Seeing her troubled comrade filled her with various thoughts.
Though she had never shown it, Kailas had always envied Noel.
Noel had always been one step ahead of her.
Noel had rejected Josephina until the end and was the first to recognize Leticia.
When Leticia had left for the Principality, Noel had stayed alone in the empire to deal with Josephina.
Josephina had steadfastly believed in Noel, not realizing that Noel had betrayed her.
Kailas often imagined whether she could have handled things as well as Noel if she were in her position.
The answer came quickly.
No one could have done it better than Noel.
Noel was bold and confident. Once she set a goal, she did not hesitate to achieve it. If there was an obstacle, she chose to break it rather than avoid it.
To see Noel struggling so much now was a surprising sight.
It made Kailas think that love was difficult for everyone.
‘It’s not just difficult for me.’
Kailas let out a small, rueful smile before cautiously speaking.
“Noel, have you talked to Ahwin? He’s not the type to push someone who feels burdened. It might be better to be honest about it, don’t you think?”
“You’re right. But I don’t have the courage.”
“What exactly are you afraid of?”
“That Ahwin might be disappointed.”
“Is it because you want to always show him your best side?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Noel shook her head. Her eyes were red.
“I don’t want to see Ahwin saddened. He desires a family and children. But because of me, he might have to give up his dreams.”
He was not the type to show his disappointment, so Noel felt even more conflicted.
If Noel said she didn’t want to marry, Ahwin would accept it.
He would not bring up the topic of marriage until she herself brought it up.
‘Perhaps he already sensed my feelings.’
When Ahwin proposed, Noel had been so flustered that she couldn’t say a word.
Ahwin had looked at her quietly and then had naturally lifted the corners of his mouth in a smile.
“Anytime, whenever you want.”
Then he smoothly changed the subject.
He talked about Leticia’s wedding, Banessa leaving for the empire, and Mano’s recent news.
Throughout the conversation, he never mentioned the soon-to-be-born royal heirs even once.
‘He must have known. That I would feel burdened.’
Noel let out a low sigh, burying her forehead in her hands on her knees.
She even considered accepting the proposal out of sheer madness.
But she could not picture herself as a mother at all.
Is marriage really necessary?
Can’t we just continue dating?
I want to live as a wing even ten, twenty years from now.
I always wanted to be stronger than yesterday.
I wasn’t sure of myself living as a mother.
‘I’m really selfish.’
Noel let her shoulders droop in exhaustion.
She wanted to hold onto a man who desired a family and children without marrying him.
She knew it was wrong.
Even so, she didn’t want to let go.
She didn’t want to lose him.
Not to anyone.
* * *
Time flew by.
As the wedding day approached, the flames of the royal palace showed no signs of dimming.
Everyone was frantically trying to make the wedding perfect.
At first, Leticia had been happy to accept their goodwill, but she soon became concerned.
The once healthy palace staff had become so haggard that their dark circles reached their chins.
Elite palace staff were gradually turning into walking zombies.
Leticia felt a sense of responsibility as the bride to calm them down.
“You don’t all have to push yourselves so hard. It’s a second wedding. Experiencing the Principality wedding should be enough…”
“Your Highness, please don’t say that!”
“You can’t compare the wedding of Zenos to the shoddy weddings of the empire, no, of the empire’s people!”
“Your Highness is such a precious person to us. To end your once-in-a-lifetime wedding like this…”
“It’s outrageous that there’s less than a week left for preparations!”
Seeing the palace staff burning with zeal, Leticia was at a loss for words.
She wondered if these were the same people she knew.
For some reason, their appearance reminded her of the wings when they were in a frenzy.
Experience had taught her that trying to stop them was futile.
It only spurred them on more.
In the end, Leticia decided to quietly accept their kindness.
“Thank you. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
She hoped they would do it appropriately.
It was embarrassing, yet she was also worried. She wondered if she had caused a commotion by accepting the proposal. Seeing her troubled, Julios smiled and said.
“Why not think of it as a joy rather than a burden? The saint must also have people who want to do their very best for her. Even if they stay up for a few nights, they want to offer the best experience. Seeing the smile of the person they’re serving must be the greatest happiness in this world.”
Thinking about it, Julios’s words were right.
Precious relationships formed after her return.
Their joy was Leticia’s happiness.
If she had told them not to do anything for her under the pretense of worrying, they would have been even more disappointed.
“You’re right, Your Highness. It can’t be helped. I’ll look forward to the best wedding. But what if everyone collapses from overworking?”
“But the healing wing is by our side. What are you worried about?”
