Chapter 50 …
I stared at him blankly, like an idiot.
Did he just… give me a gift?
It was completely unexpected.
And the reason was so I wouldn’t feel intimidated by the other young ladies?
The reason was almost too sweet.
Would it be okay to interpret this as him thinking of me?
“Thank you.”
When I shyly expressed my gratitude, Epher cleared his throat and avoided my gaze.
“The accessories needed for the ceremony should already be decided, so you can wear these at the reception afterward.”
A necklace, earrings, a ring—and beside them, an accessory whose purpose was hard to tell.
“What is this?”
It was far too small to be a necklace.
At my question, Epher lowered his gaze and quietly looked into the box.
“This is…”
He placed the box on the shelf beside him and took out only the accessory I had pointed to.
I stared straight at his face, waiting for an answer.
Epher lowered his gaze even further and gently took hold of my elbow.
“…?”
His hand slid naturally from my elbow down to my wrist, lifting my arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
For a moment, it was as if my entire body had frozen solid. All I could do was stare at his long eyelashes as he looked down.
He was someone who had touched me countless times before. And yet, this touch—now that I was facing him as Rosellia—felt strangely unfamiliar.
When the cold gemstone touched my skin, it was only then that I felt released from a spell and could move again.
“It’s a bracelet.”
At some point, the accessory from earlier had been fastened around my wrist.
“Ah… thank you.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“……”
“My lady.”
He offered a light greeting and turned away.
Without even closing the door, I stood there for a long while, staring down the dark corridor lit only by candlelight, listening to the sound of his steady footsteps as he walked away.
Only after I heard him completely leave the castle did I slowly close the door.
Did he just call me ‘my lady’?
Every time I moved, the gemstone on the bracelet around my wrist flickered between a soft pink glow and darkness.
From deep within my chest, clouds of excitement began to billow up.
What is this… He didn’t have to make my heart flutter like this.
Maybe I was still far from truly becoming human.
They say humans learn from failure and make better choices the next time. Yet even after trusting humans for a thousand years and being betrayed countless times…
Was it because we had grown closer? Or because I hadn’t kept a human by my side for so long?
The kindness he showed me was small. And yet, like a pebble dropped into a still lake, it sent strange ripples through emotions I hadn’t even known I had.
At the light of dawn breaking across the sky, I slowly opened my eyes.
“Mmm…”
I had barely slept all night, so I pulled the blanket over my head to try and get a little more rest—but the noise outside was already too loud, and I lowered it again.
“My lady, is it noisy?”
Moria hurried to the window and drew the curtains shut.
“Would you like to sleep a little longer? We still have about an hour.”
“No. I’ll get up now.”
Rubbing my swollen eyes, I stretched. I was a light sleeper anyway—it didn’t seem like I’d be able to rest properly.
“I’ll bring the wash water.”
Yawning, I walked over to the window and gently pulled back the curtain Moria had just closed.
Though it was early, the Grand Duke’s castle was already fully awake.
All for my wedding, taking place at noon.
“Was this really supposed to be simple? There are so many people.”
“No matter what, it’s naturally on a much larger scale than a regular noble’s wedding. Normally, imperial weddings are attended by all the nobles of the empire. And since it’s still early morning, there are actually fewer people right now.”
“I see…”
At that moment, Moria pointed at the box placed on the table.
“Um… my lady. What is this?”
I turned my head and looked at the culprit who had kept me awake all night.
“His Highness the Grand Duke gave it to me last night.”
Moria’s eyes widened as she looked back and forth between me and the box.
“I’m supposed to wear it at the reception later.”
“May I open it?”
When I nodded, Moria lifted the lid. Her already wide eyes grew even larger.
“My goodness! This is the Flower of Ordi, isn’t it?”
It must be an incredibly famous gemstone. If even Moria recognized it instantly.
“It belonged to the first Empress. Pink diamonds can’t even be found anymore…!”
They were gemstones that existed only at the time of the empire’s founding. After a small quantity of pink diamonds was discovered, not a single similar mineral had been found in the thousand years since.
The Empress first wore it at her wedding and continued to wear it at major annual ceremonies—to show the people how firmly the Elysia Empire stood upon its foundation.
Wait… it was that incredible?
The more Moria explained, the heavier it felt.
I lowered my gaze to the bracelet around my left wrist.
I didn’t even know and just slept with it on…
Moria closed the box, a satisfied smile curling her lips.
“It seems His Highness really cares for you, my lady.”
Because of her words—or perhaps because the sensation of his touch still lingered on my wrist—
Is it really true? Does Epher like me?
I wasn’t sure. Maybe because the way he treated Siena and the way he treated me were so completely different.
Of course, there’s a difference between liking animals and liking people.
