Chapter 140

A busy year passed.

The new year dawned.

Those who had thrown the empire into chaos were executed one by one, disappearing like dew.

By the Emperor’s command, the empire was to forget the dark year and welcome the new one with joy.

“The rotten parts have been cut away, and only the clean remains. How can we not be happy?”

“Everyone, happily welcome the prosperity of the empire.”

It was as the Emperor said.

But even so, most noble families were hesitant to hold big celebrations or banquets, mindful of the recent events.

So, the Royden and Syveric families decided to open the door.

“The bride, Dame Rodella Syveric, and the groom, Duke Aivert Royden, are entering!”

The wedding hall was splendid.

As if to show off the Royden family’s influence over the entire empire, the wedding hall was not decorated according to the customs of the capital alone.

All sorts of food and amenities were prepared for guests from Syveric’s territory and other regions across the empire.

These were not facilities that were originally in the Royden family’s main banquet hall used for the wedding.

They had instantly and perfectly created facilities that didn’t exist before.

“To think they would pay attention to such small details.”

For example, in the northern part of the empire, a region bordering many kingdoms, there was a custom of not hiding one’s hands under long tablecloths.

This was because there were frequent surprise attacks with weapons hidden under the cloth.

Separate tables were made for them to minimize the guests’ discomfort.

In addition, guests directly invited by the Roydens were escorted to the wedding hall not only by carriages but also by knights.

Among them were, of course, Chancellor Ameris and Latine, who was to officiate the wedding today.

“They’re finally getting married.”

“Oh my, it took a long time. Didn’t Dame Syveric turn twenty-five?”

“It was… unfortunately delayed.”

The guests were gossiping.

For any other couple, it would have been difficult to avoid back talk.

This was because in high society, the perception was widespread that couples who married after the age of twenty-five had some flaw.

But this time, it was different.

First, the bride was Rodella Syveric, who was virtually appointed the next chancellor on her own merits.

And the groom was Aivert Royden, the empire’s only duke.

If they had flaws, what couple in the empire could be called perfect?

“True, thinking there’s a problem with being over twenty-five is an old-fashioned idea, isn’t it?”

“Right. Wasn’t that a perception created by the aristocratic faction?”

“Exactly. It’s a story for those who marry early to increase their family’s power through political marriages, isn’t it? It has nothing to do with today’s protagonists.”

The marriage of the two seemed to be the beginning of the end for the bad customs of existing high society.

While people were chattering, the couple’s steps stopped on the wedding hall platform.

Under the white veil that gently wrapped Rodella’s hair, a silver accessory weighed it down, sparkling in the light of the hall.

And the sleeves of Aivert’s black formal suit, which embraced Rodella, looked as if they were the starry night sky.

The guests didn’t know it, but this too was chosen by Aivert.

They chose the wedding dress together.

“So I have to try on about 37 more dresses similar to this?”

Rodella had chosen a wedding dress that was both easy to move in and beautiful, but she was facing an immense wall of reality and left the choice to Aivert.

“I’ve chosen what suits my taste, so you choose now.”

It was a once-in-a-lifetime wedding, and the dress would be remembered by everyone.

“If you choose it, it will suit my taste, too. You always know me better than I know myself.”

After hearing Rodella’s words, Aivert agonized for days and nights before choosing this dress.

From the veil that sparkled like stars to the hem of the wedding dress sleeves and the tips of the shoes, there was no part that didn’t have Aivert’s opinion in it.

And the result was…

“Wow…!”

Rodella’s satisfaction.

For her, too, this day would be the best day ever.

“There’s a saying in the empire that the longer the officiant’s speech, the more the couple will have to say to each other.”

The imperial wedding procedure was a bit different from other kingdoms.

Unlike kingdoms where the main event was the wedding led by the officiant in order, the wedding itself was not the main event in the empire.

The real event was the pre-wedding banquet hosted by both families.

At that time, guests would sincerely offer congratulations and well wishes to the newlyweds.

