Chapter 446
It’s a bit surprising, but weddings were events very distant from my life. I never thought much about it on the day of the wedding, but it’s true.
Before I was reincarnated, I never attended anyone’s wedding. Even afterward, I had so few acquaintances that I barely showed my face as a guest, so it was hard to say I had any deep connection with such events.
Of course, there was a time when I dreamed of a grand wedding with the one I loved, but once that dream faded away, my heart kind of gave up on the idea. To put it more accurately, I’ve given up on having a wedding filled with sincere love and joy.
“People’s futures are unpredictable.”
‘And it really is unpredictable.’
Suddenly, the Judicial Minister’s words from the waiting room came to mind, and my lips curled up. I had thought that the only choice I had was to sacrifice my personal love for a marriage of duty as a noble. Just two years ago, I saw it that way.
But not anymore. I was standing here not as a noble but as an individual.
“The bride, Lady Marghetta Valenti, is entering.”
By my own will, I waited for my partner.
As Cardinal Risiuk presiding over the ceremony spoke, Mar made her way down the carpet, holding her father’s hand, taking shy steps while her face was covered with a veil.
Watching her, an indescribable emotion surged in my chest. It was joy, sure, but I worried if it was fair to treat this feeling as just joy.
‘Has she gotten even prettier?’
I thought for the umpteenth time today, gazing at Mar as she drew nearer.
Then, I casually expanded my gaze—not just at Mar in front of me, but at the guests sitting beside her.
‘…There are a lot of them.’
There were a lot. It’s a simple statement, but it’s all that came to mind.
Sitting in the front row were my parents and my mother-in-law, the main characters of the wedding, and behind them were the Emperor and Empress, followed by the five lovers sitting in a row.
‘So many gathered.’
Lastly, members of the nobility gathered from various regions of the Empire. It was an undeniable crowd.
It felt strange. Just yesterday, I had sighed about how many showed up for the wedding of a mere imperial count, but now, realizing how many had gathered to celebrate me was complicating my feelings.
I was a reincarnated soul who had snatched another’s body, a fake family man who couldn’t protect my first friends and lovers. That was my standing in this world. It certainly started that way. Yet, as a character in this story, I trudged forward. I’ve felt despair and self-loathing, but nonetheless, I made slow progress.
‘Now, it’s hard to call myself a reincarnator.’
The result of my progress was that I had accepted and recognized myself.
I treated my family as a genuine son, not a fake one. I accomplished a peace my friends and lovers longed for. To protect the world they risked their lives for, I became a pillar of that world. I walked hand in hand with those who loved me for who I truly am, not the original Karl.
‘This is my world.’
Somehow, at some point, the other world I was reincarnated into faded away. I had no regrets about it.
It was just the fact that this world existed in my story, and that I was a reincarnator that made me try to distinguish the two—but I no longer wanted to do that. I was living as Karl in this world, not as a mere reincarnator from a novel.
The feelings I experienced in this world weren’t fabricated, and the bonds I built weren’t fake either.
This wedding itself was a testament that I was a resident of this world and a valuable part of it.
‘…Why am I thinking like this all of a sudden?’
I suddenly felt awkward. Is this what happens right before becoming a married man, an emotional explosion?
“Karl.”
At least it was fortunate that my thoughts wrapped up just before Mar arrived.
“Honestly… you look even more handsome up close.”
Her compliment full of smiles made me grin in return. They say couples start to resemble each other; if we’re already thinking similarly, it makes you wonder how alike we’ll become.
*
Throughout the wedding, the face of the Executive Manager was filled with smiles.
With each glance, it nearly made me burst out laughing. Was this guy someone who could smile like that? I was only used to seeing him looking dead inside.
‘I probably looked like that too.’
Whenever I thought of that Executive Manager, it reminded me of the time I got married to the Empress. At that time, I was probably smiling just like him. The difference was, I wasn’t showered with blessings back then.
The marriage of the first prince and the princess was one nobody wanted. Of course, for the noble families sick of the second prince’s antics, it was an opportunity to shake things up, but aside from that, no one congratulated that marriage.
Except for Lady Elizaveta.
‘A marriage without congratulations.’
When I turned slightly, I saw the Empress watching the couple-to-be with a faint smile.
It was unfortunate. She hadn’t taken her eyes off that prospective couple since a while ago. Maybe she was comparing her wedding to this one in her heart.
“Your Highness—”
Just as I was about to say we should hold a second wedding among ourselves, the voice of Cardinal Risiuk interrupted.
It was strange. Quickly conducting ceremonies was the cardinal’s specialty; he usually moved forward without faltering. Pausing this much was unusual.
So I turned my gaze back to the front—
“……”
I caught sight of the cross suspended in the cathedral radiating a splendid light.
‘…What?’
My mind went blank. It was a light more brilliant than anything I had ever seen, and even I, who wasn’t very pious, found myself feeling a little reverent.
This was confusing. What on earth was happening? Even if the cross had radiance, could something like an ordinary cross suddenly shine like that, making me feel sacred the moment I looked at it? Shouldn’t that be an absurd coincidence?
