“Marriage… you say?”

Hadn’t Melly herself already gotten married?

“Miss Melissa got married. Not our young lady Melly.”

“…”

Only then did Melly understand the whole situation. The reason why the customer had specifically requested delivery from her tea shop despite there being many decent cafes around the famous spot.

How come she hadn’t found it strange at all?

Melly shook her head and laughed at her own naivety.

“We don’t have time for this.”

Oz said, leading Melly towards the log cabin.

“Hurry inside. I’ll make you look the prettiest today. Quickly now.”

“That’s right, my lady. We don’t have much time.”

Everyone chimed in to support Oz.

They all wanted to witness the enchanting wedding ceremony that would take place when the sunset was at its most beautiful. Well, Melly’s thoughts weren’t much different.

The sun had already descended a span lower than when she had left the shop.

Melly set aside her bewildered feelings and went along with their words.

She took Oz’s hand and stepped into the building.

While Melly went to prepare, the servants from the Duke’s residence engaged in lively conversation.

“Doesn’t the lady look much prettier now?”

“I saw it too. She’s become much brighter than before. The water here must be good. I’m thinking of moving here too.”

“More than that, I think the lady has become a bit bolder. Is this the power of motherhood?”

“It might be. By the way…”

Rena clasped her hands together and said dreamily.

“A second wedding ceremony. His Grace is so romantic.”

“I know. I never knew His Grace, who seemed so indifferent, had such a side to him.”

“Me neither, me neither.”

“We’ve known all along.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to the sudden interjection. Then Elsa continued.

“From the beginning, he only had eyes for the madam. Isn’t that right, Leon?”

At her words, Leon rubbed one cheek as if the spot still stung when he thought about his first encounter with Edric.

“Yes. He certainly was like that.”

“And Melly unni…”

“Unni, you say?”

Lisa frowned and warned Elsa.

“How dare you call the Duchess of Pelton ‘unni’, do you not know your place?”

“Wh-What did you say?”

Elsa shot back with a fierce tone.

In truth, she too knew that she could no longer address Melly that way and had intended to correct herself. But the blatant attack made her defiant, and she stubbornly persisted.

“Melly unni herself allowed me to call her that, so I don’t see how it’s any of your business. If you’re jealous, just say so.”

“Y-You…!”

As the confrontation between the two groups intensified, suddenly there was a click− as the log cabin door opened.

And through it, Melly appeared.

A white silk dress that fell to her shins, wavy brown hair cascading to her waist, and a light pink Mansfield rose bouquet in her hand.

Compared to the lavish and voluminous dress of her first wedding, this outfit was incredibly modest, but Melly now shone far more beautifully than she did then.

At this sight, both the Duke’s servants and Elsa forgot their quarrel and exclaimed in unison.

“She’s so… so beautiful!”

With a shy face, Melly descended from the platform and stepped onto the grassy field where weeds rustled.

Meanwhile, Elsa snapped back to her senses and nudged Leon. Leon then handed over the flower crown he had prepared in advance.

As Elsa placed the lily of the valley flower crown she had woven herself on Melly’s head, she said.

“Congratulations…”

She hesitated for a moment on how to address her, but ultimately omitted any title. Because regardless of whether she was ‘unni’ or ‘madam’, Melly’s essence remained unchanged.

Melly, more delicate than anyone yet stronger than anything, sometimes even stubborn.

Melly responded to her with a bright smile.

“Thank you, Elsa. I’m counting on you in the future as well.”

“My lady.”

The butler, who had somehow approached, was extending his hand to her. His eyes were slightly reddened. Like a father giving away his daughter in marriage.

Melly’s eyes also began to sting. She composed her emotions and placed her hand on top of the butler’s.

The two walked slowly into the sunset, passing between the guests.

The servants acting as bridesmaids followed behind, their pink lace skirts fluttering.

The few evergreen trees scattered about were like other bridesmaids dressed in verdant leaf gowns.

They passed by these trees that extended their branches as if bestowing blessings, and reached a gently sloping hill.

Melly could see Edric waiting for her at the hilltop with Jade.

Both were dressed in identical black formal wear, with a single Mansfield rose, identical to those in her bouquet, pinned to their chests.

Their shining golden hair fluttered identically in the wind passing over the mountain ridge, and… both seemed momentarily frozen, as if stunned by Melly’s beauty.

“Mom−!”

