Chapter 184: Side Story 40 

The moment the dazzling bride and groom stepped through the doors, Count Jertho’s face went pale.

‘What the hell is going on? What about Jena?’

Wasn’t Jena supposed to be the bride today? 

Everyone who picked up on the situation now had their eyes fixed solely on Count Jertho. He had gone around telling everyone that Jena would marry the Young Lord, so of course society believed it to be true. 

Unlike Alexa, a provincial noblewoman, Count Jertho had an extensive network of connections. Anyone who knew him had heard of Jena and the Young Lord’s impending wedding.

Count Jertho swallowed hard. His face flushed red before he could stop it. He looked around urgently for Sylvia, only to find her just as pale and shaken.

‘D**n it. Don’t tell me we were played?’

But standing next to Sylvia was none other than Jeremiah. The two looked quite close. Despite everyone assuming he would still be weak after just recovering from illness, the Crown Prince looked strikingly healthy and handsome.

There hadn’t been a single hint of discord between the Jertho family and Thersion. Which could only mean one thing.

‘Did I misread everything…?’

Thinking back, Thersion had never explicitly expressed any intention toward the Jertho family. Not once did he state that he wanted Jena as his bride. Even though a wedding was supposedly on the horizon, not a single conversation had taken place. Everything they knew had come through Jena.

How grand the wedding would be, where the flowers had been sourced, what music had been selected, who was catering.

How exquisite the dress was! He recalled the uproar three days ago when Jena insisted on getting the dress re-tailored despite how beautiful it already was. Maybe she had sensed something. Still, she must have clung to even a shred of hope. She’d doted on the child that resembled her, but who would’ve thought that affection would become her downfall?

Count Jertho clenched his jaw. His grip tightened around his cane.

‘D**n it all to hell!’

He should never have left everything in the hands of a child. Thersion had never once given any sign he was interested in marriage, and yet Jena had rushed ahead all on her own.

Count Jertho lifted his chin. He had to look as composed as possible. It was a wedding. 

* * *

Alexa’s actual wedding.

That this day had truly come, it was overwhelming. And even more extravagant and magnificent than she had ever imagined. Alexa felt like her head was spinning. All she could do was walk where Ysildus led her.

He noticed her dazed state and leaned in with a small chuckle.

“Alexa.”

“Mm…?”

“You know, if you keep spacing out like that, a wolf might come snatch you up and I won’t even notice.”

“Huh?”

Ysildus raised his head with a gentle smile. Alexa blinked.

“M-Me?”

“Yeah, you. What kind of wolf are you expecting to snatch you away, spacing out like that?”

He gave her hand a small squeeze as he said it. Only then did the meaning click, and Alexa burst into laughter, hiding her face behind her bouquet like a shy girl.

“So you’re the one snatching me away?”

Ysildus smiled warmly. The grand doors to the wedding hall stood wide open. Inside, brilliant white light streamed out toward them. It was only now that it felt real – Alexa was the bride. Today was her day.

A shy dimple appeared on Alexa’s cheek.

This was a place Essellia had prepared just for her. If this had been in the past, and if her mother were still alive, if Alexa had married then, would she have been loved this deeply?

Every inch of this moment carried Essellia’s thoughtfulness. The dress, tailored perfectly to Alexa’s figure, floated like a dream, and the jewels embroidered upon it sparkled dazzlingly. She felt like she might cry. In so many stories, weddings marked the final scene.

After reading countless tales of weddings and happy endings, Alexa had always thought it was the most cliché, most perfect kind of conclusion. And now, she had become the heroine of that very cliché. It felt like the kind of moment that begged for the words: And they lived happily ever after.

Alexa, too, had found her happy ending. Her wedding shoes, which fit her feet perfectly, had been hand-embroidered by a master artisan. Essellia had truly prepared only the very best for her.

Alexa and Ysildus finally reached the end of the aisle. The one waiting there to bless them was none other than Dephensores.

Normally, a priest would officiate such a ceremony, but this time, Dephensores stood there himself. A marriage blessed by the gods, what could be more sacred?

“Hello,” Alexa whispered quietly.

Dephensores glanced at her and gave a small nod. He unfurled a sheet of paper he had prepared, written and rewritten with Luna countless times. Who would’ve thought he’d end up doing this.

There would be a steep price to pay for dragging a god into such affairs. Dephensores smirked. Marriage would be filled with both sweetness and bitterness.

“Have many children. Enough that there aren’t enough hands to hold them all.”

Did they even know how noisy and exhausting children were? Or how precious and lovable? Dephensores knew. Time would surely fly by, raising that many little ones.

“I will witness your eternity. Just as you’ve vowed before me, stay together, forever.”

His voice echoed through the hall.

Alexa smiled with tears in her eyes. The blessing carried the full weight of both Dephensores and Luna’s sincerity. Dephensores paused for a moment and moved his lips silently.

‘May your whole life be filled with happiness, my friend, Alexandria.’

That was enough. Even the version of her in the past, the one who no longer remembered, would’ve been content with this. Alexa gave a big, firm nod.

‘Then, the kiss of vow.’

Dephensores closed the paper.

A gesture marking the end of the ceremony, but to Alexa, it felt like the beginning of a grand new chapter. She and Ysildus turned to face each other.

Ysildus leaned in.

As he drew closer, Alexa remembered the man he had been. Sweet, wonderful Ysildus. Raising a child who resembled him would be a joy. The child wouldn’t be all sunshine, there’d be rough days, but if she had Ysildus by her side, she could overcome anything.

Ysildus’s lips met Alexa’s.

Deng~ deng~

Elegant, majestic bells rang throughout the hall. White petals rained gently from above, blessing the couple. A soft fragrance spread in the air.

“Alexa.”

She met Ysildus’s gaze.

“I’ll love you forever.”

“…Me too. I love you, Ysildus.”

The wedding was over. Before them once again stretched the white virgin road.

Hand in hand, Alexa and Ysildus stepped forward – toward a brand-new beginning.

* * *

Whew.

Alexa let out a deep breath. The wave of post-wedding exhaustion hit her all at once. The place had been packed with people, none of whom gave her even a moment of peace. So curious, so full of questions. Alexa had to talk until her voice nearly gave out.

If Essellia hadn’t rescued her halfway through, she might’ve collapsed on the spot.

Part of the reason for all that attention was Jena. She had spread word far and wide that she was the bride, but then didn’t even show up.

Alexa gave a small shake of her head.

Never again.

Ysildus had left early that morning. A shame, really, for a newlywed to be so busy, but Jeremiah’s coronation as Emperor was just around the corner. The temple had selected the date with great care, and in the end, Dephensores had made the final choice.

Victoria and Ysildus were passing on all their duties to Jeremiah. 

‘He seems to be getting along well with Lady Sylvia.’

Time would tell.

As for the Queen…

She hadn’t attended the wedding. And since then, she hadn’t visited Alexa even once. Alexa didn’t bother asking Jeremiah what had passed between the two. Their business was their own. Now that Cornelly had recovered and been discharged, the thread connecting Alexa and the Queen had been severed.

All that remained now…

“…Feels like something’s off, don’t you think?”

Alexa exchanged a look with one of the maids. All of them nodded simultaneously.

“I haven’t had my period…”

This time, the nods were even more emphatic. Unable to bear the heavy silence, one of them finally spoke.

“Should we call the court physician?”

“I think it’d be better if I go myself.”

“So, you really might be…”

“Shh. This stays between us. Got it?”

At her words, the maids nodded with determined expressions, then stifled their smiles as their eyes met. They were now bound by a very precious secret.

……

T/N: It wouldn’t be a surprise if they’re very ‘active’ hehehe