It was a very sunny spring day.

The shining sunlight was warm enough to be affectionate, and the wind carrying the full scent of flowers was just pleasantly cool. Perhaps because of that, the weather made one harbor a meaningless hope that something tremendously joyful would happen.

And in the wide open outdoor wedding hall.

An orchestra band, famous not only in Edenbell but also in other empires to the point where their concert schedules were booked for several years, was playing elegant music.

The virgin road and guest seats were fully decorated with expensive types of fresh flowers and unparalleled luxurious jewels, without a single one missing.

Even the high-class foods piled up like mountains, to the point where one couldn’t even dare to try counting the varieties.

If the couple getting married today were ordinary people, they would have undoubtedly received everyone’s envy and congratulations.

However, unfortunately, Sinclair and Elaina were not ordinary people who would receive such attention.

“……”

Sitting on the bride’s chair, waiting after putting on the dress, finishing hair and makeup, and all other adornments, a hint of nervousness faintly showed on Elaina’s face.

Elaina, who had lived responding to any situation with a dry face to the point of earning the nickname ‘Halfpenny’, was a little different today.

Of course, it wasn’t that she hadn’t mentally prepared for this, but now that the wedding time was approaching, she couldn’t perfectly hide the clearly felt tension.

“You look truly beautiful today, Lady Elaina.”

The two maids, Judith and Anna, who had been in charge of and helped with all of Elaina’s attire for the past few days by Sinclair’s orders, said with a bright smile.

“You look just like a bride on a blessed spring day! It suits you so well.”

“That’s right. Everyone will be surprised too. It makes me feel good!”

Elaina knew that Judith and Anna’s words were meant to ease her tension. Of course, it didn’t really make things better, but Elaina smiled as if grateful and replied.

“It’s thanks to you two. I should be the one thanking you.”

“Oh, Lady Elaina! We told you so many times that you can speak comfortably to us.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not used to it yet. I’ll try to relax bit by bit.”

“That’s why, there’s absolutely no need for you to apologize like that. We are maids serving you, Lady Elaina.”

My goodness, even after becoming the crown princess, is there anyone else who speaks so politely to insignificant subordinates like that?

When they first went to meet Elaina by Sinclair’s orders, Judith and Anna were very nervous.

The reason was simple. They thought that if they made even the slightest mistake with the woman chosen by ‘that Sinclair Butler’, it was obvious what would happen.

But Elaina was the person who showed them the most courtesy out of all the people they had seen so far. And she did it as if it was natural.

Every time she visited the villa, she personally brewed tea for them and readily invited them to eat together. On top of that, she voluntarily helped with the cleanup as if it were her own job.

She even personally saw off Judith and Anna to the front of the villa when they returned to the imperial palace.

Thanks to that, Judith and Anna quickly grew fond of Elaina.

That was because the rude humans of the imperial palace were beings who wouldn’t show such courtesy even if they were to die with their noses in the dishwater.

“The wedding will start soon, Lady Elaina. Is there any part that’s uncomfortable for you?”

“No, I’m fine. It’s okay.”

Except for my heart. Elaina swallowed the latter words and answered.

“Try drinking some warm water. It will help you relax.”

Judith offered water that had cooled down to a suitable temperature for drinking, and Elaina nodded. As she drank the water, she organized the things she had seen and heard earlier in her head.

An extremely luxurious and glamorous wedding with great attention to detail. No one would be able to object to that fact.

However, the imperial family of Edenbell had always held their weddings at the temple in the imperial palace for generations. That had been a long-standing custom.

So people would have realized it even more clearly through this marriage. The fact that Sinclair Butler was not treated as imperial family at all by the current emperor.

As if to confirm the kill, not a single member of Edenbell’s imperial family attended the wedding. Not only the emperor, Sinclair’s father, but also his half-brother Hister.

So Sinclair must have deliberately prepared it this grandly as if to show off.

And that was, without exaggeration, the biggest reason why Elaina was nervous.

‘…I can’t let Sinclair become a laughingstock in front of people because of me.’

Thankfully, Judith and Anna had prepared shoes with very low heels. It was completely different from Melvin, who had made Elaina wear high heels that even ordinary people had difficulty walking in, despite her not being able to walk properly even in comfortable shoes.

