* * *

Having strongly recommended Antes to accept the title, Luna regretted that decision about two months later.

‘Are you insane?! Why so busy?!’

Unfortunately, after accepting the title, Antes became the busiest person in the world. He no longer frequently visited the mansion that he used to visit daily, and the only communication was the occasional letter.

If it was just a simple name change like the Peils family, it would have been different, but as soon as he accepted the title, he had to go to the provinces to verify the given Duke’s territory.

He also had to track the assets of the initial Duke’s family to distinguish between the assets to be taken and returned.

– It might take a while, how about coming with me?

In fact, Antes had suggested she accompany him. Not just to check the territory, but also to meet all the related people, including the landowner, which would take a considerable amount of time.

However, Luna was also busy. Besides her business, she was preoccupied preparing for Laura’s wedding, which she vowed to make the grandest in the country.

Moreover, she thought that there was nothing worse than bothering a busy person, so she smiled and declined Antes’s offer.

– Just finish quickly and come back. Don’t forget to bring some local specialties when you return. Got it?

She thought she’d be fine with it, but not seeing him for two months started to take its toll.

She had once laughed at people who lamented not seeing their lovers for a while, but now she found herself in the same situation.

However, she didn’t look down on herself or laugh about it. She was just eagerly awaiting the day Antes would return.

‘When we meet again, then…’

She thought of forcibly moving him next to her mansion. But, the spot next to her mansion was just a forest, so building a new one was the priority.

But building a new mansion would take time. As she thought about this, a familiar voice called out to her.

“Um… Miss, are you okay?”

“Huh?”

Only then did Luna realize she was looking at Laura’s wedding dress.

“You look upset…”

“No, not at all! It’s so beautiful. It looks like we finally found a dress that suits Laura perfectly. She’ll be the most beautiful bride in the world.”

Luna complimented Laura enthusiastically. It wasn’t just empty words; in Luna’s eyes, Laura truly looked like the most beautiful bride.

“Really?”

Her genuine reaction made Laura blush and smile, to which Luna also grinned and nodded.

“Phew, after checking and adjusting it over ten times, it better be beautiful.”

The mood was shattered by Emma’s sigh. Indeed, the dress had been checked and adjusted over ten times.

At first, Emma too was concerned about Laura’s dress, but after the tenth time, she couldn’t help but show her exhaustion.

Regardless, the dress, the result of a designer introduced by Rosemary, combined with meticulous adjustments, was nothing short of stunning.

Luna, satisfied, adorned Laura with pre-ordered jewels, checking to ensure nothing was amiss.

“I thought we’d be pressed for time, but it’s completed with a week to spare. We can check the bouquet the night before. The only thing left is the food… But Emma is in charge of that, so no worries.”

The venue was the garden of the Rose Mansion. All preparations like tables, flowers, and fireworks had been checked in advance.

All the invitations had been delivered, everything was perfect, except for the worry that Antes might not show up.

“Shall we go over the ceremony sequence? Just to ensure no mistakes.”

Still, Luna smiled brightly, trying not to make Laura nervous. Thankfully, Laura was excited, and Emma was more concerned about the wedding than Antes.

Another busy week passed, and it was Laura’s wedding day.

“That jerk…! No matter how busy he was, he should have come today!”

Regrettably, there was no sign of Antes. He had only sent a letter saying he would be back soon but didn’t show up even on the wedding day.

As Luna, wearing gloves, exited her room, she tried to calm her anger.

Today was a happy day. She shouldn’t get angry. Any wrong move could ruin Laura’s wedding. No matter how absent Antes was, she couldn’t let that happen.

Regaining her composure and heading to the bride’s waiting room, Laura, adorned with jeweled eyelashes, asked with a trembling face,

“Miss… Do I look weird?”

“Why would you? Aren’t you the most beautiful in the world? All the guests need to be careful not to be blinded by your beauty. They might faint because of you.”

Seeing Laura’s nervousness, Luna exaggerated her compliment. Whether it worked or not, Laura wrinkled her forehead and smiled.

Luna, who had helped her relax, went out to the garden one last time to check the tables and such. Then, she noticed several luxurious carriages lined up at the front entrance.

