Side Story 3 (END)

The rumor that the crown prince had fallen head over heels for me at first sight and proposed on the very first day he met me turned the capital upside down.

At first, no one believed it.

And who could blame them? Dante and I had zero connection. Plus, I already had a fiancé at the time.

Of course, we’d broken off the engagement by then.

But after Dante started visiting our house every day for a full month, the rumor became accepted fact.

Now everyone was just waiting to see when Duke Ruthius would finally give his approval.

The duke still opposed Dante’s proposal.

And understandably so. How could he marry off his precious daughter to a man he’d never even met?

No matter how beloved the crown prince was.

‘This is why I said we should stick to the scenario…’

Alex shook his head as he gazed out the window.

“Wow, he’s here again. Gotta give him points for persistence.”

“He’s here right now?”

I rushed to the window in surprise and peered down below.

There stood Dante in front of the main house, drenched by the downpour. His steward was next to him, anxiously shifting from foot to foot while holding an umbrella.

“He’s soaked through…”

Except for the three days he was under house arrest, Dante came to our house every single day. He’d stand there for two or three hours before quietly leaving.

He never tried to persuade Duke Ruthius. He just stood there in silence, day after day, then retreated without a word.

He probably wouldn’t stop until the duke gave his permission.

“Hmm…”

Until now, we’d been watching and waiting for the duke’s heart to soften.

It was Dante’s karma to bear, after all.

Still, hadn’t it been about a month already? Honestly, with the days growing colder, I didn’t want to leave him out there like that.

“I’ll be right back.”

Alex’s eyes widened as he grabbed my hand.

“It’s pouring out there—you’re really going?”

Alex grabbed my hand in shock, then his eyes grew even wider as realization dawned.

“You… you feel the same way about His Highness, don’t you.”

“Yeah.”

At my straightforward answer, Alex let go. As I hurried out of the drawing room, he shouted after me.

“If Father keeps objecting, tell him this: ‘Didn’t you chase after Mother because you fell for her at first sight too?'”

I waved once and dashed down the stairs two at a time.

Outside, the rain was coming down so hard I could barely see ahead. I hadn’t taken more than a few steps before my dress was soaked and clinging to my body.

Gathering the cumbersome skirts, I walked over to Dante. He frowned.

“Why did you come out? You’ll catch a cold. Go back inside.”

“I’m staying with you. Starting today.”

“Stubborn as ever. Why put yourself through this? It’s my mess. No, go back.”

He turned his head firmly. I approached and took his hand.

“Shinwoo, have you ever once managed to break my stubborn streak?”

“…”

“Let’s stay together. It’s boring alone.”

We stood side by side, hands clasped, braving the rain. The autumn shower was a bit chilly, but it wasn’t so bad.

“Shinwoo, remember that day in the dungeon when monster blood rained down on us like this?”

“…How could I forget.”

“Compared to that, this is paradise, right?”

“That’s why I want to be with you even one day sooner.”

“…I know.”

This was the world Dante had reached after thirteen deaths. No one knew what would happen if he died in this life.

So he didn’t want to waste even a single day of this hard-won peace.

Neither did I.

At that moment, Duke Ruthius emerged from the mansion holding a black umbrella.

“Astell! What are you doing out there? Get inside now!”

“Can I come in with His Highness?”

“…”

The duke clamped his mouth shut stubbornly. I shrugged nonchalantly.

“Then I’ll stay out here too.”

“Astell!”

I gripped Dante’s hand tightly.

“I love this man.”

“When have you even seen His Highness enough to say you love him?”

“Didn’t Father chase after Mother and beg her to marry you because you fell for her at first sight?”

“Wh-who told you that?!”

“Alex did.”

Duke Ruthius ground his teeth.

“Father, you loved Mother, right?”

“…More than my own life.”

“Then please accept our feelings too.”

The duke looked up at the sky, then slowly closed his eyes.

