Chapter 540
Without anyone’s blessing or divine interference, we successfully wrapped up the wedding.
It seems like a simple enough thing, but because there was a time when I lost sight of this “normal,” I couldn’t help but shed a tear of gratitude inside. Finally, it was our third wedding, and this time we were able to have a proper ceremony.
‘Truly, the gods of the heavens are different.’
The sky, free and lofty, neither looked down like the sun nor embraced like the foliage. Always there, yet not interfering with the mortals below, it floated elegantly in its own space.
I made a decision. Starting today, I was an honorary priest. In a world where even the Pope of the Dawn Sect acknowledges other gods, what’s a little honorary priesthood for me to hold?
‘Maybe I should get started on restoring faith soon.’
It sounded like a grand plan, but in reality, it wasn’t much. I already bore the eternal blue sky’s mark, and I could communicate with the deity.
Besides, isn’t the official priest one of my followers? If I declare my intention to build a temple to revive the northern culture, many will rally behind me.
‘…Am I really a priest now?’
For a moment, I seriously pondered this. When I laid it all out, it seemed I could even drop the “honorary” part from priesthood. I’ve got the justification and authority to restore faith right here in my hands.
Then, a wave of regret and pity for the eternal blue sky washed over me. I had thought that all the needless talk about me being an honorary priest stemmed from the believers losing their minds, but it turned out they were judging it entirely rationally.
‘The one who broke the faith now stands as the priest to restore it…’
Even I found that sentence insane, so I gently closed my eyes. How much blood and tears were shed to reach this conclusion?
“Time to pass the bouquet!”
But I opened my eyes back up at the cheerful voice of Rizie.
Suddenly, Rizie made her way to the front, where I saw the bouquet aimed at the fourth owner.
‘What’s the big deal?’
I felt a smile creeping despite the chaos, pushing my thoughts about the eternal blue sky to the back of my mind.
Honestly, I didn’t break the faith for no reason. Back then, I had my reasons, and even if I went back to that time, I’d still make the same choice.
So, there’s no reason to feel guilty; it’s a legitimate trade. The eternal blue sky granted me a peaceful ceremony, so in return, I give my faith back.
I chose to think of it like that.
Rizie held a respectable status, higher than her title as a baroness.
“Congratulations on your marriage, my lady.”
“I couldn’t be happier to start the year celebrating your joy!”
As proof, once the ceremony concluded, Rizie mingled through the hall, receiving polite greetings from the high nobility.
No matter how noble Rizie is, she’s still just a baroness—not even a viscountess. It’s not typical for high-ranking nobles to treat someone of such lower status with utmost respect.
Yet, Rizie held another title beyond “baroness.”
“His Grace Duke Marcilio also presided over your wedding with a bright smile. It must have been an unprecedented occasion for him with his only disciple tying the knot.”
That title? “Trixie’s Disciple.” Thanks to that, the high nobility showered Rizie with all kinds of heartfelt congratulations.
Just a mere baroness? Who cares! She’s the only disciple set to inherit the magical legacy of Duke Marcilio. Just imagine if Rizie whispered to Trixie, “That person seems a bit off,” what would happen then?
Conversely, if she were to say, “I think that person is fine,” that noble would receive top priority support from the Magic Tower.
“Well, it is a joyous occasion for the Duke, but no one is happier than the Executive Manager here. You’ve gained such a beautiful wife!”
“Haha, that’s true!”
And so, the scene unfolded. Nobles, who lacked nothing, were putting on their best performances before Rizie.
A bit of a strange sight, but I understood. Getting a direct audience with Trixie is hard unless you’re of noble rank yourself; this was likely a veiled request instead.
However, what the guests overlooked was—
“Your Highness has the wonderful husband, rather than the opposite!”
The pure and innocent Rizie focused more on our formal marriage than on the noble crowd.
‘Rizie’s so adorably innocent.’
Seeing the guests wear slightly perplexed expressions at her straightforward affection made me smile. Only one who can outshine Rizie’s purity could reach Trixie.
*
As I received congratulations from the guests, my lips curled further upward, and I felt a proud lift in my shoulders.
I was happy. It felt so good to receive blessings even from people I hadn’t interacted with before, to see solemn high nobility smiling and applauding for us.
‘Now I am the husband of the lovely Rizie.’
Feeling the warmth of her arm linked with mine, it felt surreal, but it was real. My mother wiping away tears, my father soothing her back, and even the staff cheering like it was their own affair—all spoke to me of this happiness being real.
‘…I never expected this to happen.’
