Chapter 65
…How did he really know?
Aside from the fact that he was the man himself, he was getting everything right.
It was true that she learned to dance from him, that he was once a knight, that she was saved by him, and that he died and was reset thousands of times trying to save her...
Odelia felt like she was breaking out in a cold sweat as Ludville suddenly interrogated her in the middle of their dance.
Even though he must have noticed her flustered expression, he didn't seem to want to gloss over it.
He pressed on roughly, as if it were a life-or-death question.
"Why don't you deny it?"
"...Because such a man never existed in the first place."
"You're lying."
"......"
Why ask if you're not going to believe me?
He was already convinced that his judgment was correct.
He doesn't even have his memories, yet he only displays his animal-like sharpness at times like this.
Odelia averted her gaze instead of answering.
Just dancing this close to each other was constantly bringing back old memories.
"Odelia."
Ludville called out to her, urging her to answer as she avoided the question.
It was a gaze that cornered her with no place to hide.
Odelia took a short breath and slowly raised the corners of her lips.
As if nothing was wrong, or rather, wearing the face of an affectionate lover.
She leaned slightly and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"...The song is ending."
The music that filled the banquet hall quietly came to an end.
People applauded, and Odelia smiled softly at Ludville.
However, she took her hand away from him, bowed, and naturally created distance.
"......"
"There will be time until the next event. It's important for couples to spend time together, but shouldn't you make time for the guests who came to this place to celebrate us, Ludville?"
She asked with a calm face, as if nothing had happened.
"Are you still thinking about that man...?"
Ludville was about to ask something, his lips moving.
"Your Highness."
At that moment, a familiar voice cut in from the edge of the banquet hall.
The two turned their heads at the same time.
Edwin, Ludville's aide, was cautiously approaching.
He was frowning terribly.
He really, absolutely, didn't want to talk to them at this moment if he could help it.
He had noticed that the atmosphere between the two was unusual.
However, he had barely completed the task ordered by Ludville within the time limit, so he had no choice but to intervene, weeping inside.
"Your Highness, what you asked me to prepare earlier is finally..."
At that moment, Ludville gagged Edwin.
"There's an urgent matter that needs to be dealt with outside. I'll be back soon."
"......Yes."
Odelia answered awkwardly.
Did he have to be so urgent that he had to gag his aide?
Was it top secret?
If it was urgent, of course he could go...
But what if it was something so dangerous that he had to hide it from me?
Odelia lowered her voice and whispered so that only he could hear.
"Ludville, you're not going to kill people or Monsters, or massacre anything, are you?"
"...What do you take me for?"
Is that even a question?
Odelia and Edwin made similar expressions at the same time.
Regardless, Ludville looked displeased that he couldn't continue questioning Odelia about her 'ex-boyfriend'.
He let out a breath as if suppressing his frustration, then turned his gaze to Odelia.
"...I'll be back soon."
He looked at her for a moment with eyes mixed with regret and wariness.
As if regretting the end of the conversation he had just missed.
Odelia blinked briefly and nodded.
And she carefully exhaled the moment his fingertips fell away.
She was relieved that she didn't have to answer any more difficult questions, but for some reason, she felt a little empty.
* * *
Odelia stood in front of the mirror.
Lace with a subtle blue tint flowed over her white shoulders, and below her waist, the hem of a pure white dress embroidered with silver thread spread out gracefully.
"...I really, feel breathless."
Leona, who was finishing her makeup, blurted out absentmindedly.
The maid who was styling her hair behind her nodded.
"I've never seen such clear and deep eyes before. They're like a lake, or like ice..."
"I can kind of understand why His Highness was so crazy... cough, why he was looking for you so much."
The maids were busy moving around, but they kept glancing at her.
That was because today's bride was unrealistically beautiful, like a goddess in mythology.
"But I'm really glad. His Highness has finally found the person he's been longing for so much."
"All of us servants are sincerely happy. I'm not just saying that."
"Me too. I'm so happy that the Blue-Eyed Woman is the Princess. The people who came to the castle before... Ugh, really..."
"Hey, why are you bringing that up on a day like this?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I got carried away..."
Despite the maids' fuss, Odelia didn't say anything.
The blue eyes beneath her long eyelashes were calm, and her lips were tightly closed in silence.
That's because she was very nervous.
'How many weddings is this?'
She knew it was roughly thousands of times, but she didn't know the exact number.
Maybe three thousand, maybe nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine...
She was just aware that she had done it a lot.
But I don't know why I'm so nervous.
Odelia clasped her fingertips together and took a long breath.
Their wedding, as seen through Ludville's memories.
If they had done it thousands of times, they might have skipped it or rushed it at some point.
But he had never finished it carelessly.
Every time, he prepared with all his heart and welcomed Odelia as his bride, and that man kept lingering in front of her eyes.
This time too...
'Even though he doesn't remember, he's holding a wedding at the Grand Cathedral...'
He even got permission from the Imperial Family to connect a magical Warp from the Ducal Palace to the Grand Cathedral, and he spared no expense.
It was truly the epitome of luxury that could be displayed at a wedding.
In fact, Ludville was always like that.
Even in those days when he held banquets every day looking for the Blue-Eyed Woman.
His own clothes were simple and frugal.
He never spent money on himself.
He poured all his resources and power solely on Odelia.
And now he was investing generously in his wedding with Odelia.
[After my death, I bequeath all the territories, titles, authority, and assets of the Excepcion Family to Odelia Cardel.]
Even though he had lost his memories, Ludville was still the same.
Sometimes, so much so that she forgot the resolve she had firmly made and wavered.
'Get a grip.'
She placed her hand lightly on her chest.
Cold metal touched her.
A trinket that once had the Gem of Regression embedded in it, but now only the frame remained.
"Is it okay if you don't take off that old necklace?"
One of the maids asked cautiously, and Leona quickly stepped in to explain.
"The ring won't be visible because it's covered by the dress anyway. She said it's an important item to the Princess. We've changed the necklace string to match the dress, so it doesn't look awkward at all."
Leona knew that Odelia wore this necklace every day.
That's why she stepped in to stop her.
"Well, if that's the case..."
"Princess, we're almost done."
Another maid said as she gently placed a fine powder made by grinding pearls on her cheeks and collarbone.
And finally, 30 minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to begin, all the maids retreated.
A moment later, Head Maid Freya quietly entered the room.
She whispered in Odelia's ear, who was standing in front of the mirror.
"As you said, Princess, everything has been taken care of."