At last, Jade let go of Edric’s hand and ran down the slope. Melly opened her arms wide and tightly embraced the child who leaped into her embrace.

“Mom, you’re so pretty.”

“Really? How much?”

When Melly asked with an expectant face, Jade answered in a childlike manner.

“As much as a princess.”

Laughing, Melly lowered herself and planted a loud kiss on the child’s soft cheek.

Round eyes, an adorable smile. And… a heart broader than a child’s.

For the past three years, the child must have thought her mother’s embrace existed solely to hold her. But now, she didn’t express any dissatisfaction at having to share that embrace with another.

Because she could see the even greater gift that had come to her.

The presence of a dependable father.

“Mom, Dad is waiting.”

Jade stepped away from Melly and took the butler’s hand.

Melly slowly raised her gaze.

Standing tall against the backdrop of the now more majestic sunset, he looked magnificent. He also looked at ease.

He was harmoniously emanating these two seemingly incompatible atmospheres. She thought he was an amazing man, now as before.

And now, Melly had grown strong enough not to be intimidated even in front of such an amazing man.

She slowly walked alone.

During this time, Edric’s deep blue eyes remained fixed on Melly without the slightest waver.

It was completely different from their first wedding long ago, when he had taken in and acknowledged everyone except Melly.

When she had reached about halfway up the gentle slope, Edric moved to meet her.

The two met in the middle and gazed at each other for a moment.

Melly spoke first in a calm voice.

“I’m here.”

“I’ve been waiting.”

Edric looked at her with eyes as deep as the sunset and extended his hand. She placed her hand on top of his.

Hand in hand, they slowly climbed the hill. When Melly finally reached the flat summit, her face suddenly became bewildered.

“Where’s the officiant?”

She asked after looking all around, front and back, left and right.

“There isn’t one.”

“There isn’t?”

Melly asked with a face that showed she couldn’t understand at all.

“Is that okay? For a wedding?”

For her, a wedding without an officiant was unimaginable. She had always thought that weddings absolutely required an officiant.

“There are no set rules for weddings. We only had an officiant because it made things look more proper.”

Edric said as if it were no big deal.

‘Was that so?’

She wasn’t quite sure, but if he said so, she had no choice but to believe it.

But then.

“Then do we need to do something in place of the officiant? Like eternal vows or declarations of love?”

I don’t know how to do any of that.

Edric burst into laughter at Melly’s troubled face as she became conscious of the people gazing up at them intently from the hillside.

“Why would we need such things?”

“…”

“Instead of words, we can show it with our bodies.”

“What? What do you mean…”

Before she could even ask, it happened.

The Mansfield rose bouquet she was holding was nearly crushed between their chests.

Before Melly could even feel embarrassed, she could feel Edric’s lips boldly meeting hers.

Their noses lightly brushed as he changed the angle of his head twice before finally releasing her.

It was a soft and dizzying kiss.

It was a bit more intense than what she had imagined in her childhood. No, it was far too intense, but it was undoubtedly the wedding kiss she had longed for…

Whew−.

As their lips finally parted, Melly exhaled a shaky breath. It was then.

“…!”

Melly hastily turned her gaze as she remembered something she had completely forgotten.

Fortunately, the butler had already covered Jade’s eyes.

“Edric.”

Melly chided Edric while smoothing down her chest.

“We’re parents now. We need to think about our child’s mental health.”

“My son takes after me, so his mental health won’t deteriorate from just this much.”

It was a brazen answer, very much like him.

Melly glared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Woah−!

Applause and cheers erupted from the people.

Jade, now free from the butler’s eye-covering, was also clapping her tiny hands.

“Melly.”

Edric called out to Melly again as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Melly Pelton.”

“…”

“This is your name from now on, do you like it?”

Melly wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I love it so much.”

“…”

“Thank you. For not giving up on me.”

Edric leaned in to touch his forehead to hers.

“I’m the one who should be thankful. For accepting someone like me again.”

The breathtaking sunset created a brilliant scene between the two.

In the middle of the beautiful land. Cool breeze. People’s laughter. And…

“I love you, Melly.”

A confession from her beloved.

It was exactly the wedding Melly had once dreamed of.

And Melly, returning to the Melly Enwood of her youth after a long time, answered his confession.

“I love you too, Edric.”

As the soft sunlight embraced the two warmly, they shared another light kiss.

Then, hand in hand, they marched towards the people, treading on the rustling autumn field.