If I Can’t Be Your Wife - Chapter 105

The morning of the wedding day has finally dawned.

 

Before anyone could come to wake her up, her eyes opened on their own. Kathleen got up feeling refreshed and pulled the curtains back.

 

The blue sky was perfectly peaceful as if it had been waiting for this day.

 

“Kathleen, you’re already awake?”

 

Emily, who had cautiously opened the door and came in, was surprised when she saw her already up. She asked.

 

“Did you not sleep well?”

 

“Hmm. I’m fine. I slept really well.”

 

When she arrived at Meyer yesterday, she somehow felt nervous, but now after waking up, she strangely felt clear and refreshed.

 

“That’s a relief. Count Usmund was very worried.”

 

“Make sure to tell uncle that I’m fine.”

 

“Yes. But before I go and reassure the Count, I’ll need to help Kathleen transform into a beautiful bride first. Shall we get ready?”

 

Emily led Kathleen into the bathroom excitedly. Inside, a couple of maids were already waiting with various kinds of scrubs, perfumes, and scented oils prepared.

 

“Perhaps the Count will no longer be worried once we’re done dressing you up. You’ll be the happiest smiling bride in the world.”

 

Emily said as she helped Kathleen into the tub of warm water.

 

Kathleen was truly delighted to have her by her side from the morning, unlike her first wedding.

 

“I’m so glad you’re with me, Emily.”

 

“Of course, I’m Kathleen’s friend after all.”

 

The friend, who had always been with her whether it was in her past life or this one, held her hands affectionately. Kathleen choked up and could barely answer.

 

“……Yes.”

 

“Oh, don’t cry. If you cry now your face will become swollen.”

 

Emily panicked and quickly helped with the bath. Kathleen, who entrusted her body to them, was groomed so quickly that she barely had time to shed tears.

 

Emily and several other maids worked together to smooth out Kathleen’s shiny silver hair and put it up. Her pale white skin had a soft and sweet scent, and a natural complexion began to appear.

 

After the basic skin care was done, Emily brought the dress that had been hidden in the annex dressing room.

 

“This is the wedding dress that Master specially prepared.”

 

The dresses she had been given as a present were all so splendid and beautiful, but they were insignificant compared to the pure white dress in front of her. The one she had worn in her previous wedding also paled in comparison.

 

Diamonds delicately crafted like ice crystals glistened here and there on silk so soft that it didn’t seem to be a fabric of this world.

 

“I don’t think even the past empresses were able to wear a dress like this.”

 

Emily said proudly as she helped Kathleen into her dress. Wearing her white satin shoes, Kathleen was as beautiful as a lily.

 

“I expected it to look good on you but I didn’t expect it to be like this.”

 

“It was certainly worth the Master calling in designers from all over the empire.”

 

The other maids all admired her and couldn’t keep quiet.

 

“And this is what Count Usmund asked me to do last night.”

 

She held out a velvet box containing a necklace. It was a platinum necklace with a large sapphire as its center surrounded by small diamonds.

 

She could tell at a glance what it was. The sapphire was the same color as her mother’s eyes.

 

“Can you put it on me?”

 

“Yes. I think it would go well with the dress.”

 

The heavy sapphire hung over her chest. The necklace in the mirror sparkled, matching the diamonds on her dress.

 

It wasn’t until she was done dressing up that she started to tremble again. Kathleen left the dressing room and returned to her bedroom where Emily offered her a light snack.

 

“Please have a bite. I’ll bring you the bouquet.”

 

As soon as she realized that the wedding was about to start, she became so nervous that she couldn’t take anything but water. As she waited while rubbing her cold hands, Emily returned with her bouquet.

 

“……Oh.”

 

As soon as Kathleen saw the flowers adorning her bouquet, she let out a short exclamation. Tied with a light blue ribbon, white and pale yellow calla flowers harmoniously blended with wildflowers.

 

‘The picture Luci drew was a bouquet.’

 

The tip of her nose tingled. Taking the bouquet and gazing at it, the bedroom door opened.

 

“Mom!”

 

Luci rushed in. Dressed in a white robe, the little successor was holding a small sky-blue flower basket. The child stopped in front of her and exclaimed in admiration.

 

“Mom, you are so pretty. You look like a princess.”

 

“Our Luci is like a prince too.”

 

Her eyes were starting to get hot again and Emily pressed a handkerchief to the corners of her eyes.

 

“Kathleen, are you ready?”

 

She heard a knock and Cassiel entered.

 

“It’s time to go down now.”

 

“Dad asked grandpa and me to tell mom!”

 

Luci smiled and shouted with a proud face.

 

“Thank you, Luci.”

 

After affectionately answering her son, Kathleen took a deep breath and grabbed her bouquet.

 

“Yes, uncle. I’m ready.”

 

Cassiel took her lace-gloved hands and carefully led her. She got up unconsciously and walked down the steps, and Luci, holding his flower basket, followed and said sternly.

