That Lady’s Stalker - Chapter 47
Certainly, once Asher had his hair neatly trimmed, the messy cut turned out to highlight his features even more than his long hair had.
“Thank you. Olivia’s a little disappointed, though.”
Asher absentmindedly ran his fingers through his hair. Oliver, watching, couldn’t help but mutter.
“She has a taste that’s different from everyone else. It’s a bit strange.”
“Yes, there’s definitely that.”
As Asher smiled, thinking of Olivia, his face seemed much more at ease than before. The sharp, tense energy that had once surrounded him now felt like a gentle spring breeze.
Only then did Oliver feel the last bit of worry he had faded away.
“Oliver, actually…”
Asher cleared his throat, as though embarrassed to speak. He brushed the back of his neck with a sheepish look.
“I want to propose to Olivia. I’m not sure what she’d like, so I thought I’d ask you.”
Finally, Oliver understood Olivia. He couldn’t help but notice how striking Asher looked when he appeared shy—an irresistible man who made women glance at him even without trying.
Before his mind could wander any further into his thoughts on his sister’s taste, Oliver quickly answered.
“She only likes things that make her stand out, like her own face and attention.”
“…Not, not things like gifts?”
“She pretty much likes anything that draws attention to her, whether it’s her appearance, her personality, or objects.”
“…”
Sadly, it was the truth. Olivia cared only about enhancing her image, whether through knowledge, cultivated traits, or material possessions.
“But, I think, if it’s from the Prince, she’ll like it. Even if it’s something that doesn’t exactly match her.”
“Oliver…”
“Please, take good care of my sister.”
Oliver stood up and bowed to Asher.
His silly sister hadn’t even mentioned marriage to the Prince yet. But despite everything, Asher—who was probably unaware of the situation—was planning to propose.
They were truly a pair that knew only each other.
On his way home, Oliver wiped his nose with his hand, feeling oddly proud.
That same day, with Oliver’s help, Olivia and Asher each proposed to the other at the same time. They were both completely unaware that the other would do so. They were shocked, then burst into laughter, before giving a thumbs-up toward Oliver, who was watching from a distance.
Oliver clapped and congratulated them.
Even though the season was shifting toward winter, it felt strangely warm, not cold. The sky was high, and the leisurely flowing clouds drifted lazily. The rustling leaves sang a blessing for them, and the swirling butterflies danced a blessing for them too.
* * *
And so, in the first winter of the new year, their father finally relented, and Olivia and Asher were married.
Clear bell chimes rang through the well-maintained garden, and the once-chatty guests began to take their seats.
The branches, stripped bare and seemingly cold, were draped with delicate lace and soft lighting, while the frozen ground was covered in a thick layer of vibrant artificial flower petals.
The garden was so bright and beautiful that it was hard to believe it was winter.
Oliver, who was about to watch Olivia walk down the aisle, spoke to her in a gruff tone.
“Why insist on having it outside when it’s freezing? Look at them, everyone’s shaking.”
“If we did it inside, it wouldn’t be as fun.”
Olivia’s playful laugh made her even more beautiful. Dressed in white, she looked like a fairy from winter.
“Really, your taste…”
Oliver pouted, hesitated, and then walked closer to Olivia.
“Sis, you look really beautiful today.”
“Thank you, Oliver.”
Oliver dropped his playful tone and hugged his sister sincerely.
Despite the fact that her dress was slightly disheveled, Olivia hugged her brother back.
“Live well.”
Oliver felt a sense of emptiness but also a strange joy. His sister’s face, so full of happiness in the end, made him feel that way.
As the bridal march played, Olivia, holding her father’s hand, walked slowly down the aisle, unable to hide her surprise.
“Fa, father?”
She tried speaking to him softly, but it seemed her father didn’t hear her, as his shoulders shook roughly. He was even letting out little sniffles.
“My little daughter, when did she grow up so much…”
“I’ve been grown for a long time, you know…”
Eventually, Duke Fernando grabbed Olivia and began to sob loudly. In the middle of the aisle, Olivia, rarely unable to control her expression, let the tears fall.
“Father, please calm down.”
As she patted his back, she felt like crying too. Just last night, her father had hugged her, shedding tears and wishing her well. He had promised not to cry the next day when he sent his grown-up daughter away, yet here he was, just like the night before.
Far in the distance, Asher, who had been waiting, was also taken aback. Olivia, not making any move, pulled her father along and said,
“Father, let’s go quickly. I want to get married!”
“You heartless child. Your father is crying, and you say that?”
While the father and daughter bickered, Asher, who had been silently waiting, could no longer stand it and moved. He stepped between them, holding Olivia’s hand and turning to Fernando.
“I’ll take her from here.”
Fernando blinked in surprise at Asher’s words but, reluctantly, handed Olivia’s hand over to him The empty hand felt strangely bitter.
“My little daughter…”
He watched the backs of the two lovers walking side by side, and he let fall a final tear.
As he cried, the Emperor, who had been standing at the podium for the wedding speech, along with every parent in the room, couldn’t help but laugh and cry at Fernando’s display.
The wedding ceremony was soon filled with a sound that was impossible to distinguish between laughter and sobs.
The two standing at the podium blinked in confusion at the odd sounds coming from all directions, before turning to face each other. In their eyes, there was nothing but happiness and joy.
Olivia and Asher burst into laughter.
From their joined hands, love seemed to flow.
Snow began to fall, as if blessing them. The snowflakes, as large and white as the blossoms of the white fringe tree, drifted down.
It was a warm winter, like spring, that had arrived. A winter in which the seeds, soon to break through the frozen ground and sprout, were awakening with intense force.
A warm spring-like winter.