“Miss. Nobles without invitations have come, saying they desperately want to congratulate us.”

Surprisingly, they were all nobles. They had been busy preparing since morning to personally congratulate a mere servant’s wedding. They waited at the main gate for Luna’s permission.

As she looked around the garden again to make sure everything was in order, a servant who had been sent with a message came back sweating profusely.

“Um, miss… All the other nobles have left, but the young lady of the Granada family strongly requested to convey a message…”

“Who?”

Granada? Seira’s family? Why would she come all of a sudden? Their relationship ended a long time ago, and it didn’t end on good terms. Luna didn’t even want to see her face again.

‘Is it because of Laura? Or perhaps it’s because of Antes’s inauguration.’

Now that Antes was the only Duke in the Empire, it was likely she came to establish connections with him early on. Unfortunately, she didn’t know he wasn’t attending today.

“I’m sorry, but please ask her to leave. We’re already overwhelmed with the invited guests.”

Not wanting to risk the wedding being ruined, Luna instructed everyone to be turned away.

Would Seira really try to ruin Laura’s wedding as revenge? Luna frowned, and the servant in between looked very troubled.

It seemed it wasn’t a matter of just sending a servant to turn her away. Luna, feeling determined, headed towards the main gate.

“…I came to apologize for the past… for my misunderstandings and rude behavior.”

However, Seira wasn’t there to pick a fight. She got off the carriage and hesitantly began to apologize for her past actions.

But Luna couldn’t believe it. Their past relationship wasn’t a simple one. An unexpected apology was hard to believe.

“Are you sincere?”

“Uh…”

When asked like that, Seira began to shed tears.

Oh, stop! Annoyed by Seira’s tears, Luna turned red, and Seira bit her lip, sobbing and then spoke.

“…Half-sincere.”

Seeing her face when she answered, Luna was momentarily at a loss for words. How could she be so shameless?

No, maybe that’s why she could handle being the heroine while creating her own fantasy.

“…Anyway, I really did want to apologize. That’s why I came… I’m sorry.”

Seira fidgeted with her fingers and apologized again. It was hard to stay mad after hearing her.

“Understood. In the future, be more discerning when looking at men. Don’t choose just based on looks, or you’ll end up with a strange guy. Looks aren’t everything, right?”

Although Luna herself had found the most handsome man in the world, she deliberately omitted that part. Seira, nodding, wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and left.

Afterwards, while checking the wedding venue, Deborah and the former Duchess of Rodrian appeared.

Perhaps they had become close friends after sticking together all this time, and now it felt very natural for the two of them to be together.

The Duchess politely greeted Luna and informed her that she would be leaving the capital soon.

“I’ll be leaving tomorrow. I’ve regained custody of my child and secured our assets with ease. All thanks to you.”

She was referring to Fersen. When Luna had run away from the mansion, Fersen, who was abandoned, showed no response as if his mind was trapped in another world.

When Luna first heard this, she thought he might respond if she visited, but she didn’t want to meet him again, so she just nodded without replying.

Of course, the Duchess, having some decency, didn’t ask for Luna’s help either.

That was truly the end. The connection with Fersen was over.

“I see. If you visit the capital again, please let me know.”

“Thank you.”

As the Duchess and Deborah, who bowed deeply in farewell, left, Viscount Peils, who was reading a note and wiping his sweat, and Laura’s parents, who were busy greeting the guests, came into view.

“Lady Luna!”

And naturally, Rosemary and the Marquis and Marchioness appeared. Rosemary, sticking close to Luna and looking around cautiously, asked in surprise:

“Where’s my brother?”

Everyone probably expected him. Most of the attendees would be curious about Antes, who had just become the Duke.

“Um… He seems to be busy still.”

When Luna replied nonchalantly, Rosemary sensed her concern. Luna had been waiting for Antes tirelessly for two months. She said as she held Luna’s hand tightly:

“Don’t worry, Lady Luna. You have me!”

Though it was unclear what she meant, her intent to cheer Luna up was evident, and Luna’s expression softened a bit.

“Okay.”