 

“I’m going to sprinkle this in front of mom.”

 

Cassiel smiled and patted her hand.

 

“Don’t be too nervous.”

 

Emily, who was watching in case Luci falls, nodded her head.

 

Kathleen once again realized the fact that she can rely on loved ones by her side.

 

She was no longer alone.

 

From the annex entrance to the garden where the ceremony will be held, a red carpet embroidered with gold threads with the Walten family pattern was laid out.

 

The excited Luci took the lead and scattered petals from the basket, and a milky pearl powder on the carpet glistened in the sunlight.

 

Kathleen listened to the applause of the seated guests as she walked one step at a time.

 

However, as she passed Meyer’s nobles, she became more and more familiar with the faces of the guests that caught her eye.

 

Mrs. Anderson, Mr. Browning, and Mrs. Emma.

 

And all her neighbors from Osole had gathered. They were smiling and looking at her, sending their best wishes. After a moment of surprise, Kathleen realized who had invited them, and bit her lip as the tears she had just stopped were about to flow again.

 

“Kathleen.”

 

Peter, who was sitting at the very top of the guests’ seats, got up. Behind her, Joseph and Edith were also smiling. Seeing their faces, Kathleen’s heart pounded even more.

 

“Congratulations on becoming my sister-in-law again.”

 

Peter gave her a light hug and stepped away. Cassiel continued to hold Kathleen’s hand and led her.

 

And there, at the end of the carpet, he stood.

 

Alexis Walten. The man she chose, the Grand Duke of this empire, and Luci’s father.

 

Unlike before, there was a deep smile on his lips. Alexis gently stroked Luci’s head, who had arrived first, then bent over and whispered something to him. Then Luci nodded his head and took a small box out of the basket.

 

Alexis took the ring out of its box. He then removed the lace gloves off Kathleen’s hand that Cassiel had handed over.

 

His warm lips touched the back of her hand, and a ring was placed on her fourth finger. It was her second wedding ring engraved with the Walten family’s crest.

 

“Thank you for coming back to me, Kathleen.”

 

Alexis whispered. His golden eyes in the sunlight were no longer insensitive.

 

“I love you.”

 

“I love you too.”

 

As soon as she gave her answer, her head tilted, and their lips met. The familiar warmth of his arms wrapped around her waist and the breath that penetrated through the gap was tenacious as if it would last forever. Kathleen gladly responded.

 

She didn’t need anything else now.

 

Everything was perfect, it was a fresh start.

 

***

 

The wedding, which started around noon, was followed by a reception after a full-fledged ceremony. For the very first time, Grand Duke Walten’s residence was bustling with many guests and was full of energy.

 

However, the couple, who had kissed before they could even exchange their wedding vows, were entering their newly designed bedroom at the main building while the reception was very much ripe.

 

“Heup…….”

 

Alexis slammed the door shut and roughly attacked Kathleen’s lips. His long-suppressed desire burned when it finally got a legitimate opportunity.

 

“Haa, Alec…… Let’s go a bit further inside…….”

 

Hot breath from his lips tickled her pale neck. Kathleen was being held by him with her back against the door.

 

His lips gradually headed downwards and eventually touched her swollen chest. Her body that remembered him flared in anticipation.

 

“I made sure no one will go to the 3rd floor of the main building for one day.”

 

Alexis whispered impatiently. His hand touched inside her dress. Kathleen’s body shivered.

 

“Ah……!”

 

“You don’t know how patient I have been, waiting for the day I can hold you again.”

 

Kathleen’s legs weakened as she heard the sound of silk, as delicate as the wings of a butterfly, being torn. Alexis carried her tightly so she wouldn’t fall, then turned around and headed for the bed.

 

Kathleen could barely hold onto her dress, which had begun to slip off her chest. And just before the last part of the dress fell off, her back touched the soft sheet.

 

Kathleen couldn’t keep her senses as the kisses, which had paused for a moment, poured over her body.

 

Climbing on top of her, Alexis took off his top with one hand while gently stroking her cheek with the other.

 

“……I wish I had met you like this the first time.”

 

He muttered in a low voice.

 

“If I were to meet you once more in the past, I wouldn’t make that kind of mistake again.”

 

“It’s all fine now, Alec.”

 

She meant it. Because she had already admitted that both the former Duke of Walten and the present Alexis are the men she loved.

 

“I now know why you did that in the past. In the end, I still loved you even when you were like that, so it’s okay.”

 

Their first marriage was mostly made up of memories of misunderstandings and tears, but Kathleen believed that this solidified the foundation of their future ahead.

 

A satisfied smile crept across Alexis’ lips. Kathleen also smiled as she looked up at him.

 

Now there were no obstructions or obstacles between them.

 

Visible through the open curtains, a beautiful sunset was reflected across the sky. Just like the future to come.

 

***End of the Main Story***