Judith had told her that this was also Sinclair’s instruction.

But unfortunately, no matter how low the shoes were, no, even if she entered barefoot, she couldn’t walk properly with her uncomfortable leg.

She wasn’t worried about the gazes that would fall on her as she limped in, but rather, she was worried that Sinclair, who already had a bad reputation and wasn’t even acknowledged, would be ridiculed because of her.

‘As much as possible… as if it’s nothing…’

Elaina, who had put down the glass of water, thought as she fiddled with her right ankle that was subtly thinner compared to her uninjured left ankle.

‘If I look timid, people will notice. So I absolutely must not show it.’

It was the moment when Elaina was resolutely making up her mind alone.

“Are you ready?”

Brushing aside the chiffon curtain fluttering in the wind, Sinclair appeared.

“……”

Elaina reflexively turned her head and looked at Sinclair. And not long after, she showed a slightly dazed expression.

For both of them, this was the first time seeing each other in wedding attire.

She already knew. The fact that Sinclair Butler had a very handsome and beautiful appearance, contrary to his nicknames of scoundrel or madman.

But the Sinclair in front of her eyes right now didn’t just look decent.

Ridiculously, he looked majestic like the emperor of the empire. Even though he wasn’t treated as imperial family by the palace at all.

His golden hair, neatly swept back unlike usual, was shining as it received the sunlight, and his light-colored eyes, closely resembling his hair color, were displaying their presence as gorgeously as jewels.

But above all, what caught the eye was his ceremonial attire.

The ceremonial attire worn by Edenbell’s imperial family was in light white tones for both the bride and groom.

Wearing white ceremonial attire symbolizing nobility, going through the sacred procedures in the sacred temple, and being rightfully acknowledged as an elder of the imperial family in front of God while simultaneously striving to live for the people of the empire, that was the meaning.

But Sinclair’s ceremonial attire was completely black.

The dark shirt made of silk, smooth and glossy, and the neatly arranged pants were tightly wrapping his sturdy and muscular body, far from being noble. Rather than nobility, it seemed more appropriate to say it looked obscene.

In the end, it wasn’t only Edenbell’s imperial family who didn’t acknowledge the other party.

Sinclair was the same.

“It suits you well.”

Sinclair smiled slightly as he gazed at Elaina, who was looking up at him.

Just like Sinclair, Elaina’s dress was also black.

Similarly made of silk fabric, the sleeveless dress tightly adhered to her body without a gap, emitting a sheen, and thin straps barely supported her shoulders.

Her long, voluminous black hair falling to her curved waistline, and her pure and plaintive face, the opposite of the dizzying atmosphere. Her white skin glistening with expensive perfume, giving off a pleasant scent……

“I thought the scoundrel ruffian would receive all the attention, but it seems that’s not the case. It looks like you will be the star of today.”

Whether this was a compliment or not. Whether she should be happy or embarrassed, Elaina had no idea at all.

Besides, well, she would attract more attention than Sinclair. Because of her leg. Elaina made a self-mocking expression as she imagined the faces of people watching the limping bride enter.

“Uh, I’m truly sorry to interrupt your conversation, but the wedding will start soon…… Your Highness.”

Judith and Anna, who were frozen stiff unlike when dealing with Elaina, parted their lips while watching his expression.

“Right.”

Sinclair nonchalantly replied as if talking about someone else’s business.

Then suddenly, he reached out his arm to Elaina.

“Sinclair, what are you doing right…!”

Elaina, who was lifted into the air in an instant, called out to him in a startled voice, but it wasn’t particularly effective.

Before she knew it, she was being held by Sinclair like a princess.

“Since you are a very precious bride to me, I should show at least this much showmanship.”

Sinclair said, looking at Elaina cradled in his arms.

“Hug my neck.”

“……”

“As if we’re in love.”

……Is this an act of consideration for me?

Or is it just to draw people’s attention?

But that fleeting thought didn’t last long either.

Sinclair, looking down at her while receiving the sunlight, was shining like a god from legends and gazing at her as if seducing her.

Elaina tightly hugged Sinclair’s neck as if she were enchanted.

“Good.”

Soon, Sinclair’s low voice settled near Elaina’s ear, and he moved his steps without any hesitation while holding her.