"Beautiful..."
The moment Yuri saw Celine step out from the inner palace, time itself stopped.
It was as though a goddess had descended from the heavens. The wind sang in exultation, the flowers burst into joyous bloom, and the earth itself trembled in quiet reverence before her holiness.
Though startled for a moment by Yuri's words, Celine soon answered with a shy smile.
"Thank you, my lord husband."
He had heard that wearing a wedding dress was a woman's dream, but for a man as well, seeing the woman beside him clad in pure white was something special.
At the Vows Ceremony, he had stood spellbound by Celine's dignified expression. With trembling hands, they exchanged rings and quietly vowed eternal love.
In those jewel-like blue eyes dwelled a hope full of tenderness.
The instant he saw Celine blush and smile bashfully, Yuri's heart seemed to lift.
A happiness so intense it felt as though he were rising into the heavens swept through his body and filled his chest.
The memories after that were hazy. Before he realized it, he was seated in the groom's place in the great hall.
All around him, invited guests waited in long rows, and the Presentation Ceremony had already begun.
Uncertain whether he was dreaming or awake, Yuri absently touched the ring on the fourth finger of his left hand.
The cool feel of it came back to him with startling clarity.
When he confirmed that it was truly there, he let out a breath of relief and felt the tension leave his shoulders.
In the great hall, following the master of ceremonies' solemn proceedings, the nobles came forward one after another, respectfully presented inventories of their gifts, and offered their congratulations with perfect courtesy.
He had long since lost count of how many greetings he had already received.
With the factions reshuffled by the new king's coronation, nobles eager to forge ties with the Grand Queen Dowager faction were pouring in.
Their words of congratulations washed over him like the endless sound of waves, and before he knew it, his mind was beginning to drift.
Is this still going...?
Suppressing a small inward sigh, Yuri turned his eyes to the seat beside him.
Celine wore a smile of impeccable grace as she returned each congratulatory address with careful courtesy.
She was as serene and beautiful as the moon reflected on the surface of a still lake.
Perhaps sensing his gaze on her, Celine glanced back, and their eyes met for a brief moment.
The instant he saw her soft smile, the noise around them vanished as though it had never existed.
Yuri felt his heart leap. He hurriedly turned his gaze forward again, but his pulse refused to settle.
No, no, get it together...
The moment he pulled himself back into line, the great doors of the hall swung slowly open, and the next nobleman emerged from the waiting chamber.
"Now entering—Lord Victor von Mireille, Baron Montalbert!"
At the master of ceremonies' announcement, the air in the hall tightened in an instant.
Accompanied by his attendants, Victor von Mireille strode forward with measured dignity. Stopping before Celine and Yuri, he bowed.
"Lady Celine, congratulations on your marriage. I offer my heartfelt prayers for your happiness."
Celine smiled and inclined her head lightly.
"Baron Montalbert, thank you. I'm delighted you could come."
Her voice carried quiet authority, and even the surrounding nobles seemed entranced by her smile.
As expected of a former Virtuous Consort...
Seeing how thoroughly Celine drew the nobles' eyes, Yuri felt a private little stab of pride.
Ahh... I want to boast about her so badly...
He kept it off his face and reveled in the feeling inwardly alone. Sitting beside her as though it were the most natural thing in the world made him feel just a little proud.
Baron Montalbert's attendant stepped forward and handed the inventory of gifts to the attendant at Celine's side.
Celine took it, read through it for a moment, then quietly closed it and smiled in satisfaction.
"My, what a splendid gift... Baron Montalbert, you have my heartfelt thanks."
The instant those words rang through the hall, the tautness in the air eased a little, and small sighs of relief escaped from here and there.
When Celine returned the inventory to her attendant, Baron Montalbert looked at her with a tense expression.
"Lady Celine, might I ask one question?"
Here we go again...
Yuri smiled wryly to himself.
All right... maybe this time they'll finally manage to pry Celine's secret out of her.
The surrounding nobles seemed to feel the same way. Every last one of them held their breath and strained to listen.
As though she already knew what was coming, Celine fixed Baron Montalbert with a sharp, steady gaze.
Ease and mischief shimmered in her eyes.
After a pause, she slowly tilted her head and let the faintest smile touch her lips.
"I wonder whether it is something I can answer?"
"Lady Celine, today you are more beautiful than ever—truly like a goddess herself.
"And... your hair in particular. It shines with such lustrous gloss that I cannot help wondering whether there may be some special secret behind it..."
Though clearly flustered, Baron Montalbert managed somehow to force the words out.
Celine met his gaze for only a moment, then lowered her eyes with a soft smile.
That single gesture made it seem as though she had brushed his question aside at once.
