Ch.142Wedding Ceremony (2)

Leaving the exhausted Irene behind, Evan barely managed to raise his unsteady body and leaned against the wall.

It was fortunate that Irene was usually tired; if she had been in better condition, he would have been the one asleep.

…Even though his stamina had definitely improved, why did he get so tired whenever they went to bed?

Evan frowned slightly, then slowly put on his robe while brushing back his hair, which was soaked with sweat.

In the bathroom, Evan examined his haggard appearance in the mirror and suddenly shuddered.

There was a white fluid at the corner of his mouth, probably Irene’s.

Evan’s cheeks turned slightly red as he recalled what they had done at night.

Like a child… he felt it was a decent experience, as he could understand what a mother’s embrace was like.

Children might complain, but what could be done? After all, Irene was his wife.

Though he considered going back to sleep, Evan covered Irene with a blanket and quietly went outside.

The message that arrived at dawn said Lord Chris was almost here, so he would probably arrive soon.

Remembering that Chris was coming with Rofena, Evan walked down the corridor, feeling the cool dawn air.

A passing maid hurriedly approached Evan when she saw him, but he waved her away.

He still found it difficult to adjust to receiving help from maids.

He had been a modern person, and originally a guard knight, so he had always done minor things by himself.

After walking for some time toward the main entrance, he saw Jeren, who was still awake.

“Oh, my lord Marquis.”

“You’re still up?”

As Jeren bowed, Evan shook his head, saying it was fine.

The uncomfortable thing about becoming a marquis was that relationships with people he had previously been comfortable with became somewhat awkward.

The clear gap between a marquis and a knight would naturally create discomfort, even in previously casual relationships.

He wanted to speak as before, but Irene had strictly forbidden anyone from speaking informally to him, saying it would lower his status.

She insisted that even casual conversations should use honorifics, and threatened to get angry otherwise, so Evan had no choice but to try to get used to his position as marquis.

“When I first saw you, you seemed quite confused, but now you’re getting married. Time passes so quickly.”

“…Was I?”

The words brought back old memories, now faded and difficult to recall.

When he first met Jeren, he probably harbored disgust toward those around Irene who showed no interest in her.

When he returned after meeting the assassins, the people of this mansion had shown something close to indifference.

But now everything was different. These were the same people who most eagerly anticipated and blessed his relationship with Irene, so how could he remain confused as before?

After gazing into the distance for a moment, Evan finally smiled and spoke.

“Now that there’s no danger, I’ve just become more relaxed.”

“Why use formal speech with me? Please feel free to speak comfortably.”

“It’s because I’m not comfortable. I’ll speak informally later, but let’s leave it as is for now.”

When Jeren swallowed his words with a groan at Evan’s attitude, Evan glanced at him and continued.

“Where is Lord Chris now?”

“He should be visible soon. When we received the signal earlier, he was at the outskirts, so he should be arriving by now.”

As Evan narrowed his eyes, indeed, a carriage became visible in the distance.

The same carriage Chris had taken when he first left Yuris, pulled by the snow-white horse Evan had given him, came galloping with a clatter from the distance.

Bang! The door of the moving carriage opened roughly, and Chris jumped out, landing lightly on the ground.

Perhaps because it had been a long time since he’d seen the mansion, Chris had jumped out after spotting Evan in the distance.

“Haha!”

“Dad, I told you not to do that!”

Ignoring Rofena’s shout, Chris trudged toward the mansion entrance, waving his hand.

Watching him, Evan shook his head and walked forward.

He had thought Chris might have become a bit more reserved after not seeing him for so long, but why did he seem to become more energetic with age?

“You’ll frighten Rofena. Are you still like this?”

“How could I stay in the carriage when I need to see our Marquis? Please forgive this old man.”

“Stop teasing me and speak comfortably. Honestly, I’m still not used to being addressed formally.”

“Then I’ll do that.”

Evan chuckled at the sudden change in attitude, but then remembered that this was just how Chris was, and embraced him.

While feeling reassured that Chris hadn’t changed at all, Evan frowned slightly when he noticed the extra weight around Chris’s waist.

“Have you been neglecting your sword practice lately? Rofena will be worried.”

“I’ve been so into fishing, spending hours by the lake. This kind of weight comes off after just a few days of exercise.”

“…Is that so.”

Wishing Chris would take better care of his body, Evan felt relieved knowing that at least Rofena was with him. He then turned his gaze toward the stopped carriage.

“Ah, Sir! I’m here.”

