Rose stroked the pendant with trembling fingers.
Click.
Opening the locket, the phrase 'To my little rose' was visible behind an old piece of paper.
"It's my mother's. Oh my goodness, how did you..."
Rose's eyes welled up with tears.
Rose hugged the pendant tightly to her chest and murmured repeatedly.
"Thank you... Thank you so much, Helena."
I wrapped an arm around Rose's shoulder and nodded to Helena.
"You did well, Helena. There is no more perfect gift than this."
"It was nothing."
Helena stared at my hand resting on Rose's shoulder. However, her blue eyes only shone as clearly as a well-polished sword.
"Then I'll see you at the cathedral tomorrow."
Soon after, the moment Helena stood up with a neat smile,
Bang!
Someone flung the office door open and barged in.
"Your Grace! Is Miss Lune here by any chance?"
"Sir Matthias! I said you can't!"
It was Matthias, who had run over with a heavily flushed face, and Casto, who was trying to hold him back.
'Who does this punk think he's messing with?'
I rarely showed emotion, but I began to glare at Matthias.
"That mutt is here again."
Helena shrugged as if she couldn't handle him and brushed past me.
"Miss Lune! Please wait a moment!"
Matthias desperately called out to her and chased after her.
"Sir Matthias! Stop right there... !"
And behind them followed the assistant butler, Casto.
His voice was barely suppressing harsh words that nearly spilled out.
"...Oh my."
Rose smiled softly as she watched the comedy unfold.
"Sir Matthias still doesn't know Helena's name?"
"It seems that way."
Matthias continued to chase after Helena, but it seemed to yield no results at all.
Well, they'll figure it out. One can't control the human heart.
Clack.
Outside the hallway, the servants closed the door again, sweating profusely.
As the sudden guest left, the air in the office calmed down.
"Hehe..."
Rose gently stroked the pendant Helena gave her with her hand. Complex thoughts flitted across Rose's clear face.
"If my mother could see me now, she would have been so happy..."
Having lost my parents as well, I could understand the sense of loss and sorrow Rose felt.
I quietly put strength into the hand hugging Rose's shoulder.
"She would be relieved to know you've found a new family."
"...She definitely would be."
Rose nodded and held out the pendant to me. I silently fastened the pendant around Rose's nape.
"Can I wear this and proceed with the ceremony tomorrow?"
"Of course."
Below Rose's nape, the old but elegant pendant sparkled.
Rose fiddled with it and murmured.
"Helena really worked hard. It must have been hard to find since it was an heirloom sold right after my mother passed away..."
"She did what she does best."
"Dane, you see."
Rose's sea-green eyes wavered as she looked at me.
"Stop feeling sorry to Helena."
"……."
Rose reached out and pulled my shirt collar.
Her fingers slipped through the loosened collar. My heart began to race at the slow movement stroking down my bare skin.
"I don't want to give up even a single corner of your heart."
Rose chuckled lowly and devoured my lips.
"I told you, didn't I? Even your guilt is mine."
I closed my eyes and accepted Rose's kiss.
Willingly submitting to Rose, who turned me into a beast even the day before our wedding.
**
The majestic melody of the pipe organ filled the ceiling of the cathedral. The noon sunlight, filtered through the stained glass, reflected a brilliant light.
"Everyone, attention!"
Matthias's booming voice echoed. It was a shout worthy of a Knight Commander, with his usual silliness nowhere to be found.
"Draw swords!"
As he shouted,
Clang-!
With the cool friction, dozens of swords were drawn simultaneously.
As the knights crossed the tips of their swords and poured mana into the blades, a tunnel of light was formed.
Step.
I walked confidently beneath it in my wedding attire.
"Sniff..."
"Oh my..."
Selma and Fabri, sitting down and wiping tears from their eyes.
"Ah, stop crying. On such a joyous day, what's with... Ahem. Something must have gotten into my eyes."
I saw Bill, who eventually sniffled himself and looked up at the ceiling.
"Hmm..."
Beside them, the assistant butler Casto watched the ceremony with sharp eyes, making sure nothing was missed.
"……."
Passing by Helena's smiling face,
"To think I'd be invited to the wedding of such a high-ranking noble."
Andersen, unclear whether he was admiring or complaining,
"This is the greatest masterpiece of my life."
and Lucy, who was definitely admiring it, were also there.
"It reminds me of our wedding, honey."
"I didn't know His Grace would ever get married back then."
Count Holland and his wife, sitting in the family's reserved seats, were also visible.
Beside them, the heads of the families and estates supporting House Schmaichel attended and filled the seats.
"Wow, dressing this guy up makes him quite a sight to see, huh?"
Beatrice was seen sitting in the royal reserved seats, craning her neck and looking this way.
"Sit... down."
Beside her, Arikx clenched his teeth and grabbed Beatrice's shoulder, pressing her down.
"Ahem."
Finally, I reached the King, who was standing at the altar with a satisfied smile.
And immediately, I turned around and looked back.
