“Whoo….”
Judas adjusted his collar while looking into the mirror.
His reflection was a bit too flashy for his liking.
With hair slicked back by a servant’s hand, and ornate robes adorned with golden embroidery, etc.
At first, it felt awkward, but he somehow got used to it.
Yet, his tense heart wouldn’t settle down.
“Nervous?”
Eliya approached as she styled her hair, asking him.
Judas managed to calm himself as he looked at her.
Her braided hair and makeup, more delicate than usual, were stunningly beautiful.
The fact that she was his bride was almost overwhelming.
“I don’t know why I’m so nervous. Not that there’s any real reason to be…”
“Don’t worry. I’m here, after all.”
“Aren’t you nervous, Miss?”
“Me? Hmm, I’m not completely without nerves, but—”
Eliya naturally wrapped her arms around Judas’s waist.
With her free hand, she adjusted his collar and played with his necklace.
An artifact adorned with golden gems.
Only he could take it off.
He liked it a lot.
“I’m more excited than nervous.”
“Me too, but…”
“It’s okay. It’s normal to be nervous. You don’t have to be too tense; the ceremony won’t take long anyway.”
“Yes, understood.”
After replying, they shared a soft kiss.
Eliya’s moist lips felt fresh with every touch.
And today, Eliya was giving off a strong scent of cosmetics.
Not overwhelming, just the right amount.
That scent made Judas’s body tense for no reason.
At that moment, someone approached them after lifting the fabric they had used as a partition.
With slightly reddish black hair at the ends.
It was Maria, dressed in an elegant and noble red gown.
Today she was playing the role of Eliya’s biological mother, assisting her entry.
“How awkward…”
Maria looked out of place in her luxurious attire.
Walking in it was quite uncomfortable, to be honest.
But Eliya smiled brightly at Maria.
“You look great.”
“Re-really?”
Now more relaxed, Maria looked closely at her daughter.
Dressed beautifully in white, she looked like a proper adult.
Today was her daughter’s wedding.
It almost made her want to cry, being so sentimental.
“Eliya looks even better. So beautiful.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
Maria looked at the man beside her smiling brightly.
He had been a little kid the first time she saw him, but now he was a dependable man worthy of Eliya.
“Judas, you look great too.”
“Oh, thank you…”
In truth, Judas felt a bit awkward around Maria.
They hadn’t really talked much, and now he had to treat her like a mother-in-law overnight.
Still, he smiled and replied.
He could adapt to it gradually, along with Eliya.
“It’s time to enter.”
The doorkeeper announced carefully.
According to the order, Judas would go out first, followed by Eliya who would hold Maria’s hand.
“I’ll go ahead.”
Judas said.
Eliya gave him a quick kiss on the lips and smiled.
“I’ll be right after you.”
*
Judas stood at the door.
The massive entrance leading to the Sun Symbol Temple.
Beyond, the Temple Knights shouted loudly.
“His Majesty the Emperor and the Royal Envoy are entering!”
The heavy doors slowly opened.
Bright light and applause poured in, welcoming him.
Judas stepped forward, slowly walking along the white carpet down a long hallway.
He smiled lightly at the congratulating guests and waved his hand in greeting.
Since it was the Emperor’s wedding, the applause was loud yet oddly restrained.
As Judas crossed the midway point of the carpet, he turned back.
Just in time, the cheers grew more intense as the bride was welcomed.
A graceful woman entering, holding Maria’s hand.
His bride, his wife—Eliya.
After taking just a few steps, Eliya and Maria came to a stop.
It was time to release Eliya.
Maria felt a twinge of sadness at the thought of letting her hand go.
It was strange.
It wasn’t a farewell forever.
Eliya lightly hugged Maria.
“Thank you, Mom.”
“…Mom should be the one thanking you for growing up like this.”
“I’ll take my leave now.”
“…Yes, Eli.”
Eliya turned toward Judas.
Dressed up, she was striking.
She approached him gently, her dependable partner.
His golden eyes smiled warmly, waiting for her.
As they got closer, they naturally linked arms while walking.
Words weren’t necessary.
Just exchanging smiles was enough to understand each other.
The newlyweds walked down the carpet, arms linked.
The applause and cheers from the guests grew louder.
