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Chapter 9
“Groom Edward de Mare, do you swear before God to take Diana de Kailum as your bride?”
“I do.”
It was a clear, strong, and confident answer. Not only the groom’s guests, but even some from the bride’s side let out small laughs.
“Bride Diana de Kailum, do you swear before God to take Edward de Mare as your groom?”
“Yes.”
It was a very short answer.
It was obvious who loved more.
The nobles of the Emperor’s faction narrowed their eyes as they looked at Edward de Mare.
He was like a thorn in their eyes, yet they were curious.
Why would he make such a bad move?
And why was he smiling like that, even while making the worst possible choice?
But Edward only smiled happily.
As if he had been waiting for this marriage for a very long time.
When he placed the ring on Diana’s finger, he looked like happiness itself. And when Diana placed the ring on his finger, Edward’s ears turned bright red.
The reason people paid so much attention to him was because the bride looked unusually calm.
Diana de Kailum.
The most beautiful flame in the empire.
A flame that burned brighter than any flower, yet carried noble elegance.
No one expected her to maintain such dignity even at her own wedding.
It made people wonder—
“Did they really marry for love?”
“Now, please share the kiss of oath.”
As if to silence those uneasy thoughts—
“Diana.”
Edward called the name of the woman he loved.
Diana looked at him with a beautiful face, without showing any sign of love.
Edward spoke in a voice only she could hear.
“I will become the sea where you can freely roam, Diana. So please, become the sky that reflects me.”
“…I am already the sky.”
Diana had enough confidence to say that herself.
Edward smiled softly, completely captivated by that confidence.
“That’s true.”
My sky.
Edward slowly closed his eyes and moved closer for the kiss she had allowed.
Diana looked at his approaching lips.
This was a kiss to remove suspicion.
A kiss without love.
Yes… that was what it was supposed to be.
But—
“Why does my heart feel like this?”
Their lips touched.
Cheers mixed with teasing could be heard.
She could accept a loveless marriage to become Grand Duke.
So a loveless kiss should also be possible.
But she didn’t understand why it felt strange.
Diana slightly opened her eyes and looked at Edward.
He had his eyes closed honestly, simply pressing his lips against hers.
He could have been greedier.
But he wasn’t.
Perhaps he was afraid she might hate him.
When she closed her eyes again, his soft lips had already left.
“Maybe Edward will leave like this too.”
Time would pass quickly.
One year would go by in the blink of an eye.
And she would be alone again.
But something hidden inside that thought made her feel strange.
Diana linked arms with Edward and walked down the virgin road again.
Only then did she realize—
Her ears had turned red.
* * *
The garden of the Kailum Grand Ducal residence.
Not long after the wedding ended, the garden was filled with guests. They gathered in small groups and talked. Some ate the food placed on tables.
People of different statuses were gathered together, yet order was maintained.
Because this was the Kailum Grand Ducal House.
Grand Duke Mars, said to be ill, sat there with a cold expression. No one dared to cause trouble unless they wished to lose their life.
The nobles of the Emperor’s faction whispered among themselves.
James spoke calmly.
“It’s nice that we don’t have to listen to nonsense, thanks to Your Grace.”
“…Even if it were just you and your wife, I doubt that would happen.”
“Not at all.”
“Isn’t it usually the powerful ones who cause trouble?”
“Then wouldn’t I also be one of those powerful people?”
“Oh my, that’s true.”
Mars continued,
“The Mare Guild spans the continent. No fool would dare cause trouble at the wedding of ‘Mare.’”
“That’s not even my praise, but I still feel proud.”
“It is your praise. Baron Mare didn’t reach this position with nothing.”
“That’s right, dear. To succeed in gambling, you need a large stake.”
James laughed.
It was true.
Someone with one gold coin and someone with a bag of gold would gain very different results from investment.
Edward had a strong foundation for success.
“By the way, Diana is very beautiful.”
Now he understood why his son looked so happy.
“She resembles my wife.”
James nodded.
“The Grand Duchess was also very beautiful. I remember.”
“You’ve met her?”
“The Mare Guild supplied military goods during the war. I saw her from afar encouraging soldiers.”
“I met her up close. I even joined her ladies’ association.”
Grand Duchess Beatrice never left Mars alone on the battlefield.
She organized gatherings, cooked food, gave speeches, and helped with medical care.
“…What kind of person was she to you?”
* * *
From afar, Diana watched James, Anne, and Mars talking happily.
She said to Edward,
“Your parents seem like you. Or perhaps… you resemble them.”
“I think I resemble them. My business skills come from my father, and my decisiveness from my mother.”
Diana looked at Edward.
The white tuxedo suited him well, but she didn’t say it.
“Who do you resemble, Diana?”
“My father.”
“You also seem to have inherited the Grand Duchess’s beauty.”
“Then why ask?”
Edward recalled the portrait of the Grand Duchess.
Warm blonde hair. Bright green eyes.
She was beautiful.
“I was curious what you thought.”
Diana walked slowly.
Her yellow reception dress was lighter than the wedding dress, but still required careful steps.
“Diana, you look like a daisy.”
She was already used to his compliments.
“But it’s a bit revealing.”
“…This?”
Diana looked at her dress.
Her shoulders were exposed, and the neckline was slightly open—but it wasn’t excessive.
“I guess I’m conservative.”
“Shouldn’t a merchant be progressive?”
“My conservativeness applies only to Diana.”
Diana was speechless again.
She turned her head away.
“I don’t like being restrained.”
“I’ll remember that.”
Even so, she knew—
Even if she wore something more revealing, Edward wouldn’t complain.
He would only look at her like a sad puppy.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
Diana tightened her hold on his arm.
“Not at all.”
“That’s good. I was worried my escort might not be good enough.”
Edward said happily,
“I’m looking forward to escorting you in the future.”
“It’s only for one year.”
But Edward replied gently,
“One year contains all four seasons. With time, you might come to want my escort.”
“My feelings won’t change with time.”
It was like a battle between an unstoppable spear and an unbreakable shield.
And that childish exchange was interrupted.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Princess.”
Marquis Malus de Caligo.
A leading noble of the Emperor’s faction.
Both Diana and Edward’s expressions hardened at the same time.
Diana disliked facing him.
Edward disliked him for interrupting their time.
But both quickly smiled again.
Diana spoke first.
“Thank you for attending the wedding, Marquis.”
“Your son is here as well. I’m truly happy you both came.”
Edward smiled at Malus’s son, Hydrus.
But Malus hesitated.
He had prepared words—
But after seeing their earlier expressions, he forgot them.
“The Emperor sent someone like this as his ‘eyes’? I can see why.”
“Still a fool, just like before.”
Diana and Edward looked at each other.
They still didn’t know much about one another.
But one thing was clear—
They were thinking the exact same thing.
