Marriage is a big thing

After meeting King Tristan, the Palace openly announces Selah's marriage to Aeneas. Early fall, at Renfrew Church. The wedding will be held behind closed doors, but the people of Mesina look forward to it.

"Even though you're about to get married, are you sure you can relax like this, Your Grace?" asked Lady Xavia that day.

"Pardon? It's still the middle of summer," Selah replied, not understanding. "I'm not relaxing anyway. I have a lot of work."

"But this is your marriage to a member of the Palace family, Your Grace!" the other said vehemently. "You might only invite famous big families, but you still have to be prepared."

"Prince Aeneas says I need not worry about the wedding."

"Our wedding," another corrected. "And that's not what we meant."

Lady Xavia nodded. "Your Grace," she said, pointing at Selah. "I'm not trying to call you fat or anything, but now is not the time for you to drink tea and sweets like this."

"Oh, my. Sorry for my insensitivity, Your Grace. I should have held her tea party indoors. If exposed to sunlight like this, your skin can be burned," said the tea party host.

"How about we call the beautician next?"

"Oh, that's a great idea!"

Exactly what are these ladies talking about? Selah's mind did not understand.

This has happened before. In fact, the people around Selah have forced her to think about her wedding. Starting from Jeremiah and Janette, Baron Tullia, the elders of the Dulcia family, Selah's social circle with the married noblewomen, to these ladies, everyone is talking about her wedding!

What should Selah do? Summer isn't even over yet. After all, the work kept coming. How could Selah give up her main job for a wedding ceremony that lasted only two hours at most?

"May I be honest with you, Duchess Selah?" asked Lady Xavia when they were alone.

"Yes, please," Selah said.

"You are not at all excited about your wedding," said Lady Xavia.

"Oh. I look like that?"

Lady Xavia nodded. "Marriage is a big thing, especially if the married person is not just anyone. The more famous the person who is married, the more thrilling the wedding will be. Don't you feel that way?"

"Rather than the wedding itself, something else is bothering me..."

"If this is a sensitive topic, you don't need to tell me, Your Grace," said Lady Xavia softly. "I'm just worried about your situation, considering this is your wedding without your parents accompanying you..."

"Thank you for understanding, but that's not what I'm worried about," Selah said quietly. "This is about… Prince Aeneas."

Lady Xavia cleared her throat. "If this has anything to do with Crown Prince Blair–"

"No, it's about Prince Aeneas himself," Selah cut in. "I don't know why... I suddenly doubted my decision."

"Eh? You mean you are questioning Prince Aeneas?"

"I thought, can His Highness marry me?"

"Huh?"

Selah was at a loss as to how to tell Lady Xavia. It's impossible, right?

"I see." Selah faced Lady Xavia, turning serious. She could feel her face heating up. "You know that I have no parents at the moment. My lady-in-waiting was younger than me, and I was only close to my butler and uncle, both old men. Then most of the elders in my family are also men. I hear from married ladies that they are usually assisted by their mothers or their closest female relatives. But I-"

"Wait! Wait. Your Grace, please wait a moment," interrupted Lady Xavia. "You mean it's about the first night?"

Selah exhaled a long breath. "T-thank you… for wanting to… clarify what I mean," she said.

"So–uh–unfortunately, I am also not married. But–erm–do you really have no idea about that?" asked Lady Xavia carefully.

"I only know what to do. Then I know what the procedure is from the novels you recommended."

"Pro-procedure…"

"For the rest, I don't know how," admitted Selah. "I am an obedient servant of God. If my late mother finds out I did it before marriage. She will rise from her grave."

"I wonder how? If it's something like this, I think you're wrong to talk about it with me. Because even my parents would kill me if I did it before marriage," said Lady Xavia. "The other ladies seem to be the same way. How about you ask your other social circle?"

"I don't know how to ask things like that to mothers who are busy thinking about their children," said Selah. "Never mind, forget it, Lady Xavia. It has helped me quite a bit because you have listened to me."

"But really, what is it that worries you? Considering how Prince Aeneas has been, I'm sure he's never done that with another woman. So, well, His Highness shouldn't expect anything of you."

But he's done it with other men before, Selah thought sadly. "I was afraid… of making a mistake. I was afraid… if I hurt him."

"Eh? Shouldn't it be the opposite?" Lady Xavia cleared her throat. "Your Grace, as I said before, I don't have any experience with that. But that was your first collaboration as–errr–husband and wife, right? If you're scared, you can tell Prince Aeneas. I'm sure Prince Aeneas will understand. Doesn't he love you?"

Even though it was a little, Lady Xavia's smile made Selah smile too. That is true. After all, Selah already knows Aeneas' secret that he's been trying to hide all this time. And since it concerns both of them, it's a good idea for them to communicate it.

We cannot live in the shadows of the past. I can definitely do something for him, Selah thought.

Just at that time, Selah's carriage came. Zen immediately jumped down. Judging by his expression, something must have happened recently.

Selah immediately said goodbye to the host and Lady Xavia.

"What is it?" Selah asked as Zen helped her into the carriage.

"Your Grace." Zen looks tensed. "We just got word from Tullia. That said, a group of people just attacked Baron Tullia and is in critical condition."