I genuinely worried that some of the more traditional ladies might consider it inappropriate. Yet, maybe due to the immense joy radiating from our families and us, all the guests responded with warm smiles. Additionally, the support from our friends in the higher nobility and their families, who discreetly engaged in their own affectionate interactions, contributed greatly to the atmosphere.
At first, those without partners seemed a little bored. However, as they gathered with others in similar situations, a unique camaraderie began to form, and by the end, they appeared to be enjoying themselves.
Most importantly, Bertia’s face lit up with surprise and immense joy, which filled me with satisfaction. Even if any complaints arose later, I was prepared to tackle—or rather, crush them with full force.
As the party wound down, Bertia must have realized I held her list of wishes. I expected her to mention it, but instead, she leaned in closer and whispered to me with a conspiratorial tone, “Lord Cecil, you comprehend exactly what I desire without me expressing it! It’s remarkable!!”
Confronted by her gleaming eyes, I too was rendered speechless. After all, I knew nothing of the customs from her former life, much less how to implement them. As she gazed at me expectantly, I couldn’t bear to disclose the secret behind my preparations and instead offered a vague smile to mask the truth.
As the feast reached its climax, it was time for us, the protagonists, to depart. We would leave the rest to our parents and start preparations for our first night together. But before that, I wanted to organize one last event.
“Tia, here you go,” I said, giving Bertia a piece of paper.
“What’s this?” she inquired.
“I thought you’d like to read a letter to your parents. That’s what you wanted to do, isn’t it? A letter of thanks from the bride. Then, you can present bouquets to them.”
“Could you hold on for a moment? But I haven’t written any letter!” Bertia exclaimed, panic evident in her wide eyes.
“Yes, I prepared a draft for you. It’s based on some notes Kuro had made,” I said, softly brushing her hair aside as I took the opportunity to show her the “List of 100 Things I Desire at Our Wedding.”
“What?! Huh?! Why do you have that list?!” she gasped, surprised.
“Let’s put that aside for now. Look, it’s about to begin.”
“Please hold on a moment! I’m not quite prepared! A bride’s letter isn’t just a formality—it must express my sincere gratitude!”
“Ah, here’s Zeno arriving with the bouquets for the parents. To ease your nerves, I prepared this letter as a template. You can customize it by adding your own sentiments, alright?”
“What?! You expect me to improvise this?” Bertia was completely taken aback by the sudden demand to think on her feet.
“Ad-lib…? I’m not entirely sure what that means, but it does sound fitting, doesn’t it? Ah, as requested, the music has changed. Now, let’s get started. Can you do it?”
“Wait!! Ugh… so this is yet another trial as the Crown Princess, isn’t it? Very well!! I will express all my feelings for my mother and father!! I’ll use this script as a guide then!”
I thought Bertia would easily show her gratitude toward her parents without needing a script since she loved them so deeply, but perhaps this was a bit too abrupt?
Her flustered and bewildered expression was somehow endearing, like that of a small animal, so it was fine. I gently guided her, holding the letter I had given her tightly in her hand.
According to Bertia’s list, “It’s wonderful to do this as a surprise,” so I had intentionally not informed her parents.
When the servant acting as the master of ceremonies announced the “bride’s letter,” the Marquis and Marquise Noches looked bewildered. Even my usually unflappable father and mother were taken aback.
I had previously coordinated with the venue staff to deliver them at the perfect time, ensuring a seamless experience. As the atmosphere inside the venue grew thick with anticipation, guests wondered, “What will happen next?” Having witnessed a series of extraordinary displays during the event, the attendees appeared to relish this unexpected twist as well.
Being careful not to be disrespectful, I made sure to approach everything with consideration.
As we stood before the Marquis and Marquise Noches with Tia, we began our conversation after receiving approval from our fathers, who were used to being flexible. Although they were taken aback at first, they soon collected themselves and kept up with us.
Then, Bertia started to read the thank-you letter…
“Father, Mother, thank you for nurturing me all these years… Ahhh… Uhh…!!”
With that opening line, her tears began to flow.
Tears flowed down her cheeks as she tried to share her past, passionately declaring her love for her parents. The Marquis Noches, touched by her words, twisted his face in an effort to suppress his own tears, almost appearing to glare.
The Marquise and I each wiped our partner’s eyes. The Marquis’s wife, a gentle-looking woman, observed him with a concerned expression, softly patting his back to provide comfort. She, too, was fighting back tears.
The mood in the venue quickly shifted to a somber tone, with several ladies in tears. “Father, Mother, while I have wed Prince Cecil, I will always cherish the love you’ve given me! From this moment, I aim to build a beautiful home with Prince Cecil, just as you both did. Naturally, as Crown Princess, I will also work hard to support our country, focusing on excelling in domestic matters.”
Hmm? Did I just hear something odd? I’ll just chalk it up to my imagination.
The venue, filled with a heartfelt ambiance, appeared oblivious to the charming little remarks Bertia skillfully incorporated into her speech, so I guess that’s acceptable.
“Your Majesty the King, Your Majesty the Queen. No, I prefer to address you as Father and Mother. While I may fall short, I promise to do my best to support Prince Cecil! As family from this point on, I kindly ask for your ongoing guidance.” Bertia finished with an elegant bow toward my parents.
I followed her lead and bowed my head.
The room burst into applause.
In that welcoming atmosphere, Bertia and I presented bouquets to our parents.
Bertia noted, “I want to present them with a bouquet and a remarkable, unforgettable gift.” Yet, due to the rushed preparations, we were unable to fully accomplish the “remarkable, unforgettable gift” aspect.
That was somewhat regrettable.
… And thus, our wedding ceremony ended on a tranquil note.
While we couldn’t check off every item on the list, the day remained unforgettable thanks to Bertia’s joyful tears, her astonished expressions, and, most significantly, her numerous smiles.