NOVEL NEXT The Knights had quite a number of members.
Compared to the soldiers guarding the system, it might seem lacking, but it was definitely a sizable gathering.
Just watching the training around the Knights’ building was proof of that.
It seemed like a lot when you tried to count them one by one.
In fact, aside from the Knights around the castle, they were dispatched to various places across Eristirol.
So, the actual number was likely even higher.
They were preparing for the wedding with such a large contingent of Knights.
Not for the ceremony itself, but for the guests who would be attending the wedding.
“….”
“….”
“Kyle, how many people can fit in the Grand Shrine…?”
“Umm, there are just under 5000 seats in the hall for the ceremony.”
That seemed about right from my memory.
It could hold quite a crowd, befitting the name of the Grand Shrine.
But the problem was…
“I thought we had a decent turnout last week…”
More and more people were arriving.
There were those who came to congratulate and others hoping to line up for Kyle, but still, there were just so many.
“Well, not everyone who came last week will make it inside the hall, you know.”
“Yeah, but that’s still way too many, right?”
“That’s true…”
“And we won’t just be filling the chapel with people. We’ll be decorating it and filling it with various other things…”
No matter how I thought about it, it seemed like way too many.
Thanks to the help of the Knights, things had improved to some extent, but what if more people kept coming in this manner until the big day?
“I don’t know! Kyle, come here and lay down.”
Forget about the headache-inducing talk; I decided to relax with Kyle.
I called him over while lying on the bed, and he climbed up as I instructed.
After all, there was no reason for us to fret here.
The matters regarding the wedding were left to the castle’s servants and the Duke, and we only needed to enjoy ourselves.
Moreover… we couldn’t be touching every little detail of the plans.
Everyone likely had their own agendas, and it was better to let them handle it without buttinskys.
“Wow, it’s really getting close now.”
“Right? It’s less than two weeks away.”
“It feels real now.”
We lay facing each other as we spoke.
It was such a different feeling compared to when the idea of marriage first came up.
Back then, it felt a bit absurd and far too sudden.
That was because Kyle brought it up when we had only been dating for about two months.
“Now… I get so excited every time I go to sleep that it’s hard to fall asleep!”
“Then we have to make sure the ceremony is even better than that excitement.”
“Is that so? I don’t need the ceremony to be grand or magnificent. Just… being with you is enough.”
I said as I pressed my forehead against Kyle’s, who was gazing at me.
That’s really all I needed.
Just hanging out with this big guy in front of me was enough.
“So don’t get nervous just because tons of people are coming to the ceremony. Got it?”
“I understand.”
That was all that mattered.
Even though many people were coming, it was more important for us to focus on each other than worry about others.
It wasn’t like nobles or wealthy folks from afar came by daily; ultimately, we were the ones we’d see every day.
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“Sophia, are you worried about anything?”
“Worried?”
When I heard Kyle’s question, I thought about it for a moment.
But… there weren’t really any outstanding worries.
“I just don’t want to be a hassle at such a noble gathering.”
“That’s nothing much.”
“Right?”
I laughed while responding to Kyle.
It was trivial enough to laugh about.
We’d talked about it a few times before, and it was really an unnecessary worry.
“Hehe… Anyway, with not much time left, don’t get into pointless training with the Knights outside, alright?”
“Got it. I’ll take it easy.”
“No, not ‘take it easy’, just relax!”
“But I’ll lose my muscles.”
“Ugh…”
*
Kyle’s wedding talk seemed to have spread really widely.
Right now, Eristirol was flooded with visitors, and I had seen that firsthand.
And apart from that wedding news, there were people we had specifically invited.
More accurately, they were people Kyle wrote letters to invite.
Not many, but still.
“It’s been a while.”
“Right?”
“Did you come by before the Duke’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony?”
“I did.”
And the woman sitting with me in the guest room was one of those.
It hadn’t been eons, but it had been a while.
Truly.
“Kyle Duke… no, I should say Duke now. Anyway, marrying a Duke, huh.”
“Haha…”
“I honestly wish that hadn’t happened.”
