NOVEL NEXT It was definitely… a compliment I had gotten used to, feeling normal every time I heard it.
But… today’s words were so different.
If it were any other day, I would have smiled it off like usual, but today, that was impossible.
Kyle was suddenly next to me, wrapping his arm around me as we started to walk slowly.
Of course, I walked inward too.
– thump… thump…
My heart… was racing.
It was as intense as the time I had responded to Kyle’s confession, no, even stronger than that.
The reason was… obviously because of the guy walking next to me.
“….”
“….”
We were… just slowly walking down the virgin road.
The melody of the piano had transitioned into a march-style song.
A slight glance around showed people staring at us from both sides.
Really… there were various people gathered.
Some looked like nobles, while others seemed to be well-off gentlemen, and there were even little kids who hadn’t become adults yet.
I truly felt the diversity of guests attending the wedding of Kyle and me.
I had felt it enough walking alongside Dad before entering the chapel, but this was even more tangible.
“Kyle.”
I whispered to Kyle so the audience next to us wouldn’t hear, keeping my gaze ahead.
“Isn’t it amazing…?”
“Amazing?”
“It’s really… nice.”
Honestly, my feelings about the wedding could be summed up with that one word.
I couldn’t find anything else to express beyond that.
Being with Kyle like this, being gazed at by people, everything I saw was just… nice.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Yeah, really.”
The corners of my mouth were slightly raised, but since it was such a joyous occasion, a little smile wasn’t a problem at all; after all, we were the main characters here.
We walked and walked until we finally reached the end of the chapel.
In front of Kyle and me were just an old grandpa and a beautiful stained glass window.
Naturally, since this was a chapel, there were many dignified things around.
“Now that the bride and groom have entered, let us begin the ceremony.”
The old man, or rather, the grandpa in his white priest robe said, starting to speak… well, a bit boringly.
Of course, it wasn’t super long or anything, but it was slightly dull.
The story was just a typical explanation about marriage.
It was such a mundane tale that it didn’t even matter if you weren’t paying attention to the other processes of the ceremony.
“Is there anyone among the guests who opposes this marriage?”
“….”
Honestly, it was my first time at a wedding, and it felt very strange in various ways.
Especially because of who my partner was.
I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if someone suddenly jumped out yelling, “I object!” or “I’m against this marriage!”
I was a little curious about that.
Though there was no answer to the priest’s question, what if such a statement came out here?
“…Sofia, your expression.”
“Ah!”
Had my foolish thoughts surfaced on my face? Anyway, I changed my expression back to a normal smile.
I mustn’t look too carefree since that wouldn’t do.
“First, I will ask the groom. Groom, do you vow to love your bride for life, respecting and cherishing her at all times, and to fulfill your duties as a husband while living for your family?”
The old man, despite his age, inquired with a dignified voice towards Kyle.
Upon hearing that, Kyle looked at me and opened his mouth.
“I vow.”
His eyes were filled with confidence and his smile radiant.
It was so bright that I couldn’t help but believe in him.
And then I felt his gaze turn to me.
“Then I will now ask the bride. Bride, do you vow to love your groom for life, respecting and cherishing him at all times, and to fulfill your duties as a wife while living for your family?”
“I vow.”
I answered immediately without hesitation.
In fact, I was so quick to respond that it might have come even before the question finished.
Thanks to the bright smile before me, there was no way I was going to delay my answer.
Besides, I had already been too slow in responding in the past.
In moments like this, it’s best to express exactly what Kyle wants and what my heart directs.
“With this, the groom and bride have declared to each other that they will be lifelong partners and companions, loving and respecting each other, and for the happiness of one another’s lives, in front of their parents and all guests….”
Listening to the old man while gazing at Kyle, his face looked just as happy as when I had confessed to him back then.
In truth, I was more focused on Kyle’s face than on what the grandpa was saying.
Of course, he was smiling enough that I didn’t need to worry.
“Groom, the rings.”
And then… Kyle slowly knelt on one knee and pulled out a small box from his pocket.
Inside, surely… it must be what I was thinking.
I had seen it once before.
Normally, this would have been the moment for a grand proposal, but we were having such an unusual wedding.
We had decided to marry without properly asking our parents, and we only met for the first time a month before the wedding.
