133. Marriage Registration

They departed after contacting the temple in advance to register their marriage today.

The Great Temple replied that they would prepare everything smoothly.

Marquis Pochet only realized that Darius had deliberately delayed the marriage registration to spite him when he was preparing for Caitlyn’s selection as the crown prince’s consort, and tried to register the marriage belatedly.

However, the Great Temple, which already supported another candidate for crown princess, refused Marquis Pochet’s marriage registration application with a small trick.

Perhaps because of this? Having something to feel guilty about, as soon as they arrived at the temple, a priest rushed over and immediately began making excuses.

“It’s not that we didn’t believe Marquis Pochet’s words, but this is a marriage between high nobles. To prevent any possible mistakes, we needed to confirm the intentions of both parties. Thanks to that, I now get to give my blessing to the grand ducal couple.”

As if there weren’t many nobles getting married in the provinces who didn’t have to come all the way to the capital to register their marriage together at the Great Temple.

Inwardly, Anette cursed at how worldly the priest was, but outwardly, to maintain good relations with the Great Temple, she pretended to understand that those were the regulations and engaged in conversation before picking up a pen for the marriage registration.

“Will you keep your surname as Pochet after marriage, or will you follow your husband’s surname and change it to Inkheart?”

‘Huh? Don’t Western women change to their husband’s surname after marriage?’

Confused about why they would ask such a question, the priest kindly added an explanation for her.

“For ordinary nobles, the wife automatically joins the husband’s family upon marriage, but families listed on the Golden Plate can maintain their pre-marriage family name after marriage if they wish.”

According to the priest’s explanation, daughters of high noble families often felt a stronger sense of belonging to their own family than to their husband’s, and therefore had the privilege of not changing to their husband’s surname upon marriage if they preferred.

“What would you like to do?”

In her world before her transmigration, there was no practice of changing to the husband’s surname after marriage. But……

Darius was quietly looking at her, as if leaving the decision up to her.

“Darius.”

Without needing to think, she took his hand and placed it on top of her hand holding the pen.

“How long are you going to keep me as part of this terrible Pochet family? Why are you just staring blankly? You should be eagerly taking me into the Inkheart family instead.”

Darius couldn’t take his eyes off the signature that was boldly written: Anette Inkheart.

He was moved by such a small thing. They were already a couple, and would continue to be a couple.

Next to her corrected name, Darius’s name was written side by side. Now they were truly legally and customarily husband and wife.

“Then I will pray for a blessing that you may be together until death parts you.”

The priest bestowed a blessing upon their heads. The clear, ringing sound of the bell was beautifully resonant.

* * *

After finishing the signatures and walking out through the temple corridor, statues and paintings placed throughout caught her eye. Seeing the artwork depicting saints who performed good deeds and showed miracles, her thoughts naturally turned to the sacred artifacts Darius needed.

‘If it’s the Great Temple, they should have at least one or two sacred artifacts that could extend lifespan.’

She was considering making a substantial donation to build closer ties with the temple when she realized that Darius had been strangely quiet for a while.

“Darius?”

With a start, he showed an oddly tense expression. She was about to examine him, wondering if he was suddenly feeling ill.

“Oh my.”

The sound of an intentional exclamation was heard.

“What a coincidence to see you here. My goodness, I was just coming to pray, what a coincidence this is.”

A woman’s light footsteps stopped in front of them.

She pretended it was a great coincidence while joking, but our visit to the temple had been notified in advance.

So meeting that smiling face that appeared genuinely pleased to see them was absolutely not a coincidence.

“I am Margarita Rusin. You must be the Inkheart grand ducal couple?”

Margarita from the East, called the most likely candidate for crown princess. And this place was the Great Temple, known as her backing.

Sensing something, Darius reflexively pulled Anette closer.

“Oh my, I was only going to ask for a cup of tea since we’ve met. I thought you might have some misunderstandings about me.”

Margarita explained with wide eyes.

“Our manor house is always open, so please send invitations there. We will respond courteously to courteous invitations.”

As if his previous fidgeting had been an illusion, Darius instantly reverted to his usual shrewd self and responded to Margarita’s words.

Margarita didn’t lose her smile despite Darius’s hostile attitude.

“You seem busy today, so I’ll request a meeting another time. Goodbye for now.”

Margarita gave a slight nod and passed by them.

“Though we have bad blood with her, it might not be bad to meet her. Seeing that she, a strong candidate for crown princess, made the first move, it seems she has something to propose to us.”

Anette had been considering getting closer to the Great Temple anyway. Margarita’s appearance was actually welcome to her.

