The wedding everyone had been waiting for was finally ready.
The ceremony was scheduled to take place at Duke Rahardt’s estate.
With Francia’s public service duties completed, all that remained was to hold the ceremony.
But before that, there were things that needed to be discussed.
“Yohan? What is the meaning of this?”
“Hmm, another rival has appeared.”
“A playboy…”
The dining hall of the Rahardt mansion.
Francia, Rudella, and Rudbeckia sat across from Yohan, silverware and dishes before them, their faces displeased. In the middle, Eris sat stiffly, glancing around nervously.
“Eris confessed her feelings to me because she likes me, and I couldn’t dislike Eris, who conveyed her sincerity to me.”
Yohan attempted a frontal breakthrough, enduring their thorny gazes. Shamelessly, even.
“So… I asked her to become my fourth wife.”
The moment he finished speaking, the three women’s eyes noticeably cooled. A chilling sensation ran down Yohan’s spine, and he involuntarily broke out in a cold sweat.
Gulp.
Yohan’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily.
The situation was different from when he had accepted Rudbeckia. Back then, he had consulted with the two of them beforehand.
“…It feels like the love I should receive is being divided more and more. Yohan, can you really love me as much as before? Now that there are four of us?”
Francia said.
Her eyes were narrowed.
“Certainly, four is not going to be easy. We’ll have to divide our time well so that no one feels left out.”
Rudella agreed.
“I-I don’t mind…? If it’s Yohan, I’m sure he’ll make time for me somehow.”
Rudbeckia withdrew from the fray.
“Hmm.”
“Umm.”
Francia and Rudella hummed in thought.
However, it was too late to undo what had happened with Eris.
“I promise. I will share my love equally with everyone, so that no one’s feelings are hurt.”
Yohan took a deep breath and hardened his expression.
“So, if you could trust me… I would be grateful.”
At his resolute face, Francia narrowed her eyebrows and stroked her chin. She seemed deep in thought.
“If my husband asks me to trust him, I should trust him. That’s a wife’s job, after all. I will trust Yohan.”
The corners of her eyes, which held sky-blue irises, curved into a smile. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t disappointed, but even so, Rudella respected Yohan as his wife. In the first place, she herself had been a concubine.
“…I’m fine with it too. Especially since Yohan is saying it.”
Soon, Francia also agreed.
“But, having a child before me is out of the question, right?”
However, agreement and concession were separate matters. Her gaze became sharp as an awl, subtly tightening around Yohan’s throat.
“I understand…”
Yohan quietly lowered his head, as he also felt guilty about it.
“Then that’s settled.”
Yohan was relieved that the conversation had gone well. One way or another, he had obtained the consent of his lovers.
“By the way, are you all really okay with not having a wedding ceremony? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment.”
Francia asked.
Rudella, Rudbeckia, and Eris had decided not to have a wedding ceremony. They were worried that it might cause trouble for Yohan.
“I’m fine, Princess. A wedding ceremony is a precious moment, but if my name comes up, the world won’t look kindly on Yohan.”
Rudella shook her head. She was the daughter of the Bismarck family, who had been the leader of the Crown Prince faction. Although time had passed, the external perception was still not good.
Also, the families who had been part of the Crown Prince faction were not in good shape.
“…I’m okay too.”
“I have no problem with it either.”
Neither Rudbeckia nor Eris were particularly attached to the idea of a wedding ceremony. Of course, it would be a lie to say they didn’t want one, but they were worried that the world’s view of Yohan would turn negative.
“Don’t all say that. Let’s have a group wedding.”
Yohan said.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment. I believe that everyone must have this experience. And why should we care about the world’s opinion? All that matters is that we’re happy.”
And he smiled lightly.
Of course, the public opinion wouldn’t be good. But it would only be temporary. What could anyone gain by antagonizing Rahardt, the newly emerging great noble of the East?
‘Father-in-law is going to give me an earful…’
Yohan wanted to give his lovers the moment of a wedding ceremony. It wasn’t impossible in the first place.
Rahardt was currently the greatest noble in the Empire.
“If Yohan says so…”
“I’ll follow Yohan’s decision.”
“I want to do it too.”
The three women nodded simultaneously.
Yohan looked at Francia and asked,
“Francia, is it okay to proceed with a group wedding?”
“I prefer that too. After all, we’ll be one family now.”
Her consent was also obtained.
Then all that remained was the wedding ceremony.
* * *
Yohan listened to the head butler’s report. He was a head butler with a long career, who had even worked in the Imperial Palace.
“Not only the descendants and key figures of the Rogino Imperial Family, but also a considerable number of dignitaries from other countries. Since many have come from afar, some have arrived in advance.”
