NOVEL NEXT Chapter 241
Chapter 241. Childhood Friends – Wedding
“This is the second time I’ve seen you. Isn’t that right, Apostle of Barbatos?”
In the reception room, where a plain red carpet felt soft underfoot and there were only chairs facing the saint without any tables, Lev and Leo Dexter were at a loss for words.
They hadn’t expected that someone other than themselves would remember the previous iteration. The saint smiled brightly at them.
“You’re surprised, aren’t you? You must have a lot to say… Please, have a seat.”
Lev and Leo Dexter sat down.
Lev didn’t know what to say, his mouth just opening and closing silently. Leo, grinding his teeth, finally spoke.
“Did you know everything?”
“Know what?”
“Our…”
Leo gripped the armrests of his chair so hard it seemed they might break. He barely restrained himself from striking the saint’s smiling face as he said,
“Our wretched situation.”
“Of course not. I don’t know everything. The deity only tells me what I need to know at the moment. Your name is Leo Dexter, right? This is my first time meeting you.”
“Then ask the deity. What did we do wrong to deserve this?”
“Hmm…”
The saint slightly raised her beautiful eyes upwards, as if looking at the ceiling for a moment, then she spoke.
“You’re paying for the sins committed by Toddler Akiunen.”
“Why us…”
Leonel and Leticia.
Guessing what she meant, Leo fell silent. The saint shrugged and said,
“I don’t know either. This meeting is by the deity’s will. Could you tell me what happened to you?”
A rather long conversation followed.
Having collected himself, Lev calmly explained everything that had happened, from the first iteration to the present. The saint occasionally looked tearful, as if she wasn’t just listening to Lev’s story but also seeing something else. She sometimes gazed into the air and sighed.
“So, this time you will become the king of the Orun Kingdom, and next time, Leo will ascend to the throne.”
“Yes. That way, we can make Leah and Lena Einarr princesses. Will you help us?”
“…Is this Leah person here?”
“Yes. She has been attending the capital church’s educational facility for about a year now.”
“I see…”
The saint was silent for a while. She seemed to be mulling over her words, then finally looked intently at the two young men and spoke.
“What do you want me to do? There’s not much I can do for you. You don’t really need my help.”
“What do you mean?”
Leo Dexter asked, puzzled by the idea that they didn’t need help. But Lev, as if he had anticipated this, nodded, and the saint briefly replied.
“The deity is watching over you.”
That answer should have been sufficient, but Leo looked confused, so the saint elaborated.
“It means that if you need something, it has already been given to you. I don’t even know why the deity guided you to me.”
“Who guided us? I came here of my own will.”
“You’re right. That’s not incorrect. So, why did you come here? If you tell me, maybe I can help.”
Leo poured out his desires and questions. Unlike Lev, he had many things he wanted.
“I am here to marry my fiancée Lena. I would like you, Saint, to officiate the ceremony.”
“That’s not a difficult request. Let me arrange a schedule for you.”
“Thank you. Now… Lev, could you hand it over for a moment? What about this?”
Leo held up a blue necklace, an heirloom from Leanne’s mother.
It was an item Leo had not yet taken possession of. Unlike Leo’s mother’s heirloom sword and Lev’s mother’s mirror, its purpose was not immediately clear. A pretty necklace, indeed. But the saint…
“It’s a beautiful necklace.”
She repeated exactly what was written in the necklace’s description. She didn’t seem inclined to elaborate further.
“How did you know it’s a beautiful necklace?”
“I just said what I see, didn’t I?”
“…Do you also see a square window?”
“What do you mean…”
The saint looked at Leo with a puzzled expression. Feeling foolish, Leo returned to the point.
“I want to know the purpose of this necklace.”
“Judging by what you’re saying, it must be a very special item. Let me ask… Oh, I’m sorry. The deity says it’s not necessary for me to know.”
“Why?”
“Please wait a moment. The deity speaks so much… When the time comes, you will naturally find out. It’s fine to give it to your fiancée, Lena.”
“…Understood. Then…”
Leo grabbed Lev’s right hand, lost in thought. He spread open the palm with the stamp of Oriax and asked,
“Can you remove the stamp here?”
Lev thought Leo had become a selfish person who only knew about Lena and himself. But when he thought that this stamp would go to Leo in the next round, it made sense.
The saint examined Lev’s palm closely.
[ Debuff: Oriax’s footprint – Provocation, cannot escape. 11 years, 11 months, 11 days, 11 hours, 11 minutes, 11 seconds. Fixed ]
“It’s a distorted heptagon. Impressive. You seem to be quite adept at reading the divine script from the three-dimensional view. Removing it wouldn’t be difficult…”
Meriel looked briefly at Lev.
“It’s better not to remove it. Don’t worry. It will disappear soon.”
Leo asked again if he could just erase it now, but the saint shook her head. Her eyes sent a meaningful smile to Lev.
“Leo, stop. The saint said it’s better not to erase it.”
“What are you going to do to us again…”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Never mind, forget it. Okay, Saint.”
“Yes, what can I help you with?”
“Please tell us our true names, mine and Lena’s.”
The saint’s eyes widened.
She realized why the deity had guided this man to her.
Even though she had imposed a punishment, the deity truly cherished them. To care about such small matters as well.
