Life flows like a rolling stone, sometimes sharpening its edges.
I’ve lived such a life, as have most, but there are times I wonder why things like this only happen to me.
“Grand Duke! Count Aslan wishes to meet with you!”
“The chieftain of the Dalcran tribe in the western plains has sent a message! It’s likely a request to hasten Temur Urgan’s return…”
“Grand Duke, I apologize for interrupting during such a busy time, but I must insist you hear me out!”
A day of celebration and joy—the day of a wedding.
I found it odd that nobles I didn’t even know existed suddenly swarmed me with flattery.
It turns out, I was still without a proper noble title.
Though I hold the title of Grand Duke, it’s merely a token of my position as the Empress’s consort, not a formal noble rank.
To these nobles, I must have seemed like a goose laying golden eggs.
For them, this was a golden opportunity to curry favor with someone who could theoretically become the Empress’s consort, so they all flocked to me.
“…This problem should have been resolved a long time ago.”
As someone hailed as a hero, a noble title wasn’t something I needed.
But it’s undeniable that such a title carries certain advantages.
It comes with conveniences and opens doors, such as this sudden influx of noble support.
Yet, with so much else happening, I’d delayed addressing this matter until the very day of my wedding.
Now, with minor issues piling up, I had to endure the headache of facing these nobles right before the schedule began.
“Ugh, my head…”
The ceremony hadn’t even started, and I was already drained.
From the early morning, attendants swarmed me—bathing, dressing, grooming, and even applying makeup.
To work like this, in such a state, felt maddening.
But just one more task remained.
“Are you leaving tomorrow?”
“I should. I’ve been away from my tribe for longer than I’d like. I’ll quietly attend the wedding and depart.”
“Good. Let’s avoid seeing each other outside of official settings from now on.”
“I’d prefer that. It’d mean I’m busy.”
“You’re an odd one.”
He’s certainly different from the Wild King.
Politically astute, diplomatically skilled, yet still possessing the raw strength and combat prowess unique to the Urgan.
Had he been born an imperial citizen, he could’ve risen to a high position.
“One last thing to ask.”
“…?”
“Your essence—has it been reacting lately?”
“It’s fading more and more.”
“…I see.”
The Spring Leaf, Summer Sun, Autumn Wind, and Winter Blizzard.
Are they all the same now?
It wasn’t surprising; I’d already suspected it.
Since resolving the trials left by the Divine Kings of the Mythical Era, their essences had begun erasing their own existence.
Even Epherna couldn’t guess why, except to call it the will of the Divine Kings.
“It’s for the best. Such power shouldn’t exist in the first place.”
“I agree.”
The ability to grant any wish…
Though I’d experienced it firsthand, it was still an absurd miracle.
“It would’ve been better if it never existed.”
A power capable of reshaping nations or even the world.
Such immense strength risked destabilizing the balance of the world.
“By the way, it’s almost time, isn’t it? The first autonomous region for the plains tribes is being established. It’ll be hard to manage, given how remote it is. Choose the right people.”
“…I’ll do my best.”
The autonomous region of the plains tribes.
Situated near the Katia Duchy in the western continent, it was a territory officially recognized for the so-called “barbarians”.
Though the term was somewhat misleading, it marked the foundation for the tribes to form their own nation.
“…”
“…”
“A bit late, but congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thank you.”
*****
“So, he’s finally getting married, huh?”
“Right? I thought he’d be single forever.”
“Honestly, I didn’t think a woman who’d understand him would ever appear. From the start, he’s been… different.”
“Technically, he raised her himself.”
“Wow… so that’s an option. Clever bastard. If there’d been just a slightly bigger age gap between him and Her Majesty, it’d have been a crime.”
“…”
Less than 30 minutes before the ceremony began, a final group of visitors arrived to congratulate me.
Valtean and Ray, with bottles in hand, poured out words they’d been holding back.
“Man, I’m jealous. Should I raise my future bride too?”
“Didn’t you say you weren’t interested in women?”
“Well, interest can develop over time. But maybe raising one isn’t the way to go. I’ll find someone among the people I know.”
“Who? Don’t tell me… Lea? You’ve had your eye on her since training days, haven’t you?”
