Chapter 81

This summer seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye.

It was hot, and I definitely enjoyed it, but maybe it was because I was so busy.

The sky beyond the window was blue.

The colors of autumn were beginning to show, and the high sky made me feel the end of summer.

The thin curtain swayed gently in the occasional breeze that blew through the slightly open window. The wind, no longer carrying the heat, felt cool and carried the scent of autumn.

I applied rouge to my lips, and Dorothea nodded in satisfaction before stepping back a few paces.

The me in the large mirror was smiling happily, and I felt as if I had been made beautiful.

"How do I look?"

Turning around over my shoulder, I saw that my mother was already tearing up, and I couldn't help but smile. Supporting her back, my pregnant sister was smiling.

"You look beautiful, Alicia. Absolutely beautiful."

"Yes, really beautiful. Be happy."

With Dorothea's help, I stood up, lifting the hem of my dress slightly as I approached them. When we embraced, I felt my eyes welling up, but I held back the tears. I didn't want to ruin the beautiful look I had been given.

My mother stepped back and slowly looked me over from head to toe. She nodded with a smile, but she was wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

I looked down at myself, but the all-white outfit made me feel a bit restless.

I chose a dress with a high waist, where the skirt flared from the upper body to the hem. Despite the lace and embroidery being the same white, it looked incredibly elegant, which I found quite amazing.

The neckline was covered in lace, but the shoulders and sides were exposed. The back, from the nape of the neck to the spine, was also covered in lace, which I found a bit embarrassing until I tried it on. During the fitting, I had already gotten used to it and thought it was a beautiful dress.

My hair, which had been braided and twisted, was adorned with a pearl hair accessory. Pearl earrings dangled from my ears, making a light sound with every movement.

── Knock, knock, knock

Dorothea went to the door and answered. She turned back and said, "The gentlemen are here," and I nodded to let them in.

The door opened, and my father, brother, and my sister's husband, Viscount Delt Restez, entered. Marc entered last and quietly closed the door.

"Alicia, you look stunning."

My father's eyes were already red, which made me laugh. My brother, standing next to him, was laughing and saying, "Crying again," but even he was wiping the corners of his eyes with his fingertips.

"Thank you. But... isn't it a bit early to cry?"

"Dad has been crying since last night."

"What about you, brother?"

"…I've been crying since this morning."

"You were crying too?"

At my sister's exasperated voice, we all laughed.

The lively voices seemed to be absorbed by the autumn sky. It was such a peaceful moment.

Today is – my wedding day with Noah.

With Dorothea's help, I sat down.

Everyone else sat on the sofa, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

My sister's belly was already quite large, and she was due to give birth this month.

I smiled as I watched my sister caress her belly and my brother-in-law look at her lovingly.

"Did you hear, Alicia? Prince Sieg is here incognito, and the guests are already in the chapel."

"I didn't know that."

When my brother mentioned this, my mother chuckled and adjusted my long gloves.

Today's ceremony is only for family and very close friends. A noble wedding would be much grander, with many guests invited, but Noah said, "I'm a knight, not a noble," so it's a small-scale event.

I wondered why the prince would come, but I had a hunch.

"…Is it about Princess Camilla?"

"Yes, probably. They want to show, both internally and externally, that this marriage is blessed by the royal family."

"You didn't put pressure on them…"

"Not this time."

I sensed a hint in his words but didn't press the issue.

I had heard that Princess Camilla had become much more subdued, and that the King of Anheim had abdicated, with the prince taking over. I imagined that a lot had happened in that country.

"Well, it's fine. If they want to celebrate, let them."

I nodded in agreement with my mother's words.

I felt that the matter was already over for me.

"Hey, Alicia. Can I come visit your new home sometime?"

"Of course. I'd love for you to come anytime."

My sister's happy smile brightened the room.

"Will I visit before the baby is born or after?"

"Once the baby is born, it will be harder to go out. Maybe I should visit first, but… I heard that you and Einhard are taking a short break?"

"Yes, about a week."

"A week? It would have been nice to take more time off. Is there anything you can do about it now?"

My sister's laughter was soft.

She seemed ready to start making calls, and I felt my brother-in-law's firm embrace on her shoulder.

"We plan to take a longer break after things settle down. So it's fine."

"Okay, that's good… I'll contact you when things settle down after your break."

"I'll be waiting."

Given my sister's proactive nature, I knew she would really come to visit.

I didn't want her to overexert herself with the baby, but I trusted that my brother-in-law would stop her if she tried.

── Knock, knock, knock

The knock echoed.

As Marc, who had been standing by the wall, went to the door, I glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that the ceremony time was almost here.

"It's Lord Einhard."

"Please come in."

Marc nodded and opened the door.

Noah stepped into the room and froze when he saw me. But… I was frozen too.

Noah was in his full knight's regalia.

The tunic style was the same, but the jacket was white, and the pants were black, with elaborate decorations on the belt. The gold trim and medals on his chest made his usual knight's uniform look completely different.

His hair was slicked back, and he wasn't wearing his glasses. He looked like Lord Einhard.

Marc quietly closed the door. Noah, as if coming back to his senses, took a deep breath and approached me with his purple eyes gently narrowed.

"You look beautiful, Alicia."

"Thank you. You look amazing too, Noah."

My heart was pounding, and I couldn't calm down.

I felt nervous and restless, knowing that the moment had finally arrived.

Seeing my nervousness, Noah smiled as he always did, and I finally managed to smile back.

"…I didn't know Lord Einhard could look like that."

At my sister's soft murmur, everyone nodded in agreement.

It was funny, and Noah and I looked at each other and laughed again.