Raphine reassured the two of them saying it was okay.

At that moment, with a crackling sound, the servant brought something.

"This is the wedding invitation list that Her Majesty's Majesty has asked you to deliver."

It was a list of the names of the distinguished guests to invite to Raffine and Zerkan's wedding.

Most of the complicated preparations for the wedding were taken care of by the Empress Dowager, so there was really nothing to do.

I just had to check this.

Raphine took the list and read it slowly from top to bottom.

"Well... ... . uh?"

Then, when I saw the name I knew, I stopped.

The prince of the Babylonian kingdom was listed on the guest list.

'If the kingdom of Babylonia... ... .'

It was the kingdom right next to the Lenchest estate where I went to find the Ruby's relics last time.

At that time, Raphine had also encountered the people of the Babylonian Kingdom.

"Why are you doing this, Vision?"

Olivia asked, blinking her eyes.

"It's nothing... ... . Have you two seen people from the Babylonian kingdom?"

"yes! When I was a kid, I saw a person who came to play in Hwangseong and came to visit as an envoy. He was a very fat grandfather."

Olivia muttered. Christine, who had been silently listening, lit up her eyes.

"I've never actually seen it, but I've heard of it a lot. You said that the men of Babylonia were so handsome?"

"Oh, I heard it too. In the first place, the men in the Lenchest estate are really cool too!"

Raphine nodded her head at the two of them.

"I've seen it. I met a young man who looked like a noble or royalty, and he was very handsome."

"really?"

The two urged them to talk in detail.

Raphine pondered her memory and told her about the man she had met at that time. When I told them about the exotic feeling that their dark skin color gave, expectations rose on their faces.

"A young prince of Babylon will attend this wedding, right?"

"I heard you're single, haven't you heard anything?"

Raphine shook his head. Although he's trading at the top, he didn't pay much attention to it because he didn't have a lot of trading volume.

At first, the Babylonian kingdom was too close to make a lot of money through trade.

"I am so looking forward to it."

"I'll have to pick up the wedding dress again."

At the words of the two of them, Raphine just smiled as if it was cute.

Olivia looked at Raphine like that and said.

"Our visionary... ... Of course, you don't seem interested at all. Is it because I don't need to look at you just to tell you so much?"

"Right. His Majesty the Crown Prince, please neglect His Majesty too much."

The two grumbled. Raphine couldn't say anything and just smiled awkwardly.

It's a chore, but somehow I felt sorry that only Zerkan would be cursed.

"I want to tell you to try dancing with the male guests who come as guests, but... ... . I will wait for that banquet to be a wedding banquet."

At Christine's words, Raphine burst into laughter. and she said

"It's not like you're neglecting me. just... ... ."

Are you so obsessed with acting? My acting skills have increased... ... ?

Raphine bit her mouth to say something.

Seeing this, the two sighed sadly.

Raphine thought, stroking her cheek.

'I have to do it a little. It's getting more and more immersive.'

It was probably a wise move for Zerkan to say that we should keep our distance.

Even if it doesn't happen when we're alone, there were times when I was really confused because I was deeply immersed in people.

'Do I really like Zerkan?'

If I sincerely express my affection to Zerkan like this, how will Zerkan come out?

There were times when I suddenly had a question like that.

This is all because Zerkan is so handsome. So she has no choice but to be immersed like this.

'for a moment.'

then... ... .

'On the other hand, wouldn't Zerkan also be immersed in the setting so that I could be reluctant and disliked?'

Raphine swallowed her saliva.

Come to think of it, Zerkan has been a little strange lately.

From the day I said that we should refrain from touching even in front of people.

As Raphine's expression became more meaningful, Olivia and Christine both left the room.

* * *

After that day, before her wedding, Raphine began to watch Zer Khan more closely.

Is it because I was thinking like that? She also seemed to be avoiding her toxic self by Zer Khan.

Even Zer Khan didn't seem to sleep in her bed.

'Is it because I'm afraid that my flesh will come into contact with you?'

He seemed to get tired of sticking around in front of people.

Thinking about it that way, I felt a bit bitter in my mouth.

