Chapter 138
“Lupeon? How did you come here at this hour…”
Surprise and joy crossed Elena’s face as she looked at her lover.
Lupeon put his finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet.
Startled, she covered her mouth with both hands and began looking around.
Fortunately, it seemed no one nearby had heard the small disturbance.
The man, chuckling at Elena’s flustered appearance, gestured asking if he could come up.
When she nodded shyly and stepped back, Lupeon wrapped himself in aura and instantly climbed the wall into the room.
Elena, overjoyed to see her lover after several days, fell into his embrace.
“I missed you so much, Lupeon.”
“I missed you too.”
At her small complaint, Lupeon gently stroked her rose-pink hair that resembled dried roses.
Elena, listening to his heartbeat with closed eyes, suddenly looked up at him.
“But how did you get in here?”
Lupeon hesitated for a moment before answering with a somewhat awkward smile.
“…The Young Marquis helped.”
“What? Lisette?”
As Elena tilted her head at hearing about her brother’s help, she recalled what had happened earlier that day.
“Sister, I’ve prepared a gift…”
“You have? What is it?”
“Well. You’ll find out soon. No need to be too grateful.”
Finally understanding the situation, Elena looked at Lupeon with a small laugh.
‘An emperor casually ignoring imperial customs.’
The historical etiquette teachers of the imperial family might rise from their graves if they knew this fact.
“So Lisette plotted with you?”
The man nodded readily and briefly kissed her forehead.
“Yes. Though it took a few days longer than planned.”
“Indeed. It felt like quite a long time, Lupeon.”
Elena deliberately nuzzled her face into her lover’s chest, muttering softly as if complaining.
Then Lupeon’s deep, low voice flowed out.
“Were you waiting for me?”
“Of course. I missed you so much.”
From his beautiful face to his deep voice, and even his subtle woody scent – there wasn’t a single thing about him she didn’t miss.
Though it had only been a few days without seeing Lupeon, Elena had felt an emptiness in one corner of her heart.
Having quelled her tender longing, she naturally wrapped her arms around his neck.
She exchanged gazes with him in the strange atmosphere and slowly closed her eyes.
But an unfamiliar sensation touched her lips.
“…?”
Sensing something odd, Elena slowly lifted her eyelids. She saw his finger pressed against her lips.
She unconsciously furrowed her brow in bewilderment, while Lupeon, looking somewhat troubled, explained as if making an excuse.
“We should probably show restraint. This is the mansion where your family resides.”
Since announcing their marriage to Marquis Rohenbach, Lupeon had treated her more carefully.
‘It’s not like anything will wear out…’
While he warned her to be careful of other men being dark wolves, he himself seemed to have no intention of becoming that wolf.
“Since when did you care about such things?”
When Elena made a pouty expression and grumbled quietly, the man chuckled and stroked her lips again.
Lupeon, seeming regretful as he licked his lips, lowered his head to tickle her ear.
“Don’t tempt me, Elena.”
“…?”
When Elena, who had shrunk slightly, looked up at him quietly, passion rippled in Lupeon’s deep blue eyes.
“Now you won’t be able to escape from my embrace even if you want to.”
“…!”
Elena, held in his arms, felt as if all her blood vessels and nerves were jumping sharply.
The man pulled up his lips languorously and kissed the back of her hand more formally than usual.
“So please enjoy this moment for now.”
* * *
Clear, cheerful bell sounds rang from the clock tower not far from the toilette room in the imperial palace.
Sunlight filtering through the dense leaves illuminated Elena’s face as she leaned against the window.
“I’m glad the weather has improved.”
Despite the wind and rain that had raged until late night, the sky was clear without a single cloud.
Vivian, watching her mistress with a fresh smile, nodded and answered.
“Of course it should be! Today is none other than your wedding day!”
As Vivian said, with the long-awaited wedding day approaching, Elena couldn’t hide her nervous yet excited feelings.
Since she hadn’t been able to meet for a week after Lupeon’s secret visit to the marquis’s mansion, she was eager to see him.
‘I wonder if Lupeon has finished his preparations…’
When she turned her head to check the time, Elena could only wear a troubled smile.
Her confidante, who had been rejoicing just moments ago, now had reddened eyes that were gradually filling with tears.
Knowing how much Vivian cared for her, she held her confidante’s hands tightly.
“Why are you crying, Vivian? Aren’t you happy about my marriage?”
Shaking her head, Vivian wiped the tears running down her cheeks and answered.
“How could that be? Of course I’m congratulating you! But the tears keep coming…”
Elena pulled up her lips gently and softly embraced her confidante.
“I’m truly happy. Besides, you’ve made me into the best bride, haven’t you?”
She conveyed her sincerity in a bright voice while lightly patting Vivian’s back.
Seeming calmed, Vivian emerged from her mistress’s embrace and soon smiled broadly.
“That’s right, Miss. It will surely be a wedding blessed by everyone!”
“Thank you, Vivian.”
For the upcoming ceremony, Vivian carefully placed the veil and tiara on Elena’s head.
Just then, a servant arrived at the toilette room delivering the bouquet, and an tender smile bloomed on Elena’s face as she looked at it.
The bouquet she would hold at the wedding was none other than lisianthus.
Though it was customary to hold pure white flowers at imperial weddings, Elena had made a special request to Lupeon.
She wanted to make a bouquet with lisianthus blooming in the Rohenbach mansion’s garden.
Fortunately, he had readily agreed, so she could hold her desired bouquet.
If she could spend her life with Lupeon as the flower language of lisianthus suggested, nothing could make her happier.
Having completed all preparations, Elena spotted Vernon lingering in front of the toilette room and approached him with a gentle smile.
“Vernon, did you come to congratulate me?”
[Of course. It’s none other than your wedding, after all.]
Vernon emanated holy power, saying he would safely escort her to the hall where the grand wedding would be held.
Though their first meeting with the divine beast at Delonso’s base hadn’t been particularly pleasant, seeing Vernon now accompanying them even at the palace brought about a strange feeling of reflection.
Elena, grateful to the divine beast who had become Anasha’s reliable helper and friend, deliberately spoke playfully.
“You’re really reliable, Vernon.”
[Ahem, let’s get going then.]
As Vernon lifted his front paw majestically, she nodded slightly with a gentle smile.
The grand wedding would be held in Sirius Hall, which was also where the previous emperor and empress had held their wedding.
Arriving at the hall’s entrance with maids, knights, and Vernon’s guidance, Elena deliberately swallowed hard.
While everything felt beautiful, her heart pounded with approaching nervousness.
Marquis Rohenbach, who had approached her side, held her hand with a kindly smile.
“Elena, are you very nervous?”
“Yes, a little… But I’m fine.”
When Elena relaxed her slightly stiffened expression and showed a faint smile, the marquis nodded.
“Indeed. Today will be a new leap forward in your life.”
When the doorkeeper opened the grand doors, the two exchanged glances and strode into Sirius Hall.
A magnificent and grand space highlighted by natural lighting and chandeliers pouring down from the high ceiling.
The hall instantly fell silent at the bride’s entrance, and the orchestra began playing gentle melodies.
From guests brightening the blessed occasion with joyful hearts to servants moving quietly, and even gently scattered flower petals.
A sacred and solemn wedding had been prepared for this single day that should be the happiest of her life.
And finally, at the end of the marble virgin road, Elena discovered the man watching her with affectionate eyes.