Meriel nodded.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that. But I understand why you’ve come. Leo Dexter, can you show me the mirror you have?”
What is she going to do?
Leo nodded as well. It wasn’t a refusal, but rather, he didn’t have the mirror on him because it was in Lena.
“The mirror is with Lena. Why do you need it?”
“I will allow you to use that mirror. Make sure to bring it on the wedding day. Haha. Since the important tasks are done, any further discussion would be trivial. You may go now.”
“Wait a moment. I still have many questions…”
Despite Leo Dexter shouting, the saint settled into her chair as if her business was concluded.
The temple warriors urged the two young men to rise from their seats with their footsteps. At that moment of silence, Lev, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
“Saint, I have a request.”
“What is it?”
“There is a tribe called ‘Uena’ to the west. There is a grandmother who serves Asin there. Unfortunately, she met Cardinal Mihaer. Please protect her.”
“…Is that all you wish for?”
“Yes. I can handle everything else myself.”
The saint chuckled.
“I see why you might be the ‘first.’ I will grant your wish. From now on, Cardinal Mihaer will not go on pilgrimages. I will see you on the wedding day.”
Eventually, Lev and Leo left the main hall of the Cross Church. Leo muttered,
“Damn. I had so many questions to ask. But in the end, we got no help. They say we’ll find out later… I could say that too. Don’t you think?”
“…”
“Huh? Why are you… Oh? Isn’t that Leah over there? I see.”
Leo’s eyesight was quite good. Leah was walking with a novice far away, and Lev stared blankly at her. Leo nudged Lev’s back.
“What are you doing? Let’s go. I’ll wait for you to say hello.”
Leo pushed Lev’s back, but he didn’t move.
The warning from Asin, Ceres, had warned him not to meet Leah.
Leo Dexter asked in a tone of disbelief.
“Don’t tell me you’re only going to contact her once you’ve become king, are you? You’re not planning to make her a princess without even meeting her, are you?”
“…Let’s go.”
“What? What a dumb…”
Lev strode ahead without looking back, trying hard not to. Leo sighed deeply.
If there’s one thing about Lev, it’s his traits.
Lev, who was not strong-willed, listened well to others’ opinions. He readily accepted Minseo’s thoughts and had a gentle personality.
But this was something related to Leah and his life. Leo, who had strong self-esteem, couldn’t help but say, “Ah, you idiot.”
* * *
Next month, winter. The wedding of Leo Dexter and Lena Einarr was held.
Although it was prepared hastily in the main hall of the Capital Church, the impressive guests who attended made the occasion shine brightly.
Prince Cleo de Frederick attended on behalf of the Frederick royal family.
Nobles eagerly reserved seats together with the beloved of Count Oscar, who recently started dating.
The size of the wedding ceremony grew uncontrollably.
I don’t know who Leo Dexter and Lena Einarr are.
The wedding, which could have been overshadowed by the supernova-like rise of the Frederick royal family and the noble family of Jerome’s Holy Kingdom, gained the attention of all nobles and the public when it became known that Saint Mariel personally presided over the ceremony.
While Leo and Lena were affectionate and brewing, Lev prepared for their wedding.
The only well-known person outside, Lev, the great Swordmaster himself, personally greeted the guests. Among Lev’s female disciples, the beautiful bride’s attendants, and the rough men, they became the guards of the handsome groom.
“Thank you for attending my best friend’s wedding. Yes, yes. I understand. I will make sure to visit sometime. Please, come inside. The prince entered a little while ago.”
After shaking countless hands and writing down the names of nobles he didn’t know in the guestbook, Lev finally caught a break once the ceremony started.
The once bustling lobby had quieted down. The sound of music filled the air. Not wanting to miss his friend’s wedding, Lev stood up and peeked beyond the doors of the wedding hall.
He had missed the highlight.
The saint had finished her officiation and blessing, and Leo and Lena were reading their marriage declaration.
It was a sight he had never seen before. Despite having been through several marriages, it always ended with the priest’s words, “We announce the birth of a new couple before God.”
Lev, smiling as he admired how the height difference between the couple looked just right, suddenly felt a pang of bitterness.
I will never get married like that. Even if I marry Leah, it will be after the ending, and this will be my last turn.
Only then could Lev truly empathize with the desperate plea of Leanne de Yeriel, who had begged for just one more chance. After all, if he clears it, retrying wouldn’t cancel out the clear. He didn’t want to fade away, mumbling the story after the ending as mere text.
But that was up to Minseo.
Although Minseo had vowed to make us all happy and then leave, it was uncertain if he would delay his departure after not seeing his beloved partner and family for decades.
Moreover, Minseo’s standard for a happy ending was quite materialistic and low… That’s why Leanne had pleaded despite his noble status as a prince. He knew that once the childhood friend scenario began, the dire future for him and his kingdom might change.
No matter the difficulties, experiencing it firsthand is vastly different from watching from the sidelines. With a sigh, Lev turned away.
Inside the wedding hall, Leo was rubbing his nose against Lena’s instead of kissing her, causing some anxiousness.
Lena Einarr blushed but smiled brightly and happily. Lev’s heart ached, missing Leah.
A few days later, Lev and his party left Rutetia.