Rey was on the phone with Jovi when Luana came out of the bathroom that morning. A medium-sized, off-white towel was perched on her head, covering the back-length crown she'd soaked in floral-scented shampoo a few minutes ago.

There was no need to clarify, but she definitely needed to wash up from what happened last night. With the love of her life, of course.


"I need to go there?" Rey's voice filled the modest room, overlapping with the muttered voice of the morning newsreader wearing a light brown blazer. "Are you sure you can solve this on your own?"

Luana didn't want to interfere with her husband's work, but part of her felt bad that Rey had to be there because of her. Being a businessman like Rey, shouldn't the man be working hard to earn even more euros? But look at how the man hadn't been to the office for almost three days, because of the problems that had come to his home life.

"Alright," Rey's voice was heard again. "Make sure they don't ask for a penalty for anything, Jovian. After all, we won the tender in the first place. And any changes were not detailed in the engagement letter yesterday. You checked it well, right?"


It seemed that the business conversation between the nobleman and his trusted secretary would still go on for a long time, so Luana chose to sit in front of the dressing table and lowered the towel wrapped around her hair.

Leaving Rey still seemingly focused on his phone call, Mrs. Lueic had now reached for a comb to tidy up her half-wet hair. Her bathrobe had been replaced with a knee-length light blue dress, without her husband even noticing.


There was no telling if they would return to the mansion today, or if Rey already had plans for him to spend time with Luana. Grabbing a compact powder from one of the lesser-known cosmetic brands, Luana lightly powdered her cheeks. She really didn't need to over-polish, as the universe had rewarded her with an unadulterated beauty.

"I'll call you back later." Rey's voice came back. "Yes, yes. No, I don't know yet. I don't think so, because I'm planning to have a picnic today."

Luana's hand movements that were patting the sponge on the cheek area stopped instantly, when her ears caught something odd. Picnic? Who was going on a picnic?

Rey seemed to be smiling just as Luana turned around, looking confused at the nobleman's bluish irises that were now blinking softly.

"Of course with my wife, Jovian," Rey sounded half-mocking. "What am I to you, the one who's all about work?"

Luana's laughter almost burst out, if she didn't hold it back quickly. Look at how Rey is now mocking Jovi, right?

"Didn't I tell you to find a date, young man?" Rey seemed to enjoy teasing Jovi this time. "Go on a date, Jovi. Your youth is too gloomy to be spent alone."

Gosh, Rey really seemed like a seasoned veteran.

"Alright, I'm hanging up. Bye!"

Just as Rey pressed the red phone button on the screen, Luana was actually looking at him with a furrowed brow. "We're going on a picnic?"

Still holding the sponge in her hand, Luana was almost done with her makeup when Rey chose to move from the edge of the bed. Reaching out to his wife who looked always charming that morning, Rey landed a light peck on Luana's cheek. A blush followed, and thankfully Luana didn't need to add any blush to her cheeks.

"I don't want to go back to the mansion today," Rey whispered as he pulled a chair closer. Sitting across from each other in this simple and small room allowed Rey the freedom to do anything to his wife, his beloved wife.

"You don't have to work?" Luana opened her voice. "Haven't you been out of the office for a few days?"

Rey noticed how Luana's face always looked soothing, as if the expression on her face could dispel all the burdens he felt. Jovi had just informed him that there was a slight problem with their company's tender, which allowed them to lose a few thousand euros.

This should have made Rey upset, but look at how he chose to stay with his wife instead. As if he didn't want to miss a second, as if he didn't want to waste the time that they had just stepped into a new beautiful phase.

A phase when both of them had opened up to each other, not just about their feelings but about themselves. The long conversations and chats last night really opened up the veil that they had kept closed tightly, as if breaking down the walls that had been built unconsciously since the first day of their marriage.

Both Luana and Rey didn't seem to want to let this moment pass quickly, before the storm was as high and fierce as what they had to face ahead.

"Ah, wait a minute." Rey controlled the atmosphere by getting back up, then walked with a solid swing of steps towards the cupboard in the corner of the room.

Opening the door, Rey reached into the pants he wore yesterday afternoon. Pulling something out of the pocket, he hid it in his hand now.

"I have something for you, sweetheart," he whispered softly. The man's eyeballs clearly showed excessive interest and enthusiasm.

Luana put down her sponge after applying enough powder, and was completely done with the simple makeup on her face. Now giving her full attention to her husband, she asked no less enthusiastically.

"What is it?"

"Close your eyes for a moment," Rey pleaded. "Promise not to be surprised."

Luana didn't need to question anything, because she believed in everything Rey did to her. Every touch last night had made her trust Rey completely, especially now that she was carrying the proof of their love.

The proof of love is very extraordinary, because it happened on the first try even though the situation itself was not very conducive. But isn't the future the most important thing?

"Alright." Closing her eyes tightly, Luana waited.

Until Rey opened the grip of his hand right in front of Luana, in an equally quiet whisper. "Now open your eyes."

Obeying her husband's request, Luana blinked when she saw a glittering object now resting on top of the nobleman's palm. And in one blink, Luana knew what it was.

"Rey...."

"This is our wedding ring," Rey had spoken first. "I wore it when we were in Leipzig, and then took it off when we returned to Munich."

Luana felt her heart skip a beat, even over a ring. The ring that she had once placed on his finger in front of witnesses, the ring that Rey had taken off when they had not even been husband and wife for an hour.

Luana never wanted to force Rey to wear his ring, because she knew this marriage was not the man's wish. Unlike Luana who always wore her ring without ever taking it off, Rey had never been this emotional just for a ring.

And now, he showed her the same ring again.

"I never thought wearing a ring was cool, Luana," Rey said carefully. He was afraid he would make his wife uncomfortable, he was worried that Luana would take offense at this. "But now, I want to wear it for the rest of my life."

Luana could not mumble anything, leaving only a look of confusion on her beautiful face. She waited, she was still waiting.

"I still remember how you put this ring on me back then," Rey recalled the memory of their impromptu wedding day. "Your hands were shaking then, Luana. And I, in no way, could force a smile on my face because you were not the one I expected to do that for me."

Rey had really said a lot, even though it was still quite early.

"Rey, you don't have to if you don't want to-"

"Now I want to," Rey interrupted quickly, with a smile on both corners of his lips. "I don't know how I'd be without you, but I'll be sure to announce you to the world."

No, it can't be like this. What would happen if Luana's status was revealed to everyone?

Shaking her head quickly, Luana looked disapproving.

"No," she said clearly. "You can't, Rey. You'll get flack, you'll be labeled-"

"I don't care, Luana." Firm, and without hesitation. Not only was the expression on the man's face one of earnestness, but also his eyes were as calm as a lake. "I will announce our marriage to all, I will reveal that you, Luana Casavia --are now mine alone. For me alone."

Luana didn't know whether she should cry or not. The announcement Rey was talking about would definitely change their lives, although Luana was still guessing what kind of situation would await them at the end of this road.

Would it be happiness? Or a sea of tears?

"Would you like to put my ring on one more time, Mrs. Lueic?"

Rey's voice was silky smooth, and Luana couldn't help but tear up. Nodding her head, of course the young woman agreed.

"As you wish, My Lord."

And so it was that Rey's wedding ring was placed once again on the man's ring finger, declaring that he had given all his love to that woman --Luana Casavia.