Chapter 113

“E-Evan. What is all of this?”

 

“Hm? Gifts. I need to make a good impression.”

 

I stared at the carriages trailing behind us, utterly speechless.

 

‘All… all of that…?’

 

A long line of wagons followed us, overflowing with dazzling and magnificent wedding gifts.

 

“Isn’t it too much?”

 

“No way. It has to be at least this much. I can’t have them feeling like it’s lacking.”

 

“Who on earth would—”

 

If anyone saw this parade of treasures and called it ‘lacking,’ tell them to come out and face me!

 

As we passed through the bustling city streets, noblemen stopped in their tracks, and commoners followed the carriage with wide-eyed wonder, whispering about the spectacle. It was understandable, given that five massive freight wagons were cutting right through the main thoroughfare.

 

‘And with the Ducal crest boldly emblazoned on the lead carriage, no less…’

 

I started to worry that my parents might actually have a heart attack.

 

I shook my head and glanced out the window at the distant silhouette of the Imperial Palace.

 

“Lep, look over here.”

 

Suddenly, Evan took hold of my chin and turned my head. He was surprisingly quick to notice whenever my gaze drifted toward the palace.

 

“No more of that. We’ve done our part. The rest is up to them.”

 

“Yeah, I know. I was just curious how it all ended.”

 

I sat back down beside Evan and leaned my head on his shoulder.

 

Right, it’s all over now. To be blunt, whoever becomes Emperor is none of my business. Just thinking about how I’ve been tossed around until now makes me grit my teeth. I wasn’t some village drum for everyone to beat—why couldn’t they just leave a peaceful person alone?

 

“I hope it all gets settled for good this time.”

 

“The Emperor?”

 

“Yeah. Everything that’s happened so far was because of the succession anyway. Who do you think would be best, Evan?”

 

Both candidates had proven to be trash, so it was like comparing two peas in a pod, but I was curious about his take.

 

“……I wonder. Perhaps Prince Fedeshar, if I had to choose.”

 

“Eh? That’s unexpected. I thought for sure you’d say Bastien……”

 

Surely he didn’t say Fedeshar just because of me, right?

 

“We’ve arrived.”

 

At Evan’s words, I looked forward to see our estate right in front of us. Perhaps they had heard I was coming, as my family was already out at the entrance waiting for me.

 

I scurried over to my parents.

 

“Our brave daughter! You did wonderfully!”

 

“I’m sorry we couldn’t be of more help as parents. By the way, how is your body? Are you hurt anywhere?”

 

“I’m perfectly fine. Evan was by my side the whole time! I’m sorry for making you worry.”

 

In an effort to score extra points for him, I emphasized once more that Evan had protected me.

 

Evan smiled softly, gave a polite greeting, and spoke up.

 

“My apologies for the late greeting due to unexpected incidents. Please grant permission for Lep and me to marry, Father-in-law, Mother-in-law.”

 

I watched Evan and my parents with an anxious heart. My mother looked calm, but as expected, my father was the problem.

 

“Who said anything about marriage! You can never have my daughter!!”

 

“I fully understand. Lep’s healthy upbringing must be largely due to your strength, Father-in-law. However, I cherish and love Lep as much as you do. Please, grant us your blessing.”

 

With those words, Evan dropped to one knee. Despite the many eyes on him, Evan remained upright and steadfast. I grabbed his arm and told him to get up, but he was like a stone statue, refusing to budge.

 

“Just because you kneel doesn’t mean—!”

 

“Lep isn’t a child anymore; she’s an adult at an age where she can decide for herself.”

 

“Besides, even if Father objects, it looks like Lep has already made up her mind, doesn’t it?”

 

Piote chimed in, but Father ignored him and continued to glare at Evan.

 

“What good has ever come from being involved with the Weiss House? How many times has her life been threatened just this year! Not until there is dirt in my eyes will I ever agree to this!”

 

Father was firm. Even with Mother and Piote sighing beside him, he pushed forward with his stubbornness. Well, I didn’t expect permission to come easily.

 

“Evan, even if he says that, if I keep pestering him—”

 

I tried to comfort Evan, thinking he’d be disappointed, but he quietly brushed off his knees and stood up. And then, I caught a glimpse of something…

 

Realizing what I was looking at, Evan nonchalantly dusted off his hands.

 

“Ah, I got some dirt on my hands.”

 

It wasn’t just ‘some’ dirt. One of his hands clearly had a pile of sand in it…

 

‘I must have imagined it. I know Father said ‘not until there is dirt in his eyes,’ but still…’

 

Father glared at Evan, only to be smacked on the back by Mother.

 

“Dear, it’s time to let her go. How long are you going to be stubborn and say no? You’re acting like a child.”

 

“A-a child…!”

 

Struck hard by Mother’s words, Father looked at her as if wounded. He turned to Piote for support, but Piote was already someone who had made some sort of deal with Evan. There was no way he’d take Father’s side.

