The Beloved New Daughter-In-Law of the Wolf Mansion Chapter 196 - Side story 9

“Arsene,”

 

“Mhm.” 

 

“Sorry for bringing up something bad at such a good moment.”

 

Arsene raised his head and looked up at me.

 

My face was reflected in eyes that were endlessly gentle, like those of a herbivore, not a predator.

 

I scratched my cheek a little with an awkward expression and then answered. 

 

“Someone’s coming.”

 

“…!”

 

“Can you hear it?”

 

The footsteps were getting closer.

 

It was probably Betty, who had come to get me, or one of the other maids.

 

Anyone would surely scold me if they saw Arsene holding me.

 

If things were as usual, Arsene would have noticed someone approaching before I told him.

 

“You wouldn’t know because you’re not paying attention.”

 

When I gently stroked Arsene’s ear, it twitched.

 

It seemed to be flapping.

 

However, it didn’t feel like it was trying to avoid my touch at all.

 

“Would I get scolded if I went in?”

 

“I might get scolded for seeing the bride’s face first.”

 

“Hiding?”

 

“I was already worried about it—if only you were a bit smaller or younger, I would have hidden you somewhere…”

 

And the fact that he’s even hiding behind the curtains, despite being the Young Master of the Yeckhart family, is also questionable.

 

While Arsene and I were pondering this for a moment, there was a knock on the door.

 

“!”

 

“May I come in?”

 

It was Ethan’s voice!

 

Arsene, still holding me, turned to look at the door.

 

And then he spoke with a slightly stiff expression.

 

“What should I do?”

 

“Now that there’s nowhere to run, you might as well just get scolded…”

 

I lightly kissed Arsene’s forehead and stroked his hair.

 

“Tuck your ears and tail in quickly.”

 

Arsene’s ears and tail easily disappeared.

 

Meanwhile, Ethan’s voice came from outside once more.

 

“Young Madam?” 

 

“Yes! You may come in!”

 

Shortly after that, Ethan opened the door and came in.

 

Behind him, the other maids were lined up.

 

“…”

 

“…?”

 

“!”

 

All of them stopped when they saw Arsene in my arms.

 

They asked cautiously again, as if in disbelief.

 

“…Young Master?” 

 

“Mhm.” 

 

“Have you been here all this time…?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Ethan, shocked by that answer, spoke toward Arsene. 

 

“They’re looking for the young master downstairs! What are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be seen yet! Go down quickly, hurry!”

 

At Ethan’s shocked voice, Arsene, who hadn’t seemed willing to move, finally stirred. 

 

I turned to Ethan with an embarrassed expression and smiled. 

 

“Young Madam…” 

 

“Haha…” 

 

“Arsene Yeckhart, do you swear to accept Linsy Yeckhart as your one and only partner and lifelong companion?”

 

Arsene Yeckhart.

 

Linsy Yeckhart.

 

Linsy was already Yeckhart’s.

 

So, to the others, those words sounded a bit awkward for some reason.

 

A ceremony to accept someone as your partner again, even though they’re already your partner?

 

However, the parties involved didn’t feel that way at all.

 

Even though they had already accepted each other as partners once, it felt like they could do it over and over again.

 

The weather was beautiful, and there were plenty of people.

 

Thanks to Kendrick’s instructions to decorate lavishly, flowers bloomed profusely everywhere, even ones that weren’t in season.

 

And that wasn’t all—upon hearing the news, the wolf humanoids of the Yeckhart territory added bouquets of flowers they had personally grown, filling the entire mansion with blossoms.

 

All of it was blessing the future of Linsey and Arsene. 

 

Beautiful flowers.

 

Sunny weather.

 

A gust of wind and drifting white clouds.

 

“I swear.”

 

Arsene answered without the slightest hesitation. 

 

Afterwards, his gaze fixed on Linsy.

 

The officiant, speaking kindly, asked Linsy the same question.

 

Like Arsene, Linsy nodded without a moment’s hesitation.

 

“I swear.”

 

After the reading of the marriage vows was finished, Arsene carefully took out the ring. 

 

“Please stand facing each other.”

 

Arsene and Linsy looked at each other.

 

They had seen each other countless times.

 

Arsene had looked at Linsy, and Linsy at Arsene, from this distance like this countless times—thousands of times, even. 

