Chapter 76

“Did you know? You’re not surprised.” (Kizef)

“Yes. I saw you.” (Luciel)

Even at the moment that Luciel was speaking, she put her fingers in the cotton candy and twisted it to tear it off.

“How did you get this?”

“You can’t eat like that.”

“Oh……sorry. I thought it was mine.”

Luciel apologized with a face that seemed to cry, and Kizef said.

“It’s yours. It’s my gift.”

“Really?”

Kizef’s gaze touched Luciel’s moist eyes.

“So don’t cry.”

Luciel shook her head in denial.

“No. I won’t cry just because of that.”

“That’s a relief.”

Luciel smiled slightly as she looked at the cotton candy with confidence.

“Thank you. How did you bring it?”

“I came normally.”

Although he casually spat it out, his neat lips, which were closed in a straight line, slightly went up. It was like eating a sweet strawberry-flavored candy.

“It’s really delicious. I love it. Thank you, Kizef.”

As soon as Luciel gave him a bright smile, he quickly turned his head.

“Why do you like this so much?…. Did you wait for the cotton candy to arrive?”

“……a little?”

He silently stroked Luciel’s hair and she looked back, still.

Now that I see, Kizef was tall.

Standing next to Luciel, the four-year age gap was significant. Luciel’s head barely came between Kizef’s chest and stomach. There was a huge difference in the physique when she compared herself to the 12-year-old Eres.

This is almost……the difference between a hen and a chick?

‘Is it because Kizef is an adult?’

It was a completely different feeling from when she was with Eres. He didn’t feel like a peer at all. Come to think of it, Kizef was wearing a black cloak over a navy blue suit, it looked like a wizard’s suit.

It seemed a better fit than his school uniform.

“Luciel. It’s time for children to sleep. Eat the cotton candy tomorrow.”

“Yes. By the way……Why is it a rabbit?”

Luciel asked him while brushing her cheeks from the cotton candy remains. Then, Kizef’s red eyes touched Luciel.

“It’s just like you…….”

Is this a compliment? Luciel felt her cheeks turn red for some reason.

‘Ah, come to think of it, I was supposed to give him a present too…….’

But she wasn’t confident in doing it. She even asked Rose and Bessie in secret.

What is the best gift for your fiancée before marriage?

Then, the two of them gave all kinds of opinions along with a squeaky shout saying “Is it a gift for Young Master Kisef?!”

However, more than anything, they said it was best to hug him tightly while saying how much she missed him. Are there any other good gifts for him when we’re a little older?

Luciel had a blush on her face.

‘I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t think Kizef will like this gift…….’

“Good night, little rabbit.”

“Yes. Sleep well, Kizef.”

As he waved his hand towards Luciel and tried to leave, he glanced anxiously at the cotton candy in her hands.

“If you eat cotton candy at night, your teeth will rot, so this is confiscated for now.”

“Huh? No, I won’t eat it.”

But it didn’t work for him. When Kizef tried to take the cotton candy, Luciel grabbed the stick to keep it from being taken away.

It was as if Luciel’s tiny hand was stacked on top of Kizef’s, who was already holding the stick.

“I-I’m not going to eat it.”

Luciel, who had been deliberately muttering in awkwardness, quickly pulled out her hand. She tried to step away from Kizef, but this time she stepped on the hem of her dress and slipped.

“……uh, huh?”

In a moment, he grabbed Luciel’s waist with the other hand. He was still holding a cotton candy stick with the other hand. Surprised by the strength of his strong arms, Luciel was embarrassed by the situation and kept her head down.

Kizef chuckled and put the cotton candy against the furniture by the wall for a moment.

“Are you okay?”

“Huh? Yes.”

“Where were you going?”

“To sleep.”

Luciel pointed to her bedroom.

“I’ll take you. I’m afraid you’ll fall.”

Kizef lifted her like a princess and carefully placed her on the bed. Her cheeks were dyed pink.

Luciel dug into the bed and laid under the blanket that Kizef was covering her. Looking down at her, Kizef said.

“Good night.”

In embarrassment, Luciel rolled the blanket over to the top of her head.

Then Kizef found a crumpled piece of paper on his desk and stuffed it into his pocket.

‘Are you writing a letter to me?’

As soon as he left, Luciel ruffled her pigtails and thought that she was very fortunate not to have given the present in question. It would have been more embarrassing.

* * *

Time passed and it was the first day of June. The season when green leaves are rustling in the wind and everywhere is boasting greenery landscapes. The sun was shining warmly as if foretold the beginning of a full-fledged summer.

Coral roses and pale pink peonies filled the garden of the Duke.

Luciel slept with the mind that it was nothing to be anxious about, it was just like any other informal contract marriage. But when the morning came, all those resolutions were futilely shattered.