Amidst it all, someone let out a loud whistle.
It was Richard.
“Will you behave yourself?!”
Dillon chided from the side.
As if to say, keep your dignity.
“Hey, I’m just congratulating them!”
“Just listen, will you?!”
Seeing the two bicker, Judas couldn’t help but laugh.
He felt relaxed, almost ridiculous for how tense he’d been just moments ago.
Nearby, several of the Knights were clapping joyfully in celebration.
He reminisced and repeated their names in his mind.
Richard, Dillon, Lindell, Argon, Perlyn, Dyke, Esmo, Jerry, Hador, Gauss, Nils.
Since he entered the training camp, he had always been with them.
Perhaps, they had spent as much time together as with Eliya.
Without needing to say a word, they understood each other sometimes and were allies he could rely upon.
At the corner of the same table sat Shylock.
When their eyes met, he casually smiled and bowed his head.
Judas couldn’t help but chuckle involuntarily.
‘What, are you finally treating me like I’m someone important now?’
He casually returned the gesture with his eyes.
At the same table, Gawain was sitting as well.
Their eyes met, with Gawain’s eyes slightly reddened and glistening.
Gawain raised his hand to acknowledge him, then pretended nothing happened, putting his hand down.
His face was adorned with a proud smile.
Seeing that, Judas couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
Shylock looked at Gawain as if saying he couldn’t believe him.
Right next to that was the Empress Dowager’s seat.
A safe place near the Knights.
Maria was already seated there, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief.
When their eyes met, she smiled bashfully before nodding.
Judas nodded back, then glanced at another table.
It was easy to find the guests he had invited, as they were mostly seated in close proximity.
There was a table with Yurideke, Orphe, and Hermis.
As their eyes met, Judas gave a slight nod in greeting.
They acknowledged him in turn, waving their hands or nodding silently.
“What are you looking at?”
Eliya asked quietly.
Judas jolted, turning to her.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just greeting my guests…”
“Hmm.”
As Judas looked at each guest, Eliya kept her gaze on him.
She checked if Maria had found her seat, and then continued.
There wasn’t anyone among the guests that she particularly wanted to see or was excited about.
There was no need to care about formalities as well.
He was now at the highest position in this empire.
No, he had transcended to a level greater than that of all humanity.
He had become someone who bore something beyond mere human power.
So she could act as she pleased, and that meant looking at Judas.
Just looking at him felt good, and she was also curious about what he was looking at.
She tried to follow his gaze but couldn’t linger for long.
There was barely enough time to take him in.
Seeing him look at someone else didn’t sit right with her.
Yet, she didn’t worry.
After all, she was certain he would always be by her side.
Except for the part where he might look at other women.
If he absolutely had to, she could allow it for one second and that’s it.
Nothing more than that.
“Fine, I get it. A simple greeting is fine. But from now on, you need to look at me more.”
With a pouty attitude, Judas could only smile.
When you’re cute, you can get away with anything.
“I’ll remember that.”
Walking along the corridor where the guests formed a wall, they soon reached what felt like the end of the path.
Although the path extended further, the area filled with guests was about where they stopped.
They could have gone further, but they halted for now.
No matter how uninterested Eliya was in the guests, she wouldn’t ignore basic etiquette.
Standing still, she leaned against Judas’s arm, smiling as she spoke.
“I want to first thank everyone for taking the time to come and celebrate here. Given the sheer number, I can’t greet each and every one of you personally, so please understand. I realized today just how blessed I am with friends.”
As she cleverly asked for understanding, a few guests burst into light laughter.
Eliya smiled kindly as well.
It was a feeling unlike anything she had experienced before.
Whenever she had to present herself as a noble before others, it never felt comfortable.
It wasn’t entirely uncomfortable.
Just tiring and annoying.
It was an unwanted obligation.
She would recite the lines she had always rehearsed, check the reactions, and lead the discussion.
It had always been a purpose-driven event.
But now, it was different.
There was no purpose, and she didn’t need to monitor anyone’s reactions.
She didn’t have to be wary of enemies or protect allies.
She could simply relax and greet people.
It wasn’t just because she was now in such a high position.
It was because of the person next to her.
The man who had embraced her warmth, the one linked with her.
Her heart felt light as a feather, peaceful as a cloud.