“Haha…”
What should I say in response to this lady in front of me?
Of course, she was one of the closest nobles to Kyle after all.
Given that they had met since childhood, it was only natural.
“But I’ll still give you my congratulations. It’s been a while since I’ve been to Eristirol.”
“Haha, I appreciate that. I’m happy to see you again too.”
“Thank goodness! I thought I had completely forgotten about you while living with Duke Kyle.”
Though that definitely wasn’t true… I had written to Catherine just last year.
Of course, I hadn’t been able to meet her as often as before, but I never truly forgot her.
Just some time ago, I had even imagined her as Kyle’s partner when I was young.
Well, it was just a solitary thought of mine.
Looking back, it was definitely an unhealthy thought.
“Are you not considering stopping the wedding after all this time?”
“Of course not.”
“Then, aside from congratulations, there’s nothing else for me to say. Truly, congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
There wasn’t much to discuss with Catherine after seeing her after a long time.
To be precise, it would be correct to say there weren’t many topics she had for me.
We didn’t have much to share.
We could only catch up and talk about wedding-related things.
“I heard the Princess is coming. Did you know that?”
“Oh, yes. Kyle told me.”
“Oh ho…”
“Apparently, there was a slight connection before. I remember Kyle sending her a letter directly.”
The Princess… she was someone to be grateful for in many ways.
She was one of those who significantly influenced my getting together with Kyle, along with Louise.
“So, the wedding is highly anticipated now, especially with the Princess coming in person.”
“Indeed… that’s exciting.”
More and more people were arriving, and the atmosphere in Eristirol was growing richer.
I figured soon the Princess would come, and the arrival of other distinguished nobles would only amplify the excitement.
At least, I hoped the mood wouldn’t sour.
“But, Catherine, do you not have anyone you fancy or are dating yet?”
“Well… I’m officially an adult now. My father always tells me to date someone of equal status.”
“Hmm… I’m sure a lady like Catherine will meet someone great. Though your taste is a bit unique… you’re still a kind person.”
“Haha… I really appreciate you saying that. Thank you.”
*
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, it’s nice seeing you after a while. Haven’t you met her yet?”
I was having dinner with Kyle, sharing about my time with Catherine today.
It wasn’t just me; it was someone Kyle hadn’t seen for a while either.
So it made sense to let him know about it.
Even if I hadn’t, I would have shared what happened today anyway.
“…I didn’t know she arrived today. It’s not like nobles keep coming one after another to the territory.”
“Then meet her tomorrow. She’s more beautiful than when we were kids.”
That was my honest opinion.
Catherine had always been pretty, even from childhood.
It was a natural outcome, but seeing her in person only enhanced that feeling.
“Oh, and don’t cheat.”
“…I’m not.”
“Well, that’s good. But she really has become pretty, you know?”
I joked with Kyle while smiling.
After all, there was no reason for Kyle to suddenly turn his gaze elsewhere.
He had always said he liked me since childhood, so there was no reason to start looking elsewhere.
Or at least, that was my assumption…
“…You really wouldn’t do that, right?”
“Of course not!”
“W-well, you never know!”
I wasn’t suspicious of Kyle at all, but still, young women always seemed so appealing.
I was in my mid-twenties, and Catherine had just turned into an adult… hmm…
“Hehe.”
“…”
“I’m just kidding. You wouldn’t do that either, right?”
“Of course not.”
“Okay, as long as you’re sure.”
Anyway, we ate dinner while laughing.
So many people had come that Kyle had slightly more folks to meet.
He would have to meet many people today, far more than when I met Catherine.
And most of those would be nobles, especially the more distinguished ones.
“When’s the Princess expected to arrive?”
“Umm… probably in a few days. Given her personality, she wouldn’t show up until just before the wedding.”
“That’s definitely true…”
I couldn’t argue against that.
As a princess, she would certainly rush in with excitement to congratulate us.
After all, that was how it had been even before we started dating.
Well, it was thanks to her energetic self that Kyle and I managed to end up together.