Both had different charms, making it difficult to choose just one. I groaned and clenched my fist.

“It’s still difficult. If it were choosing Hadel’s clothes, I’d carefully choose, you know.”

“At least King Hadel wouldn’t mind going barefoot.”

“No. That’s a different matter……”

I stopped there and cut it off. Only I should know how good Hadel’s figure is.

Anyway, after careful consideration, I chose a mermaid-line dress that revealed my figure. I decided to remove the lace-made sleeves and make it a sleeveless dress.

“It might look cooler that way. It will suit Lady Marian well too.”
Anyway, the main ceremony dress was settled. Terrifyingly, I began to genuinely adjust the dress to my figure, pinning the clock hands to the dress and checking the height of the shoe heels. The seamstress making detailed adjustments looked at the ring on my hand and asked,

“Is this ring an engagement ring, by any chance?”

“Well…….,”

It wasn’t an engagement ring. Anticipating that it would cause a commotion due to the engagement ring, I quickly changed my answer.

“Yes.”

From now on, this magic stone ring would be my engagement ring. Cecil and Ellina stared at me as if questioning what I said. I shrugged my shoulders.

“Hadel put it on for me. So, it’s an engagement ring.”

Of course, to prevent any further questions, I added a grand narrative.

“I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world.”

Apparently, everyone around me seemed to be weak to romance. Seeing them clasping hands and being moved by my absurd story was evidence enough.

“Oh my.”

“Having separate proposals for the two of you is so romantic.”

‘How many times do they think proposals happen?’

I thought that to myself but didn’t express it. So, stories about having to adjust the engagement ring again and finding a suitable gemstone for it had to be included.

Since my waist was much slimmer than the original dress owner’s, it was impossible to adjust with the corset attached to the dress. In the end, the seamstress marked various places, indicating that she would have to tear and resew the dress.

While standing quietly, waiting for the work to finish, Cecil spoke to me with a blurred face.

“I’m worried that Your Highness is pushing yourself too hard.”

“Why would Hadel?”

“Lately, it seemed like His Majesty was focusing on absorbing neutral factions. The king’s schedule is confidential, so I don’t know exactly.”

“Hmm.”

As if it wasn’t enough to be late every night, it seemed that there were many external meetings besides the flame control training.

‘Perhaps it’s because Aspen has been loosely managing things until now.’

How meticulously the brainwashed king must have devoted himself to state affairs. As long as Aspen didn’t interfere with running the laboratory, it seemed like they closed their eyes to each other.

‘In various ways, the damage is minimal.’

If I had opened my eyes a little later, Aspen might have ruined the country even more.

‘You’re working hard, Hadel.’

Driven out to the north, leaving and then returning, how much is he struggling to restore the country in a place where he has no allies?

Thinking of Hadel, I felt ashamed of myself, who had been grumbling about changing into a wedding dress. I clenched my fist.

“Okay, I need to rekindle my enthusiasm.”

Once the dress was decided, the next steps went smoothly.

“It would be nice to have a very long veil. With just the length of the veil, it can become a symbol of a long-lasting marriage.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Since Lady Marian is tall enough, you don’t necessarily need to wear high heels.”
“I think it’s better to choose something that fits well first and then decide by taking off and putting on jewels.”

Shoes, the necklace I would wear that day, earrings… The time for endless choices seemed to drag on, but once I gathered my courage and decisively made choices, it quickly came to an end.

“Whew, I feel relieved.”

Now that everything was finished, it was time to gauge if I could take off the uncomfortable dress. Ellina blinked her eyes and said,

“So, shall we choose a tiara now?”

“Oh.”

A tiara? There was still something left to choose? Now I really wanted to run away. I wanted to transform into a bird right away and fly away. However, at that moment, Ellina blushed both cheeks brightly and said,

“Although it’s rushed, it’s a wedding ceremony that also has significant national meaning. I can’t believe I’m helping with the preparations.”

“…”

I scratched my head.

‘She laughs like that, and there’s nothing to say.’

A wedding ceremony with significant meaning.

I had already decided once that I should get married. There was no meaning in it. I didn’t even know the other person’s face. But why did I think I should get married when I returned?

‘Because it was a symbol of the conclusion that the war inside me had ended.’

A partner I could say, “I’m back.”

That was the person who had promised me marriage.

If I had returned, I would probably have prepared for the wedding just like now. Complaining about things like the dress being uncomfortable and telling them to choose jewels on their own.

‘Right. This is the time I lost a long time ago.’

I looked around with eyes filled with nostalgia.

The Queen’s Palace, where I once fell asleep with fear because it was scary to sleep alone with Amama.

I thought I had no family, and returning had no meaning. But it wasn’t that I had no family. Now I had Hadel by my side, and Cecil and Ellina too.

‘Now, I have returned home.’

Only then did the things I lost and the things I regained become clear. Afraid I would cry if I stayed still, I raised my head.