The Marchioness seemed to read her daughter’s mind as she quietly said, “Remember that Lizzy will always be by your side, Nilla.”
“I am sorry? What does that mean…”
“Today, ‘those two people’ are going to attend this wedding. Of course, they will participate with as inconspicuously as possible. It is an outdoor wedding, so it should be plenty possible. So my darling child…” The Marchioness of Grochester revealed a loving smile and planted a kiss on Petronilla’s forehead, placating her, “Try not to feel too skittish. Think about how your younger sister will be watching you. I think that should be of help to you?”
“Yes, I will do that!”
It was at that moment that several maids came rushing into the waiting room. “Lady Petronilla, you have to head out now!”
Petronilla stared up at the Marchioness of Grochester with a face so taken aback that her earlier pledge to be less nervous was all but meaningless.
All the Marchioness did in response was to just nod with a benevolent face, as if she was reassuring her daughter that everything would be just fine.
Petronilla was encouraged by that small action, and rose up from her seat with a small smile. There was nothing to be on edge about, nothing to be scared of. Unlike the one time back in her past life, the man she was going to marry now was someone who truly cared for and loved her, and that person she truly loved as well!
“And now, the bride will be prepared to enter, please!” The person officiating was none other than the Duke of Witherford.
At the Duke’s words, Petronilla began to walk down the aisle, trying her very best to hide the nervous tension on her face. She could feel that everyone that was gathered for the wedding ceremony had their eyes fixated on her, the bride. Petronilla received all of the stares and chose to gaze only at Rothesay, who would soon become her husband. The way he was looking at her caught her eye, as he was clearly mesmerized by her appearance. -So cute, my husband.- Petronilla’s smile was not frivolous. She noticed that her smile only deepened the smile hanging on Rothesay’s mouth.
As all officiating usually went, Duke Witherford’s speech for the wedding was quite long.
Petronilla was an individual who hated boring things an awful lot, but because she was the actual bride, she could not do as she pleased and tell the Duke that it was too long, and please just do the bare minimum and cut it as short as possible…
As if he knew exactly what she was currently thinking, Rothesay showed a slight smile as he stood next to her, and grasped Petronilla’s hand even more firmly.
Petronilla was comforted by this action, at least, and managed to listen to the officiant earnestly while ignoring the discomfort of her leg, now tingling from falling asleep, and maintained a straight and correct posture.
“…So, do you, the Groom, swear to take the bride, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish only her, until both of your hair turns white?
When asked this question, Rothesay replied without any hesitation, as if he had been preparing this answer for a long time.
“Even if my hair turns white and my body rots to the point of becoming dirt, I vow on the name of my family that I will love only my bride.”
“Then, do you, the Bride, swear to take the groom, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish only him, until both of your hair turns white?”
“For the rest of my life, I will maintain my faith and courtesy as the wife of the groom, and even when this life is over, I vow in the name of my family that I will love only my groom.”
“Then I now pronounce you Husband and Wife! May everyone in attendance please bless the new couple on their future ahead, so that it will be filled with prosperity and happiness!” As soon as the Duke ended his words, thunderous applause rose from all around.
Petronilla and Rothesay glowed with happiness as they walked down the aisle together, fully soaking in the applause.
A woman covered from head to toe in a robe watched all of this quietly from a distance as she smiled sincerely. The scene she had always hoped for was now clearly visible before her eyes.
“Are you happy?” asked the man standing next to her, wearing the same robe as her.
The woman nodded a couple of times without losing her smile, and answered, “I am happy at this very moment, more than ever before.”
“It was a good thing I brought you to watch this for yourself, then.”
“I am thankful to you, Your Majesty.”
“I want to hear something much different than that, though!”
At those words, Patrizia smiled mischievously and looked at Lucio standing by her side. She saw that he was also laughing. In her eyes, he was a man who looked better with a smile than in tears. With a beautiful smile, Patrizia whispered quietly to him, “I love you, Your Majesty.”
“I love you much more, Lizzy.”
The two who had whispered their sweet confessions of love to one another quickly transitioned to all of a sudden sharing a soft kiss. The rays of sunshine were sweet, and the wind blowing in the air was also sweet, but none of this was as sweet as the two pairs of lovers standing underneath it all.
For the first time, this would be the beginning of all happy endings…
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Translated by Haeli
Edited by RED