 

To top it off, the butler and the other servants seemed delighted at the prospect of me becoming a Duchess. They also seemed incredibly curious about the mountain of gifts he had brought. Many of them were standing around in a daze, peeking and trying to calculate just how much it was all worth.

 

“Young Lord, if you can make Lep happy, then I shall give my permission.”

 

“I will make her happy without fail. And the same goes for you, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law. And for my brother-in-law as well.”

 

“Hey, cut it out!”

 

Piote shouted, rubbing his arms as if he had goosebumps when Evan smiled and spoke. Ah, I guess that is what the title will be once Evan becomes my husband.

 

“Lep, you’ve made your decision. As I said before, if you believe this is the path to your happiness, I am in favor.”

 

“Thank you, Mother.”

 

They say a mother knows her daughter’s heart best. Everyone was in a good mood except for Father, who was still grumbling. Well, we had been engaged for years, after all.

 

Evan was already acting like a devoted son-in-law, attending to Mother and Father with the utmost respect. The date for the formal meeting between the families was set in no time.

 

In the midst of it all, I was startled to hear that wedding preparations—which I hadn’t even heard about—were already underway.

 

“Since when?”

 

“Since the moment Lep issued her declaration of war to me.”

 

It seemed he hadn’t considered for a second that I might refuse. Should I call this… efficient preparation?

 

“Lep, I’ll make sure you never have to lift a finger.”

 

Evan politely took my hands and planted a kiss on the tips of my fingers.

 

“E-everyone is watching!”

 

I scratched my cheek in embarrassment, but Evan only gave a playful grin.

 

“N-now, go home!”

 

Since he had successfully received permission from my parents, Evan’s business here was done. All that remained were the details like the date and venue to be decided at the family meeting.

 

We were really getting married. It was finally starting to feel real.

 

‘Evan will surely make me happy…’

 

The version of me from the past, filled with doubt, was no more.

 

“Lep, shall we take a little walk?”

 

“A walk?”

 

The sudden suggestion was a bit surprising, but I nodded and strolled through the garden with Evan.

 

As I walked slowly in silence, he matched his pace to mine. It’s in these small gestures—like his walking pace—that I realize how much Evan considers me.

 

“Lep, do you remember that spot?”

 

“Huh?”

 

I looked where Evan was pointing.

 

“Ah… I know it. There’s no way I could forget.”

 

It was the spot where I had made a bouquet for Evan. A place that was once my favorite, though I hadn’t visited it much lately. Just like back then, colorful flowers were in full bloom.

 

“You gave me a bouquet here. You have no idea how happy I was.”

 

“Oh, you’re exaggerating.”

 

“It was a bouquet from the person I love.”

 

Evan’s eyes, curved like crescent moons, were fixed squarely on me.

 

“What…? The person you love?”

 

I was stunned by his tone, which made it sound as if he had liked me even back then. But Evan looked up at the sky as if he had no intention of explaining further.

 

“It was a shame that Lep didn’t remember our first meeting. But it’s still a precious memory.”

 

“W-when? Wasn’t the weapons shop the first time we met?”

 

“No, it wasn’t.”

 

“When was it? Tell me!”

 

But Evan remained firm and wouldn’t tell. He simply pinched my cheek playfully, saying it was a little act of mischief and that I should try to remember.

 

Setting the slight sting aside, we had met before that? There was no way I wouldn’t have remembered Evan’s face.

 

‘Ah! Could he be talking about when we met in the city?’

 

Because I had seen Evan when I went to buy a fountain pen before we ran into each other at the weapons shop. Did Evan actually see me then too?

 

“I know! You’re talking about when we met in the city, right? What, did you know I was looking at you from behind?”

 

I remember staring blankly at Evan’s face in a daze back then too.

 

But that wasn’t the time Evan was talking about.

 

“No, it was several years before that. But you saw me in the city? And secretly from behind?”

 

Evan wore a mischievous smile, as if he had just heard a very interesting story.

 

“N-no… my eyes just happened to wander.”

 

Worried he might pry further, I asked him why we came here anyway. At that, as if returning to the past, Evan suddenly took off his coat and spread it gently over the field. He sat down and patted the spot next to him.

 

Not knowing why, I sat down as he instructed.

 

“Actually, one thing was missing.”

 

“What?”

 

“A bouquet.”

 

And then, as if paying homage to the bouquet I had once made for him, Evan picked flowers one by one and began to craft a bouquet. I watched him in a daze.

 

With his elegant fingers, he carefully selected each flower, gathered them together to check if the colors harmonized, and tied the stems securely so that no single bloom stuck out awkwardly. It was as if he were pouring his heart into creating a masterpiece of a lifetime.

 

When he finished the bouquet, Evan smiled proudly and held it out to me.

 

“A gift from me to Lep.”

 

Tears welled up in my eyes before I knew it.

 

“Thank you… It’s beautiful.”

 

His eyes, full of warmth and laughter, embraced me tenderly. Though it was a bouquet made of simple wildflowers from a field, it felt more precious to me than the most extravagant arrangement from any florist.