I don't know if it's because of that, but Raphine too, her behavior in front of Zer Khan became more and more awkward.

She kept avoiding conversations with Zer Khan, and even her encounters began to become uncomfortable.

That nuance continued until the day of her wedding.

She still acted in front of people, but somehow the passion didn't burn like before.

She felt strange.

Even though it was a contract marriage, the thought of whether this was right came up.

Obviously, the weight of the heart was different from the engagement.

'Besides, Zerkan seems to hate me a bit now.'

Of course, it's not that she really hates it, but the thought of what she seems to have came crashing down like an unstoppable wave.

She is usually cool and clear self-judgment, but she seemed to be swayed by her emotions today.

No matter how fake it is, it seems like it's because it's a wedding, so it's more fresh.

After she finished dressing up, Raphine struggled to smile at her admiring maids and her maids.

"I'll bring you some hot tea."

Olivia and Christine, noticing that Raphine was not feeling well for her, took her maids out.

Alone, Raphine stared out the window of her waiting room.

In the banquet hall spread out in the outdoor garden, people were talking while holding champagne.

Among the nobles, Violet and Adrian, who arrived yesterday afternoon, were also seen.

It was reassuring that the two of them arrived safely.

However, even though I checked the faces of the two people I wanted to see the whole time, Raphine's mood did not improve.

she's smart

She heard a knock on the waiting room door. It was Zerkan who opened the door and entered.

"uh... ... ."

Raphine suddenly hardened like her broken kokeshi. She was a little surprised, because she never thought she would come until just before the wedding.

shudder.

Zerkan, who came in with the door closed, approached with a slow pace.

Zerkan's gaze was felt from the bottom to the top.

Raphine was embarrassed for nothing, and she looked at the pitiful ground. Zerkan's low voice was heard.

"I have something to tell you."

"... ... ."

Raphine glanced at him, then opened his mouth slightly involuntarily. Zerkan in her wedding robes is really... ... .

Her mood, which had sank, suddenly felt like she was ascending to the sky.

The answer to the question I was wondering, 'Even though it's a contract marriage, is this right?' was answered very easily.

right. This is the answer. This is an opportunity that will never come again in my life. this is welfare

"So... ... . After the oath."

Zerkan said hesitatingly. Raphine, possessed by his appearance, came to his senses later and concentrated on his words.

"why? Did something happen?"

"It's not... ... ."

Zer Khan rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment and closed his eyes tightly.

"You have to kiss me."

"ah."

Raphine suddenly felt like her good mood had cooled off.

'Are you here to tell me to skip the kiss?'

However, there is no imperial nation who does not perform a kissing ceremony at a wedding.

Moreover, if the Crown Prince does not kiss the Crown Princess at the wedding, people may doubt the authenticity of this marriage.

Zerkan knows that better than anyone.

Even so, to tell me not to come here like this... ... .

'Do you hate me that much? That much?'

Raphine was dazed, as if she had been shocked.

"Raffine?"

Zer Khan took her one step closer to her and called her name.

Raphine came to her senses and raised her head to look at him. There seemed to be tears in his eyes. It should never flow... ... .

"Why kiss? Don't you want to?"

"It's not... ... ."

"... ... Otherwise, why?"

"I'm afraid you'll be reluctant because of what I said last time... ... ."

Zer Khan took a deep breath as he continued to speak.

"I was sorry then. You lied."

"What... ... Go?"

"I was talking about refraining from touching in front of people."

"... ... ."

"Did I make a mistake? From now on, as before, so... ... ."

Zerkan pondered what to say.

So can you touch me? Is it okay to touch again? please touch me

It seemed strange to say anything.

At that moment, a warm touch was felt between Zerkan's palms.

"Does that mean it's okay to kiss the vows?"

Raphine asked, grabbing his hand. Zer Khan drew in a short breath of his. His heart seems to have stopped.

In fact, from the moment she entered her waiting room and saw Raphine in a dress, her heart may have already stopped.

Moist eyes, a friendly voice, and the warmth that penetrates the palm of your hand.

Everything about Raphine was so lovely that I couldn't stand it.

How could there be such a lovely being? How?