< Apiography 13. Wedding march >
A13
“The Empire’s sword quality has changed?”
“yes. It was really cool back then. “It’s already been more than half a year.”
Adeshan smiled as he recalled the past. The decisive battle of the Sword Saint that took place that day in the Grand Circle was an unforgettable memory.
In front of her, an elf woman with white hair was listening to the story with her hands clasped together. She was once El Shea, the savior’s assistant.
She visited the continent after completing the restoration work on Adren for the first time in two years. She was so preoccupied that she was unaware of important events such as the replacement of the Sword Master.
Elthea asked with sparkling eyes.
“So what happened to Jaifa? “Are you dead?”
“no. I was released after being promised freedom by His Majesty the Emperor. “I didn’t know, but we had originally decided to break the blood pact if we came down from the Sword Saint.”
“what? Then wouldn’t it have been better to come down after losing to someone a long time ago?”
“I thought so too… As he also said, I guess there are definitely standards in the world of prosecutors that ordinary people cannot understand.”
Adeshan scratched his cheek. She also had the same question and asked Jaifa the same question. Her response when she returned was ‘I’d rather die.’ It was.
“I see… Hehe, as expected, it is difficult to adapt to the world of mortals. “Because so much happens in such a short period of time.”
“Hehe, it certainly seems like that for a species that lives as long as Elthea. “That’s because I spent time with dragons.”
“But the most surprising thing is him. What is your name?”
Elthea asked with sparkling eyes. Her eyes remained on the baby in Adeshan’s arms.
It was deadly cute to see him sleeping peacefully while wrapped in a swaddle. His hair, as black as midnight, resembled Adeshan’s a little more than Ronan’s.
“Lance. It means sword in the Southern Native language. “Instructor Nabi Rose made this for you. Isn’t it okay?”
“So pretty. “It’s a girl, right?”
“I’m a man. Because my eyelashes are long, I get misunderstood…”
“Awww.”
“Oh, he woke up.”
At that time, Lance woke up and opened his eyes. Elthea flinched.
Ranse’s eyes, revealed beneath thick eyelashes, were a vermilion color resembling a sunset.
It was a timeless color that had been passed down from the distant past. El Sia’s vision became hazy as she suddenly remembered the days she spent with her savior. She put her face close to her Lance and smiled.
“Hello, Lance. “Her eyes look a lot like her grandfather.”
“Ugh?”
Lance tilted his head. Adeshan was looking down at the two with a happy expression. Squeak – Suddenly the door opened and the Grancia family’s butler came in.
“It’s almost time to come in.”
“Ah, thank you.”
The butler bowed politely and left the room. The place they were in was the bridal waiting room at the Grancia Mansion. After confirming that the door was closed, Adeshan looked inside the room.
“Sister, are you ready?”
“Now, wait! “Just wait a moment!”
Iril said in a panic. She was sitting in front of a huge mirror, constantly adjusting her clothes. Her pure white wedding dress was on her, just like her own hair.
Even though the maids had already prepared perfectly, seeing her do that made her seem quite nervous. Adeshan approached Iril and smiled.
“Don’t be so nervous, sister. “It’s really nothing.”
“Yeah, right? “You don’t have to worry too much, right?”
“sure. “His and I’s wedding was over in an instant.”
“Well, I cried so much at the time that I was out of my mind, but I think that was the case… I’m jealous that they finished first… Adeshan was really pretty back then.”
Iril was in tears. At Ronan’s wedding, Ade Shan wore an Allied commander’s uniform rather than a wedding dress.
It was so pretty that I literally went crazy, but compared to that, I felt so shabby. Iril looked at his clothes once again and asked worriedly.
“You know, am I pretty now?”
“···yes?”
For a moment, Adeshan was dumbfounded. She and Elsia, who had been blinking in silence, looked back at each other at the same time.
It was probably the most ridiculous question in the world.
****
The autumn sky was high. The trees that had grown neatly were burning themselves as if they were resisting the coming winter. The leaves that fluttered whenever the wind blew were filled with the colors of autumn leaves.
Schlieffen and Iril’s wedding took place in the garden of the Grand Mansion. The vast yet beautiful estate had been transformed into a perfect wedding venue today.
The luxuriously decorated garden was crowded with guests from all over the continent. Nobles and imperial families from each country, as well as officials from Phileon led by Kratyr, Archmage Lorhon, and Emperor Balon 44 personally attended and graced the occasion. Asher sighed when he saw the familiar face.
“Yo, Dragon King?!”
“iced coffee. You are the wizard who saved the dragon city. How have you been?”
Dragon King Ajidahaka waved his hand. His hair reminiscent of a golden mane and his unique appearance stood out even though he was polymorphed into a human. Next to him, a middle-aged man with jet-black hair was standing carrying a large trunk bag.
“It’s been a while. Maisie Asher. “I’m happy because it’s been a while since I’ve seen a human.”
“Alibrihe…!”
Asher’s eyes widened. It was Alibrihe, the black dragon whom I met in the Dragon City. Like Elthea, she came down to earth after almost two years.
He suddenly sat down and opened his bag.
“Where did Ronan go? “He came with a gift, but no matter how hard I searched, I couldn’t find it.”
“Hehehe!”
Asher was shocked. Inside the trunk, a pair of prosthetic hands and legs were neatly stored. Judging from its length and shape, it seemed to fit Ronan’s physical condition.
“W-Why are things like that suddenly…!”
“I was greatly indebted to you some time ago, and there was nothing I could give you other than this. A person’s future is something that cannot be predicted… Ah, yours is also prepared.”
Alibrihe laughed. He said that he also used this as a congratulatory gift to give to the bride and groom.
