Chapter 119

At Kaizen’s words, Grand Duke Ayla’s eyes widened in surprise, but he soon shook his head. Though he had contributed to her existence in this world, he was a father who had failed to raise her. He wasn’t shameless enough to greedily snatch the hand offered by the man who had actually brought her up.

“Are you not our Ran’s biological father and her godfather? I think my aunt in heaven and my parents would be so pleased to see you walking holding her hand.”

After repeated persuasion, Grand Duke Ayla glanced at Ramona’s reaction, wondering if he truly dared to step onto the wedding road. Meeting his gaze, Ramona gave a small, silent nod.

With her permission granted, Grand Duke Ayla, still holding Kaizen’s hand, moved forward and gently took Ramona’s hand. His hands, gripped by intense nerves, trembled violently.

“Th-thank you, truly, thank you.”

“No, it is I… who am thankful to you for bringing our Ran into this world and for allowing us to be with her.”

Grand Duke Ayla had expected he might not even be invited to the wedding. He was profoundly grateful to Kaizen for sending a personal invitation, allowing him to witness Ramona’s marriage.

He had been happy just to watch from afar, but now, holding his daughter’s hand, his face looked as if he were about to burst into tears at any moment. However, encouraged by Heitz’ support, he managed to push back the tears and successfully mustered a smile.

Having never imagined he would walk the wedding road holding his daughter’s hand in his lifetime, the Grand Duke felt as though he could die tomorrow without any regrets.

“You’re still young; surely you aren’t thinking that you could die right now without regrets, are you?”

“Hmm? O-of course not. I must at least live to see Raon get married.”

Though his inner thoughts were instantly seen through by Ramona, the Grand Duke was simply happy nonetheless.

“Then are you only going to live for another dozen years or so? That won’t do. You must finish the tasks my parents couldn’t do before you go.”

“Wh-what would that be? I will do anything for you.”

Ramona’s voice, like a warm breeze, brushed past the eyes of the Grand Duke, who was willing to give her everything.

“Please show me, and my child, how you grow old wonderfully for a long, long time.”

In that moment, Grand Duke Ayla almost let the tears he’d been holding back spill over, so he quickly tilted his head back to look at the sky. Looking at the transparently clear sky, he thought of Ayla. Today of all days, the longing made the piercingly blue sky feel like a sharp ache in his chest.

“Let’s go now. If we keep stopping, I think our Adrian’s heart might burn up with anxiety.”

Holding the hands of the father who gave her life and the brother who raised her, Ramona walked slowly toward Adrian, who stood waiting in his fine attire.

When they stood before Adrian, Kaizen did not immediately hand over his sister’s hand; instead, he narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low voice.

“You’d better do right by her.”

“I’ll be watching you, always.”

Adrian, briefly thinking that a threat to make him bleed tears of blood if he ever made Ramona cry would have been more straightforward, carefully took the hand of the woman he had dreamed of.

“I will handle things well on my own. So, I would appreciate it if you two would worry about me instead.”

With a bright smile toward the two men, Adrian stepped forward in sync with Ramona. The High Priest officiating the wedding wore a benevolent expression.

Because the news had caused a stir across the empire and even other continents, the Leander Empire had sent Duke Linus as a formal congratulatory envoy. Under the pretext that they couldn’t send the Empire’s princess empty-handed, the Leander side had brought a staggering amount of treasures.

“I don’t know whose princess she is, but she is truly lovely. Hahaha! Her Majesty the Empress desperately wanted to come herself, but since she has not been long since her confinement after childbirth, she considered it a deep regret. It is an honor to attend this wedding.”

Watching the couple soak in happiness while listening to the officiant, Duke Linus looked warmly at Grand Duke Ayla in the family seating and spoke. As the ceremony reached its peak, the Grand Duke’s eyes grew red.

“I don’t know whose daughter she is, but she grew up beautifully. Ha ha. The late Marquis Caspian, his wife, and Ayla would be so happy in heaven. Why were they in such a hurry to leave so early…?”

Just as the heat began to pool in his eyes, Heitz silently handed him a handkerchief. As he wiped his eyes, a thick shadow fell directly in front of him.

Startled for a moment, the Grand Duke looked up to see Raon greeting him with a beaming smile.

“Hello! I am Raon, the son of my Mom and Dad.”

Seeing Raon’s bright, shadowless smile, the Grand Duke stroked the hair of the child he had only heard rumors about. Seeing how flawlessly Ramona had raised another’s child, he wondered if she had learned it from watching the late Marquis and Marchioness Caspian.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am called Hycliff Ayla.”