 

But today was more special than all those moments.

 

Today’s eye contact was even more special and precious.

 

“Place the rings on each other’s fingers. From this moment on, all those present here shall serve as witnesses and declare that this marriage is truly solemnized.” 

 

As soon as he finished speaking, Arsene carefully took Linsy’s fingertips in his hand.

 

Beneath the thin lace gloves, she could feel the man’s warm, almost burning temperature all the way to his fingertips.

 

Arsene had a shy expression, yet at the same time, he looked filled with anticipation, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

 

He gently placed the ring on Linsy’s fingertip, which he was softly holding.

 

The ring Arsene had personally prepared slid smoothly onto Linsy’s finger.

 

As if it had always belonged there, and Linsy was its rightful owner.

 

There was not a hint of hesitation in his hands.

 

Arsene didn’t hesitate the moment he placed the ring.

 

Placing a ring on someone’s finger signifies accepting them as your partner.

 

It is a vow to look at only one person for a lifetime, to love no one else but them, and a bond of the soul.

 

But Arsene didn’t hesitate.

 

Because his soul had long since belonged to Linsy.

 

Because it was a soul with a master.

 

Linsy took the last ring out of the ring case.

 

The ring was crafted as a pair with Linsy’s.

 

“Arsene.”

 

When Linsy cautiously extended her hand, Arsene placed his hand over hers.

 

Linsy gently took Arsene’s hand and carefully slid the ring over the thick joints of his fingers.

 

That ring, too, slid on smoothly without catching or getting stuck.

 

At last, when the ring was fully in place, Linsy looked up at Arsene with a bright smile.”

 

“Look!”

 

And she mouthed a small smile and pointed at Arsene’s ring.

 

Arsene looked at the ring on his own hand once, and then at the ring on Linsy’s hand once.

 

And he looked at his partner and wife, who was smiling brightly, and smiled back.

 

His ears were slightly flushed, but no one noticed it except for Linsy, who was close by.

 

After Arsene and Linsy placed the rings on each other and smiled brightly, applause and words of blessing poured in as if everyone had been waiting for this moment.

 

The Yeckhart family is the ruling house that has led the wolf clan for generations. 

 

In their history, there is no record of them having accepted a partner from another clan.

 

They had only taken partners from the wolf clan and were careful to ensure that no children were born from other clans.

 

But now…

 

No one opposed Arsene’s marriage to Linsy simply because she was a new member of the clan.

 

Linsy was too special to be opposed for that simple reason.  

 

An indispensable presence in the Yeckhart family.

 

A precious one they never want to lose or let go of again.

 

The wolf clan had no intention of ever losing something like that again—neither Kendrick, nor Arsene, nor any of the other elders.

 

“Arsene, hug me.”

 

Amidst the cheers, Linsy, who had wrapped her arms around Arsene’s neck, whispered faintly.

 

Without hesitation, Arsene wrapped his arms around Linsy’s waist and lifted her into his arms.

 

Linsy’s body is no longer as light as a feather.

 

Having passed the time when she was as light as down, Linsy had grown so much.

 

But Arsene lifted her effortlessly, as if she were still the same weight as before. 

 

Everyone present was startled by the sudden action of the two, their eyes widening in surprise.

 

“I heard earlier that after the ring exchange, we’re supposed to kiss.”

 

“Are you going to kiss?”

 

“Mhm, close your eyes.”

 

As soon as she finished speaking, Linsy kissed Arsene. 

 

Their warm, soft lips gently touched, and Arsene’s grip tightened around Linsy’s waist.

 

Her fiery red hair swayed in the wind. 

 

Arsene’s silver hair also swayed in the direction of Linsy’s.

 

As they kissed, cheers erupted from all around.

 

Linsy’s hand, cupping Arsene’s cheek, trembled slightly.

 

But Arsene’s hand remained steady.

 

***

 

It wasn’t the first time Arsene and Linsy had kissed in front of so many people

 

It certainly wasn’t the first time they’d kissed.

 

That’s why they were able to kiss so naturally in front of everyone.

 

But Ethan, who was watching,

 

‘Heh heh…’

 

Ethan had also witnessed Kendrick Yeckhart’s wedding.

 

He had lived a long life and witnessed countless weddings.

 

But it was the first time the groom had lifted the bride up and kissed her.