Epilogue
A bell rang out in celebration. As wedding attendees pushed towards the newlywed couple, the decorations on the bride’s dress sparkled in the sunlight. The groom wore formal, knightly attire while he escorted his bride, his face appearing and disappearing within the crowd. Knights, palace handmaids, and friends from the couple’s childhood homes came to celebrate the wedding. In unison, the attendees threw flower petals into the air, which rained upon the couple in a dazzling shower.
Half a year had passed since the wedding date had been set. Today, the ceremony took place in a church in one corner of the capital. Lady Mary Edigma and Viscount Albert McClain had finally been married.
Normally, churches in the capital were reserved for the most important weddings. However, with the assistance of King Rizel and Prime Minister Reynaldo Rose, Mary and Albert were able to hold their ceremony there.
In her past life, the bride was executed in the capital, with the sonorous bell heralding Rosemary’s death. She longed for a fresh start—to replace sorrowful memories with joyful ones. Upon hearing this wish, the people closest to Mary helped plan her ceremony in this church. And today, her dream wedding became a reality. She gripped Albert’s arm, her expression the embodiment of joy. When Albert smiled back at her, the knights collectively burst into tears.
The ceremony moved Mary’s family, but their eyes also sparkled at the sight of the wedding feast. It had been prepared by the capital’s finest chefs, after all.
That aside, Tobias Edigma’s eyes were filled with kindness as he watched the couple from afar alongside his son. He opened the cover of his pocket watch, looking at a small portrait of his wife engraved inside, and told her about their daughter’s wedding in his most cheerful voice.
Despite authorizing the ceremony, King Rizel turned down his invitation, as he had royal duties to attend to. Likewise, he worried that a king attending a viscount’s wedding could lead to unwanted gossip. Those were his pretexts, at least, but what were his true feelings? Even now, thinking about Mary gave rise to a bittersweet ache in his chest. He couldn’t decide if he wished to see her celebrating her marriage. Regardless, he wished them the best, sending his heartfelt blessings. He’d also offered an apology from the royal family, who’d caused Mary many long years of suffering.
From now on, let the sound of this bell bring you joy, not sorrow, King Rizel thought while gazing at the sky.
The bell rang out again. At that moment, a man appeared in front of the bride and groom. His face reminded Mary of the boy she’d seen before being executed in her past life. He’d wailed his sister’s name, tears streaming down his face. However, Reynaldo Rose was no longer that young boy from Hubert. He no longer wore black mourning clothes, either. Today, he donned a lavishly ornamented outfit, perfect for a celebration. Standing before the bride and groom, he gazed at them with a more joyous smile than anyone present. The future he’d always envisioned had become a reality. His long-held wish had finally been granted.
As Mary considered everything she wished to tell him, Reynaldo prayed for their lifelong happiness.
“Reynaldo,” Mary whispered, only loud enough for him to hear. “I’ll always be by your side, and I wish for you to find happiness as well.”
“…I love you, Mary,” Reynaldo answered, offering his heartfelt blessing like an adoring brother.
The wind kicked up again, and the flower petals soared high into the air. As the bell tolled once more, Mary was lifted off the ground. Unable to contain his happiness, Albert swept her into a bridal carry. Flustered, she clung to her beloved husband, doing her best not to drop her bouquet.
The tolling of the bell no longer inspired a thirst for vengeance. Now, its sonorous ringing simply marked the passage of time.