In conclusion, the wedding was a success.
As I expected, the weather on the wedding day was wickedly unpredictable, but unlike the original story, things went smoothly thanks to the extra dresses we had prepared in advance.
“I entrust my daughter to you.”
The Duke of Allozé wore a deeply satisfied expression.
As if I were the most precious thing in the world, he gave me a warm hug and patted Dielo on the shoulder.
“Of course.”
Dielo responded with his usual gentle smile.
“I hope you’ll treat my daughter as nothing more or less than my daughter—let us put the long-standing feud between our houses aside for now.”
The Duke laughed heartily as he spoke.
It was disgustingly shameless.
Wasn’t he the very one who dug that feud so deep by killing the Duke and Duchess of Argenta?
“Of course. Don’t worry.”
Dielo kissed me lightly on the forehead, then escorted me to the carriage.
It was headed to the estate prepared on the border between the two territories—a honeymoon house overlooking both the sea and the forest.
—Click.
The door of the carriage closed, and the space with just the two of us began to shake slightly.
I whispered softly, just in case the coachman could hear.
“You were perfect.”
Dielo flinched at my voice and stiffened his shoulders.
Then, as if listening for eavesdroppers, he leaned slightly toward the driver’s seat and raised his index finger to his lips.
‘They might be listening.’
He mouthed the words with a small smile—a smile far more natural than the tense one he wore earlier.
But as if he had something he really wanted to say, he leaned closer and whispered:
“I’m relieved it all went smoothly.”
As if we’d planned it, we instinctively clasped each other’s hands tightly.
Now that we were fully accomplices, the only thing left was for me to help protect his heart—until he could truly fall for Ferro.
I narrowed my eyes and smiled.
Dielo let out a short sigh and fanned himself lightly to cool down.
Embarrassed, are we?
My smile deepened.
Don’t worry.
At night… we’re just holding hands.
A long-distance honeymoon was out of the question.
Because Dielo was the head of House Argenta, he couldn’t be away for long.
So, Argenta built a villa just for the honeymoon—as if money was no object.
And it was more than enough to create the right mood.
“Wow…”
I found myself gasping as I reached the top floor of the mansion.
Perhaps it had rained yesterday, because the view was crystal clear even to the naked eye.
To one side, you could see the sea guarded by Argenta, and to the other, the forest protected by Allozé.
Swaying in the breeze, the forest, and the shimmering sea looked breathtaking from afar.
Of course, up close they were probably full of monsters.
“Do you like it?”
Dielo chuckled lowly, and I nodded eagerly.
“The breeze is nice, and the view is amazing. Let’s have breakfast here tomorrow!”
“I’ll make sure they prepare it.”
Dielo gave me a gentle kiss on the forehead.
I could clearly feel his lips trembling slightly.
Awkward much?
I wrapped my arms around him, just like a blissful newlywed wife.
“All the luggage has been unpacked, my lady.”
One of the maids who had followed us upstairs spoke as I marveled at the view.
Some of the maids were from House Allozé.
They had been handpicked by the Duke to help his beloved daughter adjust—but they would leave in three days.
Clearly here to spy.
That was my thought, but Dielo had willingly allowed them.
And so, we toured the honeymoon estate with maids from both houses trailing behind us.
Still, at long last, we finally had a moment alone.
Only the two of us were allowed in the room where the wedding night was to take place.
“I thought it’d be small since they said it was built quickly, but this place is huge.”
I could finally relax once the maids had left.
I’d used up all my energy pretending to be madly in love with Dielo.
Even when we parted briefly for me to bathe and “prepare for the wedding night,” I had to act like a fluttering bride.
“They said it was spacious, but… I didn’t expect we’d have to walk around for so long.”
Dielo laughed awkwardly.
He was already in the room, seated by the bed and pouring wine.
—Trickle.
The deep red wine was clearly meant to help calm the nerves of a newlywed couple.
When I walked in wearing a robe, he rose and welcomed me.
“It’s here for drinking, so we should drink it, right?”
He held out one of two identical glasses and took the first sip.
His Adam’s apple bobbed visibly.
Since he was also in a light shirt, it was easy to see.
A couple buttons were undone—maybe from discomfort, maybe nerves—clearly revealing the black lily mark on his collarbone.
“Right.”
I swirled the wine a little and followed his lead, taking a sip.
The sweet, fruity flavor clung to my tongue, barely any trace of alcohol.
It was pleasantly sweet.
“…”
“…”
We glanced at each other after sipping, and as if on cue, we both chuckled.