“…Are you insane?”
“What’s with that reaction?”
I wonder how Lea’s doing.
Now that I think about it, I haven’t heard from her lately.
I heard she moved from Triaina Special Forces Commander to Capital Guard Captain.
Judging by her absence, it seems she’s maintaining the covert nature of her work.
‘She’s probably fine.’
She’s always been fiercely independent, even for a member of the Dragon Clan.
As a teenager, she dreamed boldly of owning her own home, so meddling now would be unnecessary.
“Alright, let’s head to our seats. No getting drunk before the ceremony.”
“We’re not drunk!”
“…What?”
“This is water. Do we look like the kind of people who’d get drunk at someone else’s wedding?”
“…Seriously?”
But the smell…
There was definitely an alcohol scent in the air.
If not from Valtean or Ray, then where was it coming from?
“That one.”
Ray pointed with his index finger at someone.
Following his gaze, I saw something unexpected—a non-human woman guzzling alcohol.
“Why are you here?”
“Why~? Can’t I be here~?”
It was Merien’s younger sister, Meriel.
Her flushed face betrayed her drunken state as she slurred her words.
“They say shamans drink until they’re completely drunk on joyous occasions.”
“Humans do that too.”
“Humans know how to pick the time and place. Shamans apparently don’t?”
“Are shamans that kind of race?”
“Not really. That’s just a lie. She’s an exception, according to the steward.”
“…”
Anyway.
“Why is she here?”
“The chamberlain recently had her second child. She came for that and your wedding as well.”
“I see. But why isn’t she with the chamberlain? Why is she drunk here?”
“We gave her the alcohol. She downed it so easily that we thought she was a heavy drinker, but after just one bottle, she was completely out of it…”
“…Take her to her quarters and let her rest.”
“Understood.”
Ray hoisted Meriel up and headed back to the palace accommodations.
Meriel, arms limply dangling, waved as she was carried away.
“Congratulations on your marriage~”
“Congrats.”
“Congratulations.”
“…”
Thank you.
*****
The wedding’s scale, as expected, was modest but not negligible.
Epherna originally wanted it to be a small, simple event with a few close acquaintances, considering it a mere formality.
But the close aides insisted on something befitting the Empress’s name, and a compromise was eventually reached.
Even so, she didn’t seem satisfied.
“…This is such a waste. How much did this dress cost? Just the decorations probably exceed the price of a decent estate.”
Just before the ceremony, Epherna had teleported to see me.
Dressed in a pure white gown, she was as stunning as ever.
I momentarily lost myself in her beauty but quickly composed myself.
“Haha…”
She wasn’t wrong.
The jewels adorning her dress were all rare and priceless.
However, the dress itself was a modified version of ceremonial robes worn by past emperors, and most of the decorations were gifts creatively arranged.
The actual cost was probably less than half of what one might expect.
Even so, it wasn’t a small expense, and I understood her frustration.
“Mister.”
“Yeah?”
“For the next few days, there’s nothing urgent. After the ceremony, let’s head out to the Much-Sector.”
“Sure.”
“While we’re at it, let’s grab sandwiches for a late-night snack, walk around the lake… And then what?”
“We don’t have to do anything specific.”
If we got bored of walking, we could admire the stars and flowers.
And if even that got tiresome, we could return home, hold each other, and fall asleep.
“In the morning, we can have a simple stew, stroll around town, bask in the sunlight, watch a play, enjoy performances, snack on treats, take a nap if we’re sleepy, have dinner, and then head back together.”
Not everything will always be special or joyful.
There will be times when we’re hurt and times when we hurt ourselves trying to heal each other.
Most of our days might even pass in dull monotony.
But.
“If we have nothing, so what?”
As long as I can share all those moments with you, we’ll be happy.
Epherna smiled softly.
“…Right. So what. As long as you’re by my side, nothing else matters.”
“It’s not just me, though.”
“…Huh?”
I placed my hand on her belly.
“We have to be happy together.”
“Oh…”
Epherna’s lips trembled slightly.
As tears welled in her eyes, I kissed her lightly and held her hand.
“Let’s go.”
Hand in hand, we walked together toward the ceremony.
-End-