“Come inside.”

“…”

“Both of you, with His Highness.”

And just like that, we became engaged.

* * *

The emperor sent the engagement date immediately upon hearing that Duke Ruthius had given his approval.

The duke flew into another rage at the date—just one month away—but preparations proceeded without a hitch anyway.

Apparently, the bride’s family handled engagements, but we barely had anything to do.

Dante had already taken care of every single preparation.

Even Duke Ruthius, whom I’d expected to be displeased, could only laugh helplessly at that part.

‘He did the same thing himself.’

Surprisingly, Duke Ruthius and Dante had quite a few similarities.

Time flew by, and the day of the engagement arrived.

Early in the morning, I changed into the dress Dante had sent and stepped outside.

The ceremony was to be held in the Ruthius family’s central garden. Many guests had already arrived.

Elegant tables and chairs dotted the garden, surrounded entirely by fresh flowers whose fragrance grew stronger the closer you got.

I had no idea when Dante had prepared all this. He was so busy commuting to our house every day.

As I appeared holding Duke Ruthius’s hand, all the guests turned to stare.

It was just an engagement, not even a wedding, yet there were so many people. Even more surprising were the familiar faces among them.

Alex and Yulia, Elaine Roma, Zenia’s little brother—they were all there.

‘What was that kid’s name again? Right, Kuhn. Oh? Kaiel’s here too? Did Duke Ruthius invite him?’

The cake bore Jean Blanc’s signature, and the officiant was none other than Johan.

Suddenly, Duke Ruthius halted. Dante was waiting ahead.

Behind him in his pristine white uniform stretched a clear autumn sky without a single cloud.

My nose suddenly stung.

Those cruel, agonizing times flashed through my mind like a montage.

If Dante—no, Shinwoo—hadn’t endured, this moment never would have come.

As my heart swelled and I reached out to him, Duke Ruthius held me back.

“Your Highness, remember this is merely an engagement.”

“…”

“The moment a single tear falls from my daughter’s eye, everything flips. Understood?”

Dante didn’t take offense at the duke’s menacing warning.

In fact, he’d been grinning ear to ear since the guests first spotted him—drawing jeers from the crowd for how happy he looked.

“Don’t worry. I’d die without the duke’s daughter.”

As Duke Ruthius released me, Dante quickly took my hand.

We walked slowly to the dais where Johan waited, amid applause.

Johan’s soft, gentle voice spread calmly through the garden.

“We will now begin the engagement ceremony of Crown Prince Dante Ryuna Taikan and Lady Astell Ruthius.”

The garden fell silent.

“The two have pledged their betrothal before the gods. Your Highness, present the token of your promise to the lady.”

As Dante slipped the engagement ring onto my finger, I could feel a faint tremor in his touch.

“Now the lady’s turn. Present the token to His Highness.”

As I put the ring on Dante, I whispered so only he could hear.

“Why are you shaking so much?”

“…Afraid it might be a dream.”

Ah, I knew exactly how he felt.

Back when I rejected the administrator’s scenario—when I was sure I was dead, only to wake up again.

I was absolutely convinced it was a dream, without a shred of doubt.

It was almost funny meeting Duke Ruthius and Alex, who were so different from my memories.

What kind of dream was this?

Then, when I met Dante, I prayed desperately.

If this was a dream, may I never wake up.

What had Dante done then? He’d kissed me, making me realize it was real.

Now it was my turn.

“You have now exchanged tokens of your promise. Declare your marriage vows before the guests.”

“Later.”

“P-pardon? L-Lady…?”

Johan stammered in confusion, and the guests murmured.

Bathed in everyone’s stares, I wrapped my arms around Dante’s neck.

“Check if it’s a dream.”

Dante’s eyes widened, then he beamed. He encircled my waist and pressed his lips to mine.

I slowly closed my eyes.

The guests’ cheers echoed like thunder.

[Side Story, End]