From all across the hall came deep sighs, along with mutters of, "So that didn't work either..."
Once again, the nobles' faint hopes were shattered.
Baron Montalbert, thrown by the change in the room's atmosphere, looked visibly unsettled.
"...H-have I said something improper?"
Flustered, he turned his eyes back to Celine.
Celine smiled gently, as though enjoying his confusion.
"No, Baron Montalbert. Your words please me very much. It's only that..."
She let her gaze sweep briefly around the hall, and the restless atmosphere quieted at once.
"A woman is entitled to a few secrets, after all."
"Secrets, you say... Would it be possible for you to share that secret with us?"
Perhaps his wife or daughters had pressed him to ask, because impatience was written all over Baron Montalbert's face.
"Well now, it's not as though I do anything particularly special..."
Celine deliberately lowered her voice and looked straight at him.
At once, a small murmur ran through the hall.
Huh...? Could it be Baron Montalbert has actually worn her down this time...?
Yuri stared in surprise as Celine, after being so coy about it, seemed ready to continue.
As though they had sensed the same thing, everyone waited in breathless silence for her next words.
"If there is any secret at all... perhaps love?"
At Celine's answer, the nobles who had been eavesdropping all drew a sharp breath at once, and a few of them looked as though they were about to slide out of their chairs.
What? What's that supposed to mean? Love makes a woman beautiful...? Well, I've heard people say that before, but does it really work like that? And besides, that's obviously not what everyone wanted to hear, is it? They were probably hoping for beauty elixirs or some kind of beauty regimen...
Caught completely off guard, Yuri could only protest inwardly.
"Love...?" Baron Montalbert repeated in surprise, and Celine nodded in satisfaction.
"Yes, love.
"Love is what makes a woman beautiful.
"Why not give your wife a lovely gift?"
"A gift...?"
"We plan to open a shop before long where guests may experience our beauty and wellness treatments.
"We are also developing beauty elixirs made from ingredients gathered in the Demon Forest, so why not visit the Reberk Barony together with your wife?
"Your wife can enjoy a beauty massage at the salon, while Baron Montalbert might spend his time admiring the flowers at the Reberk branch of Amour Pavilion."
Celine narrowed her eyes in amusement for the briefest moment, slipping in a casual appeal for tourism in her territory.
"Amour Pavilion, you say!? Surely not the one by royal appointment...?"
"Is it true? I myself once received instruction from one of their tutors."
"How enviable. If only my household had that sort of wealth..."
"In our house, we have one of their instructors tutoring my son and daughter."
"What? Are you trying to boast?"
"Madam Bartini is opening a branch outside the royal capital...!?"
The nobles' astonishment threw the great hall into uproar.
"Silence, please—silence. The Presentation Ceremony is not yet concluded, so I ask that any questions be saved for the evening banquet."
The master of ceremonies hurriedly restored order. Celine smiled in satisfaction.
"S-so beauty elixirs will also be available at that salon?"
Baron Montalbert asked, his voice slightly shrill with excitement. Without losing her smile, Celine nodded gracefully.
"Yes, that is our intention. As you all know, my lord husband possesses the Merchant Gift.
"We are making every preparation with heartfelt care so that the many women who visit our territory may leave delighted."
"I-in that case, by all means... And when the time comes, at Amour Pavilion... I do hope..."
"Hehe, of course.
"It is a salon overseen by Madam Bartini, after all.
"With poetry, dance, and elegant conversation among the flowers, you may savor a dreamlike interlude to your heart's content."
They offer something that luxurious? I'd kind of like to see it...
Taking Celine's words at face value, Yuri found himself remembering the solo trip he had once taken to Kyoto in his previous life.
"T-that settles it... I absolutely must visit at least once...!"
Beaming from ear to ear, Baron Montalbert bowed once more and practically skipped out of the great hall.
After he had gone, Yuri leaned toward Celine and asked under his breath,
"Does that mean I can go see it too?"
"What? My lord husband is interested as well? In that case, I can have them summoned to the Harem, so there will be no need for you to go yourself."
"Ah, right. I just thought it might be nice to enjoy some music again after so long."
"...My lord husband? Of course there is music as well, but Amour Pavilion is a place for somewhat more special... more discreet pleasures."
"Wait, you mean...?"
"Yes... With Liese, and with Aina as well, you were so very restrained, and yet this time you are being remarkably forward."
Only then did Yuri realize, from Celine's words, exactly what kind of misunderstanding he had made, and he covered his face on the spot.
The very next moment, the great doors of the hall opened once more, and a figure cloaked in solemn majesty appeared.
"Her Majesty the Queen Dowager has arrived. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager will now enter!"