“God…”
As if echoing that feeling, the cardinal’s mumble finally broke the silence in the serene cathedral.
*
What the hell.
‘What is this?’
A laugh of disbelief escaped me. Rather than confusion, the absurdity of the situation came first, indicating I had been through a lot these days. Is it normal to just laugh off something like this?
Anyway, I held Mar’s hand as I stared at the suddenly glowing cross. Mar looked just as startled by the sudden shining cross.
– Wow.
As I touched her hand, Mar flinched and tentatively held onto mine while a familiar voice echoed inside my head.
– What’s this? Why is it looking down on the world? It’s rare to see it so clearly.
It was the Eternal Blue Sky.
To hear the least desirable voice at this particular moment made me sigh. The cross of the Dawn Sect glowed, and the divine being reacted to it? The identity of that light couldn’t be more obvious.
‘Is it Enen?’
– Yup. He’s the only deity who can give off that kind of presence on this continent.
It couldn’t have been more obvious.
This is crazy. I could understand if the deity of the Dawn Sect was showing off in their own church, but I can’t figure out why such a thing would happen during my wedding. Is this a surprise show since the empire’s leadership is gathered? A performance to coax donations from the church starting tomorrow—
– Wait a second. What did it just say?
While I was in the middle of that pointless thought, the Eternal Blue Sky dropped some troubling words.
– Settlement… congratulations…? Are you serious?
‘Huh?’
I instinctively asked back. Was there a transmission error? How could a deity talk in such a disjointed manner?
– That deity usually only speaks in riddles. Don’t worry about it.
But even someone who heard those words couldn’t help but be concerned, and the Eternal Blue Sky went silent.
Moreover, the brilliantly shining cross began to fade.
‘Crap.’
Crash the wedding of others and then vanish? What a doge!
Amidst the confusion that mixed with silence, it quickly transformed into a celebration filled with cheers. If one had eyes and brains, it wouldn’t be hard to figure out that the glowing cross was Enen’s doing.
In the most noble cathedral of the empire, God’s will was manifesting. The cardinal presiding over the ceremony, along with the guests, was obviously moved.
“Under the watchful eyes of God, Karl Krasius of Tailglehen and Marghetta Krasius are declared married. This is a blessing from the divine Lord; anyone who denies this is denying God.”
After all that, what a way to wrap up the wedding!
When a priest presides, they conventionally utter the phrase “under the watchful eyes of God,” but this time, God really was watching. The weight of that made all the difference.
“I also take it as an honor to host this blessed wedding by God and would like to present a small gift for the couple.”
As the cardinal said that, he extended both hands toward me and Mar—well, to our left hands—and whispered a small prayer.
‘It’s glowing again.’
Then, the wedding ring on my left hand began to shine. Even amidst the confusion brought on by Enen’s unexpected entrance, the ring we exchanged shone brilliantly, resembling a split ring like an engagement ring. That precious ring was now stained with divine energy.
‘…Not bad.’
In fact, thinking about it objectively, it was rather good. Holding a wedding blessed by a god in a world where their existence was proven was a big deal, and now I wore wedding rings blessed by the cardinal. Items blessed directly by the cardinal are viewed as relics, just to give you an idea.
Of course, I had no intention of selling it. I’m not insane.
“If this wedding was blessed by Enen…”
As I gazed at the softly glowing ring, Mar’s voice pulled me back to look at her.
“If we were to die and meet again in heaven, or if we were to be reborn… we can still be together, right?”
With that pure smile, I couldn’t help but return her grin. Even with a deity crashing our wedding, if Mar is happy, that’s what matters.
“Yes, that would indeed be the case. The Lord favors the good and the just, so your love won’t be confined to just this life.”
The cardinal seemed to like Mar’s bashful declaration as well, nodding in agreement.
“By the way, Lady Countess of Tailglehen?”
“…Ah, yes!”
At the cardinal’s call, Mar put on a dazed expression before quickly answering.
Her adorable reaction made my previously stubborn smile grow even wider. At this rate, I might find myself smiling uncontrollably whenever I look at Mar for the next few days.
“Finally, would you throw the bouquet?”
At those words, Mar looked at the bouquet she was holding and appeared to make a determination.
“Eh?”
“Hooh.”
Wondering just how she intended to throw it while seeming so determined, I watched as Mar began to walk, not to throw the bouquet but toward my parents. More precisely, she walked toward the place where Trixie was sitting behind them.
“This is for you now, since it’s your turn, sis.”
With an air of confidence, Mar handed the bouquet to the bewildered Trixie.
“Pfft.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. What kind of wedding is this, filled with surprises till the last moment?
But I felt good about it. If I had to choose, I’d lean toward the enjoyable side.
‘When did everything ever go exactly as imagined?’
A wedding that flowed against expectations? That’s alright. I’m so used to chaos that it feels calming instead.
No matter how noisy and unexpected it is, in the end, laughter will prevail.
A sincere thank you to all the readers for joining me until the conclusion of the main story! Look for the wrap-up and side story announcements in the notice section, and if you have the time, please check them out!
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