Today was Luciel’s 10th birthday and wedding.

Luciel, with sleepy eyes, was led by Bessie’s hand to wash her face and bathe in clean rose water. Her long and voluminous silver hair was braided in several places, rolled it up in a round shape by Grandma Evelyn who showed her skills.

A pretty garland of pale pink peonies was placed on her head. Although she only changed her hairdo, Luciel’s face came to life. Since she has very fine and fair skin, makeup was not applied, just a little juice of crushed pink petals went on her lips.

Her large jewel-like eyes, adorable nose and lips, and blushing peach-colored cheeks were just like a fairy’s.

“You are so pretty, Luciel.”

“Grandma is also very elegant.”

Evelyn, who was dazzling in her elegant gray dress, admired Luciel with a pleased face.

Luciel’s wedding dress was the diamond dress that Evelyn had bought her.

Other brides take a long time just to choose a wedding dress, but Luciel thought that it was fortunate that this task was shortened. Colored dresses for the reception, the bridesmaid’s dresses, the bouquets, and the garlands, the accessories, and the shoes. There was no time to choose anything in vain.

“Now it’s done.”

“Here, look in the mirror Little Madam.”

“How can you be so pretty?”

The moment she saw herself in a pure white dress studded with diamonds like stars, Luciel’s cheeks blushed and her heart raced.

The skirt of the dress Luciel wore was rich with several layers of lace, and a large white ribbon was wrapped around her waist. She was smaller than the other girls, so she had to mend her dress several times.

“Luciel, there is no other angel like you.”

Soliaphe appeared in an evening sky blue with a v-shaped neckline, handing her a bouquet of peonies and ranunculus woven together.

“Thank you. Mother!”

Luciel was a little awkward, but for the first time, she gave Soliaphe a big hug.

‘My heart is pounding.’

Finally, it was her long-awaited marriage.

I have formed a bond with the real Bellstein.

Now she had reached a position where neither the Count Orbia, Marquis of Cavill, and even the Crown Prince of the Imperial Family could treat her lightly.

She became a true family member within the walls of Bellstein.

Luciel, who cried every night while sleeping, was no longer there. There is only a girl waiting for a brightly shining tomorrow.

So, Luciel decided to smile the happiest today.

* * *

Meanwhile, in front of the bride’s waiting room, Leoni was pacing around to see Luciel.

“Why Sister doesn’t come out?”

Leoni murmured while twitching his bulging, puffy cheeks.

His hair was turned back with pomade and the white ribbon tie on his sky blue tailcoat was cute. A pink peony was put in his pocket, and he looked more gentle than usual.

“Ladies take a long time to get ready.”

Gillard said as he hugged Leoni in a flash. Gillard also wore a light purple tailcoat and his long platinum blonde hair was tied low, making his complexion look brighter than usual.

He, too, peered into the bride’s waiting room, where the lace curtains were drawn. He wanted Luciel to come out sooner because he had the same heart as Leoni.

Evelyn, who came out first, laughed as she looked at the two gentlemen.

“Come on, stop this, and let’s go to the wedding venue first. The face of the new bride is expensive. Cute gentleman, how about escorting this old grandma of yours?”

Evelyn touched Leoni’s bulging cheek.

“Yes.”

“Well, then, cross over to this grandmother’s arms.”

As Evelyn playfully said, she took Leoni from Gillard and held him in her arms.

“You escort Soliaphe.”

“Heh heh, okay.”

Just in time as Soliaphe came out, he asked to escort her like a gentleman.

“Your son was taken by Evelyn, so you must go with me today, Soliaphe.”

“……Father.”

Soliaphe lightly clasped Gillard’s arms and smiled quietly. The two walked through the grass until they reached the swan garden where the wedding was decorated.

It had been a long time since they walked side by side like this.

“Soliaphe, you have a bright face these days. I’m glad you look good. How long has it been since the whole family got together like this?”

Her father-in-law, as Soliaphe remembers, has always been a hard rock, but these days he had become softer.

“Well, thank you for coming back.”

“Thank you, Father…….I’m sorry for causing you a lot of worries.”

“What do you mean? Now that you are here, it’s okay. Each person sees a different landscape and draws a different picture.”

Gillard warmly encouraged his daughter-in-law.

“I think it’s all thanks to our new daughter-in-law.”

As Soliaphe laughed as she talked about Luciel.

“My, my, does that mean that Luciel also captured Soliaphe’s heart?”

Soliaphe nodded her head.

“The child has a talent for opening people’s hearts. I’m blessed, father.”

“Heh heh, to me, both of you are like a real daughter and like real granddaughter. So I am the happiest.”

When they reached the swan garden, the bright wedding decorations pleased their eyes.

“Go on, Father.”

“Right.”