Unlike in the past, when she lived with defenses like thorns, now she felt at ease.
Watching her grown child, Maria felt a bittersweet smile creep onto her face while tears streamed down, pushing her to dab at her eyes with her handkerchief.
“I hope you all enjoy yourselves to the fullest. For three weeks, we’ll provide any food, music, or entertainment you desire.”
The Emperor’s wedding was both an event and a celebration.
Thus, it wouldn’t end in a short period of time.
“If you need to leave at any time, feel free to do so, as freely as you came. Ah, if there’s anyone who feels they had to come while being cautious of me, I apologize.”
Her soft humor spread natural laughter among the guests.
Judas also noticed Eliya’s change.
Her original eloquence wasn’t so generous or gentle.
It seemed soft, yet hidden beneath her words was always a thorn.
Or, it was just for show.
She always led conversations but simultaneously took a step back to observe and weigh everything.
She had never lightened the mood like this before.
Except when talking with him.
However, in her now, he sensed genuine consideration for others.
A moderation that was just right.
He never could have imagined he was the one who gifted her the peace of mind.
He just felt Eliya had grown.
Eliya’s greeting came to an end.
Only one final step remained: the exchange of rings between the bride and groom.
Judas and Eliya exchanged the boxes holding the rings.
Inside were identical rings of different sizes.
Ivory and gold.
Rings of their intertwined colors.
Originally, the ivory-colored ring was an artifact Eliya wore, which they disassembled and remade for this wedding.
Judas placed the ring onto Eliya’s left ring finger first.
The ring retained its function as an artifact.
It would always exchange coordinates with his necklace, allowing Eliya to summon him anytime.
That became the evidence of their union.
Next, Eliya slowly slid the ring onto Judas’s left ring finger.
Holding his hand, she lingered a bit longer, enjoying the moment as she slid the ring deeper.
At last, the ring was firmly on his finger.
Eliya gently caressed his thick finger and smiled contentedly.
Finally, everything was perfect.
“Judas.”
Instead of a reply, he called her back.
“Miss.”
There was something he had long wanted to say.
He hesitated, fearful the words might lose their weight if spoken hastily.
If shared too quickly, they might never reach her heart entirely.
He thought expressing them would just add pressure.
So he had hoarded those words while he trembled with concern.
She likely shared his feelings, but he wanted to say it first.
He couldn’t hold back any longer.
Although they had experienced a second tragedy together, the circumstances were now vastly different, making this the first time he expressed himself.
It felt awkward and unfamiliar, but he steeled himself.
“I love you.”
In that moment, Eliya felt as if the world slowed down.
She knew well what he was about to say.
Because she wanted to say the same thing.
Yet, hearing it directly was an experience she had never anticipated.
It felt like she was witnessing the very birth of a new world.
The sound emerging from parted lips stretched out into the universe.
An explosion beginning from a small point.
An uncontrollable expansion.
Countless possibilities of life sparkled within the unfolding spacetime.
A new universe had just been born through his lips and voice.
The owner of that universe was both Eliya and Judas.
The other was forever an unattainable object outside.
Yet capturing a sentiment that truly embodied an idea through mere symbols like language was impossible.
Yet, Eliya just felt complete emotion through Judas’s words.
Slowly within her heart, intensely soaking in.
A moment stretching out like eternity.
All sensations were vivid.
Cheers from the guests.
The warm summer temple breeze brushing against her face.
The warmth of their grasped hands.
Moonlight flooding in.
Judas’s slightly bashful smile as he looked at her.
The powerful thump of her heart resonating.
Colors encompassing the world became clearly defined.
In that moment, Eliya felt a profound satisfaction, like she had become one with the universe.
With just that one individual, Eliya understood the universe and basked in the comfort of being understood by it.
Her lips naturally curled up.
As she smiled, tears streamed softly down her cheeks.
Crossing the eternity they had traversed together, she finally answered.
“…I love you too.”
Pulling on his hand, she raised herself on her toes.
As if that was the signal, Judas gently leaned down.
Their faces drew closer.
Even with her eyes closed, she could tell.
Their lips brushed lightly, softly overlapping, then pressed deeply together.
Amidst the many guests congratulating them, Eliya and Judas shared a long kiss.
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