Bang!
The heavy doors of the cathedral opened, and flower girls walked in, beginning to scatter petals.
They were the children of the Arsil Orphanage.
Perhaps because Casto and Helena fed and cared for them well, their plump faces looked quite healthy.
And behind them,
"Oh my...!"
"Wow."
The bride, who blossomed more brilliantly than the flowers, appeared, receiving all the admiration and cheers from the people.
Stepping onto the virgin road alone, Rose radiated the dignity worthy of the madam of the Schmaichel family from her entire body.
Click, clack.
Rose began to walk toward me.
The wedding dress that Lucy had painstakingly crafted further accentuated Rose's beauty. With every step she took, the jewels embedded one by one in the veil and the hem of the dress sparkled.
Click, clack.
Rose's gaze was solely directed at me.
Amidst the countless guests, the entirely sparkling and fluttering surroundings, and the fluttering flower petals.
Everything around blurred, and only we entered each other's vision.
"……."
She was beautiful.
A single rose that had blossomed only for me in this world.
'...Finally.'
I suppressed my swelling heart, but
Step.
I couldn't hold back any longer and ended up walking toward Rose.
I was worried that Rose might trip over the voluminous hem of her dress. Besides, Rose wasn't alone either.
"Goodness, that guy."
"I knew he'd do that."
I heard Arikx and Beatrice whispering, but I didn't care.
"Dane."
Rose widened her eyes in surprise, but soon took my outstretched hand.
Step, step.
Only the body heat felt at the fingertips holding each other felt like reality. Rose's gentle smile tickled my side profile.
The path walking hand-in-hand with Rose to the altar where the King stood was short yet long. The dazzling light pouring from the chandelier above seemed to bless our path forward.
"Today, in this place, the kingdom witnesses the union of the sharpest sword and the noblest flower."
As we reached the altar, the King raised his voice so the entire cathedral could hear.
"Dane Schmaichel, will you defend this woman and the kingdom with your sword?"
"I swear."
"Rose Schmaichel, will you warm the heart of the Ducal House with your wisdom?"
"I swear."
As the vows ended, I took Rose's fingers and lifted them. Then, I slipped on a ring embedded with a polished Magic Stone from Kalmar.
"With this ring, I marry you and entrust all of Schmaichel to you."
I kissed the back of Rose's hand and added.
"Also, I swear to worship only you until the end of my soul."
Rose's eyes, gazing at the ring, wavered gently.
Soon, Rose took my hand and lifted it. And she slipped a ring she had prepared herself onto my finger.
"This is... the proof that you are mine forever."
Her shy whisper became a sweet restraint and lingered in my ears.
"In the name of the royal family, I declare. The two are now one, and no one can break this bond."
The King overlapped my and Rose's hands and declared.
"The groom may now kiss the bride with a blessing."
As soon as the King's words fell, I pulled Rose right in. And overlapped my lips with hers.
"Aigo!"
"Whoa."
Applause poured in from all directions along with sounds that were hard to tell if they were sighs or admiration.
Either way, it was clear they meant congratulations.
"Hahaha."
I stopped the kiss appropriately at the sound of the King's gentle cough. I withdrew my lips from Rose's face, which was flushed with joy and excitement.
All that was left now was the exit.
"Shall we go?"
"Yes."
I held up the hand I clasped with Rose and walked out.
Bell sounds filled the entire cathedral, and congratulatory cannons fired from all directions. As I walked down the virgin road, I took in the sight of the guests one by one.
Walking slowly like that, when I reached the place where the knights, including Matthias, were,
"Your Grace!"
Matthias blocked our way and grinned mischievously.
"There is a legend that the couple will be happy forever if you carry the bride through here!"
"Show us, please!"
"That's right!"
Other knights also smirked and agreed.
…'You little punks.'
I frowned for a moment, but
"Eek!"
I soon smirked and scooped Rose up into my arms.
"Wooooo!"
In that state, I passed through the arch of swords made by the knights, and through their cheers.
"Dane."
Just as I was about to set Rose down on the ground at the end of the virgin road.
Rose smiled and whispered in my ear.
"The baby just moved."
"……."
My heart felt like it stopped for a moment.
First, I set Rose down on the ground with a calm face. And inwardly, I began to worry whether I should call a doctor immediately.
First, send all the guests to the banquet hall, and...
"Dane, calm down."
Rose giggled and squeezed my hand tightly.
"It just kicked a little. You don't need to call a doctor."
"...Was it obvious?"
Rose just laughed silently at my bewildered reaction.
"Congratulations, Your Grace! Congratulations, Madam!"
The guests approached us and sent enthusiastic applause.
Amidst the pouring cheers, I clasped Rose's hand tightly once again. And I whispered to Rose.
"I love you."
Rose leaned her body deeply against me. As if she didn't want to be separated anymore.
"I love you, Dane."
Finally, my rose, my heart, and my world became completely mine.
It was the beginning of Schmaichel, which I would build together with Rose.
- The End -