Maria.

After the incident with the quadruplets, the days that followed slipped by almost too quickly, blending into one another until I could barely tell them apart.

And strangely enough, the quadruplets had been unusually quiet throughout all of it.

No arguments, no sudden appearances, no irritating interruptions.

Nothing.

At first, I kept waiting for it to be temporary, for them to show up again and cause some form of trouble like they always did.

But it never happened.

Maybe...they had finally come to their senses.

Maybe, for once, they had realized that it was time to accept reality instead of fighting against it.

I wasn’t sure.

And honestly, I didn’t want to think too deeply about it.

Because tomorrow...

Tomorrow was my wedding.

Just the thought alone made my heart feel both heavy and light at the same time— excitement, nervousness and uncertainty—Everything was tangled together inside me.

Noah, on the other hand, had been completely focused on the preparations.

He handled everything personally—every arrangement, every detail and every instruction.

He kept saying he didn’t want even the smallest mistake.

Everything had to be perfect.

The guests had to be properly received.

Everything had to go exactly as planned.

I stared absentmindedly out of the window for a long moment, my thoughts drifting far away.

My lips parted slightly as I whispered under my breath,

"Mom... it’s happening tomorrow." My voice came out very soft, almost fragile, like I was afraid the words themselves might fall apart the moment they left my lips.

For a moment, I just stood there after saying it, staring blankly ahead as if waiting for the weight of it to settle properly inside me.

Almost like I wasn’t fully ready to accept it myself.

A tear slowly slid down my cheek before I even realized it was there.

I blinked quickly, startled, and reached up to wipe it away, but it was already too late, as another followed, then another.

And before I could properly gather myself, my vision blurred as the tears continued to fall quietly and uncontrollably.

Not loud sobs, but something softer...more broken in a way that still made my chest ache.

Just enough to feel it.

Just enough to let it out.

"But don’t worry," I said quickly after a shaky inhale, trying to steady my voice even though it trembled anyway. I forced a small laugh, but it wavered halfway through, sounding wrong even to my own ears. "He is nothing like Dad... Noah will make a very good son-in-law."

The words came out, but they didn’t feel as firm as I wanted them to.

And the moment I finished speaking, I suddenly let out a broken laugh again.

This time it wasn’t even close to amusement. It was emotional and unstable. Almost like my body didn’t know whether to cry harder or pretend to be fine.

I froze for a brief second after that, caught off guard by my own reaction.

The sound lingered in the air, unfamiliar and raw.

I quickly lowered my gaze, trying to regain control of myself before the emotions completely overwhelmed me again.

And just then—

"Lady Moon, it’s time to try on the dress," the omega’s voice came gently from behind me.

The sound pulled me back into the present instantly, as reality settled over me again.

I blinked quickly, straightening myself.

I nodded once.

"Yes."

Slowly, I stepped away from the window and moved toward the mirror.

Then slowly—almost carefully, as though every movement mattered—the omega helped me into the dress.

She adjusted the fabric around my shoulders, smoothing it down with practiced hands, ensuring every fold sat perfectly in place.

And little by little, I felt the weight of it settle properly against my body.

When she was done, I turned fully toward the mirror.

For a moment, I just stared.

The woman standing before me didn’t look like the same person who had been standing there earlier.

She looked...different...regal, composed.

Royal.

There was something about the way the dress fit that changed everything—how it framed me, how it carried itself, how it made me stand straighter without even trying.

The material alone was enough to speak for itself.

Luxurious.

Heavy in a refined way.

The texture, the detailing, the fine finishing—it all screamed wealth and careful craftsmanship.

This wasn’t just any dress.

It was expensive.

Very expensive.

And for a brief moment, it sank in just how much Noah had put into all of this—Every detail, every arrangement, and every silent decision he made behind the scenes.

He wasn’t just planning a wedding.

He was preparing something intentional.

Something meaningful.

A warmth slowly spread through my chest at that realization. It was soft and unfamiliar yet comforting in a way I didn’t expect.

"I will definitely cherish him," I said quietly to myself, my eyes still fixed on my reflection. A small smile formed on my lips without me forcing it. "Just the way he cherishes me."

The words felt strange but sincere as they left my mouth.

Before I could say anything else—

"Lady Moon, please permit me to step out for a bit," the omega said suddenly from behind me. Her voice sounded weak. "My stomach feels uneasy."

I turned slightly toward her.

Only then did I notice how pale she looked. Her posture was slightly bent, as though she was trying to hold herself together.

It was probably stomach discomfort...maybe something she ate.

I frowned lightly.

"You can go," I said casually, turning my attention back to the mirror. "Just make sure you return on time."

"Thank you, Lady Moon," she murmured quickly before leaving.

A few minutes passed in silence.

I remained standing there, still observing my reflection.

And then, the door opened again.

I assumed she had returned.

But the moment I heard the voice, I stiffened slightly.

"Luna...I will be the one attending to you from now till tomorrow," the newcomer said.

Something about the tone felt unfamiliar and wrong.

I turned sharply to look at her and immediately, my eyes narrowed.

The voice wasn’t the omega’s, and the way she stood—Covered, and hiding her face.

It triggered something in my memory.

That girl.

The one I had bumped into before.

Recognition clicked instantly.

"It’s you," I said coldly, my expression hardened. "Remove your veil."