Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 96

Chapter 96

 

The wedding of Knight Commander Claude Vandell and Yuria Beatrice was held exactly one week later.

It was the first wedding in twenty-five years for the prestigious Vandell ducal family, and everyone was anticipating just how grand and magnificent it would be.

Yet, despite the fact that even months of preparation wouldn’t have been enough, the wedding arrangements were carried out at lightning speed. In particular, the completion of the wedding dress in such a short time was nothing short of a miracle.

All the famous designers in the capital were mobilized, and word had already spread that they stayed and worked at the ducal residence, sewing until their fingers wore raw.

On the day of the wedding, as soon as the morning sun rose, the front of the ducal mansion began to fill with carriages. Guests from all over arrived in a steady stream.

Living up to public expectations, the ducal family prepared a wedding so perfect it drew gasps of admiration. All of this was thanks to the meticulous Duchess Olrike Vandell.

“Your nanny’s skill is as remarkable as ever. The time frame must have been tight, yet she still managed to pull it off.”

Alexis praised the duchess’s efforts as he took a sip of warm tea.

Sitting across from him, Duchess Olrike Vandell pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a groan. Dark shadows lay beneath her eyes, betraying her exhaustion. Even elegant makeup and a glamorous gown couldn’t hide her fatigue.

She had entrusted her husband with receiving guests and was spending time alone with the Crown Prince instead. She never showed her struggles in front of others, but Alexis was an exception.

The duchess let out a long sigh.

“What choice did I have? My only son was insisting on getting married immediately. In my eyes, there are so many regrets. If only we’d had a little more time, I could have made the venue even more beautiful.”

“It’s more than enough as it is. I heard Yuria was moved to tears.”

At the mention of Yuria, the tight line of the duchess’s lips softened into a gentle curve.

“She’s such a kind and good-hearted child. I can’t tell you how happy I am to welcome her into our family.”

“I don’t know if I have the right to say this, but… please take good care of her.”

Alexis couldn’t help but feel uneasy about having broken his promise to become Yuria’s family for life. Still, knowing what kind of person the duchess was, he felt he could entrust Yuria to her.

“Of course. I’ll cherish and love her as if she were my own child.”

“And if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to say so.”

“Haven’t you already done more than enough? You even found them a house like that!”

As a wedding gift, Alexis had prepared a home for the couple along with over a hundred servants. The grand mansion in the heart of the capital was imposing at a glance, and above all, it had a beautiful garden.

Three large, gentle golden retrievers ran freely across the lush green lawn. It was exactly the kind of ‘our home’ Yuria had always dreamed of.

After a round of laughter, the duchess sipped her herbal tea to soothe her dry throat. At the same time, she gazed at the Crown Prince sitting across from her with affectionate eyes.

Alexis was dressed appropriately for a wedding guest. The deep navy jacket reminiscent of the night sky, paired with a simply designed shirt and trousers, gave him a calmer look than his usual formal attire.

He wore no jewelry, yet the platinum blond hair inherited from the Emperor alone granted him a brilliance unmatched by anyone else. Moreover, his appearance only grew more captivating with each passing year.

Seeing the Crown Prince grown into such a dignified figure, the duchess felt her chest swell with pride. Alexis was the son of her heart and her greatest pride.

Her eyes grew warm, and she wrinkled her nose slightly before offering him a teasing remark.

“Your Highness should hurry and meet a good person and start a family too.”

At that, Alexis smiled quietly.

He had met the person he loved. Forming a family with Cecil wouldn’t be easy, but they would of course spend their lives together. They were already family.

Of course, in his heart, he wanted to openly declare Cecil as his lover. It wasn’t possible just yet, but he would find a way. Once he became Emperor, there would be nothing he couldn’t accomplish.

Leaning loosely against the back of his chair, Alexis tilted his chin slightly upward. His arrogant posture carried his unique air of superiority.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of myself just fine.”

“I’m sure you will.”

Just then, there was a knock, and the door opened.

“Madam, you’ll need to step outside for a moment. A carriage has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”

“Oh! It must be Lord Cecil!”

The duchess’s face brightened as she stood. It was time to end their conversation and go greet the esteemed guest.

“Let’s go together, Nanny.”

