Chapter 438
Thanks to my fiancée Mar’s approval, the wedding venue was finalized. How could a groom refuse when the bride is happy?
Honestly, once the Emperor mentioned it, getting married in the cathedral became an inevitable fate, but I never expected Mar to support it too. I thought she’d be just as overwhelmed as I was.
‘What should I do?’
After barely calming down a rather sulky Mar and sending her off, I fiddled with the communication device for a long while.
Sure, it’s a burdensome place, but for Mar’s sake, I can endure it. I don’t know what the Emperor was thinking when he authorized the cathedral, but then again, he’s never been the most logical guy, so I guess it’s just on brand for him.
But changing the wedding venue to St. Paronas Cathedral means all my mother’s hard work goes to waste. If the venue shifts, it implies brand-new preparations need to be made! I don’t have the courage to break such disappointing news to her.
‘She would be so let down.’
I let out a sigh without even realizing it. I know my mother feels guilty about me and Erich. While she might have ignored it back then, once she recognized us as family, it became unavoidable.
That’s why I hesitated. I know how enthusiastically Mom has been preparing for the wedding, how happy she was to do something for her son.
– Carl?
But after some serious soul-searching, I finally decided to reach out. At least it was better than springing this on her right before the wedding.
“Sorry for the sudden call. I have something urgent to tell you.”
– Why is a son apologizing to his mother for calling? You can talk freely!
Hearing my mom’s gently smiling voice made the wheels of worry in my mind spin even faster.
Damn it, Emperor. You’ve just crushed all my mother’s dreams and hopes.
– Oh, is it about the wedding preparations? No problem at all, that’s going smoothly!
The pride radiating through the communication device made my grip twitch nervously. Should I run to the Emperor and beg him to reconsider?
“Uh, Mom, the thing is…”
Of course, the one I should be pleading with is my mother, not the Emperor.
“I’m really sorry, but the wedding venue… has been set for somewhere else.”
I closed my eyes tightly alongside those words.
I didn’t have the courage to see my mother’s reaction.
*
My heart felt like it stopped at Carl’s unexpected news. Did he think I was unreliable and made separate wedding preparations?
If that’s true, there would be no more miserable feeling. Just when I thought I was getting close to Carl, realizing that it was merely a figment of my own imagination would be crushing.
“Oh, I see.”
But holding back the warmth pricking at my eyes, I managed to speak.
It can’t be an illusion. We’re definitely closer than before—growing even closer. Thanks to my son forgiving this useless mother, we’re regaining a semblance of a normal family.
Plus, if Carl didn’t trust me, he wouldn’t have entrusted me with the wedding planning in the first place. There was no way he’d bow his head with a sorry look if it were that bad.
‘There must be some reason behind this.’
Yeah, there must be.
And thinking that made me feel embarrassed. Unlike Carl, who can forgive and move forward, I was still stuck in the past. I assumed he would hate me and think poorly of me without any reason.
“Do you mind telling me where it’s been set? I’d love to take a look since it’s where my son is getting married.”
I opened my mouth with a faint smile. Given how Laura and I had struggled, I felt a bit disappointed, but since it’s Carl’s wedding, whatever place he chose would surely be the best. It wasn’t my place to—
– St. Paronas Cathedral.
“… Huh?”
That was an unexpected name.
‘St. Paronas Cathedral?’
I quickly retraced my memories. Surely, there’s not more than one St. Paronas Cathedral? Beyond the one in the capital’s Ausen Archdiocese, were there any others with that name?
– The Emperor himself suggested it. It’s such a great honor; I couldn’t possibly refuse.
But the moment I heard that next sentence, my brief escape from reality came to an end. If the Emperor personally suggested it and Carl was using the word ‘honor,’ it can only be that St. Paronas Cathedral.
– And since we’re suddenly changing the venue, the royal family pledged their full support.
My mind went blank. I knew Carl had the Emperor’s trust, but I had no idea it extended to this extent. Holding a noble’s wedding at St. Paronas Cathedral is unseen—unprecedented.
“That’s wonderful. It’ll surely be an unforgettable memory.”
And that’s why I could speak with sincerity. The notion that my efforts were now for naught means nothing.
My son was set to receive an incredible honor and prestige; what do my efforts matter? What could be more important than marrying in the glorious location where emperors were crowned, the very site where the first Empress received her crown from Great Emperor Amanca?