Thus, days mixed with excitement, joy, gratitude, and worry passed by.
Even Leticia, who had been burdened at first, eventually began to enjoy it.
“Could you prepare flower petals? Please keep it a secret from Dietrian.”
“Of course. May I ask what you need them for? I’ll try to find petals that are just right for their use.”
“For the bathtub after the wedding…”
That was enough.
The palace staff’s eyes sparked with flames.
Flower petals for after the wedding!
What could that mean!
They had to procure the most perfect petals in the world. The petals couldn’t have a single flaw!
But there was an even more important procedure than the petals in the wedding preparations.
It was Leticia’s wedding dress.
The bride’s wedding dress was the highlight of the wedding preparations.
Everyone was eager to choose the dress with Leticia, like wild animals before prey. The atmosphere was charged with fierce competition.
“I will choose the dress with Mano.”
Fortunately, Leticia had a card to cool the heated competition. Though it wasn’t intentional, the palace staff eventually stepped back. No matter how blind they were to the wedding dress preparations, they couldn’t compete with Mano.
However, Leticia faced an unexpected problem.
“Mano, what do you think of this one?”
“It’s beautiful, very beautiful. It suits you well.”
“How does it compare to the one I just tried on?”
“That one looked nice too. The shoulder line is beautiful, so everything looks pretty on you.”
“Oh dear, how can you just say everything is beautiful? You need to pick one.”
No matter what she wore or which dress she chose, Mano just kept saying it was lovely.
“All of them look beautiful to my eyes. It must be the same for others. Ask someone passing by. They’ll say the same as me.”
Leticia felt good, but she couldn’t quite believe it. She felt Mano would say she looked beautiful even in a rag.
Mano, who had been watching Leticia with satisfaction, gestured.
“Show me the accessories we set aside earlier. I think the blue box is good. There was something that seemed to fit the dress you’re wearing now.”
“Here it is.”
The merchant quickly brought a blue velvet box. Inside the open box were various chokers.
Mano carefully examined the chokers and chose one adorned with pearls and lace.
“Dear, could you turn around for a moment?”
Though Leticia couldn’t believe it, Mano truly found everything she did adorable.
When she was suffering from the shock of losing her son, Mano’s world seemed to be wrapped in a misty glass wall. There was neither past nor future.
Yet, there were particularly intense emotions. The feelings towards Leticia were such. They were so pitiful and precious that they brought tears. The fear of losing her made her restless.
At that time, she didn’t really understand the reason for her emotions. It was as if her soul instinctively cherished Leticia. It was like a child’s heart that treasures a gift.
But now, she understood why Leticia was so precious.
Having seen Leticia’s past, she had no choice but to love her.
Even though it was all in the past, thinking about those times still brought tears to her eyes.
She felt sorry for not being able to understand her pain and was grateful that she had endured so well despite everything.
“Indeed, everything looks good on you. Jen, could you bring the mirror?”
“Of course, Madam Mano.”
The palace staff quickly brought a tabletop mirror. While Leticia checked the mirror, Mano adjusted the choker so it wouldn’t catch on her hair. She placed her hands on Leticia’s shoulders and smiled brightly.
“How is it? Do you like it? I thought the cream-colored pearls would suit your complexion.”
“I really like it.”
Leticia’s cheeks flushed as she touched the ends of the choker.
“If you like the pearl choker, should we try it with other accessories as well?”
“I like everything.”
“Oh dear, what will I do if you like everything I pick?”
“You’d say everything is beautiful if I wore it.”
The palace staff, alternating their gaze between the two, tilted their heads in confusion.
Then, one of them exclaimed in admiration.
“Oh my, you two look alike.”
“Really?”
“You look just like mother and daughter.”
Mano’s eyes widened in surprise. She smiled brightly and gently held Leticia’s hand.
“Thank you. If I had a daughter like you, I’d have nothing to envy in this world.”
At Mano’s playful words, Leticia bit her lip.
Her nose tingled.
After her return, many people had loved her. She thought her life was perfect in every way.
But surprisingly, as her time with Mano increased, she realized there were still places in her life that needed filling.
Every time she received Mano’s tender affection, it felt as though her wounded childhood was healing.
Someone once said:
A mother is like a big umbrella on a rainy day. Even the heaviest downpour isn’t scary when you’re in your mother’s arms.
She never thought she’d experience that feeling.
Before she knew it, tears welled up in Leticia’s eyes as she hugged Mano tightly.
“I want to be your daughter too, Mano.”
“Oh dear, Dietrian might feel hurt if he hears that.”
Leticia clung to Mano, who was laughing, and whined.
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