When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 120



Only Krnovel

#120. We met on
2024.04.29.

“Thank you for waiting.”

Enrico’s head flinched at Emilia’s words. However, that was only for a moment, and he slowly got up from his seat while looking up at Emilia. He was happy, but his expression was somewhat mysterious.

“Then, how about we sort out our titles before we get married?”

“Title?”

“Yes. Isn’t it time to stop using those burdensome, extremely honorific titles?”

“Ah… … . Since you’re a duke, I guess I didn’t realize it… … .”

Emilia slightly closed her eyes as if she was embarrassed. Enrico lightly brushed her eyes and raised one eyebrow.

“Before you’re a duke, you’re a lover. Don’t call me by my name, not my formal title.”

“… … Enrico?”

Emilia awkwardly mumbled. She had thought she would have to sort out her titles someday, but she hadn’t felt the need to rush it. But looking at Enrico’s expression now, it seemed like he had been very nervous.

As soon as she called his name, his face brightened like a flower taking over the stage, and the corners

of his mouth went up. Then, as if he had done well, he gently stroked her cheek, and his face felt hot because of his heat.

“Again.”

“Enrico.”

“Yeah. Keep calling me that.”

He smiled like a boy. It was refreshing to see him smiling brightly with such happiness. I thought he had accepted his changed appearance in his own way, but looking at his smile now, it seemed like that wasn’t the case.

If not, how could his smile make my heart swell this much?

Enrico cupped Emilia’s cheeks and kissed her repeatedly. Their laughter mixed with the small kisses.

“… … How do you like this place? Do you like it?”

He finally asked with their foreheads touching. She blinked, pulled her head back, and looked around once more.

“It seems like a nice place. But I didn’t know they were going to build a theater. Who do you think the owner is?”

“You.”

“Huh?”

“I made the arrangements quickly to give it to you on your birthday. Fortunately, I was able to give it to you on time.”

“… … This theater is my birthday present?”

“Yes. If there’s anything you want to change or add to the interior, let me know. I’ll reflect it all.”

It was an unexpected gift. And I didn’t know it would be this big. The Avaliante Theater alone was famous for being one of the best, but this place looked even better than the Avaliante Theater.

“You can create a separate ballet company, or you can train here. Do whatever you want.”

“Thank you. It’s really so… … .”

“You like it?”

“Yes.”

Enrico asked as if he knew everything. Emilia trailed off with a sad voice, but somehow burst out laughing at his confident attitude.

“Should we have our wedding here?”

“When?”

“Umm… … . First of all, we have to consider the preparation period, so let’s give ourselves some extra time, right?”

“Don’t worry about the period. It’s possible even a week later.”

“No matter what, a week later is a bit.”

She had been laughing off his overly enthusiastic attitude as if it was funny, but her smile slowly disappeared at the sight of his serious eyes shining.

“… … Are you serious?”

“Yeah. I don’t joke around with such important things.”

His gaze was so hot that it could even calm the cold wind outside. She had a feeling that if she didn’t answer properly here, she would get annoyed.

“I think so… … . Then half a year later?”

“Half a year?”

“… … Five months?”

“Half a year and five months are similar, right?”

“Similar? Anyway, then… … . Three months later?”

As the conversation went on, a shadow of disappointment fell over Enrico’s face, which had seemed so happy just a moment ago. Emilia rolled her eyes and then spoke as if she had made up her mind.

“A month later. It can’t be any faster than that. What we’re currently doing-.”

“Okay.”

“-Yes?”

“Let’s do it a month later. I thought you were going to say let’s do it in the spring, but fortunately, you’re more proactive about marriage than I thought.”

A kiss fell on his head. Emilia blinked her eyes, feeling as if something had dried up.

“A winter wedding would be romantic, too. I’ll take care of all the preparations, so don’t worry.”

Enrico simply smiled as if he was satisfied with the situation.

***

The snow that had been falling so frequently since December had stopped as if it were a lie. The cold wind had died down, and the sun, which had been weak, was shining particularly warmly today.

“You’re really so beautiful! Of all the brides I’ve seen, I think you’re the best.”

Juliana looked at Emilia in a pure white wedding dress with rapture.

The veil holding up her neatly tied platinum hair gave off a mysterious atmosphere, and the delicately embroidered lace was layered over several layers to make the skirt look voluminous.

