aidel smiled genuinely.

She decided to willingly become the happiest bride in the world, as they wished, for now.

“Are you nervous, my friend?”

Shade looked at Caeron, who had just finished getting ready, with a mischievous smile.

On the royal blue sash that crossed diagonally from his right shoulder to his left waist were emblems symbolizing the imperial family and the Grand Duke’s house.

The Grand Duke in his ceremonial uniform, draping over his solid frame, looked much more robust and dignified than usual.

Beneath his neatly exposed forehead, his deep blue eyes, now even more vivid, flickered.

“Well…”

Caeron tilted his head and chuckled.

If this burning excitement coursing through his veins could be called nervousness, then nervous he was.

It felt like waiting patiently for prey to fall into a trap after a long time…

He was quite looking forward to seeing how his prey, unseen for a week, would greet him.

“Your Grace, it’s time.”

Gregory opened the door to the Grand Duke’s room and announced that preparations were complete. Caeron nodded lightly and headed towards the Grand Duchess’s room.

According to the marriage custom, the groom had to personally escort the fully prepared bride to the chapel where the ceremony would be held.

“His Grace the Grand Duke is here.”

Gregory politely knocked on the door and opened the door to the Grand Duchess’s room. As the doors opened on both sides, the bride standing in front of the door came into Caeron’s view.

The pure white wedding dress flowing along the graceful curves of her body enveloped her like a newly bloomed flower bud.

Caeron gazed intently at that figure, unable to take his eyes off for a moment. A deep smile spread across his lips. The appearance of the woman he had been waiting for was more than satisfactory.

“Beautiful.”

At that brief compliment, Aidel’s face turned bright red. It was a word she had heard all day from those who helped with her preparation… but why did her heart race so at this common word from his lips?

‘Thank goodness for the veil.’

Aidel lowered her eyes and sighed softly at his gaze felt through the veil. She had almost shown him a foolishly embarrassed expression.

He slowly approached her side. As the distance closed, her grip tightened on the lily of the valley bouquet that Marlin had given her, meaning “You will surely become happy.”

“Your hand.”

Caeron gently wrapped his hand around hers that wasn’t holding the bouquet. Though he had often held it for escort, today it felt unusually warm.

Whether due to the woman’s higher than usual body temperature, the scent emanating from her seemed even stronger. Caeron gripped her hand, trembling slightly with nervousness, a bit more firmly.

The sight of the two walking in sync was like a brilliant masterpiece painting. Everyone held their breath, just gazing at the sight that was mesmerizing to behold.

It was the same for the guests gathered in the chapel. They were busy exclaiming in admiration at the entering bride and groom.

Of course, there were some who showed slightly different reactions in between.

The Countess Fluor, who barely managed to save face by attending the wedding thanks to Count Fluor, gritted her teeth and trembled at the sight of Aidel.

Roselyn too burned with jealousy at Aidel’s unapproachable noble appearance. She glared at her with a sharp, thorny gaze.

Except for these malicious gazes, the grand wedding of the Grand Duke’s house proceeded peacefully.

The Archbishop of the Yupiter Empire solemnly proclaimed the marriage of the two.

“With God’s blessing, I declare the marriage of Caeron Roman de Ellios and Aidel Fluor.”

With the marriage declaration, the two faced each other.

Caeron slipped the wedding ring, the token of their marriage, onto her finger.

It was a ring with the emblem of the Grand Duke’s house intricately crafted around a green diamond he had chosen, reminiscent of her eyes.

This ring alone granted her the authority to make all decisions of the Grand Duke’s house equally with the Grand Duke.

Aidel likewise placed an identically designed but differently sized men’s ring on his finger.

She gazed for a moment at the rings on both their hands. The fact that there was now a medium connecting the two of them somehow made her heart flutter.

Caeron reached out and slowly lifted the veil covering her face.

The bride’s fresh face, shyly blushing, was revealed through the veil. It was the face he had wanted to see unveiled since he first saw her in the Grand Duchess’s room.

His intense gaze passed over her eyes, like dewdrops on grass, to those flower-petal lips he had once wanted to steal.

In contrast to the weight of that gaze, he lowered his head and lightly kissed her lips. As if a butterfly had briefly alighted on a flower petal before flying away.

She probably wouldn’t know.

That he was barely maintaining his patience, taut like the string of a stringed instrument, ready to snap at any moment.

If the kiss lasted any longer, he felt he might not be able to control the emotions about to burst forth, even with numerous guests watching.

Even at the light kiss that briefly touched and parted, Aidel’s eyes trembled gently like leaves in a breeze.

With the kiss between the Grand Duke and Duchess marking the end of the ceremony, bell sounds rang out and applause from the guests filled the chapel.

“Lord Shade, surely you’re not crying?”

Shade was quietly wiping his eyes.

“Crying? Something just got in my eye. You look like you’re about to cry yourself!”

Gregory’s reddened eyes were also moist.

“I never thought I’d see such a sight in my life. Even while preparing for the wedding, I wondered if it might be a dream… This isn’t really a dream, is it?”

“Don’t worry. I pinched my thigh several times during the ceremony, and it’s real.”

Shade chuckled and patted Gregory’s shoulder.

“Now that it’s come to this… I just hope His Grace the Grand Duke lives well.”

‘Regardless of it being a contract marriage or not.’

Swallowing the latter part, Gregory’s gaze, capturing the image of the Grand Duke and Duchess, became rarely solemn.

“I hope for the same. He’s been a lonely fellow who’s lived without knowing love until now.”

Shade nodded vigorously, as if agreeing with Gregory’s heartfelt words.

The Grand Duke’s life seemed perfect, lacking nothing… but paradoxically, it also seemed utterly empty.

He thought the reason was that Caeron had never experienced true love.

And it was clear to his eyes. The appearance of a man hopelessly fallen for the Grand Duchess.

“May the two of them be happy forever.”

Shade, smiling broadly with crinkled eyes, sent a hearty congratulatory applause towards the newly born couple.