Chapter 39 …
They were more eager for today’s wedding than even the main characters themselves.
If she had been a princess, perhaps it would have been different—but a woman whose only distinction was being someone’s aunt? They had no intention of showing her any respect.
Wasn’t she the perfect prey to tear apart?
“I heard they were having an outdoor wedding… but it’s raining. I guess even the heavens aren’t blessing it.”
“Doesn’t Killiet Castle have a hall? Were they not confident enough to decorate the interior?”
Holding a wedding against the backdrop of a castle passed down through generations was both splendid and meaningful. The stronger a family’s pride, the more appealing such an idea became… so outdoor ceremonies were fairly common.
But—
“Do they not know what happened five years ago when Count Garcia tried an outdoor wedding? It rained and even the tents they set up collapsed. They talked about moving indoors or changing the date, but it ended up being canceled entirely.”
“She might really not know. She doesn’t attend high society events, and her parents are deceased. Even Countess Grindel, who might have looked after her, is said to be very ill.”
“No one gave her advice? How pitiful.”
There was no need to say more.
The bride’s lack of experience in society would surely become obvious once the ceremony began.
“In the end, Count Garcia fought over that incident and now… well.”
“I wonder if these two will end up the same way. It sounds like today’s wedding was forced by the bride throwing a tantrum.”
“Imagine the bride bursting into tears on her own wedding day.”
“At least the flowers will enjoy the rain.”
Whether their words came from genuine concern or thinly veiled mockery—
Only they themselves knew.
“Huh?”
Their expectations, however, were wrong.
Swaaa—
The guests entering the venue widened their eyes.
It was raining.
And yet—it wasn’t.
What was going on?
“She told us to prepare magic. As expected, Master truly has foresight.”
“We could’ve moved it indoors, but the gardens of Killiet Castle are so beautiful. Oh—watch the mana density!”
Most of the staff at Rorojo were people who had once received help from Bellona.
They had wanted to do something for her wedding, but she had declined.
If they truly wished to help, she said, they could simply cast a barrier spell instead.
“It’s been dry for so long, and it just had to rain today.”
“So is that duke a good man? He’s handsome, at least.”
“Duke or not, our Master comes first!”
Above the transparent protective barrier, a pleasant spring rain fell in rhythmic sheets.
Those who had smirked at the sight of rain now clicked their tongues at the invisible shield.
Only then did they fully recall—the bride was a mage.
“I thought they’d wrap everything up in suffocating tents, or the wedding would be canceled.”
“Or move it hastily inside the ducal residence. But this…”
Rain poured down, yet it did not touch them—it simply flowed away.
The barrier covered such a wide area that even nobles arriving in carriages could settle comfortably.
They had braced themselves to step onto soggy ground despite the carpets—but the moment their feet touched the earth, a warm breeze swept through.
“Waaah!”
Dresses dampened by rain dried almost instantly in the gentle wind.
The mana wrapped softly around the guests, moving with precise control.
It was the children who gasped in pure wonder first.
“Mother, look! My dress is completely dry!”
“There’s an invisible wall! I touched it, but the rain doesn’t reach me!”
“Q-quiet down!”
Even for nobles, seeing magic applied so practically was rare.
The guests, stunned, made their way deeper into the venue.
Unlike the rain-soaked confusion outside, inside the barrier it was cozy and warm.
The adults were no less astonished.
“Mages never use magic for things like this, do they?”
“I only heard she was a mage… but to command this level of magical operation…”
A mage expelled from the Mage Tower.
Not a proper orthodox mage, but a half-blooded apostate.
Magic—something they had believed would only be used for grand and sacred matters—was welcoming them to a wedding.
They had thought it was simply the Duke of Killiet’s wedding.
But even before the ceremony truly began, the bride’s presence was overwhelming.
‘Surely nothing else can surprise us now.’
‘The magic was impressive, but they wouldn’t use it during the ceremony itself…’
As the wedding commenced and the murmuring crowd began to quiet—
“The bride and groom will now enter!”
At the clear, ringing announcement, the guests’ eyes went round.
An outdoor wedding was bold enough.
Apparently, magic wasn’t the only surprise today.
“Did I hear that wrong?”
“A simultaneous entrance? For a traditional house like Killiet to allow that? Even if the former duke and his elder brother have both passed…”
Those who had been whispering about whose hand the parentless bride would hold were the most shocked of all.
The first figure to appear on the carpet was neither bride nor groom.
The crowd had no choice but to lower their gaze.
“Lady Artea?”
In the Tikelon Empire, the concept of a flower girl did not exist.
But Bellona wanted to walk into her wedding with her real family—not merely family in name.
—Auntie, I’m not the bride. Is it okay if I wear a white dress?
—If you’re willing, I’d like you to have a special role.
Bellona herself had been indifferent, but seeing Artea’s sparkling eyes as she looked at the wedding dress, she made the offer.
She wanted the child to play a part in her uncle and aunt’s wedding.
Officiating or emceeing would be too difficult for a child, so then—
“She’s scattering flower petals?”
Walking slightly ahead of the bride and groom, Artea scattered petals.
The large ribbon on her back looked like the wings of a baby angel.
The adorable, lovable child was working hard for her aunt and uncle!
Though the young lady seemed a little nervous at first, she soon gathered her courage and diligently scattered the petals.
Of course… perhaps a little too diligently!
“Is she marching like a soldier?”
Left arm, left leg.
Right arm, right leg.
‘Just walk forward confidently and scatter the petals!’
I’m helping Aunt and Uncle! I’m part of their wedding!
She was a little nervous—but she refused to let that defeat her. Artea focused only on moving forward.
“S-so cute.”
“Hehe.”
That slight awkwardness only made the guests smile.
The stiff atmosphere melted in an instant.
Bellona grinned.
‘An outdoor venue is spacious—having the flower girl move boldly makes her easy to see. Perfect.’
After scattering all the petals, Artea finished her role and marched back with the same thump-thump, slightly stiff soldier’s gait.
Watching her, the bride and groom broke into radiant smiles once more.
“They… look good together.”
Until now, it had been customary for the bride’s father to escort her down the aisle and place her hand in the groom’s.
A simultaneous entrance was highly unusual.
“Artea did well.”
“Of course she did. Whose niece is she?”
“She’s my niece.”
“She’s my niece.”
The two spoke softly of Artea—not as a performance for the wedding, not as a show of forced harmony.
Their adorable niece had truly brought them joy.
Sincerity could not help but be conveyed.
Arm in arm, whispering words the guests could not hear, they looked happier than anyone else in the room.
“I’ve never seen Duke Killiet smile like that.”
Bright and open—like a sky cleared of all clouds.
That smile left a deeper impression on the guests than anything else that day.
