As I listened to Kishian's words.
I couldn't help but laugh.
I thought he was a guy who was bad at joking, but he's actually pretty good.
There's no way he would have said something like that in earnest.
So I couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing, but Kishian, who had said something that sounded like a joke, didn't show even a hint of laughter.
Instead, he looked at me with a more stern face than usual and asked.
"Do you understand?"
"You worry so much. Why would I have an eye on another man? As you said, there must be as many eyes watching us as there are stars in the sky."
"You mean you won't even glance at it?"
"Of course. I wouldn't be stupid enough to have a wedding this afternoon and forget about it."
"Well then, that's fortunate. I thought you were going to say something different after swearing your oath before God."
"Let's stop talking nonsense and go down now. People will be waiting."
"Let's go. But before that..."
As he said that, he wrapped the hand he was holding around my arm.
It was made to make us link arms.
Looking up at him with bewildered eyes, Kishian replied.
"Come a little closer. We're a married couple."
After all, no matter what our real relationship was, we needed to appear friendly in front of people.
I nodded in understanding, and he slowly walked towards me, leading me.
Although I was a woman without any attractive features, it was true that holding on to him like this gave me some reliance.
I wasn't nervous even though I had to appear in front of people soon.
Thanks to this, I was able to step into the banquet hall with peace of mind.
***
As the sky darkened, the crystal chandelier took on a splendid light.
Under the twinkling lights that looked like hanging stars, the guests appeared one by one and showed off their beauty.
Women in shiny, colorful dresses swam around the banquet hall like ornamental fish while well-dressed gentlemen busily chased after them.
The same was true of Letie and her partner, the Duke of Herssen, who had come to enjoy her sister's wedding.
The two of them, who were energetically moving around the banquet hall, were the most outstanding figures among the guests and captured everyone's attention.
Among them, the first to show interest was Countess Rosen.
"Your Highness. Princess, somehow the atmosphere seems quite different from when I last saw you."
The Countess tilted her head slightly, revealing her doubts.
The Princess Elona that the Countess had seen before was clearly a quiet and calm woman.
Her dresses and accessories were always kept simple, so she never stood out.
But there was something different about the Elona here now.
This woman, who was swept up in a gorgeous cherry blossom-colored dress and was garnering people's attention, reminded them more of Letie than Elona.
Unlike in the past when she seemed to deliberately avoid attention, the current Elona even seemed to enjoy it.
However, it would be rude to state the truth.
So the Countess revealed her feelings in appropriate words.
"Have you decided to change your style? You were beautiful before, but you look even more beautiful now."
Letie also smiled brightly at the compliment the Countess gave with a smile.
"Thank you. Today is my beloved sister's wedding day. I can't wear something dark on a day like this, right? So I dressed up a little brightly."
"I see! That's an excellent choice!"
Even though she covered her mouth with her fan and laughed heartily, the Countess could not shake off her doubts.
As expected, the Elona in front of her did not seem like Elona.
Was Elona's speech originally that bright and light?
Some of the other ladies and young ladies also seemed to sense something strange and had puzzled expressions on their faces.
There was an awkward silence for a moment.
"Be obeisant to the sun and moon of the north!"
The wedding guests appeared with the bell ringing.
The guests bowed their heads toward the couple and slowly looked them over.
After that, an even thicker silence fell over the banquet hall.
The silence that had been there for a moment was soon broken by someone's exclamation of admiration.
"Oh..."
Starting with that, exclamations of various kinds came out from all over.
"You are truly beautiful."
As one woman muttered, those nearby nodded in agreement.
They were literally a beautiful couple.
Her husband, Kishian, was tall and seemed like he would be the center of attention wherever he went.
Even though he swung his sword for three years under the hot sun and was covered in demon blood, he lost none of his nobility and beauty.
One thing that really stood out was the Archduchess standing next to him.
The Archduchess they had seen in the past, Letie, was a bright and pure Princess.
Even though she was of marriageable age, she was still as cheerful as a girl, so many were concerned about her immaturity.
But is that why you got married?
Unlike when it was bright and innocent, it now reveals a mysteriousness that is difficult to approach carelessly.
As she walked slowly, escorted by the Archduke, the hem of her dark blue dress, resembling the night sky, fluttered at her feet.
The jewels embedded in the bottom of the dress scattered beautiful rays of light in all directions.
The guests could not take their eyes off the Grand Duchess for a while because she was so beautiful that it felt a little unrealistic.
It was only when the Archduke and his wife reached the center of the floor that they came to their senses and gathered around them.
"Oh my... I'm really surprised. I thought the goddess of the moon had come down. What is it?"
"Before marriage, you were just like a lovely fairy, but I didn't know you would become so beautiful..."
"If you don't mind, may I know who the designer of this dress is? As of today, all the women of the Empire will be wearing Your Highness's attire, so I would like to get my hands on it before it becomes popular."
Elona felt dizzy from the torrent of compliments pouring in from all sides, to the point of being distracted.
She couldn't even remember how many years it had been since she'd received this much attention.
No, was this the first time?
Before coming north, she always hung around the edge of the banquet hall, so this seemed like her first time.
Because of that, Elona couldn't come to her senses while dealing with so many people, and she couldn't even look at how her sisters were looking at her.
"..."
Letie looked at Elona, who had monopolized all the attention as soon as she appeared, and asked quietly.
It was strange.
Before Elona appeared, Letie was sincerely congratulating her sister on her wedding.
At the same time, she also felt regret.
She was quite worried because, unlike when he was held captive in the palace, Kishian had grown into a violent man. Now, she felt sorry for her older sister who was forced to marry the terrible Northern Grand Duke, who was even called a monster.
It certainly was like that.
'What is this feeling?'
She didn't feel sorry for her sister anymore.
Contrary to rumors, the King of the North did not seem so violent and eccentric.
Rather, he had grown into a tall and handsome man who made one's heart flutter even when seen from a far.
Tall, stocky body, a handsome face, and the intimidating presence of a ruler.
There seemed to be nothing to find fault with.
The same was true for Elona.
Since she was forced into marriage, Letie thought she would show up wearing an out-of-style dress with a face full of despair.
But when Elona showed up, she didn't look particularly unhappy, and she wasn't wearing an out-of-style dress.
Far from falling behind, she seemed to have become everyone's idol.
Aren't there already several ladies and gentlemen pestering Elona to tell her who the designer of the dress is?
'This feeling is...'
It's clearly a good thing, something that should be celebrated, but why does she feel so suffocated?
Letie watched Elona, who had come to stand in the center of the people in her place, quietly for a while.
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