My Unrequited Love Is an Absolute Secret - Chapter 118

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Side Story Episode 13

“Thank you for the wonderful advice. I’ll always keep it in mind.”
Harry and Aemerus smiled at each other, their eyes meeting.
How fortunate it was to have a trusted adult nearby to turn to for guidance.
“You two will live well. Especially you, Aemerus—if you heed my words.”
James clicked his tongue as he watched Aemerus, who showed no sign of releasing the hand he held with Harry.
Still, he wasn’t particularly worried, given that his partner was Harry.
“Albert is the one who concerns me.”
“Albert is your eldest son, isn’t he?”
James nodded at Harry’s Father’s question.
“I honestly can’t fathom what that boy thinks about. Whether he thinks at all is beyond me….”
“Sometimes a vessel takes longer to be completed.”
James had grown quite fond of this Chinese idiom he’d recently learned.
“You’re right. Waiting for one’s children is also a parent’s duty. I suppose I should be satisfied if Aemerus finds a good person and marries well.”
He set down his heavy burden and, with a noticeably lighter expression, asked after Robin.
“How is Robin doing?”
“Wonderfully, thank you. These days he practically lives at the Ice Rink.”
“I remember Robin saying he wanted to become a player like Aemerus.”
As he reached for his wallet, Harry cried out urgently.
“There’s no need to give him pocket money! He already bought new skates with what you gave him last time.”
Robin was growing so rapidly that his skates needed replacing constantly.
James smiled warmly, pleased to see that his money had been put to good use.
“Father, why don’t you get tickets to the NHL Finals instead? Even Harry couldn’t refuse that.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
Harry gave Aemerus’s arm a playful pinch.
He laughed even as she pinched him.
James watched the two of them banter adorably, then glanced at his wristwatch.
“I wish I could stay longer, but I’m afraid I must take my leave now. What about you, Aemerus?”
“I’ll stay a bit longer before heading out.”
“Very well. Just don’t stay too late.”
As James stood, he popped the Korean confection that had been in front of Aemerus into his mouth.
“If you don’t mind, could I take some of these with me? I’d like to let my wife taste them as well.”
“Of course!”
Harry’s Father readily went to the Kitchen and prepared some Korean confections and cinnamon punch for him to take.
Originally, James made his living by offering business advice to people and charging them for it.
But today he had refused payment.
How could he charge money from someone who would soon be family?
I was relieved to have something to send him off with, so the timing felt fortuitous.
Thanks to that, James stood at the Entrance with both hands full.
“Next time, let’s have a drink together, just us men. We can’t let the women outdo us, can we?”
Harry’s Father laughed at James’s words.
Harry’s Mother and Sheryl were already huddled together, using the selection of wedding catering companies as an excuse to bond.
“I’d be delighted anytime.”
“Take care on your way home, Father.”
Watching Aemerus already acting like someone else’s son, I couldn’t help but sigh.
If he was already like this before the wedding, it seemed my older brother could afford to take his time getting married.
“How can he be so smitten?”
James clicked his tongue, thinking of Aemerus, who couldn’t take his eyes off Harry for a single moment.
He hadn’t married Sheryl for love, so he didn’t quite understand it.
In fact, even right before entering the wedding hall, he hadn’t felt the reality of getting married sink in.
“Hmm.”
James glanced at the Korean sweets in his hand.
Imagining his wife’s delighted face when she received them, his heart felt oddly buoyant.
The secret to a successful marriage might be simpler than expected.
“I hope these suit Sheryl’s taste as well.”
James quickened his pace.

