***
“You’re finally getting married.”
Keena said indifferently as she drank her tea. Rather than congratulating her, it felt more like she was questioning why she was doing it now.
Unlike her indifferent tone, her eyes were warm, so Leticia unconsciously smiled.
“I know. Oh, here’s your wedding invitation.”
“Hmm…”
Upon receiving the wedding invitation from Leticia, Keena looked at it closely, then opened the envelope. As she expected, the invitation design was clean and simple. When others saw it, they would only think of it as a wedding invitation, but Keena thought that it was rather like a certain couple.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Everything is ready, so I just need you to come.”
As soon as they heard the news that she was getting married, Countess Aster, Elle and Ian began to actively help. However, since Enoch had already finished the preparations, all Leticia had to do was choose a dress and a honeymoon destination.
“But it’s kind of weird to just congratulate you.”
Keena sounded as gloomy as she looked. It was a pity that she’d missed the opportunity to help because she was too busy to show her face lately.
Keena tapped her fingertips on the teacup for a while, then smiled brightly and said.
“Then I’ll give you a wedding present instead. Something very nice.”
“Oh? No, it’s okay. I’m just happy you’ll be coming.”
Surprised by her words, Leticia shook her hands. Having Keena show up to celebrate in person was a much better present.
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However, Keena smiled pleasantly, and told her not to refuse.
“Hey, we’re friends. We should still give each other wedding presents.”
“Hmm?”
“I’ll prepare an amazing gift for you.”
“No, I’m really fine…”
“I’m sure you’ll like it too.”
“….?”
The moment when their eyes met, Keena smiled smoothly, as if she really wanted her to see it. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling just thinking about it.
‘I’m a bit nervous…’
Leticia was feeling a bit worried, but she made light of it because it was probably just her imagination.
***
“Oh my. Why is my sister so pretty?”
Elle muttered while looking at Leticia with an expression full of emotion.
A silver dress that showed off her slender neck, red flowers adorned her pink hair that brushed past her shoulder. She looked elegant, and pure like a blooming flower in a snowy white field.
“It’s all thanks to Elle’s care.”
Leticia was embarrassed and covered her face with a bouquet of lisianthus flowers[1]. Elle, who was finally satisfied with her appearance, left the waiting room to wait for the ceremony to begin.
A while later, Keena entered the room. Leticia, who’d sensed her presence, turned around with a bright smile on her face.
“You’re here.”
“Yes, I thought I was late, so I came in a hurry.”
“I’m glad you’re not late.”
“This is the wedding present I mentioned last time.”
Leticia, who didn’t really expect to receive anything, smiled brightly and accepted the gift.
“Can I open it now?”
“No!”
When she tried to open it right away out of curiosity, Keena raised her voice and blocked her hand. When Leticia looked up with a puzzled expression, Keena said with a serious face.
“Open it when you’re alone before you go to bed, okay?”
“Yes, I got it.”
She wondered what kind of gift it was to make such a fuss over. However, Leticia nodded gently. Only then did Keena, who’s expression finally relaxed, left the bridal waiting room after telling her to have a safe trip.
Leticia immediately walked to the ceremony venue after Keena left. As she stepped outside, a smile naturally spread across her face.
It was clear and sunny weather, as if an angel in the sky was blessing them. Under the rain of dancing flowers, she found Enoch smiling brightly at her. Leticia’s heart was already in her throat as she smiled as if she had left this world.
They stood side by side and said their marriage vows, but she still couldn’t believe it. Leticia’s hands unconsciously tightened as they faced each other. As if reading her mind, Enoch patted the back of her hand as if to say that it was okay.
“Should a happy bride be crying?”
Enoch smiled affectionately as he wiped away the tears that had formed with his finger.
“Because it’s nice.”
To the point where she wondered if it was okay to be this happy.
“I love you Leticia.”
“Enoch…”
At his sudden confession, Leticia covered her face with the bouquet and smiled shyly. She felt embarrassed, but she was also so happy that she couldn’t be disappointed even if she melted away from it.
“I love you too, Enoch.”
It was just words, but Enoch smiled as if she’d given him the world. At that smile, Leticia finally realized that this was true happiness.
.
.
.
Immediately after the wedding, Leticia and Enoch left for their honeymoon destinations. It was close to the capital, so they could arrive quickly.
When Leticia exited the carriage first, she took in the sights in front of her eyes.
The lake was shining brilliantly in the sunlight, and the forest was so wide and lush at just a glance that she could hardly take it all in.
“How did you find out about this place?”
“I visited often when I was young.”
“It’s so beautiful.”
Just a short walk away, cute flowers bloomed on the side of the road for anyone to enjoy.
But before she knew it, she was worried.
‘The first night will be okay, right?’
As she began to get nervous, Leticia subconsciously grabbed and let go of her dress repeatedly.
Enoch, who’d been quietly watching the scene, asked her.
“What are you thinking about?”
“What?”
“You’re blushing.”
“It’s not like that.”
She tried to speak casually, and held onto his hand tightly. Enoch walked into the villa with her, and jokingly said.
“Shall we bathe together?”
“What?”
She thought she heard him wrong, so Leticia blinked up at him. Enoch burst into laughter since she looked like a rabbit with her eyes wide open like that.
“I’m kidding.”
“….!”
Leticia was surprised because she thought he was being serious. Her face turned red, and she rushed into the bathroom.
“Why would you make a joke like that?”
Leticia, who felt like crying from the unfairness of it, looked down at the gift box given to her by Keena. Perhaps because it had been too long since she’d received a gift from someone, she started to get excited. It was even a wedding gift.