“Come over here.”
Dielo gestured to me.
The bed, softly lit, had only faint traces of where he had been sitting.
A canopy meant to provide shy newlyweds some comfort was gently tied back.
I reached over and untied one of the curtains.
—Swish.
The heavy fabric fluttered down, cutting the bed in half.
With the curtain between us, we sat facing each other and laughed again.
We finally had a comfortable place, just the two of us.
“Well then…”
I reached for his hand with the one not holding a glass.
“That’s it for tonight.”
And I let go again. We were just holding hands, after all.
Dielo looked at his fingertips, then chuckled softly again.
Opening and closing his hand, he looked a little bashful.
“I don’t plan on breaking our promise, of course. Just in case you were wondering.”
Though I doubted he was suspicious.
I looked into his blue eyes as I spoke.
The real Ferro would arrive in two months.
I couldn’t explain how I knew that, so I kept quiet.
I just had to last two months in Argenta.
Maybe longer, but at least until then, I’d have to be cautious of the Duke of Allozé.
“Until the real Ferro comes, let’s do our best.”
I raised my glass to Dielo.
He gladly joined my toast.
—Clink!
A cheerful clink rang out.
I set my empty glass on the nightstand, and he placed his beside mine.
—Swish.
As I pulled the rest of the curtain, the light dimmed even more.
It must be a flame maintained by Argenta’s magic.
When I turned back, Dielo was already lying down.
He had pulled back one side of the blanket and tucked his hands under the pillow.
“Come here.”
Tap tap, he patted the spot beside him.
In the dim light, his blue eyes looked almost delicate.
—Rustle.
The sound of the sheets seemed unusually loud in the quiet.
As I lay down, his eyes were right in front of me.
His light blue eyes reflected only me.
I hoped that’s what others would see too.
When I stared into them, Dielo blushed and turned his head.
“Are my eyes that strange?”
“No, they’re pretty.”
The words slipped out.
Dielo turned back to me, looking a little surprised.
“Pardon?”
“Even if we’re not truly married, I can still say your eyes are pretty.”
I gently tapped beneath his eye with my index finger.
“They’re beautiful. Like the sea.”
Dielo smiled.
“The real sea is much darker than this.”
“Still. From afar, the sea looks like this—especially when it reflects sunlight.”
He smiled again.
With that gentle smile, his shadowed eyes finally looked a little darker.
“From afar, yes…”
He nodded slowly.
As I looked into those eyes, I murmured:
“This kind of newlywed life isn’t so bad.”
I hadn’t not imagined a more passionate honeymoon.
But given the situation—a contract marriage—having quiet, intimate conversations like this wasn’t bad at all.
As long as I felt at ease, that was enough.
“I’m glad you’re satisfied, Lady Croa.”
I shook my head.
“I’m not a ‘lady’ anymore.”
“Ah…”
He blinked, and I whispered:
“If we want to look like a real couple, we need to seem close. So let’s practice.”
I pressed his lips gently with my finger.
“Saying my name.”
“Ah—”
He hesitated—probably startled by the unexpected touch.
I giggled softly.
“You’ll have to get used to even more contact in public. Will you be startled every time?”
If he did, people would stop believing we were a passionate couple.
Can’t have that.
I took his hand and placed it on my cheek.
“Let’s practice this too.”
“…Huh?”
A ripple passed through his calm eyes.
If we’re doing this, let’s do it properly.
“Touching like this.”
I held his hand against my cheek.
“No need to apologize or hesitate.”
In the original, he even apologized for stealing Croa’s first kiss.
So I decided to take the lead this time.
“Act like a real newlywed. Like we’re in love.”
At my words, his hand shifted slightly—gently caressing my cheek and ear.
“I know you won’t break our promise.”
A man who flinches at the slightest touch wasn’t about to try anything.
Besides, if he really wants to awaken his powers, he can’t try anything with me.
And I had no intention of devouring him either—so we were truly the safest pair for each other.
No matter what sweet or scandalous acts we performed in front of others.
Dielo blinked a few times, then opened his mouth.
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
At my response, his hand moved a little more boldly.
From my ear, it brushed along my jaw and wrapped gently around the back of my neck.
Was it because he was from Argenta?
His touch carried a strange warmth.
“…”
He gazed at me with those blue eyes, then finally whispered:
“…Croa Allozé.”
Then, his lips gently brushed against my index finger.
The soft contact on the tender skin beside my finger sent a curious shiver through me.