– Did you go through a lot of trouble, Mother? Is that alright?
Seeing Carl cautiously ask again made me smile wider. To worry about his mother’s efforts during his own time of glory, what a warm-hearted kid he is.
“I put in all that effort with the hope that you would have a dazzling wedding blessed by all. Since you’re having a wedding beyond anything I could achieve, of course, I’m fine with it.”
– … Thank you.
After that, we chatted about our current affairs and wrapped up. Carl seemed a bit flustered and hurried to end the call, and I didn’t want to hold him back.
– Oh my, is that you, my dear son-in-law? What brings you here at this hour?
Instead, I quickly shared the joyous news with my dear son-in-law.
Naturally, he was overjoyed as well. No matter how esteemed the Valenti family is, having a daughter married in St. Paronas Cathedral is a glorious event.
*
News spread quickly. How could there not be rumors when the wedding preparations are happening in the most prestigious cathedral in the Empire?
And as the buzz grew, my communication device buzzed and glowed fervently.
‘Damn.’
I stared blankly at my vibrating communication device that had fallen from my desk. I wished it would just break. Sadly, the device painstakingly crafted by the Duke himself wouldn’t easily break from a mere fall.
‘This is maddening.’
After a while of staring at my device on the floor, I quietly picked it up. I wished I could throw it in the trash and disappear without a trace.
But that was impossible. The stage for running away or hiding was far behind me.
‘This is quite the situation.’
A resigned sigh escaped me. No matter how positively I looked at this event, it has significant repercussions. Of course, could I think of any incidents with the royal family that didn’t create a scandal? This is even more overwhelming than required.
A young Executive Manager? Honestly, records like the youngest or oldest only get reset with time anyway. I might have pushed that record forward, but it’s not outrageous.
A new department head? Every department has a start date, and it’s natural for the founding head to be an expert in that field. It’s quite reasonable that I’m nominated as the head of the Information Department given my age.
The Crown Princess’s mentor? At some point, someone was going to have to mentor her. It just happens to be me.
But this? This is a different story entirely. No matter how I twist it, there’s no way I could just say, “Oh, that makes sense.”
“What’s a vassal doing getting married in a cathedral?”
In the end, I couldn’t hold back my disbelief anymore and muttered to myself. The rumors of an empress being brought in aren’t far off either. If one thinks about the pure love between the Emperor and Empress, the possibility of marrying off someone else would be near zero. But it’s certainly higher than about another nobility!
That’s how significant St. Paronas Cathedral is; it exists as a royal chamber. It’s unimaginable for a mere noble’s wedding to be held there.
– Congratulations, Carl. I knew the Emperor trusted you, but I never imagined it would be to this extent.
Just a few hours ago, the congratulatory words from the Vice Captain echoed in my mind, making me sigh again.
Even the Vice Captain didn’t expect my wedding to take place in the cathedral. Just how surprised must the other nobles be?
‘At least I’m glad I won’t have to go to work.’
And with that, I felt genuine relief. If I had to work, I’d likely be stopped and interrogated every few steps. The random encounters would be harrowing.
– Knock knock
“Carl, it’s me.”
“Ah, yeah. Come in.”
A sudden knock made me jump slightly, but upon hearing Mar’s voice, I quickly replied.
As the door slowly opened, Mar peeked in looking quite excited for some reason.
“Carl. A distinguished guest has arrived; can you help me greet them?”
“A guest?”
I tilted my head at her words. If Mar is calling someone a distinguished guest, of course, I’ll do the honors, but did she really need to come tell me about it? Where’s the butler?
And as if sensing my confusion, Mar smiled brightly and continued.
“The Empress sent the royal tailor to us. They’re going to make the outfits for the wedding for you and me!”
“Oh…”
An involuntary gasp escaped my lips. Surely, if the royal tailor is making the dress, it’s something even the noble Mar would be thrilled about.
Their skills are said to be top-notch on the continent, and being exclusively hired by the royal family means they’re someone no duke can just hire casually.
“Alright, let’s go. We can’t keep someone that busy waiting.”
I wrapped my arm around Mar’s waist and moved towards the exit. Though I was still burning up inside, I couldn’t show a dying expression in front of happy Mar.
Besides, it’s not the marriage I dislike; it’s the St. Paronas Cathedral. I wouldn’t want Mar to misunderstand.
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