Plus, we had only started dating around seven months ago… it was an early marriage.
Though, it wasn’t a problem since we were both on the same page about it.
“….”
“….”
In that moment, our eyes met.
Those beautiful blue eyes I had seen moments ago seemed even more stunning today.
Because of the entirely different color from my own, I had always thought so, but today, Kyle’s blue eyes looked as beautiful as the sky.
“Sofia, I will love you for a lifetime.”
“…Me too.”
“I’ll make you happy for a lifetime.”
“…Me too.”
“It’s a bit late for a proposal, but… will you accept it?”
“….”
Kyle gazed at me while kneeling, waiting for my response.
I… didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I slowly raised my left hand, pretending to be as elegant as possible while being conscious of the eyes of the guests on us.
The position of my hand was precisely above the small box Kyle was holding.
At the same time, it was the perfect position for Kyle to slide the ring on.
“Okay.”
It was just a single word, but I held back so many emotions just to say it.
I fought the urge to burst out in laughter and the impulse to start crying instead.
After all, there were many people watching, and I couldn’t ruin my face in front of them.
Moreover, it was right in front of Kyle.
Suppressing my emotions as much as possible, I simply responded with one word.
– slip…
And… the ring, that familiar ruby ring slid onto my ring finger.
“….”
“….”
Kyle and I exchanged smiles without a word.
Of course, I was still holding back so many emotions.
“…Kyle, can we kiss?”
“Eh? What do you…!?”
I couldn’t hold back any longer and planted a kiss on Kyle, who was looking up at me.
It wasn’t the kind of passionate kiss we normally had; it was just… a gentle peck.
*
There were a few mishaps, but the wedding concluded smoothly.
After all, because of me, everyone ended up laughing it off.
Well… I felt a bit embarrassed afterward, but overall, it ended well!
“Fortunately… they managed to find spots inside the temple.”
“Though that meant the folks inside had to step out a bit.”
“Well, it couldn’t be helped. It’s not like we could host everyone outside.”
There were so many attendees at the wedding that it was unavoidable.
If some of those who were seated inside hadn’t stepped out, everyone would’ve had to huddle outside, shivering in the cold.
“Still… it’s autumn, so it should be fine as long as they dress warmly.”
“Yeah… I guess so?”
“Yep.”
That said, we, the main characters of the wedding, couldn’t go outside.
We did feel a bit sorry for those people eating outside, but I thought it was a reasonable compromise.
Plus, we’d arranged for some kind of windbreaker for ourselves.
If they were really uncomfortable, they could always go inside to eat; that would settle it.
“Sofia, congratulations on your wedding.”
“Oh, Elin.”
While Kyle and I were enjoying our meal, Elin walked over to our table.
She still had her armor on, perhaps just finishing up some work.
“Are you enjoying the food?”
“Oh, definitely! It’s all super delicious! And congratulations to you too, Young Master.”
“Thank you.”
“Actually, I haven’t eaten a thing yet; I was working until just now.”
“Haha, we’re fine, so please sit and eat quickly. You must be exhausted after working so hard, right?”
“Well, it wasn’t tough or anything, but if the Duchess says so… I guess I have to follow that?”
Elin laughed as she made her way back to her seat.
She really was quite personable.
Aside from the occasional extreme dedication to the Knights, she was a truly great person.
Kyle and I continued to chat and enjoy our meal, sharing stories about Elin.
“Hey! What was that kiss all about?!”
“What’s it to you?”
Then came my friend, who I’d known longer than even Kyle or Elin.
“I seriously didn’t expect you to kiss like that in the middle of the ceremony!”
“….”
That wasn’t untrue.
It wasn’t even supposed to be the time for a kiss; I just did it.
Normally, there would’ve been a follow-up from the old grandpa standing next to me before that happened, but… it didn’t really matter.
“What’s it to you?”
“Just! Congratulations on your marriage.”
“…Thanks.”
“By the way… are you spending the night together later?”
“…You crazy!”
Just a moment ago, I was feeling a bit emotional.
It was a touching moment for a long-time friend to congratulate me on my wedding, after all.
Naturally, I felt a little moved, maybe even shed a slight tear… that moment was just that.
“Yeah.”
“Why are you responding to that?!”