IHMEB - Chapter 288 < Like Envy or Like a Blessing > < END >



Even though the Rowen Territory had changed to the Rowen Kingdom, nothing really changed.

Until yesterday, the bed where they had been busy harvesting barley and had been exhausted from working hard and lying down, and the start of the day where they filled their stomachs with soup made by boiling potatoes, carrots, and root vegetables for a long time before going out to work was the same.

From the perspective of the Rowen people, it was like that, and for the others whose territory was not originally Rowen, they were citizens of Oberon and had been incorporated into 'Rowenna', so it was also unrealistic since the lord who gave them work and food had not changed.

Nevertheless, when it was announced that the official coronation ceremony of the King and Queen would be held, they were excited and looked forward to that day. It was as if they had acquired the heart of a wild beast that could hunt even small animals, compared to the small heart of a chicken that had been pecked at and sprinkled with grain until yesterday.

Nothing had changed, but each day was spent with energy as if they had been reborn.

And then the day of the national wedding that people had been waiting for and wishing for dawn.

The sky of early summer, June, was clear and blue.

It was the coronation ceremony that was held on the same day, two years after the young King had married his bride, the Princess of Vermont, at the Castle de Valmonde when he was a Duke.

“It’s a wedding!”

The young girls shouted, but the boys raised their voices in return.

“It’s a coronation. His Majesty the King and His Queen!”

“It’s a coronation, but the wedding is more important!”

Each of them had their own interests, but it was a secret that the girls were closer to the Ning’s heart.

“Hurry up! If we go quickly, we can get a good seat.”

“Let’s go over there!”

The smell of food from the feast wafting from here and there and the sound of cheerful singing from all over the streets filled the beginning of an honorable day.

However, there was one person who was definitely the busiest in the entire kingdom.

“There. Be careful not to get dragged!”

It was Madame Marcel who had been reborn as a craftsman of bridal attire.

“Wow. It looks more gorgeous than I thought.”

When Claudel exclaimed with shining eyes, she was very proud.

The dress, which had been dazzlingly gorgeous in proportion to the cost of the original budget that Kaian had invested without sparing any effort, became even more intense. They had been wondering if they could hold the wedding again under the pretext of welcoming the bride at Rowen Castle.

Since the wedding was attached to the coronation of the King and Queen, there was pressure to show something to the people. It was common sense to make the ceremonial dress large and wide so that the gathered crowd could avoid each other’s heads and say, “I saw Your Majesty the King and Queen.”

That way, even if they saw the mass that looked like nothing more than a gorgeous flower bud from afar, they would be satisfied with “seeing it.”

However, such a dress lacked aesthetic artistry.

What ended Madame Marcel’s worries was Kaian’s one word.

“As long as it satisfies my eyes.”

Since the design and decoration had already been applauded by Kaian, Madame Marcel was satisfied with just adding more fluff and maximizing it.

The result was the dress in front of Claudel.

On both arms, puffed thin mesh lace sleeves came down to the wrists and were finished elegantly without flapping.

The dress, which revealed the shoulders and collarbone, had jewels sewn and embroidered all over the body so that they sparkled here and there with the slightest movement.

One flaw was that it might have felt a little heavy because of this, but when Claudel and Hannah applauded during the fitting, Madame Marcel flew around as if she had seven wings on her back.

When Claudel had just changed into her dress and finished dressing up, Leonie and Evan appeared.

Claudel smiled brightly and clapped her hands when she saw them.

“Oh my! Mom, Dad! You look so good together.”

Leonie and Evan were also wearing formal attire that Madame Marcel had prepared for them.

They were going to be the Queen’s parents.

Hannah chimed in from the side.

“I think Aunt and my uncle can get married again.”

“Really? Let’s try it out?”

When Leonie happily answered, Evan said excitedly.

“Really? I’d like it!”

“The Duchess of Vermont. I brought flowers.”

She was a commoner, but she became Evan’s official husband and wife.

When Irena ascended to the throne of the Grand Duchess, Evan inherited the family name and the title of Duke of Vermont.

Irena and Kaian were worried that they might not like it or be offended, but Leonie and Evan accepted it calmly.

“If I can be of help to you.”

When Evan readily stepped forward, Leonie calmly agreed.

“No one will belittle your origins. I don’t want to live up to their standards because they look down on me. After all, you’re not a noble, but the world doesn’t change overnight.”

But unexpectedly, Leonie’s popularity among the people of Rowen grew.

Leonie had married into the Duke of Vermont, so Claudel was born into a noble family. She had been a commoner and then became a noble!

And that was all thanks to her passionate love story with Evan!

Many people admired or liked Leonie, and she became a force in Kaian’s politics of eliminating discrimination between nobles and commoners and the distinction between noble and common.

The King had a mother-in-law who was a commoner.

Leonie received the flower given by the maid and handed it to Claudel.

When Hannah spread the veil and draped it over Leonie’s arms, Claudel bent her knees and bowed her head.

From the top of her head, she placed a thin veil that flowed like a mother wrapping her entire body in blessings.

“Oh. I'm a step too late.”

A commotion was heard in the doorway, and Irena appeared with her escort.

“Sister!”

“Sis, there are a lot of people who bother me since I became independent from Oberon.”

Irena sighed and reached under her veil to put a bracelet on Claudel’s wrist.

“The crown and the ring belong to me, but can I give you at least one bracelet?”

When she first got married, she had to force herself to take it out of the family’s treasury and wear it on her body.

What Irena brought was perfect for the white, shining bride, sleek and beautiful, like a wisp of the northern wind blowing silvery snow.

“I love it. Thank you.”