In addition, the faint fragrance emanating from the flowers decorating the bridal waiting room was just right for Emilia. It seemed to make her atmosphere look even more elegant, so she couldn’t take her eyes off her even for a moment.

“Stop looking and go to your seat. Why are you being so embarrassing?”

“No, you’re so pretty. I knew you were pretty, but you look even prettier today.”

“Haha, thank you. I’ll definitely buy you a present when we go on our honeymoon.”

“I’m serious… … .”

Emilia motioned for the veil, which she had been pulling back, to be lowered toward her face as if to tell her to stop. At that, the assistants of the designer who had been assisting her moved quickly.

“Okay. I’ll be out. Oh, by the way, I think the kids you mentioned came.”

“Huh? Are you from Bailey Village?”

“Ah! Bailey! That’s right. I forgot because it was the first time I heard of it. I’ll take good care of those kids. Have a great wedding.”

“Yeah, thank you.”

Emilia waved along with Juliana as she left, then got up from her seat.

“How much time is left until it starts? Now that I think about it, the Duke is quiet. I thought he’d come by the waiting room sometime.”

“Oh, that’s… … .”

“Hmm? It’s okay. Tell me.”

“… … Actually, I saw the aide stop you when you were about to come in earlier.”

Emilia laughed at the designer’s cautious words, thinking,

“Well, then we should get started quickly.”

“Yes! It’s 10 minutes before, so I think it’s a good idea to wait in advance.”

The designer moved busily, adjusting the hem of her dress. Emilia waited for time to pass, obediently accepting his touch.

And after a while, the waiting room door opened. Emilia walked toward the performance hall where the wedding was being held, escorted.

Since the wedding was being held on stage, the guests were seated in the audience, but she was worried about where to enter.

Normally, the standard would be to have the guests sit on both sides and walk in the middle, but since that structure was no longer in place, she decided to just go backstage like during a performance and enter through the wing stage.

Enrico stood on the left wing stage side and Emilia on the right wing stage side. She couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of him across from her, without even being able to see the audience.

The pure white veil slightly obscured her vision, but it wasn’t so distracting that she easily made her way to the center of the stage alone.

The sound of the orchestra sweetly filled the room. Enrico twitched his fingertips as if he wanted to quickly take off the veil. Although he

had checked in advance so that the officiant wouldn’t go on unnecessarily, now that it was the current situation, even what he was saying now sounded like something he didn’t have to say.

“So… … . On behalf of the heavens, I bless you two, so please confess your last sincerity here.”

Originally, there was more to say, but the bishop consciously cut his words short because of Enrico’s strange pressure.

He didn’t really mean anything, but his eyes were just staring at the bishop, and he could see boredom in them, so he instinctively knew not to drag it out any longer.

“I, Enrico Michele, swear to take Emilia Este as my life partner and spend the rest of my life with her.”

Emilia didn’t waste any time watching Enrico, who spoke fluently as if he had been waiting for him.

“I, Emilia Este, swear to take Enrico Michele as my life partner and spend the rest of my life with her.”

They put on each other’s wedding rings that they had put aside for a moment, and they signed the marriage contract without any gaps.

And only then did Enrico raise the corners of his mouth as if he had some time to spare in the wedding ceremony that had been going on like a race.

The officiant said his last words and told Emilia to take off her veil. Enrico carefully turned over the pure white veil, as if handling glass that might break at any moment.

The beautiful figure of Emily, like a famous painting hidden under the white cloth, caught his attention.

Enrico took a step closer to Emilia, forcing out his breath that was somehow surging.

As if they knew each other’s feelings without saying anything, the two exchanged glances for a long time and shared a sweet kiss when the orchestra’s music began to grow.

Enrico suddenly remembered the first time he saw Emilia. Emilia, who had the appearance of a beautiful fairy and flew into his arms like a butterfly, vividly came to his mind as if it was pressed into his retina. He thought

he didn’t remember at all, but somehow her image must have been engraved in his mind. Maybe that’s why he was more anxious because of that first impression, in case she flew away.

Enrico, who was smiling happily, was reflected in Emilia’s eyes as she slowly raised her eyelids.

The eyes of the two people who once revealed the deficiencies they had unconsciously harbored were now firmly engraved with only trust and affection for each other.

A warm feeling enveloped each other. Perhaps what they met at the end of winter was their destiny.

– Complete