Though not of his blood, this was the child Ramona raised as her own son. Therefore, was he not his own grandson? As he stroked the round head, something hopped up and curled into Raon’s arms.

“A rabbit?”

“This fellow’s name is Toto. Mom rescued him and brought him home, and he’s already more than earned his keep. Toto, say hello. He’s my Mom’s father.”

Toto stared intently at Grand Duke Ayla, looked at his outstretched hand, and then slowly tapped it with a short front paw. Thinking the cute creature only did cute things, a smile spread across the Grand Duke’s face as he watched Raon and Toto.

Seating Raon beside him, the Grand Duke watched the rest of the wedding while holding the small hand. When the vows were finished and they kissed, everyone erupted in cheers.

“I thought Dad was a bit too modest and would never get married.”

“Haha, is that so?”

While they were listening to the behind-the-scenes story of the proposal, the single young men and women stood up. Seeing them line up behind the bride to catch the bouquet, Toto suddenly lunged forward like a fired arrow.

“Oh, no!”

Despite Raon’s shout, Toto paid no mind and threw himself toward the bouquet Ramona had tossed. Boasting incredible jumping power, Toto succeeded in hugging the bouquet, but as they say, things that fall have no wings.

Falling helplessly, Toto was caught in someone’s arms.

“Uh, what kind of rolling rabbit is this?”

Heitz, who had stepped out just for fun, found it absurd yet amusing as he caught the rabbit holding the flowers.

“Congratulations. It seems to be a sign that you will marry and have a cute child. You may take Toto with you. As long as you keep his belly full, I won’t hold a grudge,” Adrian said with a grin.

Taking the opportunity to dump Toto on Heitz, Adrian held Ramona’s hand and moved between the tables to greet the guests individually.

“To think our Ran is getting married… When she was little, she said she would marry her brother.”

“She said that to me too. So stop whining. I’m starting to feel a bit embarrassed. Don’t tell anyone you know me, okay?”

Kaizen and Titiana bickered, but as soon as Ramona approached, they both stood up without a word and pulled her into a deep embrace.

“Live well, okay? Come home often.”

“Our Ran, wouldn’t you rather just stay here? I’ll give this mansion to my sister.”

As Kaizen grandly offered to transfer the property deed, Adolf stepped in.

“I’ll give you the key to our family warehouse, so take whatever you want. You can even sell it. I’m thinking of giving you the business rights with the Leander Empire as well.”

No matter how wealthy the Caspians were, they were slightly below the Cassius family financially. Consequently, Kaizen’s lip twitched at Adolf’s words.

“We have maritime trade rights. I plan to give those to our Ran.”

“If that’s all there is in Caspian, and you give the house too, what will you live on?”

“I’m going to live under my sister. Surely my sister wouldn’t let her family starve to death.”

“Instead, I think you’ll wither away watching her live all lovey-dovey with my son.”

A war of nerves broke out between the two, but Ramona and Adrian ignored them, too busy greeting others.

Watching the scene from a slight distance, a faint smile played on Andrew’s lips.

“What a wonderful family. Thank goodness. Everyone looks so happy.”

Watching Raon dive into Ramona’s arms with love, Andrew felt at peace seeing the child’s smile.

In past lives, Raon had died several times, and upon hearing of the child’s death, Ramona had also wasted away and died. And Andrew himself had inevitably died, either meeting a storm at sea during trade or being killed by pirates. Having even died from an accidental fall after losing them both first, Andrew had done everything in his power to save the two of them this time.

He had tried not to send Raon to the Cassius Duchy, only to be killed by Aria after the Young Duke found out late and took the child. He had tried to raise the child in secret to prevent that, but there were times when the child slipped past the servants and died in vain.

Considering countless variables, this time he had sent Ramona out first, and when the child tried to follow, he had entrusted him to the butler to be sent there.

Having barely escaped the Reaper’s scythe this time, Andrew looked at Ramona and Raon and felt relieved, even as a dull ache spread through his heart.

“I loved you and Raon, too. The ‘you’ of the past would know, but the ‘you’ of now probably doesn’t. I purposefully acted indifferent to Raon so as not to grow attached…”

Knowing that he couldn’t protect them no matter what he did, he had used the excuse of being infatuated with another woman to let them go early.

Seeing the two now surrounded by a family that could protect them even if the Reaper came, Andrew whispered repeatedly that it was a relief.