CH 145

After the funeral was over, Leon returned to the office and thought for a moment about Dana’s reaction.

She didn’t look as happy as he thought she would.

“Why?”

Of course, the proposal that followed after his mother’s death was not necessarily a pleasure for him. However, her reaction was somewhat different from that.

It’s not something unexpected.

Leon, who had been thinking for a while, got up from his seat and walked out of the office as if he had thought of something. Ahil followed after him till he left the castle altogether.

* * *

After Leon left, Dana was hovering in front of a full-body mirror and continuously checked out her body.

Lily stood by her and watched her with a confused expression.

“Uh…Your Grace, you’ve been doing that for a while. What’s wrong…?”

“Didn’t I gain weight these days?”

“What?”

Lily opened her eyes wide to an unexpected question and looked up and down at Dana. It looked like she was slim and without any fat. How could she have gained weight?

“No, not at all. What’s wrong with you?”

“Leon really doesn’t seem to think about me at all. How can he ask me to have a wedding right away?

As if the answer had already been decided, Dana grumbled into the blanket in the bed without listening to Lily.

Lily tilted her head at Dana’s knowing feeling and quietly finished cleaning the room.

* * *

“Let’s use this.”

“Yeah! You have an excellent eye.”

Daniel shut his mouth like a clam and glanced at his master’s complexion.

He gave a slight warning about the price of expensive diamonds to turn his eyes around, but it was after what he had already said.

Why did you drag me if you’re going to do this?

The process of choosing was surprisingly very fast and simple. At first, he just looked for the biggest diamond, but later, he chose the most expensive one among what the jeweler recommended, saying, “Rare and valuable”.

Of course, it was worth the money.

The red diamond, which had never been heard of, absorbed all the surrounding light and emitted a brilliant light on its own.

“Will you be able to make it by that day?”

“Of course, I’ll make it for you at all costs.”

“I look forward to it.”

Leon casually paid the price of one ring worth one castle and left.

Of course, that luxury may be allowed because it is the Empire’s Grand Duke’s wedding, but he hadn’t even heard that the empress received it yet, so it was noticeable that the society would be noisy when rumors spread.

Daniel shook his head and guided him to the next store.

“Let’s go this way, I’ll take you to the flower shop.”

And a few days later, when Dana fell asleep and woke up, the room was full of flowers.

Dana woke up and looked around, not knowing what this was about.

“…Lily.”

But it was Leon who came out instead of Lily. He walked through the room to a flower garden with a bouquet of red roses that matched but did not match.

“Leon? What’s all this?”

“You’re not used to it. No wonder I…”

“Me?”

Dana somehow laughed at the awkward expression. She got out of bed and sneaked up to him. Looking at the bouquets in his hand and the flowers scattered around her, she had a sense of what he intended.

“I think I brought up the wedding in the wrong way.”

“What?”

“It was like that from the beginning. Even though you said you didn’t like it.”

Leon gave Dana a bouquet of roses. Dana, who unexpectedly received it, was surprised to see Leon kneeling in front of her so she screamed,

“…Leon!”

“Hand.”

Dana held a bouquet with one arm and gently overlapped her hand on top of his as he led her.

While blinking several times, the fourth finger of the left hand was fitted with a red and brilliant ring.

“Oh…”

“Dana.”

Leon’s voice trembled a little unexpectedly.

“Please marry me.”

The tremor came to Dana sincerely. Before Dana could answer anything, Leon continued to say.

“I’ve already been tamed by you, so I can’t get out of it. Please welcome me as your husband.”

“…Leon…”

Of course, Dana didn’t really hate marrying him either.

Although she reacted a little lukewarmly for minor reasons, her marriage to Leon was also what she sincerely hoped for.

Dana glanced at the diamond stuck on her fourth finger.

“It’s a red diamond.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yes, very much.”

The red light felt mysterious as if she were looking at Leon’s red eyes. And looking at the smile around her mouth, Leon thought that the money worth the castle was not a waste at all.

“So, what’s the answer?”

Dana, who was looking at the ring, took a step back and gently grabbed her skirt with both hands. Then slowly bent his knees to show courtesy to him.

“Thank you, Grand Duke. Let’s get married.”

* * *

On that day, not only Tertius’ territory but also the whole empire was excited.

The Grand Duke’s wedding was attended by congratulatory delegations from different countries and even young princes attended on behalf of the emperor.

The gate opened wide for the first time since Leon became the lord. Except for the inner fortress, where the Grand Duke and his wife reside, outsiders were free to visit the outer fortress as well.

The castle was decorated with colorful decorations, and the musicians played exciting music.

The public wedding was not just for the parties. As this was the old kingdom, the entire estate was filled with a festive mood for days on end as the royal family’s wedding customs were.

The castle released the wealth accumulated in the warehouse and distributed food, and the young people were able to eat and drink with them and let go of their hands for a few days. In this era, there was no holiday, so this was the only time they could rest on a day like this.

“Your Grace, Duke of Hamilton, Hales, is coming in!”

After losing Rian, Duke Hamilton had Hales inherit the Duchy herself. The succession of a woman’s position was legally allowed, but it was not common, so it was controversial for a while, but soon faded.

Not only was Hales’s academic performance very good, but because she knew her circumstances but didn’t have a big enough person to recommend her remarriage, and perhaps because it was that difficult, no one easily approached Hales, who appeared for the first time since taking the official position of becoming a Duke.

Then, a stiff step approached and handed her champagne.

“Your Grace, Duke of Hamilton, congratulations on becoming a Duke.”

“Oh, thank you, Count Marvin. No wonder no one is approaching me… It’s probably because of that.”

“They’re idiots, not even because of the Duke. If you don’t mind, can I escort you?”

“Of course, I look forward to your kind cooperation.”

A white canopy was installed high in the main garden of Tertius Castle. Flowers were lightly decorated along the road below it.

Round tables were placed everywhere on both sides of the flower path, where guests sat and waited for the bride and groom’s entrance.

The imperial string orchestra sent by the emperor played music to mark the beginning of the ceremony.

A beautiful melody wandered through the garden like a butterfly. It permeated the bride’s waiting room.

Upon hearing it, Dana sighed with her hands together.

“I’m so nervous.”

A brighter tiara was put over her golden head. Then her eyelids, which had been somewhat closed, opened and her blue eyes shone clearly.

“I’m almost there, Your Grace.”

“You’re really, really beautiful.”

To get to where the ceremony was held, Dana had to ride a wagon. As she got off the golden wagon, Leon, dressed up and came out to greet her.

“Let’s go.”

Shining shoes appeared on the floor under the white wedding dress.

They stood side by side in front of the flower path.

In the sunny Tertius garden, their wedding had just begun.

<The End>