My Happy Marriage (LN) - Volume 7 - Chapter Pr

  PROLOGUE  

Outside the window, a light pink petal floated by, riding on the gentle spring wind.

The weather—sunny and clear and pleasantly breezy—was so exquisite that it lifted one’s spirits.

While the cherry blossoms were a bit past peak bloom, they had only just begun to fall from the branches. Occasionally, they would drop down all at once like a rain shower, covering the ground in a thin carpet of petals.

Miyo sat in a chair, staring down at her hands.

Kiyoka…

Today, she would finally be wed.

The far-off voices of the attendees filtered unendingly into the dressing room.

Yet Miyo’s heart was filled with impatience and anxiety—and not the kind that usually came before a wedding.

“U-um, Sis.”

“Oh, Miyo! You are so, so pretty, I swear! I wish I could marry you myself.”

At her side, her future sister-in-law, Hazuki Kudou, blushed, complimenting Miyo for what must have been the fifth time that day. Though Miyo was grateful for Hazuki’s words, they did nothing to clear the feeling in her chest.

“Um, that’s not it…”

“Miss Hazuki is absolutely right, Miss Miyo. You are so very beautiful and elegant… Oh, it’s almost too much.”

Although the ceremony had yet to start, Yurie, a longtime servant of the Kudou family, was already overcome with emotions, wiping the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief.

Glancing at Yurie with slight displeasure was Fuyu Kudou, Miyo’s future mother-in-law. For once, she wasn’t wearing one of her luxurious Western dresses, owing to the importance of the occasion. Instead, she had on a married woman’s ceremonial black kimono sporting the Kudou family’s flower pattern crest, along with a beautifully refined pine, bamboo, and plum design. Tying this all together was her hairpin, which featured floral patterns of inlaid mother-of-pearl.

Fuyu smacked her closed fan against the palm of her hand in irritation.

“They do say fine feathers make fine birds, I suppose… Surely you can do something about that dismal look on your face, can’t you, Miyo?”

“Excuse you!”

“M-my apologies.”

Despite Hazuki’s rebuke, Miyo meekly apologized, knowing full well that her melancholic expression was unsuitable for such a formal occasion.

Nevertheless, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t bring herself to smile. How could she?

After all, today should have been one of the happiest days of her life. It was the day she would be married to her fiancé, Kiyoka Kudou, the person she loved most in the world.

And yet the man himself was nowhere to be found.

As Miyo fell silent and cast her eyes down, Hazuki gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

“It’ll be okay, Miyo.”

“But…”

“Kiyoka may be a surly blockhead, but he wouldn’t dream of missing out on the wedding. He loves you so much. And though he may not show it, he’s been looking forward to today more than anything. You know that, don’t you?”

“Hazuki’s absolutely right, Miss Miyo. Why, the young master has been ever so excited about the wedding. It’s heartwarming to see, though he’s been so elated lately that I’m almost starting to worry about him.”

Encouraged by Hazuki and Yurie, Miyo lifted up her head.

She wanted to believe in Kiyoka. In the man who would think of her first and foremost. She was sure that he would manage things somehow.

Miyo stared hard at the item in her hands.

The protective charm Kiyoka had given her shortly after they had met. She clutched it tightly.

“Excuse me? I apologize, but given the time…I don’t believe we can wait any longer.”

The person in charge timidly called out to them.

The time to begin the ceremony was already closing in. Originally, Miyo should have left the dressing room for the waiting room half an hour ago to get ready. However, she had selfishly insisted on making them wait where they were for Kiyoka.

But now that extra time had elapsed, too. It would adversely affect the schedule afterward and inconvenience all the people at the shrine conducting the ceremony, as well as the attending guests.

“I’ll head over.”

She just needed to get herself ready and wait for Kiyoka there instead. But in the event her fiancé did fail to appear, she would have a lot of apologizing to do.

“All right, let’s get a move on. Pull it together.”

Fuyu’s brusque attempts at encouragement finally brought the hint of a smile to Miyo’s face.

“I will. Here I go.”

Miyo collected her nerves. She couldn’t keep letting everyone worry over her. After all, she was going to be Kiyoka’s wife from now on.

I’m going to be Miyo Kudou.

She would have to conduct herself respectfully if she wanted to honor the name.

Standing up straight, Miyo walked forward. She was sure it would be fine. Kiyoka would never betray Miyo’s heart; it was unthinkable.

The soft spring breeze caressed Miyo’s cheeks as she exited the dressing room.