I tightened my embrace around Rizie’s arm, recalling when we first met.
Our first meeting was abrupt and mystifying. With Rizie being over twenty and suddenly appearing as an Executive Manager before my eyes, it was anything but a banal encounter.
Of course, I didn’t harbor feelings for her from the start. At that time, she was just my friend’s older sister—nothing more.
‘That was how it started, right?’
But somehow, I began to look at her differently.
The Rizie who reached out to me when I was fumbling to find club advisors, the one who shared cookies no one else could eat, and the Rizie who comforted me after a reprimanding from Mar.
“It’s not your fault.”
And then, after my sister’s death, the kind Rizie knocked gently on my heart.
Maybe that was when the shift happened. Once I started to see Rizie, who was just a friend’s sister, as a wondrous and kind adult.
It was when I, unable to love anyone, felt my heart race and started to worry about how others might see me.
‘It was inevitable to fall for her.’
Watching Rizie greet other dukes with a refreshing smile, I found myself beaming. Honestly, Rizie’s behavior was at a level that pushed me to fall for her even more.
And only after Rizie grew closer with Mar did I realize my feelings, which felt somewhat embarrassing…
‘Nope.’
Thinking back, there was nothing to be embarrassed about. That moment when I became sincere about my feelings for Rizie was monumental.
What was truly embarrassing was how I couldn’t confess for so long afterward.
‘Ugh…’
Even thinking about that makes me shudder now. If I had been the only one with feelings for her, I probably would have stumbled my way to graduation without ever saying a word.
“Rizie?”
That ludicrous future flashed in my mind, and even while linking arms with Rizie, I sensed she noticed my trembling.
How humiliating. Getting caught daydreaming on this lovely day.
“Sorry, am I tiring you out? Since our esteemed guests are here, I can’t be slacking off.”
Yet, Rizie offered me a gentle smile.
While I adored the Rizie in front of me, I felt just a tad let down. We had just become husband and wife, and yet she almost treated me like her younger brother.
‘Ah.’
An idea struck me.
“I’m fine! You must be the more tired one, right?”
With that, I leaned closer to her ear and whispered.
“So I’ve prepared lots of eel for you to eat.”
“…Huh?”
Her reaction to my whisper was comically flabbergasted.
But I couldn’t stop there! Once my momentum picks up, I have to keep it going, just like Eriko said.
“I made sure to prepare a ton, so…I hope it does the trick?”
“Does the trick…?”
Seeing her feign ignorance despite knowing precisely what I meant made me chuckle again.
But it’s all good! I planned to keep going.
“I…I want to have a child who shares the same birthday as Pedi.”
Darling.
*
Rizie’s declaration was brief yet potent. It had all the flair of a pink fox instead of a cute pink capybara, if you ask me.
And just like the spirited announcement, there was an astonishing amount of eel.
‘Is there a Thames River nearby?’
Thanks to the industrial revolution, it might have become a concentrated sewage area, yet here lay a miracle river full of eels. Hence, it seemed Aitini was indeed like London.
‘…I’ll eat it all.’
Regardless, as I stared at the heap of eels, I steeled my resolve. My beautiful Rizie had the courage to make such a bold proclamation; as her elder and husband, I couldn’t possibly withdraw.
“Aitini eels are quite good. I eat them often,”
Moreover, the Gold Duke, who had shined at the banquet, left those words behind as he departed after the wedding ceremony.
“It’s truly amazing, yet I can’t quite describe it.”
That was advice I would never forget.
“Son-in-law!”
“Oh, yes, Your Grace,”
As all sorts of eel dishes piled high on the table, my father-in-law approached and patted my shoulder.
“I’ve been through this as well, so don’t feel pressured.”
His words left me momentarily speechless.
Men affiliated with the Nyard family must bear such a harsh fate.
*
A week passed.
A lot has happened.
“Rizie.”
I patted Rizie’s back as she buried her face in the pillow, not moving a finger.
But there was no response. It was a familiar pattern by now.
‘Why does she act like this?’
Here we are, ready to go through the same motions as the previous two.
If Rizie had held on just until the last moment, perhaps it would be different, but unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case. Maybe she aimed to achieve a noble defeat courtesy of the eel?
“Ugh, heuuu…”
“Oh.”
Her limp body suddenly sprang to life.
Of course. She hadn’t made this bold announcement for nothing.
‘Maybe she’ll manage just a little longer.’
Gently laying my hand on Rizie’s shoulder, I felt her slightly tremble.
Of course, no protest came. Such a thing doesn’t exist between us.
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