“How is it there? Is it livable?”

“It’s humid… since it’s right next to the lake, it’s unbearable in summer. I want to move, but Dad won’t even consider it. Even though he received a good retirement package.”

Hearing her call him “Dad” in person gave Evan a strange feeling.

Previously, at the tea party, he had secretly overheard Rofena’s past—a story of a poor child born without parents, wandering the streets.

The two had always gotten along well, but now they were father and daughter.

Unable to hold back a smile, Evan gently patted Rofena’s head and spoke.

“I’m glad. You seem to be doing well.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there last time. I should have helped the lady, but it was too far to make it in time.”

“It’s okay. The distance is too great.”

Seeing such familiar faces after so long made the approaching wedding feel real.

While comforting the apologetic Rofena, Evan noticed Chris staring at her and spoke up.

“Why are you looking at Rofena like that?”

“Well, since you two are getting married, I was thinking that someday Rofena will meet a man too.”

“Rofena will someday too. I’ll visit.”

“…If she brings a man.”

With a somewhat serious expression and furrowed brow, Chris spoke.

“If he’s a bad guy, he dies by my hand. Good guys often approach wearing masks, so they need thorough verification. Handsome ones are like gigolos, so they should die, and ugly ones don’t know their place, so they should die too.”

“Then who should Rofena meet?”

“Not meeting anyone would be the best choice.”

Rofena glanced at me nervously, then thumped her chest in frustration.

He didn’t seem to be like this before, but perhaps he had grown attached to her after officially adopting her as his daughter.

Thinking he was just like a father-in-law, Evan spoke, causing Chris’s expression to turn pale with wide eyes.

“Even so, comparing you to the Duke is a bit much.”

“…Is it?”

With even Rofena agreeing, Evan could only scratch his head and laugh awkwardly.

Well, even he thought his comment was a bit too much.

Chris cleared his throat and composed himself, then looked at Evan, remembering someone who wasn’t present.

“By the way, where is the lady?”

“She’s sleeping in bed.”

“Why is she alone in bed— Ah, I see.”

As Rofena tilted her head in confusion, Chris grinned and hugged Evan, patting his back proudly.

“You finally did it. The guy who always lost and cried alone has grown up.”

“…I didn’t cry. And I didn’t always lose either.”

“Don’t lie, I still remember. On your first night, you were miserably—”

“I was never miserable!”

Embarrassed by his own outburst, Evan glanced around, then pulled away from Chris and spoke.

“Let’s go inside. We can talk more tomorrow morning.”

“Anyway, congratulations on your marriage. I can’t believe you two are finally getting married. And the children were born healthy too.”

“Would you like to see the children? They’re very pretty. They take after Irene and me.”

As Evan smiled, Chris and Rofena nodded and followed him into the mansion.

Speaking of children, Chris felt a strange heaviness in his heart.

When they first met, Evan had been a lifeless fellow, but now he was marrying his lady and had children.

“Are things good these days?”

“I wish every day could be like these days. Preferably until I die, or even until my grandchildren die.”

It might be greedy, but Evan was extremely happy with his current life.

In his nearly 40 years of life, perhaps this was the only time he could truly say he was happy.

Of course, he had been happy since meeting Irene, but back then there was the extinction to worry about.

Finding the children soundly asleep in bed, Evan carefully reached out his hand.

His finger sank into the soft cheek, and he smiled fondly as the child didn’t wake up despite the touch.

“Robelia takes after me. Her hair color too… she seems somewhat precocious.”

Feeling the touch on her cheek, Robelia opened her eyes slightly and rubbed her face against Evan’s hand.

Though both children preferred Evan to their mother, Robelia especially loved Evan.

While Arthur might not, Robelia would surely say “Daddy” first.

Rofena sighed softly with flushed cheeks and stroked the child’s soft belly.

Despite the slightly cold hand touching her, Robelia wasn’t startled and smiled brightly at Rofena.

“Oh my, what should I do? She’s too cute.”

“Let me touch her too.”

When Chris reached out his hand, Robelia’s expression suddenly hardened, and she swatted his hand away.

At first, they thought it was coincidental, but Robelia kept swatting his hand away and stared at Chris. As if looking at someone she really disliked.

Seeing that expression, Chris gaped blankly, while Evan burst into laughter and stroked Robelia’s cheek.

At his touch, Robelia giggled delightedly, while Chris’s expression grew increasingly rigid.

“Pfft.”

Rofena’s snicker was just the cherry on top.