The head butler continued.
“Normally, the dignitaries would stay at the hotels in the territory, but there are no hotels in the Rahardt territory that can accommodate them.”
Yohan tilted his head slightly.
“So that’s why the guest rooms were full.”
“That’s right. But there’s no problem. The Rahardt estate was built to be very large.”
The Duke’s mansion was comparable to the Imperial Palace. The guest rooms alone could easily accommodate dozens of people.
“I see. I can leave the food and ceremony preparations to the management department, right?”
“Yes, the preparations are proceeding smoothly.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Yohan finished the conversation with a nod. The head butler bowed politely and left the office.
“Hoo.”
Alone in his office, Yohan looked out the window and took a deep breath. He didn’t realize that preparing for a wedding ceremony would take so long.
‘I’ve invited everyone I should invite. And I didn’t forget my family.’
Of course, he had also invited the people from the Harssen barony. It had been so long since he had seen them that it might be awkward.
‘I wonder what everyone has been up to? They didn’t even send a word when I was becoming famous.’
He could understand his father, Baron Harssen. He was originally a person who distinguished between public and private matters well. In the first place, he couldn’t provide support, so he must have been quietly cheering him on.
Judging by the fact that they hadn’t used the Rahardt name anywhere, his brothers must be the same. Their motto was not to get involved in presumptuous matters.
‘Well, I’ll find out tomorrow.’
Yohan stretched his stiff back and stood up from his seat. His shoulders and calves were stiff from sitting at his desk all day.
Click.
As he left the office, the moonlight that had seeped through the window subtly illuminated the long corridor. Tranquility enveloped his entire body, and a gentle peace spread through his heart.
Just as he was about to shake off his fatigue with a light stroll—
“….”
At the end of the corridor, someone was leaning against the window frame. Golden hair, bathed in moonlight, fluttered in the breeze.
“Your Highness the Princess.”
It was Laryana Rogino.
“Nice to see you, Yohan.”
Laryana smiled and tilted her head slightly. The wind blowing from the window carried her scent. His mind was filled with the scent of flowers.
Yohan hardened his expression and took a step forward.
“The night air is cold.”
“Is it? I think it’s nice and cool.”
Step.
The closer he got, the stronger her scent became. The scent of osmanthus. Seductive and intensely sweet.
“What if you catch a cold?”
“I don’t get sick from something like this.”
Step.
Soon, the distance between the two was completely closed. A quiet corridor. Laryana’s heartbeat echoed in Yohan’s ear. He could feel her trembling.
Yohan turned his gaze to the night sky that Laryana was looking at. White dots sparkled on a navy-blue canvas.
“Can’t you sleep?”
“I guess not. It’s the wedding of the man I love. I’m more sensitive than you think?”
Laryana covered her mouth with the back of her hand and giggled.
“…It seems your feelings haven’t changed.”
Yohan leaned against the wall and glanced at Laryana. She was gazing at the night sky, her lips curved upwards.
“Of course. How could I forget? It’s my first love. Since we can’t be together, I become more desperate, more longing, I guess? It feels like that.”
Laryana turned her head and met Yohan’s eyes. Her golden eyes shimmered in the moonlight.
“Yohan said, didn’t he? That if I still couldn’t give up my feelings later on, then Yohan would come to me.”
“I did.”
Yohan nodded.
Laryana looked at the night sky again.
“Hehe, I was so happy with that answer back then. But now that I think about it… I don’t think that was the love I really wanted.
Rather than Yohan liking me, it felt more like pity.”
That was true.
Although Yohan had come to have feelings for her after she had changed, pity had accounted for a considerable part of the reason why he had decided to accept Laryana.
“Could I really be happy if we ended up together like that? I’ve been thinking about that. Of course, I would be happy. Because I could be with the person I love.”
Laryana took a small breath and continued.
“But someday, that would fester and rot, and appear in an ugly form. Jealousy and envy. Jealousy and envy directed at the lovers Yohan truly loves.”
No matter how much Yohan said he would share his love equally, in the end, the form would inevitably change if the feelings he held were different. Laryana certainly wouldn’t have been able to endure that.
She knew that best of all.
“So, I’m going to become a more mature person so that I can receive genuine love from Yohan, and come back again. So that someday, you can look at me properly.”
Laryana smiled and looked at Yohan.
She was definitely smiling, but she was also tearful.
“…You can’t forget me, okay?”
“Why would I forget you?”
Yohan closed his eyes and nodded. And then he opened his eyes again and wiped away the clear tears that were flowing down her cheeks.
“How could I forget a woman who sincerely liked me.”
Laryana laughed silently.
Someday, she would receive his love, she vowed once again in her heart.
It wouldn’t take too long.