Then, at the main ceremony now, under everyone’s watchful eyes, they would receive helpful advice for their married life from the officiant and immediately depart for their honeymoon.

This custom had gradually changed over time to avoid situations where the newlyweds couldn’t have time to themselves because nobles were socializing at the post-wedding banquet.

“So I’ll keep it short. I was told that during this time, one gives advice to help with married life so there are no problems…”

Latine said with a solemn face.

“I don’t know about that since I’m not married yet.”

A low laugh rippled through the guests.

But a subtle murmur also mixed in with the laughter.

“‘Not married yet,’ he said?”

“Then he has a plan…?”

Latine must have heard the people whispering, but he cleared his throat and continued as if he hadn’t heard.

“Instead, at least in the Azure Knights, I promise right here and now that we will make sure the two of you can spend a lot of time together.”

“Ohh…!”

Latine’s words fell upon the guests who were about to applaud for the newlyweds.

“So you won’t have to take a vacation or make an excuse about a friend’s birthday to go out.”

“It’s not an excuse.”

“It’s not an excuse.”

The two protested, but their words were buried in the guests’ laughter.

And Cecilia, who realized that she was the ‘friend,’ had to hold back her laughter from the guest seats.

“Well, have a safe honeymoon.”

Latine shook hands with the couple.

And the final order was the groom and bride’s departure.

They were scheduled to leave the hall and immediately take a prepared carriage to their honeymoon destination.

“Have a wonderful trip!”

“We will protect the Azure Knights!”

The Azure Knights who attended as guests naturally applauded and cheered for the couple.

Meanwhile, people were also whispering.

“Where is their honeymoon destination?”

“Seeing that there are several carriages going, it seems they are going quite far?”

A voice chimed in among the whispering people.

“I heard it’s a northern kingdom.”

“No, I heard it’s a southwestern coastal country.”

“There was also a story that they would cross the sea to an island nation…”

Weren’t all of those in different directions?

The whispering knights looked at each other.

Meanwhile, the two people who had reached the exit of the hall looked back at the guests.

And Aivert clearly saw Rodella’s smile hidden under her veil.

She, who looked happy, must have heard the knights whispering.

Just as expected.

“They wouldn’t even think we’re going to visit all of them, would they?”

Lifting her toes, she whispered as if to kiss his ear and then burst into laughter.

“!”

As she quickly lowered her toes and tried to stand primly, Aivert’s arm wrapped around her.

And.

“Oh!”

“My goodness!”

Aivert, who had put his other hand behind her knees, lifted Rodella up.

“The honeymoon will take a long time, so don’t put any work on Rodella’s plate.”

The people’s laughter erupted again.

Aivert turned and walked out of the hall, leaving the noisy laughter behind.

***

“Whoooa!”

“Congratulations on your marriage!”

Amidst the cheers of the people and the scattered flower petals, according to the custom of the empire, Rodella and Aivert boarded the carriage.

“I’m excited to go together.”

Rodella smiled.

“Of course, we have to go together on our honeymoon.”

Aivert shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s a honeymoon, but it’s also a tour abroad.”

That’s right. As Rodella was deliberating on a honeymoon destination, a foreign tour schedule fell into her lap. Rodella was at a crossroads of whether to go on the foreign tour first or go on a short honeymoon and then the tour.

And it was Aivert who gave her the answer.

“Why don’t we just go at the same time?”

“What?”

The foreign tour was a matter for the Administration Bureau. Naturally, Aivert, who was not part of the Administration Bureau, could not go.

But he solved it with a ‘trick.’

That trick came out of Aivert’s mouth.

“Hah, as soon as the wedding is over, I’m no longer the groom, but her escort knight, is that it?”

It was for Aivert, a knight, to become Rodella’s official escort knight for her royal tour.

Of course, his absence as the vice-commander was a great burden, but Latine and Ameris decided to help a little.

The two had given them the honeymoon as a gift.

“You’re both the groom and the escort knight.”

Rodella waved her hands.

Then Aivert, with a mischievous look, asked.