As soon as she started to open the box with a pounding heart, she heard Keena’s voice.
[Open it when you’re alone before you go to bed, okay?]
‘What kind of present is it that you want me to open while I’m alone?’
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Leticia immediately opened it, and checked out the gift inside.
‘Is it clothes?’
It looked too thin to be clothing. The moment she unfolded her expression became strange.
“Keena, you crazy…!”
She was so surprised that Leticia threw the gift with a red face. Keena had exclaimed about how she should look forward to it. Now Leticia wanted to hit herself for secretly being excited about the great gift she would receive.
[I’ll prepare an amazing gift for you. I’m sure you’ll like it too.]
‘How could you tell me that I’m going to like it?’
Leticia, who’d thrown the contents like she’d touched the dirtiest thing in the world, slowly lifted it back up again with her fingertips. She couldn’t tell whether it was a piece of cloth or clothing.
‘It’s crazy, unless you’re crazy…’
How could she give her a slip that shows so much skin.
Leticia clenched her teeth and let the slip drop audibly.
‘Just turn away, and be sure to kill her later…’
“Is something wrong?”
When she heard a knock on the door behind her, Leticia was surprised and crumpled the slip back into the gift box.
“No, there’s not! It’s nothing!”
Leticia now knew the reason why Keena said that she should open it while she was alone. It was dizzying to think about what reaction Enoch would have had if he’d seen it.
“How do you even put this on…?”
Leticia sighed, then clenched her teeth.
It really was the worst wedding gift.
.
.
.
‘When I go back, I’ll give it back to you so that you can wear it.’
Leticia hid the gift in an unnoticed corner while Enoch went to wash. She peeped at the bathroom door, like a thief who was trying to hide that they were stealing.
‘There was a reason to check it alone.’
Leticia, who’d been contemplating for a while, let out a sigh.
‘I’m so nervous…’
It was the first time since she went on the tour of the Achilles territory that the two of them spent the night alone together.
Leticia bit her lip without realizing it, and took a sip of the alcohol in front of her to help her relax. Normally she wouldn’t have had any, but she felt very nervous.
Fortunately, she felt much more relieved after she had a drink. Nevertheless, she had one more drink because she couldn’t stop trembling. So, as I had one, two, three more cups, she even had room for more, even though she hadn’t had any for some time.
‘This is why people drink alcohol.’
When she reached for her fourth cup, her memory cut out like it had been cut by scissors.
***
‘I have a headache…’
Leticia woke up with a shallow moan. She felt like her head was spinning.
As soon as she was about to get out of bed, she saw Enoch holding out a cup of water to her.
“Are you awake?”
“Yes…”
Leticia smiled awkwardly, and drank the water Enoch gave her. She was busy trying to recall what occured last night.
‘What happened?’
She snuck an anxious glance at Enoch. Fortunately, he only looked at her with concern.
As soon as she was relieved.
“I don’t like you being scared.”
She didn’t understand why he suddenly said this. Leticia looked up at him in confusion, but Enoch just stroked her hair affectionately instead of answering.
“So, I’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready.”
“….?”
Before she could ask what he meant, Enoch left the room in a hurry to get her breakfast.
Leticia, who was left alone, screamed silently and grabbed her head.
‘What did I say to you yesterday? What did I say, and why are you waiting?’
No matter how hard she tried to think about it, she couldn’t remember anything.
By the evening, she could only remember what happened when she went to the bathroom to wash up.
[It’s not that I don’t like it, but I am a little scared.]
That’s what I said on the first night.
‘It’s not that I’m scared, I’m just nervous!’
She couldn’t help, but be nervous. However, there was also expectations and excitement that they would become closer.
But.. I ruined it all.
Leticia, who was half sitting up in bed, covered her face and sobbed. She felt so bad that her wedding night, which she’d waited so long for, had turned out so empty. Meanwhile, Leticia felt so bad for Enoch that she couldn’t stop sighing.
‘No, you can still have a special time.’
Leticia jumped up from her seat, and clenched her fists.
As soon as she opened the door slightly, she saw Enoch organizing alcohol on the table. He turned to her with a questioning look on his face when he heard the door open.
“Did you already wash up?”
“No, that’s not it…”
Leticia, who hesitated on how to say it, slightly showed her face through the door and said.
“A, together…”
“….?”
“Should we wash up together?”
“….”
While speaking, Leticia bowed her head because she was embarrassed. She was worried that she was mumbling too much, but Leticia hoped that he heard it.
Fortunately, he did hear her, and quietly smiled. However, he shook his head gently and refused.
“You must be tired, you need to bathe and get some rest.”
“Yes…”
Her courage came apart, Leticia slumped her shoulders and went into the bathroom.
She felt somewhat depressed.
***
‘It’s a crisis.’
This was a different difficulty from when she was excommunicated. Leticia sighed and rested her forehead on the wall. She thought there was nothing harder than confessing, then there was the proposal. Then she thought that there was nothing harder than the proposal, but now there was this ordeal.
‘I just need to say I’m not scared.’
Preparations had been completed a long time ago. Now she just needed to be honest with him, but she didn’t know that it would be so hard to say.
‘I shouldn’t have been drinking that day.’
She’d made a mistake by getting drunk when she was nervous, then telling him that she was scared.
‘There’s not much time left before we go back.’
She could clearly see that if things continued like this, it would stay the same when they returned.
Feeling anxious, Leticia leaned against the wall with tears in her eyes. She couldn’t spend this special time meaninglessly.
“What should I do…”
Leticia mumbled with a sigh, then she paused when she saw the gift box shoved into the corner.
“….”
It was the wedding gift that Keena gave her.
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