A lot of emotions briefly flashed through Irena and Claudel’s eyes. But soon they smiled brightly at the same time.

“It’s time to leave.”

The servant urged them on.

“Be happy. You’ve been happy so far, and you’ll be even happier in the future.”

Claudel blinked at Leonie’s words.

“I won’t cry.”

She thought this day would never come, but it had come to her like a miracle.

She couldn’t shed tears on such a wonderful day.

“Mom. I’m so glad you’re here with us today.”

However, the atmosphere became solemn as Evan began to cry, sobbing from his uncontrollable emotions.

“Thank you, Dad.”

“Sob. You have to live well. Claudel.”

Claudel smiled and slowly left the room, guided by the maids.

Kaian was already in the open carriage.

It took a while for Claudel to get on and her dress to be loaded into the carriage, so Kaian couldn’t help but whisper.

“You're like a fairy.”

“...”

“No, more like a goddess.”

“People can see.”

“She looks like an angel who just came down from the sky and folded her wings.”

Claudel’s heart raced every time Kaian complimented her. The more Madame Marcel told her about the passion Kaian had shown while she was making the dress, the more likely it was that Kaian would ask her to wear ‘just the dress.’

“Since we’re having a wedding again, the meaning of the first night is different.”

Look at this. I knew it.

“How about just wearing the dress tonight?”

The attendants were still busy trying to keep even a single lace from the dress from getting caught in the carriage door.

“What the hell are you talking about? With all these guests gathered together?”

Claudel said to him in a fit of anger.

“If that’s the case, you should do the same. Just the crown.”

However, as soon as she said the words, seeing Kaian’s bright face, Claudel thought something was wrong.

“Of course.”

“No, that’s not it...”

Without even being able to finish her words, the carriage set off for the square where the wedding would be held.

***

With the blessings of many, the couple was reborn as the royal couple of the Rowen Kingdom.

The bustling crowd was immersed in the festive atmosphere, and the reception was held in the backyard of Rowen Castle, where the distinguished guests were invited separately.

“Hehe. I thought you didn’t let people in.”

“I guess so. It’s such a wild feeling right behind the castle.”

Other noblewomen who followed their husbands to the state wedding gathered in twos and threes and expressed their envy.

“We wish we could have a backyard like this in our castle too.”

“We can’t do it. The castle is surrounded by plains, so you can’t find a single drop of water.”

Decorative ribbons fluttered between the large trees by the lake.

Those who had become one under the name of Rowen were sharing food and drinks to relieve their sorrows.

“Bring His Majesty the King!”

“Bring Her Majesty the Queen!”

When Kaian and Claudel appeared with the sound of a horn, everyone stood up and clapped their hands.

“It’s really nice to see you.”

Hannah said softly as if the past events were flashing through her mind, and Rohan smiled.

“We’ll be happy to see you too, right? Melbus.”

The baby whose name was called gestured with his hands as if clapping along with the excited people and smiled brightly in their arms.

Behind them were Irena, who had her red hair tied up high in a ponytail and was in her uniform, and Evan, who stood proudly with Leonie, with his shoulders squared.

“My people. My family.”

Claudel smiled involuntarily as she walked, seeing the red hair that stood out so much.

No matter how much she stretched her hand toward the night sky, she couldn’t reach the stars.

However, Claudel felt like she was holding those stars in her hands now.

She wondered if it might be a bit presumptuous to hold such a grand event after having a child, but she felt that Kaian’s heart was sincere.

“Mom. I’m glad I can show you this.”

The wedding that was criticized as being unsightly was no longer the only moment in life.

Being welcomed and congratulated by everyone and being able to hold the hand of the person next to her made her heart swell.

“Kaian.”

The man who had been waving to the cheering people turned his eyes to her without missing even the slightest call.

“I love you.”

He said to her in response.

“Me too.”

However as if the sky was offended by their affection, dark clouds suddenly gathered and a rumble was heard.

“Oh my! It’s raining!”

Drip.

When raindrops large enough to be seen suddenly began to pour down, the servants were surprised, took off their clothes, covered their masters, and started running toward the castle.

“It was a nice day today!”

“What the hell is this?”

Kaian carried Claudel in his arms and ran through the forest instead of toward the castle. They soon arrived at his secret study, but both Claudel and Kaian were already soaked from the rain that they could not avoid.

The woman, soaking wet, laughed out loud.

“You’re all wet.”

Claudel pushed his hair, which had been messy from running, back from his forehead.

“But you’re still cool.”

Her white fingertips brushed his forehead, the tip of his nose, his lips, and his throat, and touched the lion necklace hanging on his chest.

It was the emblem of Temnes and the foundation of the kingdom of Rowen.

She asked playfully.

“This. If I want it, will you give it to me?”

Kaian’s eyes darkened as he coveted the treasure the King had planned to pass down to the next King.

“Yes. Whatever you ask for.”

He placed Rowen’s heart in her hand.

“Claudel. I will never leave you alone in the rain again.”

They still had a long life ahead of them. What kind of days awaited them, where they might unexpectedly spend the night by a warm fireplace on a day when they thought their feet were soaking wet, or where they might be caught in a torrential downpour on a clear, sunny day?

“Never.”

He couldn't guarantee that he would protect her from what she couldn't avoid.

But he couldn't leave her alone.

Claudel nodded, understanding those words.

"We'll be together."

For a long time.

It was when Kaian was moved by the fact that their hearts had connected.

"Can I kiss you?"

Claudel grabbed his necklace and stole Kaian's lips.

They heard the sound of the King and Queen searching for the lost King and Queen from afar, but they fell for each other.

Under the rain that fell like the sky's jealousy, or like a blessing.


I Have My Enemy's Baby < END >


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