WBWB | Side Story 12

Baldr’s only concern as he carried the jewels was whether they would appear too old-fashioned to Jeanne, accustomed to the latest fashions. However, when he opened the box, Jeanne’s wide-eyed reaction was not what he expected.

“These are… absolutely stunning. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful, even at court. Although I haven’t seen much, but… These jewels are so beautiful… I’m not sure if they’ll… suit me.”

A question bloomed in Baldr’s mind.

‘Too beautiful? Doesn’t suit her?’

He couldn’t fathom what she meant.

“…What do you mean? Too beautiful… but they don’t  suit you? They’re beautiful so why? I don’t understand. If you don’t like them, I’ll have something else made for you, even if it’s on short notice…”

Jeanne shook her head, cutting him off.

“No! No! I just mean… compared to these jewels, my appearance is rather… plain… They’re truly beautiful. But I’m not… I don’t think I can do them justice. They would suit someone more… glamorous. Someone like a jewel, don’t you think?”

Baldr thought to himself,

‘What the… what in the world is she talking about…?’

If anyone other than Jeanne had said those words, he would have flown into a rage and grabbed them by the collar. In his eyes, Jeanne was the most beautiful woman in the world. Of course, he had completely forgotten his previous thoughts about her appearance, how he had initially assessed her.

“…”

Frowning deeply, Baldr decided to show Jeanne directly that her worries were unfounded. He fastened the bracelet around her delicate, white wrist. Next was the necklace. As he stood behind her to clasp it, he had to suppress the urge to kiss the nape of her neck, revealed beneath her hair.

“It suits you already,” he said, and meant it. 

At his words, Jeanne’s neck and ears flushed crimson.

“What were you even worried about?”

He muttered unconsciously. And when he finally placed the crown on her head, Baldr realized it.

He truly was about to marry the most beautiful woman in the world.

It was an objective fact. He led Jeanne to the mirror to show her. She looked even more breathtaking in her reflection.

‘How fortunate I am.’

Thinking this, Baldr embraced her from behind, his arms around her waist.

“I wish today were our wedding day. I want to marry you tomorrow, if possible. I don’t need anything else, as long as I can marry you.”

Her body fit perfectly in his embrace. The feel of her body lightly pressed against his, her subtle scent, a mixture of flowers and her own unique fragrance, made him dizzy.

“If you feel the same, I’d like to… expedite things. Even so, I’ll do whatever you wish. Is there anything you want for the wedding? Anyone you want to invite, or anything special you’d like to do?”

At the same time, he felt impatient, wanting to make her his as soon as possible.

“I feel the same way. I don’t need a grand wedding or a beautiful dress… I just want my family to be there.”

“Of course. How could we have a wedding without your family? I should have brought them with us.”

Baldr finally remembered Jeanne’s family back in Franc.

‘Oh dear.’

He had been like a horse with blinders, focused only on bringing Jeanne with him in Skadi. With her family remaining in Franc, it would be easier for the Crown Prince to track Jeanne’s whereabouts and potentially even hold them hostage. The thought made him uneasy.

“And… there’s one more thing I wish for,” Jeanne said, placing her hand on top of his.

“Tell me.”

“Your Grace, if you’ll allow it… I’d like to bring my mother and sister here to live with us. I don’t want to miss them anymore, waiting for letters.”

“Why wouldn’t I allow it? I know how much you miss your family. I was hoping they would stay here with us, too.”

It was something Baldr wanted as well. In addition to the previous reasons, if Jeanne’s family settled here, wouldn’t that give her one less reason to long for Franc?

“Is that all? Is there nothing else you want from me?”

“Nothing else. Nothing but you.”

When Jeanne looked up at him, he was surprised by the depth of his love for her. What was love, anyway?

“I want you to know. You’re beautiful. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

What was this intangible emotion that could cause such agonizing pain and such immense happiness? What was it that made one willing to abandon everything, and yet hold on so tightly? 

At that moment, he wanted to bring the world to her feet, to make everyone kneel before his queen. This was a desire he had never experienced before.

“…”

At his words, Jeanne lowered her eyes shyly. When her beautiful red lips curved into a smile, Baldr knew what she was allowing him. It was something he desperately desired as well. He lowered his head and covered her lips with his own.

Nothing in the world could be sweeter than this. She opened her mouth, and he pushed his tongue inside, as if entering the gates of heaven.

‘If only I could carry her to bed right now.’

Tasting her lips, Baldr felt his whole body burning.

‘No, even right here would be fine. If we could fall together, even the cold floor would be no different from a king’s bed.’

But, really… why shouldn’t they?

‘If we’re going to consummate our marriage, wouldn’t it be alright if it were tonight…?’

Baldr had no answer to the whisper of his instincts.

The only reason Baldr managed to restrain himself from tearing off the clothes covering her and leaving her adorned only with the beautiful jewels, from collapsing onto her naked body, was that he, too, wanted a perfect wedding night with her.

Baldr wanted a first night that would be a gift to both Jeanne and himself.

Wedding preparations began without a solution to the problem of the unsigned marriage petition. 

The next day, Baldr sent Jeanne’s letter calling for her family with a messenger riding the fastest horse, while also dispatching messengers to the minor lords of the Skadi territory.

The message invited them to the mansion for tea and friendly conversation. Friendly conversation with their liege lord? The lords, who had never received such an invitation before, arrived at the mansion a few days later, bewildered, only to hear the same cryptic message from Baldr in person.

‘About the winter hunt this year… let’s postpone it. Why? Because I’m getting married around that time. The bride is a fine lady. A noblewoman from another region, or a princess? You’ll find out at the wedding, so don’t ask for details. It’s my wedding, so you’ll attend, of course. So when exactly is it? The date hasn’t been set yet. But aside from who the bride is, why hasn’t the date been set, you ask?… Have you ever heard the saying, ‘Ignorance is bliss’?’

The gist was that he was getting married soon. And to a mysterious bride, no less.

‘You know I trust you like family, don’t you? I’m telling you this in advance, so if this news spreads beyond Skadi territory, I’ll know it came from you.’

Along with the announcement of his marriage, it was a veiled threat, disguised as a request for discretion.

While he diligently threatened everyone into silence about his wedding, good news arrived. Jeanne’s family had arrived at the mansion. Baldr finally breathed a sigh of relief.