Because it was finished with an artificial skin, it looked like it had actually been cut off from a human limb. Asher swallowed thickly and shook his head.
“Okay, thank you… the wedding is starting soon, so I’ll come find you after it’s over. “Well, Ronan, if you officiate today and go to the front…”
He was about to say something. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out from the stage in the center of the ceremony hall.
“ladies and gentlemen! Please pay attention!”
“Hi…!”
“You can have drinks and food later. It’s not like I’m running away. “This is an important event, so everyone focus!”
It was a loud shout that was out of place. Asher and the two dragons turned their heads at the same time. In front of the golden podium, Ronan, dressed in a suit, stood with his hands in his pockets.
“hello. My name is Ronan, who officiated. “Honestly, I don’t think anyone knows my face, so I won’t introduce myself.”
“You’re talking nonsense.”
The Dragon King sighed. Actually, it wasn’t wrong. There was at least no one gathered here who did not know the swordsman who cut down the star.
As if to prove it, most of the guests burst into laughter. After confirming that the surroundings were sufficiently quiet, he stretched out his index finger and pointed towards the mansion.
“Then, let’s get started with the wedding. “Bride and groom, enter.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to the direction Ronan pointed. Before long, the door to the mansion opened and Iril and Schlieffen walked out.
Originally, they would have had to enter separately, but it was Ronan’s plan for Iril, who did not have a father to hold her hand. The moment the two stepped onto Virgin Road, silence fell over the crowd.
“···and.”
In an instant, everyone in the room forgot how to breathe. It would be no exaggeration to say that Schlieffen, dressed in a wedding dress, was the most fashionable person in the empire, but unfortunately, next to him was Iril in a wedding dress. The Duke of Grancia, who was watching the two people’s stance, muttered to himself.
“···You thief.”
“How did that blunt kid bring in a woman like a sheep? “There are so many hallways.”
His wife also helped out. Even though he was her son, she couldn’t defend him. Iril’s current control was at a level comparable to that of Navarroje descending in his true form.
The hem of a long, gorgeous wedding dress, like the fin of a tropical fish, was sliding across the road. Two flower girls holding baskets were walking about five steps ahead, scattering green flower petals on the road.
The two people finally reached the podium and stopped. Ronan looked at them in turn, looking very nervous. Iril, who met his eyes, whispered softly.
“Ro, Ronan… come on…”
She was helpless with the shame and happiness she was experiencing for the first time in her life. Her blush was almost visible to her eyes, but it was much better than the jerk next to her. She was so nervous that Schlieffen was on the verge of fainting.
‘It’s a sight.’
Ronan laughed. Of course, she was married herself, so it’s not that I can’t understand her feelings, but this was a bit extreme.
I guess I need to lighten the mood. Ronan thought for a moment and nodded his head.
“Well, I would like to say a few words before proceeding with the ceremony.”
“hmm?”
The Duke of Grancia shrugged his eyebrows. This was an unscripted action. Ronan walked to the front of the podium and opened his mouth.
“Honestly, I was filled with anger until this morning. I was just wondering how to kick this bastard’s ass. Because he is the thief who stole my sister. “I still feel like my stomach is turning.”
“Ro, Ronan…!”
“This has to be acknowledged. My older sister, Miss Iril, is the most perfect woman on this planet. Not to mention her appearance, her lifestyle is also different. The reason I can stand here proudly and not die is because my older sister went through all sorts of hardships to change my diaper. In fact, even at this moment, I am wondering if I should run away with her sister.”
Once again, laughter broke out everywhere. Iril’s face turned bright red. Ronan approached Schlieffen with a hint of sarcasm and said sarcastically.
“Compared to that, what about this kid? I admit it looks a bit weird, but that’s it. “It is worth paying attention to the delicate aspect of not being able to urinate properly when someone is looking at you.”
Ronan chuckled. Schlieffen’s face turned red. Unable to bear the shame, he was about to say something.
“Ronan. “You…”
“But anyway, he’s a good guy.”
Ronan stopped speaking and looked back at the guests.
“To tell the truth, he’s a very nice guy. At least it was the best male I’ve ever seen. Regardless of race. Schlieffen’s greatest strength is that he keeps his promises. About 5 years ago now… I was away for a long time once, and I still keep the promise I made then. “A promise to protect my sister.”
“Well, did you make that promise?”
Iril’s eyes widened. For her, it was a story she had never heard before. Ronan continued.
“And Schlieffen kept his promise. Not only in the harsh winter, but also in wartime where bald men ran rampant. In fact, the miscellaneous qualifiers and achievements of being the successor to the most prestigious family in the empire, the swordsman who defeated Jaifa Turgen, who was called the strongest sword saint in history, and the hero who saved this planet from the clutches of the bald believers, are nothing compared to the merits just mentioned. It’s no different. “Keeping your promise no matter what happens is such a great thing.”
Before we knew it, the guest room had become quiet. Not even the sound of dishes clattering could be heard. Everyone was concentrating on Ronan’s words.
“So, I’d like to take this opportunity to make one more promise. It’s great that there are so many people willing to become notaries. Hey, are you okay?”
“···okay.”
Schlieffen hesitated. I couldn’t possibly guess what was going to be said. Ronan, who was muttering to himself, faced him.
“Make my sister happy… No, cancel. “I think this would be better.”
It was quite difficult to choose what to say. After a brief pause, Ronan took his mouth off her.
“Be happy you two. until the death.”
And smiled. No answer came back. Iril’s shoulders began to shake slightly as she covered her mouth with her hand. Schlieffen, who was silent for a few seconds, nodded slowly.
“······I swear.”
