Page 55 of Viktor at Sea

I may be getting wedding jitters, but I would sooner throw myself off the plank than abandon Astrid at the altar.

With no choice but to take my crew’s advice–not Dagfinn’s as not only was I saving myself for tonight, but I couldn’t imagine getting into the mood after the visual he had just put in my mind–I returned to my hut for a cold wash to wake myself up. While I felt slightly better, it didn’t do much else. However, the little benefits of it were reversed when I headed toward the square to grab something light for breakfast.

Not only did everyone I walk by remind me that today was my wedding day, and they would all be there. Some told jokes just as uncomfortable as Dagfinn’s. It would have been funny if I wasn’t so nervous.

It just showed how much this wedding meant to me. I needed everything to go smoothly. It just had to.

I couldn’t eat even half the food I loaded onto my plate for breakfast, so I left it out for the stray animals to feast on while I headed to Churchill’s workshop. I was a little early, but thankfully, he wasn’t with another client.

“Ready for your big day?” Churchill grinned as I let myself in.

“Why does everyone keep asking me that?” I groaned, eying my wedding clothes that he had already hung out for me on the rack. Perfectly pristine and beautiful, as far as a tunic and a pair of trousers were concerned.

“Maybe because it’s your wedding day,” he snickered. “Now, stop being so nervous and put on your clothes. Once you’re done, come out and show me. After that last alteration, I expect them to fit perfectly.”

Careful not to crease my garments, I gently laid them over the back of the partition as I stripped down to my underpants. I was pulling on my trousers when Churchill poked his head in, sliding over the loafers he had especially handcrafted for me.

“These turned out better than I could have hoped for,” he grinned before leaving me to continue getting dressed.

“Thanks, Churchill,” I chuckled at his antics and resumed getting dressed, leaving the shoes for the very end. “Oh, they fit like a dream,” I all but groaned as I wriggled my toes in them. Not only did they look great, but they were very comfortable and would fare great in the sand.

“When you get some time over the next few days, bring them back to me, and I’ll give them a good clean for you,” he offered like the kind soul he was. A little eccentric but kind, nonetheless.

Before I could thank Churchill for his services, we were disrupted by a knock on the door. Unlike me, the person waited to be called inside.

“If you don’t mind, Churchill, I’d like a moment alone with my future son-in-law,” I heard a familiar voice say from behind the partition.

“Of course,” Churchill agreed, and I could practically hear the grin in his voice as he saw himself out, leaving me alone with my future father-in-law.

“Do I need to come behind the partition, or will you come out here so we can talk?”

I stepped out from behind the partition with a sheepish look. If I thought the swarm of butterflies in the pit of my stomach were fluttering a lot before, that was nothing compared to now. Now, it felt like I had all the butterflies in the world in my stomach, fluttering away in a frenzy.

Daewon coming to speak to me just before the wedding ceremony could only mean one thing.

He was here to give methe talk.

“I’m here,” I chuckled, though the sound was a little strained. When I cleared my throat, Daewon laughed.

“I was very nervous on the day of my wedding, as well,” he said. “I’m glad you’re nervous because it shows you care.”

“That’s what I’ve been telling myself.”

“Being nervous is a good sign,” Daewon started, his smile slowly slipping off his face. “But that won’t stop me from having this conversation with you. I was supposed to have this conversation with you sooner, but I guess I was in a spot of denial.” He shrugged, appearing as if he had drifted into some sort of monologue, and I was a mere spectator who had a front-row seat to the show. “I mean no disrespect to Freja here, but Astrid is my only daughter. She is also my youngest child and is very dear to me and my wife. As a man who has never picked favourites between my children, I must finally admit that Astrid is my favourite child. Don’t get me wrong, I love Dustin with all my heart, but Astrid is the apple of my eye and she will always hold a very special place in my heart. Perhaps it’s the way she resembles her mother or the way she’s always had this fire in herthat I never want to see burn out, but my Astrid is very special. And I’m not just saying that because she’s my daughter.”

All I could do was nod my head and listen carefully to Daewon who wasn’t even remotely close to being finished with his monologue.

“I always knew that she would get married one day as every person does, but I have always found myself not looking forward to that day. I cannot lie–” he chuckled, his eyes beginning to water. I would have offered him my handkerchief if I didn’t fear disturbing his thought bubble. “–I have prayed on more than a few occasions that Astrid never gets married so she can stay with Katarina and me forever. I know it’s silly, but I couldn’t bear the thought of my daughter marrying anyone unworthy of her…” he paused, watching me for a long moment. “And then you came along.”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Me?”

“The both of you may have been blind and in denial of your feelings all these years, but Katarina and I weren’t. We saw it from the very beginning. We both knew that you were suppressing your feelings and honestly, I’m glad you waited this long to propose to Astrid. Any sooner, and I wouldn’t have given you my blessing so easily,” he laughed, though the sound was forlorn and heavy. “I guess what I’m trying to say is, I’m glad that it’s you Astrid chose to marry. I could not believe that any man is worthy of my Astrid, but you have proved me wrong, Viktor. If anyone is close to being worthy enough for my daughter, it’s you,” Daewon told me, his voice trembling.

Unable to say anything that could return such a beautiful, heartfelt sentiment, I pulled him in for a hug.

“I promise to make her happy and always take care of her,” I whispered, feeling rather moved myself.

“Just love her. All you have to do to make my daughter happy is to love her. But you must remember, Viktor,” Daewoncontinued in a warning tone, the hug suddenly turning a little cold and less friendly. “If you ever do anything to hurt her, you’ll have me to answer to.”

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