Chapter 108 Epilogue – This Moment, Together With You
“To be honest, I never thought things would turn out like this,” Petronilla said.
“What do you mean?” Patrizia asked.
“I thought I would never marry. Especially since ‘that’ happened in my previous life, as you know.”
“…”
“But that man is the one who changed me, the me who was so scared of that past. I’m so happy to be able to marry him, Rizi.”
“Thank goodness. If you’re happy, then I’m happy, too,” Patrizia beamed.
Petronilla smiled at her young sister’s words. “What about you, Rizi? The servant girls have been going nuts over His Majesty and your blooming romantic married life.”
“…”
Patrizia turned scarlet. “That’s all on His Majesty,” she replied tartly.
“…”
They’re getting along, Petronilla thought. Patrizia’s face definitely looked brighter than ever. It was a type of face that a woman who was being loved and cherished would wear. Petronilla was glad that she wasn’t the only one who was happy. If she was happy while her younger sister wasn’t, then that wouldn’t be true happiness.
Petronilla gave a gentle laugh. “I guess it’ll be difficult for you to attend the wedding?” she said.
“…Probably?” Patrizia said with an expression that Petronilla couldn’t read.
“Should I be expecting a monetary gift from the Imperial family?” Petronilla said.
“We’re tightening our budget. Don’t expect much,” Patrizia teased back before giggling. It was then that Mirya tapped on the doorway.
“What is it, Mirya?” Patrizia asked.
“His Majesty has sent you chocolate-chip cookies today,” Mirya responded.
Petronilla turned to Patrizia with a gasp. “Goodness, he’s still sending you desserts?”
“If he wasn’t born in the Imperial family, he probably would have been a patissier,” Patrizia said, giggling, before taking from Mirya a beautiful plate piled with chocolate chip cookies. Petronilla picked one from the pile and gently bit into it.
“It’s delicious!” she exclaimed.
“He’s improving more and more,” Patrizia said approvingly.
“Goodness. To think he’s making these every single day even though he could probably instruct the chefs to do it.”
“He said that if he does that, then it wouldn’t be as sincere.” Then, Patrizia added with a grin, “Well, as you can see, I’m doing quite well.”
“…”
“So you don’t have to worry so much.”
“Alright, my little sister. My Queen,” Petronilla replied with a small smile. “I won’t worry. I can tell you’re happy. It’s written all over your face.”
“Yes, Nil,” Patrizia said in a tone as if she’s walking on air, “I’m happy right now.”
“You need to continue being happy from now on, okay?”
“Of course,” Patrizia promised.
With those words, Patrizia gave a soft laugh. It was clear that even now, she was happy.
*
Petronilla’s wedding was held on a beautifully sunny afternoon. Petronilla was waiting in the bride’s room with a nervous expression.
‘Ngh…I’m so nervous.’
She had stayed cool and composed up until last night, but when it came to the actual day of the wedding, her nerves started acting up. She took some controlled, deep breaths in order to calm herself down. It was then that someone came into the room. It was Marchioness Grochester. Overjoyed, Petronilla greeted her mother.
“Mother.”
“My daughter, you look absolutely beautiful today.”
Those words held not even an ounce of insincerity. Petronilla truly looked beautiful. Her pure white wedding dress was not unlike the image of an angel.
“Is it normal to be this nervous on your wedding day?” Petronilla asked her mother with a slightly trembling voice.
“Of course you’ll be nervous, as it is a day that will mark the rest of your life. Even if it wasn’t your wedding day, anyone would be nervous for a milestone as big as this. My child, don’t run away from this anxiety—embrace it. It wouldn’t do good to take holy matrimony lightly.”
“That’s true, but…”
I’m practically shaking. With a deep breath, Petronilla calmed her nerves. It would have been nice if Rizi was here. As if she could hear what Petronilla was thinking, Marchioness Grochestor quietly spoke.
“Rizi will always be by your side, Nilla.”
“I’m sorry? What do you mean by…”
“‘Those two will be attending today’s wedding. Of course, they must attend unnoticed by the eyes of others. It’s possible with an outdoor wedding. Therefore, my child…” Marchioness Grochester put on a tender smile before leaving a soft kiss on Petronilla’s forehead. “Don’t be so nervous. Think of your little sister watching you. Perhaps that will help you?”
“Yes, I’ll try.”
A servant girl entered the room. “Lady Petronilla, the time has come,” the girl announced.
Completely against what she had just promised her mother, Petronilla looked bewilderedly at Marchioness Grochester who simply nodded in reassurance. Petronilla mustered up all her courage, before flashing a small smile and getting out of her seat. There was nothing to be anxious or afraid about now. Unlike before, the person she was to marry today was someone that truly cherished her and loved her.
“Bride, please get into position.”
The officiating minister was Duke Witherford. At the Duke’s words, Petronilla masked her anxiety as best as she could before she started to walk. She could feel the eyes of all of the people in the sanctuary fixed on her walking figure.
Petronilla accepted all of those gazes and looked at the man who was her husband-to-be. He looked completely dazzled upon laying eyes on her. My adorable husband, she thought with a smile. Seeing that only made the smile on Rothesay’s face grow.
As wedding speeches went, Duke Witherford’s was quite long. Petronilla loathed tedious formalities like these but it wasn’t as if she could just say, ‘You’re dragging this out. Please make it short and sweet,’ to a person with the title of Duke. As if he could hear what she was thinking, Rothesay gave a slight smile as he took Petronilla’s hand in his. Feeling comforted by his touch, Petronilla ignored the discomfort in her legs for standing so long and straightened her posture, facing the presider.
“…then groom, do you take this bride as your lawfully wedded wife and vow to share both joy and sorrow, and to love her and only her until your hair turns grey?”
At this question, Rothesay responded without any hesitation, as if he had already been prepared to say this for a long time.
“Until my hair turns grey and my body wastes away, I swear it on my name to love her and only her for the rest of my life.”
“And bride, do you take this groom as your lawfully wedded husband and vow to share both joy and sorrow and to love him and only him until your hair turns grey?”
“I swear to stay faithful and loyal to my husband and to love him and only him for the rest of my life.”
“Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. May everyone in attendance bless them with peace and prosperity until the end of their lives.”
With those words, a roar of applause echoed throughout the room. As Rothesay and Petronilla walked down the aisle in the midst of the congregation’s applause, they looked genuinely happy. From a distance, a woman in a robe looked at the two of them and quietly smiled. The scene that she had hoped to see for so long could be seen so vividly in front of her eyes.
“Are you happy?” a man—also donning a robe and standing next to the woman—asked her.
The woman nodded, her smile never leaving her face, before replying, “I’ve never been happier in my life.”
“Then it’s good that we came to attend.”
“Thank you.”
“Rather than that, there’s something else that I’d like to hear from you.”
At those words, a playful smile crossed across Patrizia’s lips as she looked at Lucio who was beside her. He was also smiling. Truly, he was a man who looked better smiling than crying. With a beautiful smile, Patrizia quietly whispered to him.
“I love you, Your Majesty.”
“I love you more, Rizi.”
The couple who whispered those sweet confessions of love came together in an even sweeter kiss. Everything felt sweet—from the rays of sunlight to the cool afternoon breeze. But none were as sweet as the two lovers standing in the midst of it all.
For the first time, it was the beginning of everyone’s happy ending.