Chapter 3. First Love, Unrequited Love, and…

May, where the end of spring and the beginning of summer intersect.
The wedding took place in a charming, historic Church, just as Harry had envisioned.
Harry, dressed in a pristine mermaid-cut wedding gown, entered on her father’s arm.
It was the dress from the very brand she had always dreamed of wearing.
Fortunately, it hadn’t come to the unfortunate necessity of selling all of Aemerus’s stocks to afford the dress.
“Harry.”
“Aemerus.”
The two met in the middle of the wedding aisle, their eyes locking as they smiled at each other.
“Go on now.”
Her father gave her back a gentle push.
This was her first step toward independence, leaving the comfort of her parents’ home to build a life of her own.
Had she been alone, she might have been afraid.
But Aemerus stood beside her.
With him there to hold her hand and walk in step beside her, she felt no fear.
Unaware that her father had turned away to quietly wipe away tears, I walked forward with confidence.
“We have gathered here today to bless this sacred union of love and to bear witness to it.”
The officiant began the ceremony.
Colorful light filtered through the stained glass, illuminating the bride and groom in a kaleidoscope of hues.
Though all eyes were upon them, the couple had eyes only for each other.
“No matter how swiftly the world changes, the things that truly matter never lose their value through the passage of time. Love—it is love in which we must believe.”
As the officiant spoke of love, Aemerus gave Harry a subtle wink.
He now wore a new watch on his wrist.
A metal watch with a face the same green as his eyes.
It was a wedding gift and a present purchased with the royalties Harry had earned for the first time.
Aemerus had been so delighted when he received it.
“Love teaches us to reflect. It becomes the driving force that makes us better people.”
Even as they couldn’t tear their eyes from each other, the officiant’s words resonated deeply within me.
I had decided to set aside ten percent of my royalties and donate them together with Aemerus.
I was finally fulfilling a promise I had made to him long ago.
“Bride Harry, do you take Aemerus Huntington to be your husband, to love and cherish as you would your own body?”
“I do.”
“Groom Aemerus Huntington, do you take Harry to be your wife, to love and cherish as you would your own body?”
“I love Harry more than I love myself.”
At Aemerus’s answer, soft laughter rippled through the guests.
The officiant smiled and posed the final question.
“If anyone here objects to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
At that moment, the Church door opened and closed.
It was unclear whether someone had left or entered.
Only the guests seated in the back row and a glimpse of a blond man passing through had noticed.
In any case, no one came forward to object to their marriage.
The officiant, having completed the verification, spoke with a gentle expression.
“There are no objections to this marriage.”
Only then did the groom and bride each take a wedding ring, sharing the moment together.
“By the authority vested in me by New York State, I solemnly declare that these two have become husband and wife in the eyes of the law.”
Aemerus and I kissed as everyone watched.
We were truly husband and wife now.
“The reception will be held at a different venue. Please move there in an orderly fashion.”
Following the staff’s guidance, guests seated in the back rows began to stand.
Meanwhile, both sets of parents seemed occupied with receiving congratulations from the guests.
“Congratulations.”
“Your sister’s getting married—you must feel left out.”
“Not at all. I got an older brother now.”
I laughed upon hearing what Robin said while we were taking photographs.
If anyone had anticipated this marriage as much as I had, it was Robin.
He was absolutely elated at the prospect of becoming a real family with Aemerus.
As I broke into laughter, Aemerus kissed my cheek.
The photographer didn’t miss the moment and captured it perfectly.
“Perfect! The groom is quite enthusiastic. Wonderful!”
Embarrassed by the photographer’s praise, I hid my face behind the bouquet.
Of course, that moment was captured in the photograph as well.
A moment later, once I had composed myself and looked up again, Aemerus asked.
“How does it feel to finally be married?”
“Still a bit surreal. I’m Harry Huntington now….”
“But the fact that you’re Harry hasn’t changed.”
Aemerus met my gaze as he spoke.
“You can continue being yourself. After all, it was a girl named Harry that I fell in love with.”
Life after marriage could never be exactly the same as before.
Yet I appreciated that he told me I didn’t have to force myself to change.
How could I not love a man so gentle and thoughtful?
“Mrs. Huntington.”
Aemerus’s eyes widened at the title that came from my lips.
“Call me that often so I can get used to it.”
“As you wish.”
Aemerus kissed the ring finger of my left hand.
Now my left hand bore two rings—the emerald ring I had received during the proposal and the wedding band.
“Mrs. Huntington.”
Only when I heard it from Aemerus’s lips did I truly realize that I had become his wife.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————