“Later.”

However, as soon as Margarita passed by, Darius reverted to his previous state and clasped his hands together. Not her hand, but his own. His ten fingers in white gloves were fidgeting.

It was truly unlike him.

* * *

He was strange today. She thought he might be uncomfortable somewhere and wanted to go home quickly, but then he said there was somewhere they needed to go.

“Dining at an open-air restaurant?”

“It’s the most famous place in the capital, and it would be a shame not to visit. I made a reservation a few days ago. Of course, for the best seats.”

Even while saying this, he never made eye contact with her.

“Darius, are you really okay?”

“I’m fine.”

He tried to brush his hair back but suddenly realized that he had already swept half of his bangs back today, and sighed as he put his hand down.

He really didn’t seem fine.

The restaurant with a beautiful view of the river was very crowded with customers, but we were guided to the most spacious and best seats.

By the time they arrived at the restaurant, the evening sunset was already setting. The quickly fading sunset was beautiful, and dining while listening to music played by musicians was quite atmospheric.

She occasionally expressed admiration for the beauty of the scenery, but Darius still had a tense expression. What was wrong with him?

By the time they finished their meal, the day was over and darkness had settled deeply.

“You came on a good day. We’re about to start the fireworks now. This seat has the best view.”

The server who cleared away their finished meal said they should stay a little longer even though they had finished eating.

After waiting for a moment, soon there was a ‘boom!’ sound, and large fireworks beautifully adorned the night sky.

Next to the single stream of fireworks that was launched, small fireworks soon burst out with ‘pa-ba-bang! pa-bang!’

“My goodness.”

The fireworks fell over the black river water. Clap, clap, clap, she kissed Darius’s cheek, who was sitting across from her, while applauding for no one in particular.

“You brought me here to show me this, right? Oh my, I love it so much.”

Boom!

Once again, fireworks adorned the sky. It was the largest display so far.

But Darius’s face was still rigid.

“Darius?”

In response to her question, he pushed his chair back with a whoosh and knelt on one knee in front of her.

“The order…… got reversed. This should have come first.”

What emerged from his pocket was a ring box.

“I’m sorry it’s so late. I thought a pink diamond would be nice for the wedding ring, just as you wanted, and I got carried away with my greed, which led to this delay.”

The ring in the plush velvet box sparkled. It was a ring with a light pink diamond, the same color as her hair, set in the center.

“You’ve proposed to me before, but I don’t think I’ve ever proposed to you.”

Color slowly returned to Darius’s pale face.

“If I were to suggest we hold a ceremony now…… would you hate it?”

She covered her mouth.

“I’m sorry for…… proposing after the marriage registration. This should have come first, I know…… I really do know.”

Darius added, looking anxious:

“I was afraid you wouldn’t accept. I was insecure.”

Tears flowed. So, just in case she might run away before the marriage registration, he first made sure to get the official stamp and then proposed again?

So that I wouldn’t reject the proposal or run away?

It was truly ridiculous, but tears kept coming. Was this why he had been tense all day? Specially ordering new clothes, secretly getting a ring, making restaurant reservations in advance. To surprise her.

“Do you…… dislike it?”

Looking up at her as she remained silent, he added desperately:

“I’ll invite lots of guests. I’ll prepare everything, get a beautiful dress made…… Oh, how about having the designer you recruited make your wedding dress?”

“I hate that.”

“……If you don’t like the North, we can hold it in the capital. Anette…… you said you were preparing for the wedding business, right? If we have our wedding, it would help with that too……”

“I absolutely hate that.”

She hugged him tightly without even thinking of taking the ring box.

“I don’t want to invite guests. I won’t use it for business. If we’re going to do it, I want a small wedding.”

She didn’t want to show their precious memory to anyone.

It was the first time she had thought this way. A possessiveness she didn’t know existed within her arose. She wanted to make every moment with him hers alone.

“Then…… will you marry me?”

“We’re already married.”

Like the temple they had visited at dawn to avoid others’ eyes, she wanted to possess him with only God as witness, in a place unknown to everyone.

A wedding ceremony with just one priest to witness their vows.

“But won’t you marry me once more? This time, I want to hold a grand wedding ceremony so that there’s no one in the world who doesn’t know we’re a couple.”

But it seemed Darius’s desired wedding was different from her conception, so a compromise was needed between them.

“……”

“Anette.”

At those absurd words, she nodded while crying and laughing.

Darius, looking at her tear-stained face, took her hand and slipped the ring onto her finger.

A light more beautiful than the fireworks adorning the night sky now rested on her finger.

It was a light that would never go out.