Somehow, time passed, and there was only one week left until the royal wedding.

Ellina, brushing her neatly tied hair, grumbled.

“This is the first time in my life that a wedding has been so busy.”

“Originally, it’s the first wedding held in the royal palace.”

Next to the teasing Sesil, I wanted to nod my head. But I couldn’t. I was the one getting married, and now it was time to look at the dress for the last time.

How many times had I worn, fixed, worn, and fixed the dress? I let out a deep sigh.

“Ugh, it’s already uncomfortable. I just want to take it off and sleep.”

“Please feel more excited.”

“It’s impossible. Totally impossible.”

To spread the hem of the dress wide, I had to wear something much heavier and firmer than the petticoat I usually wore. Since there was no time to spread the skirt, I couldn’t bend my legs or sit down.

It felt like I was being tortured in a stretched position.

‘Is there really a need for adjustments when it seems perfect already?’

But since it was a recent royal wedding, all the dressmakers were sincere.

‘They are burning with determination not to tolerate even a single wrinkle in the fabric.’

It was difficult to complain when I could see how hard they were working.

In the end, I was the only one sulking. As I pursed my lips, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

If it was someone leading such a crowd of people…

“Hello, Your Highness.”

“Everyone, you’ve worked hard.”

It was Hadel, as expected!

Walking in, leading people while giving greetings to this and that person, Hadel looked at me, widened his eyes, and stopped.

Beside me, Sesil, who had been chatting with Ellina, smiled and bowed to Hadel.

“Your Highness? Where are you going?”

I held him back, but Sesil, not alone, ushered everyone inside. I looked at the closing door in dismay.

‘No, then they should at least help me take off the dress!’

Quickly checking the dress and waiting to be free, I felt a sense of depression, bowed my head deeply, and sighed. The door closed, and as I belatedly regained my senses, Hadel, who had lifted his head, asked me.

“What’s that supposed to mean? There’s only a week left, does it mean alterations are not done yet?”

At this rate, the hardworking dressmaker might go crazy. I quickly shook my hands.

“No, I’m losing weight.”

The dress was perfectly made. So, if my waist hadn’t noticeably slimmed down, there wouldn’t have been any problems.

I slept well and ate well every day, but I kept losing weight. Pouting my lips, I lightly twisted my waist.

‘It’s probably because I’ve been paying attention to it lately.’
It seems like I’ll have to go down to the south after the royal wedding, so there was a lot to think about. The fact that I still don’t know anyone in the army was also a problem.

‘And the biggest issue is that there are too few Mana users who handle it well.’

Ice and fire were the most aggressive among many Mana attributes. However, due to Aspen, those with abilities in both attributes were almost extinct.

‘Even other attribute holders have poor training.’

After all the different races were pushed beyond the mountains, there were no hostile forces, which seemed to be the cause. From their perspective, it had been a peaceful period lasting for a whopping 100 years.

‘There’s no longer a reason to become stronger, so the situation in the southern harbor would be similar. Maybe I’m getting overly anxious.’

Still, my criteria are based on my past life, so I had to pay attention to many things because, in the end, before departure, I tried to improve the overall military capabilities as much as possible.

Hadel came close to me, examined my waist, and frowned. I patted Hadel’s shoulders.

“Even the dressmaker was in a bad mood until this morning. Don’t worry too much.”

“It’s not because of that. I…”

Yeah, yeah. I know your feelings too. I smiled slyly.

“I’m very happy too, so don’t make a sad face.”

“Marian.”

Hadel’s red eyes fully captured me. I recalled the time when we first met.

In a scary, cold, and tranquil forest, when I met him while eating bread in a hurry, that time.

‘I really didn’t expect it to turn out like this.’

Facing marriage with the man who said he would fatten me up and make gloves out of it. Remembering the time when I decided to follow Hadel, scared but determined not to be skinned like a bug, I couldn’t help but laugh.

I chuckled and brushed Hadel’s cheek. The warm touch transferred like flames touching the skin.

“If it weren’t for Hadel, I would have been a chick forever. So, wearing this dress and having a wedding is all thanks to Hadel.”

“I didn’t want that.”

“Well, if it’s with Hadel, I want to.”

“Marian.”

Unable to overcome his passion, Hadel approached me even closer but stopped as something touched his knee. It was the sturdy petticoat. Hadel tilted his head.

“…There seems to be something really hard inside.”

“Can I use it as a weapon?”

It sounded like a joke, but it wasn’t. I shrugged.