“I-I wonder if it’s okay for me to be here…”
“No one’s going to say anything if you’re here, so relax. In fact, people around might see you as a high-ranking noble!”
“W-Well, wouldn’t that mean I’m deceiving them about my identity—”
“If someone misunderstands that you were just standing next to me, that’s their fault for misunderstanding!”
I tried to reassure Lily Baker, who seemed anxious nearby. Of course, other people around me could speak, but there weren’t many who could chat so casually with Lily like this.
I was still the second-in-command of the Empire, the Crown Princess, while Lily was a somewhat affluent commoner. However, since I was starting to take an interest in external activities and getting involved in business during my fourth year at the Academy, I had met Lily’s father a few times. Mostly related to weapon sales, and perhaps because he thought he had a very good connection with the royal family, that guy would blush every time he met me.
Well, I could see why. I was planning to mass-produce the improved version of the reinforced armor I once wore.
It was originally worn for combat, but honestly, if one put their mind to it, the range of uses could be infinite. Maybe because of the rumors that spread through me, it seemed inquiries were already coming in from noble families. It appeared that among the nobles, there were often cases where excessive inter-family marriages led to physical issues, and they were inquiring about possible support for that.
Also, it seemed there were inquiries coming in from factories and construction sites.
Browning, the designer, seemed thrilled as well, and since the licensing contract was smoothly established, with the Empire’s army being the first to receive supplies, it was natural for him to blush every time he saw me, who was at the center of the story.
“And all your friends are nearby, too.”
“Well, I think it’s only natural since I’m here, right…?”
Of course, Lily wasn’t the only commoner attending this event.
Although there were rumors that some didn’t give Roti the time of day due to their racism even until graduation, at least more than half of our classmates seemed to have gotten along decently with her.
It seemed the fact that Roti and I were friends and that Roti’s lover was the Crown Prince of Lindbergh wiped out the negative biases stemming from skin color with some significant positives.
Of course, Roti wasn’t that foolish; she could differentiate between kids who just wanted to chat because of her status and those who genuinely wanted to be friends. Those who were invited to the wedding were all from the latter group.
The reason why those commoner classmates gathered around us was simply that many had arrived later than Lily.
No matter how wealthy the families were, at the end of the day, they were still commoners. Spending time in a crowded area filled with nobles must have been torture. So, many arrived as late as possible but just in time for the ceremony to start, resulting in them clustering around Lily, who was nearest to us.
At first, they hurried over recognizing only Lily, but when they saw she was next to none other than the Emperor, who had been crowned less than two weeks ago, their faces turned pale.
That didn’t mean they moved elsewhere, though.
Of course, kids from the noble class also came over to greet us, and some high-ranking nobles exchanged light greetings with us. Each time, the commoners turned ashen.
“Everyone’s so tense.”
“Well, I think it’s only natural to be tense.”
Leo commented on my mumbling.
“Oh, it’s almost time to start. Should we go take our seats?”
Claire checked her wristwatch and asked.
“Well, let’s do that then.”
As I looked over my companions and said that, everyone nodded. I almost burst out laughing when I saw the visibly relieved expressions of the commoner kids, but I held it back.
*
The wedding was held grandly.
Roti actually seemed to want a modest wedding. She wasn’t the type who enjoyed gathering people’s attention.
And in fact, even if guests were invited to the wedding, most of them would be Jake’s guests. Almost all of Roti’s mother’s relatives had passed away when she was young, and the remaining relatives had lost contact with each other. It probably didn’t help that her hometown was so far away that she couldn’t remember it accurately.
Even a commoner has pride. It would be natural to feel sad about having no guests at one’s own wedding.
However, the Duke of Lindbergh had a different perspective.
If Roti and Jake’s wedding were held simply, the other nobles would surely become suspicious about Roti’s existence.
In the worst case, they might think the Lindbergh family was embarrassed about the marriage.
And from Lindbergh’s point of view, that would be unacceptable.
Roti was a knight connected to the ‘Imperial Family.’
Hiding the fact that she and the Emperor’s son were getting married was out of the question. At least from Lindbergh’s perspective, they held Roti’s status in high regard and had to boldly declare that marrying into the Duke of Lindbergh’s bloodline was an honorable thing.
That story had to spread among the colonies too.
Jake wanted to go along with Roti’s wishes as much as possible, but it seemed he ultimately couldn’t go against his father’s insistence.
That’s why we all attended the wedding. Even Charlotte, who was said to be vigorously preparing to become the next queen, was waiting for us to arrive. Rena also showed up just before the ceremony.
And we all attended as guests from the bride’s side. Jake thanked us after hearing our stories. From Lindbergh’s side, it was a good decision.
“Wow…”
Rena let out a small gasp as she saw the two people walking down the far aisle. It seemed she really liked Roti’s outfit from the way her eyes sparkled.
If you looked again, all the women sitting around were also sighing in admiration as they looked at Roti.
Well, the one wearing it was that beautiful.
I might have unconsciously gasped too.
Maybe it’s because the world was crafted by a Japanese studio, or perhaps due to the time period, but the music playing wasn’t one I recognized as wedding music, but rather a fresh atmosphere created by the harmonious blend of various string instruments.
I raised my hand and lightly clapped.
Roti, who had been walking from a distance, directed her gaze toward us. Her eyes were searching for someone, moving around before finally settling on her mother, who was sitting between Alice and me.
A smile gradually bloomed on Roti’s face, which had been tense.
Following the gaze of the bride, Jake also smiled lightly. I waved slightly at the two of them.
As the little flower girls who walked ahead sprinkled petals, the two people who would become a couple today walked slowly.
Between the two walking together, the word “forbidden” no longer had any meaning.
There were just a happy couple who would walk together for a lifetime, just like they had until now.
*
“My nose is getting stuffed up.”
Alice said as she pressed her nose bridge.
“It looks like you’re trying really hard not to cry.”
“Shut up.”
Alice glared at me as she responded.
“Well then, since we’re all gathered here, why don’t we chat a bit? It seems like we might be waiting a long time for Roti and Jake.”
The wedding took place at the Lindbergh estate, but not on the southern continent, rather on the original northern continent where Lindbergh land was.
Rooms were provided for guests who came from afar. Of course, this was only for those guests Lindbergh had to especially care for, but in reality, we were all guests Lindbergh had to look after.
The commoner kids had apparently decided to stay in a separate place that Roti had arranged ahead of time. Whether to say it was a good thing or bad, the class division was still glaringly obvious in this era, so it seemed the commoner kids didn’t feel offended by such measures. If anything, they seemed grateful.
Still, it was a nice place to be.
“…I’m not drinking today.”
Sophia said, shivering as she recalled the catastrophes of the first-year culture festival.
“Everyone here experienced that day, so I doubt anyone would want to drink, even if invited.”
Now that Alice had become the Emperor, everyone nodded, including me.
At least, I thought there wouldn’t be a second time where half tea and half liquor was mixed.
—Or at least, that’s what I thought.
Until Jake burst into the room we were quietly conversing in, carrying bottles of alcohol in both hands.
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