“An escort knight isn’t supposed to ride in the same carriage as the person being escorted, my lady.”

He looked like he was about to get out of the moving carriage, so Rodella was startled and grabbed him.

“No, don’t go. Be the groom. Be the husband.”

Aivert laughed at her words.

“The groom can’t hold a weapon for a week, but I’ll try my best to be your escort.”

That was a more old-fashioned, almost obsolete custom than the talk about being flawed if you married at twenty-five.

He was clearly full of teasing.

Rodella narrowed her eyes.

“Then be the escort knight.”

‘I can’t just be teased.’

Rodella lifted her head haughtily.

If Aivert was the escort knight, he would have to get out of the carriage.

Aivert raised one eyebrow.

Just when she thought she had won, he said.

“I’ve read in novels that escort knights and their ladies have affairs.”

“…You have books like that in your study?”

Aivert nodded.

‘Mom, what did you put in there!’

“In them, the escort knight seems to move a bit closer. Of course, the lady’s will is important, but…”

He slyly moved closer to Rodella.

“How close will my lady allow the escort knight to come?”

At his words, Rodella blinked.

She had never had an escort knight, so she couldn’t possibly know the usual distance.

The Azure Knights also followed them, but they kept their distance, and this kind of close escort was a first…

This was also a different case from her personal servant, Rodin.

“This close?”

Aivert gestured as if asking her to decide.

Aivert, who had been sitting opposite her, was now next to Rodella.

But their bodies were not touching.

“Shall we travel with this distance?”

At Aivert’s words, Rodella slyly shook her head.

“No.”

“Then a little closer?”

This time, Aivert moved closer, to a distance where they could share body heat.

“How about this?”

His warm breath and scent seemed to tickle Rodella.

She burst into laughter.

“If you get closer than this, where will you end up?”

“Do you want to know?”

His and Rodella’s gazes met as he immediately asked back.

It was a question she felt she shouldn’t be curious about, but she couldn’t stand not knowing.

Finally, Rodella slightly nodded.

“…”

And the next moment.

—Thump!

On the flat road near the capital, where there wasn’t even a stone, the carriage suddenly shook.

“?”

The knights outside looked at the carriage, whose blinds were drawn so they couldn’t see inside, and cocked their heads.

As it was the newlyweds’ carriage, they had kept some distance, so the sounds from inside were not heard.

‘Did the carriage just shake? Was it my imagination?’

“Is everything alright?”

They faithfully asked, as was their duty.

—Knock, knock.

Then a knock was heard, meaning everything was fine.

The knights turned their heads forward, thinking the two were just playing around.

—Thump!

The carriage shook again.

How many times did that repeat?

When the carriage stopped for a break.

“Phew.”

Rodella, fanning herself as she finally got out of the carriage, was flushed from her neck to her ears.

The veil had been taken off and left inside the carriage.

“Why, should I keep my distance?”

Rodella, who was walking away quickly as if escaping, had a troubled expression, and Aivert, who followed her, had a playful expression.

But both of them looked equally happy.

“Should we… follow them?”

The knights looked at each other.

“According to the principle, we should…”

The senior knight of the Roydens said.

“Let’s not today. The one in charge of the close escort is with her.”

He meant that since Aivert was following her, they should just leave them be.

To be precise, they also didn’t want to disturb the newlyweds’ time.

“Stop following me!”

“Should I keep my distance?”

“No, not that!”

“Then I’ll get closer?”

“Hey!”

The voices of the two grew distant.

And then, happy laughter echoed from their direction.

“They seem happy.”

After everything, there wasn’t a single knight here who would disturb the two who had found happiness.

“They are just as they should be.”

The knights thought to themselves that this was the image of the empire’s best couple, no, husband and wife, who had never had a conflict since their academy days.

That is the end of the main story, everyone! I hope you guys enjoyed the story. After seeing the promo manhwa a few years back, I knew I had to see more of this story though I never thought I’d end up translating it one day. I hope you guys liked this novel like my others considering it wasn’t as angst packed.