But honestly, Epher—as I saw him as Rosellia—seemed more like he was trying to keep his distance.
Well… even if he did like someone, he seems like the type who wouldn’t show it.
My heart felt restless and oddly buoyant.
I’d been thinking about it since last night. If Epher truly liked me, then there’d be no issue with me becoming human. I wouldn’t need to worry about Rosellia either. And Count Pelua’s wedding wouldn’t turn into a funeral, right?
But I quickly shook my head.
No. Don’t get carried away just because you received one gift!
I felt foolish for getting my hopes up just because he’d been a little kind.
“My lady, shall we go to the waiting room to prepare?”
“Yes.”
I will retrieve the fox bead today, no matter what!
I’ll think about everything else afterward.
Once Epher and I become close enough to share a hundred nights together, I can put it back then.
I sprang to my feet, my eyes burning with resolve.
“Her Grace the Grand Duchess… Doesn’t she look like she’s heading to a battlefield instead of a wedding?”
One of the maids whispered as she followed behind me, but I ignored it.
Elnor Castle stood atop a lake, consisting of three large castles arranged in a triangular formation.
Between them lay a vast garden, and paths ran between the castles and the walls, lined with buildings large and small. Near the castle where I stayed, there was a smaller garden with stables.
The wedding was held in one of the largest buildings, usually used as a banquet hall.
As a fox, I had only ever passed by, seeing its exterior. But stepping inside felt like discovering a pearl buried in mud.
This is incredibly luxurious.
True to its name as a banquet hall, the moment I passed through the grand doors, countless golden ornaments dazzled my eyes.
The deep navy velvet carpet and gold-adorned interior looked refined even to someone like me who had lived in the modern world.
“Wow… this place is amazing.”
The view through the windows was especially to my liking.
With its high ceiling and open space, the hall sat slightly higher than the castle walls, offering a full view of the expansive lake.
And what I liked most of all—my reflection, now fully dressed and made up.
“Wow. You’re truly beautiful.”
Looking into the mirror, I nodded.
“Of course. We spent hours on it.”
If I were Epher, I would have fallen for myself at first sight.
Soon, the sound announcing the start of the wedding rang out.
As the guests entered and took their seats, I headed to the waiting room.
“You’re remarkably calm, my lady.”
Well, I suppose that comes with experience.
Besides, weddings are all more or less the same—nothing particularly new.
After the groom, Epher, entered first, the officiant’s voice soon announced my entrance.
“My lady, you may enter now.”
The doors opened, and I carefully stepped forward, holding the front of my skirt.
The most unusual part of this wedding, in my opinion, was this very moment.
Here, the bride did not enter supported by anyone.
—Though servants did follow behind, holding the train of my dress.—
A father did not hand his daughter over to her husband. It was simply one person meeting another.
Walking alone in such a heavy dress, without leaning on anyone, was no easy task.
So I focused solely on walking until I reached the officiant.
I gave Epher a slight bow in greeting, and we both stood facing the officiant.
He began by reciting the lineage of the past Grand Dukes of Elnor, emphasizing that this was not merely a wedding, but a blessing for the empire itself.
I thought it would end there, but—
No matter the era or the world, are wedding speeches always this boring?
A long, tedious sermon followed.
What marriage is. How one should live going forward.
After the drowsy speech finally ended, the words I had been waiting for emerged at last.
“Therefore, before the goddesses who govern the empire, I ask you.”
At the officiant’s gesture, I turned to the side.
The moment Epher and I—who had been facing the same direction—turned and faced each other.
For the first time, I truly saw his face.
They say the bride is the flower of the wedding—but honestly?
I think it’s the groom.
The instant I looked at him, the wedding—now dull after repeating itself so many times—suddenly came alive.
He really is beautiful…
It’s not easy to look handsome while giving off an androgynous air.
His pure white suit paired perfectly with the golden ornaments—especially with his blond hair.
Behind Epher, the vast, pristine lake stretched out.
Like sunlight glittering on the water, he looked bright and beautiful.
“Epher Zen Elysia, do you promise to take Rosellia Pelua as your spouse and spend your life together?”
“Yes.”
He answered without hesitation. I found myself hoping, just a little, that his words were sincere.
“Rosellia Pelua, do you promise to take Epher Zen Elysia as your spouse and spend your life together?”
“Yes.”
And now—finally—it was time to retrieve my fox bead.
“To ensure this vow remains unbroken, you will now exchange a pledge of oath.”
Epher lowered his gaze and gently took my left hand.
The memory of him holding it the night before, when he put on the bracelet, surfaced—and for the first time, the reality of marrying this man truly sank in, making my heart itch strangely.
Watching Epher slowly lean in, I quietly closed my eyes.
And then—
He pressed his lips to mine, light—yet not light at all.