Alexis rose as well. The person he had been waiting for had finally arrived, so of course he had to go greet him.

The front of the mansion was crowded with rows of carriages. Everyone inside was a noble of high standing. But no matter how high their status, they had no choice but to yield priority to a carriage from the Imperial Palace.

The carriage bearing the imperial crest passed the waiting vehicles and stopped in front of the mansion. When the door opened, long, slender legs extended from inside. Cecil Adrian stepped onto the ground, escorted.

“Welcome. Do you have any luggage to leave with us?”

“It’s in the back. My attendants will unload it.”

Cecil gestured toward the carriage trunk. It was packed with lavishly wrapped gift bundles. His attendants were already busy carrying them out.

The Vandell household staff quickly joined in to help. As expected, a guest from the Imperial Palace was on a different scale. The gifts kept coming out endlessly, leaving not only the servants but also the surrounding onlookers in awe.

Meanwhile, Cecil came face-to-face with Claude, who was greeting guests at the entrance. Dressed in a white tuxedo, he looked quite striking.

As soon as he saw Cecil, Claude scratched his forehead awkwardly. He wasn’t sure whether to act pleased or behave as usual. In the end, he cleared his throat and offered a formal greeting.

“Thank you for coming.”

“You clean up pretty well when you dress up.”

Cecil offered a brief assessment of the groom. It sounded a bit blunt, but that was simply how Cecil was.

“Congratulations on your marriage, Claude.”

But the congratulation that followed was sincere. Cecil smiled brightly and extended his hand.

The corners of his eyes curved softly, and his smooth cheeks rounded gently. With a smile that seemed to carry sunlight, Cecil’s face looked full of life.

Seeing that expression for the first time, Claude found himself stunned as he accepted the handshake.

“Th-thank you.”

“Where is His Highness?”

As soon as he finished greeting him, Cecil began looking around. He had a purpose here more important than the wedding itself.

“So you make that kind of expression for someone other than me. I’m a little hurt.”

A familiar voice was heard. When Cecil turned his head, his face brightened even more. Upon spotting Alexis, he could no longer hide his smile.

“Come here, Cecil.”

He gladly walked over. Alexis placed a hand at Cecil’s lower back and gently guided him forward.

As the two royals walked together, the dense crowd inside the mansion slowly parted like flowing water. Polite greetings followed, and people craned their necks to watch them pass. It was a rare sight to see Alexis and Cecil together, making it all the more fascinating.

Alexis paid no heed to the stares. Once they entered the banquet hall where the wedding was being held, a servant respectfully offered crystal glasses filled with wine. Alexis took two and handed one to Cecil.

Clink—the clear sound of glass rang out as the cups lightly touched. Alexis savored the rich aroma of the wine. As he quenched his dry throat with the sweet drink that might as well have been juice, his blue eyes slowly and intently traced Cecil.

The outfit Cecil was wearing was made from the same fabric as Alexis’s own formal attire.

The deep blue jacket adorned with gold trim was slightly more ornate than Alexis’s. From the embroidery thread to each jeweled button, everything had been personally directed by Alexis himself.

“The clothes suit you well.”

“Didn’t Your Highness personally send them?”

“They look even better than I expected. At this rate, choosing a dark color was pointless. You’re the most radiant among all the guests.”

Cecil pressed his lips together tightly. His eyes darted around as he scanned the surroundings.

“Please stop. What if someone hears you?”

“Is there something wrong with what I said?”

“Your Highness… people usually call that being shameless.”

At Cecil’s remark, Alexis burst into laughter. His clear, ringing laughter cut through the musicians’ performance, drawing attention from those around them.

“The only person who could ever call me shameless is you.”

“Please maintain your dignity.”

“The dignity of the imperial family is already being upheld by you on my behalf, so I’ll enjoy myself for now. If anyone has a complaint, they can come and say it to my face.”

Alexis reached out and took Cecil’s left hand. Hiding their joined hands behind his back where no one could see, he entwined their fingers, and Cecil silently allowed it.

Alexis glanced sideways. Cecil, pretending nothing was happening as he sipped his wine, had ears flushed red.

He hid his expression perfectly, but couldn’t do anything about his ears. Alexis couldn’t stop smiling at that adorable sight.