Chapter 41 …
“And with this, we will conclude the wedding ceremony.”
Artea appeared even for the final part—the bride and groom’s exit.
“Please give a loud cheer to bless the two who have just been reborn as husband and wife, and wish them a bright future.”
Now that the ceremony was over—and perhaps because she’d already done it once—Artea looked much more relaxed than before, scattering flower petals with a bright, beaming smile.
“Haha, the young lady looks much more at ease this time. Her arms and legs aren’t moving all stiff together.”
“Maybe I should ask for something like that at my wedding too. I’ve got a niece around her age.”
With warm praise all around, the wedding came to an end.
Contrary to the initial worries, a cozy, cheerful atmosphere spread among the guests.
What no one here knew yet was that the couple’s joint entrance and the use of a flower girl would soon become a trend throughout the entire Tigellon Empire.
After the ceremony, the reception began.
I had wanted to simplify it as much as possible—really, as much as humanly possible—but I failed.
Transportation wasn’t exactly well developed, and I couldn’t just send guests who had traveled from far away back home after only watching the ceremony.
“Oh my, so this is Lady Kylriet, whom we’ve heard so much about!”
“That’s right. Tea, say hello. These people make magic tools with your aunt.”
“Oh my!”
I introduced Artea to the magic tool company staff.
Artea was at a loss under the barrage of compliments—cute, adorable, lovely—but she didn’t look like she disliked it in the slightest.
“She has such bright eyes, just like the Master.”
“And those clear violet pupils.”
Artea quietly rolled her eyes around for a while.
“Th-that’s right. I take after Auntie.”
She blurted it out quickly and then scampered behind me.
It must have been the compliment she liked best.
Judging by how tightly she grabbed my hand even after hiding behind me, it probably took quite a bit of courage.
“Ahaha!”
The staff burst into warm laughter at the sight.
Isn’t Artea’s cuteness practically an axiom?
Objectively speaking, she is cute.
“It’s a shame I mainly studied household magic. If I were proficient in attack and defense magic, I would have requested to guard the young lady.”
“Exactly. We only learned a few spells from Master.”
“You lot have to run the business while I’m gone. Trying to slack off, are you?”
As we chatted like that, the sun was already setting far in the distance.
The long day that had begun at dawn was nearing its end.
While gazing at the sky dyed crimson, my thoughts suddenly turned to Erios.
‘Wait, where did Erios go?’
I had received plenty of congratulations myself—people I didn’t even recognize speaking with heartfelt emotion.
Judging by their reactions, the wedding had been a success.
Even considering that Erios must have received even more well-wishes… wasn’t he a little too out of sight?
“Where’s Uncle?”
“Good point. Want to go look for him together?”
Thinking the same thing, Artea and I set off.
He had been visible just a moment ago.
Surely nothing happened all of a sudden… right?
Just as worry began to creep in, we thankfully spotted Erios in a far corner of the garden.
“It’s not too late even now. The imperial family can still annul this.”
But he wasn’t alone.
Judging by the attire… an imperial attendant.
That reminded me of the carriage the imperial family had sent last time.
‘Wait… was that rumor about marriage talks with Princess Katrinne actually true?’
“Uncle—”
“Shh.”
Artea was about to call out, but before I knew it I had pulled her behind the bushes with me.
Why?
I wasn’t entirely sure myself. My body had just moved on reflex.
“I understand now. Seeing that you deliberately placed your niece, Lady Kylriet, in today’s ceremony… you must cherish and love her greatly.”
Even after we hid in the shrubs, the conversation between Erios and the attendant continued.
“So the reason you refused marriage with Her Highness the Princess was purely because of your niece. Bellona Sortis—that woman used your niece as leverage to—”
“I was the one who clung to her and married.”
“That must be a lie! What could Her Highness possibly lack compared to that woman? Even considering your niece, it would be better for her to grow up under Her Highness!”
Ah, so that was it.
He was trying to persuade him to reconsider marrying the princess. Should Artea really be hearing this?
“Her Highness Princess Katrinne has a gentle temperament, enjoys spending time with children, and is both modest and virtuous. Meanwhile that woman is a magic-obsessed eccentric, and though somewhat pretty, has a terrible personality—”
Just as I was wondering whether I should move away with Artea—
Erios abruptly cut the attendant off.
“I like that kind of person. A bad-tempered beauty.”
…What did he just say?
‘You say that to me—even if this marriage wasn’t for love?’
In my arms, Artea’s body trembled lightly. It seemed she was silently laughing.
Ignoring my outrage, Erios continued calmly.
“It’s unfortunate, but kind women don’t stir my heart.”
“N-no, but the princess is quite—!”
“You just said she was gentle and mild, didn’t you?”
What part of this was a dignified conversation between a duke and an imperial attendant?
Seeing no immediate reply, the attendant seemed too flustered to speak.
“Well… now that I think about it, perhaps she is a bit particular—”
“That’s not enough. When Bellona and I first met, she was beating someone unconscious.”
“What? And you married such a woman?!”
“I’m joking. You actually believed that?”
The conversation was rapidly devolving into something childish and absurd.
‘Wait, that’s not a joke—that actually happened! You have to consider he was a bandit!’
I only searched the bandit’s pockets because he’d caused me losses, so I deserved some compensation… and back then I was the youngest mage, so money was… ahem. And I kicked him because conserving mana was important.
…Wait, why am I even making excuses?
“There’s no such joke! So it was true! A bad-tempered woman—what if she starts throwing punches at you?”
But Erios’s expression remained perfectly serious.
“It’s a secret… but I like being hit by bad-tempered beauties. Embarrassing as it is, I have rather shameful tastes.”
“……!!!!!!”
The attendant’s jaw dropped in shock. Any sense of dignity or pride seemed to have flown straight out of his head.
Understandable. In all his decades serving the imperial family, had he ever heard such a scandalous confession?
Even I was shocked listening from afar!
‘Erios Kylriet. Has that idiot lost his mind?! Even if he’s trying to reject the proposal, does he have to say things like that?!’
Erios finished quietly.
“So I hope Her Highness Princess Katrinne meets a kind man who suits her.”
Then he smiled as if he couldn’t help finding something utterly lovable.
It was a dazzling, radiant smile—like a flower blooming in full.
“Because it has to be Bellona.”
The moment I heard that, heat rushed to my face. In my arms, Artea practically bounced with excitement.
W-wait… did that guy eat something weird today? What on earth is wrong with him?
“You will surely regret this later!”
“Even if I do, that will be my fate. But… if I lose Bellona, I think I’d regret it immediately. I probably won’t be able to sleep starting tonight.”
Artea, who had been quiet, finally couldn’t hold it in and whispered,
“Auntie, your face is red!”
“It’s red because I’m mad!”
A child’s whisper is always louder than they think.
After answering Artea, I cautiously looked over—but the attendant, thoroughly shaken, had already retreated in defeat.
Soon Erios also left the area.
All that remained here were Artea and me, too drained to move.
“I think Uncle really likes you! So romantic!”
Freed from restraint, Artea finally squealed in her usual dolphin-like voice.
I didn’t even have the energy to deny it and barely managed to say one thing.
“Don’t tell your uncle… that we secretly overheard today’s conversation.”
“Why?”
