Chapter 329

“The Empire’s swordsmanship has changed?”
“Yeah. It was so cool back then. I can’t believe it’s been over half a year.”
Adeshan smiled as he recalled the past. That day in the Grand Circle was a sword battle he would never forget.
Before her, a white-haired elven woman listened with her hands clasped together. This was Elsia, once the Savior’s aide.
She had been on the continent for nearly two years, having just finished restoring Adren. She’d been so busy that she hadn’t realized the significance of the sword change.
Elsia asked, a twinkle in her eye.
“Then what happened to Jaifa, is he dead?”
“Uh, no. I was promised my freedom by the Emperor, and I was released. I didn’t realize it, but I was originally supposed to break my blood oath once I descended from the Sword Castle.”
“What, so you could have just lost to someone else and then come down?”
“I thought so, too, but–as he said–apparently there’s a standard in the prosecutor’s world that the average person doesn’t understand.”
Adeshan scratched her cheek. She’d asked Jaifa the same question, wondering the same thing. “I’d rather die,” was the reply.
“I see—whoops, the mortal world is hard to adjust to after all, with so much going on in such a short time.”
“Hoo-hoo, that’s certainly the way a long-lived race like Elsia would look at it, and she’s been around dragons.”
“But the most amazing thing is the kid. What’s his name?”
Elsia asked with a twinkle in her eye, her gaze fixed on the baby in Adeshan’s arms.
He was fatally cute, wrapped in swaddling clothes and fast asleep. Like midnight, his jet-black hair looked a little more like Adeshan’s than Ronan’s.
“Lance. It’s a Southern Native word for sword, and Master Nabiroze gave it to me, isn’t it?”
“She’s so pretty, isn’t she?”
“It’s a man, and he has long eyelashes, which can be misleading—”
“Ouch.”
“Oops, I woke up.”
It was then that Lance opened his eyes. Elsia flinched.
Peeking out from beneath thick lashes, Lance’s eyes were a scarlet color that resembled sunset.
The colors were ancient, from the distant past. Suddenly, Elsia’s eyes turned pale as she remembered her days with the Savior. She pressed her face close to Lance’s and smiled.
“Hi, Lance. You look a lot like your grandfather in the eyes.”
“Woof?”
Lance shook his head. Adeshan looked down at them with an amused expression. Bam- The door suddenly opened and the butler of House Gracia entered.
“It will soon be time to enter.”
“Oh, thanks.”
The butler bowed politely and left the room. They were in the bridal chamber of the Gracia manor. Adeshan glanced around the room to make sure the door was closed.
“Sis, are you ready?”
“Now, wait, wait, wait!”
Iril said, panting. She was sitting in front of a giant mirror, constantly adjusting her outfit. A wedding dress as white as her own hair was draped over her.
She was obviously nervous, especially since the maids had already prepared her perfectly.” Adeshan smiled as he approached Iril.
“Don’t be so nervous, sis, it’s really nothing.”
“Well, right, so I shouldn’t worry too much about it, right?”
“Sure. Mine and his wedding was over in a flash, too.”
“Da, I was crying so hard at the time, but I guess I was—I’m jealous you finished first—Adeshan was so pretty back then.”
Iriel was upset. At Ronan’s wedding, Adeshan wore not a wedding dress but the uniform of an Allied commander.
He was literally swooning over how beautiful she was, and yet he felt so shabby in comparison. Iriel looked her over again and asked her worriedly.
“You know what, am I pretty now?”
“—Huh?”
For a moment, Adeshan was stunned. She blinked wordlessly, and then she and Elsia looked at each other at the same time.
It was probably the most ridiculous question in the world.
****
The autumn sky was high. The trees were burning themselves in defiance of the coming winter. Leaves fluttered in the breeze, bringing with them the colors of autumn.
Schlieffen and Irene’s wedding took place in the gardens of the Gracia estate. The vast and beautiful estate was transformed into the perfect wedding venue for the day.
The lavishly decorated gardens were filled with guests from across the continent: nobles and royalty from every nation, as well as officials from Phileon, including Kratyr, the Archmage Lorhon, and Emperor Valon IV. Asel gulped at the sight of familiar faces.
“Yo, Dragon King?!”
“Ah, the wizard who saved the dragon city, how are you?”
The Dragon King Azidahaka waved his hand. His golden mane of hair and distinctive features stood out despite his polymorphic human form. Beside him stood a middle-aged man with long hair, carrying a large trunk bag.
“It’s been a long time coming. Mage Arcel. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a human.”
“Alibrihe—!”
Asel’s eyes widened. It was Alibrihe, the Black Dragon he’d bonded with in the City of Dragons. Like Elsia, he had descended to earth after only two years.
Suddenly, he sits up and opens his bag.
“Where’s Ronan? He brought me a present, and I can’t find it anywhere.”
“Heehee!”
Asel was stunned. Inside the trunk were pairs of prosthetic arms and legs. The length and shape seemed to be tailored to Ronan’s physical condition.
“Well, why is that stuff suddenly—!”
“I owed you a favor the other day, and this is the only thing I could find to give you. You never know what lies ahead, and—oh, I have something for you, too.”
Albrije laughed. He said it also replaced the congratulatory money for the bride and groom.
The artificial sheathing made it look like they’d actually cut off a human limb. Swallowing hard, Asel shook his head.
“Go on, thank you—but the wedding is about to start, so I’ll come find you after it’s over, and, uh, Ronan is the officiant today, so if you’d like to go over there–”
He was about to say something. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out from the stage in the center of the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention!”
“Hic—!”
“We can save the drinks and food for later. It’s not like we’re running away. This is important, everyone, pay attention!”
It was a loud shout, out of place. Asel and the two dragons turned their heads simultaneously. Before a dais made of gold, Ronan stood in a suit, his hands in his pockets.
“Good evening. I’m Ronan, your officiant. I’m not going to introduce myself, because I honestly don’t think anyone recognizes my face.”
“It’s the end of the world.”
The dragon king lamented. He wasn’t wrong, actually. There was no one here, at least not among those gathered, who did not know the swordsman who had cut down the star.
As if to prove his point, most of the guests burst out laughing. When he was satisfied that things were quiet enough, he stretched out his index finger and pointed at the mansion.
“Then let’s cut the ribbon and begin the wedding ceremony, bride and groom, enter.”
All eyes turned in Ronan’s direction. Soon the door to the manor opened, and Iril and Schlieffen walked out.
Normally, they would have walked down the aisle separately, but Ronan had arranged it for Iril, who had no father to hold her hand. As they stepped onto Virgin Road, a silence descended over the crowd.
“— and.”
For a moment, everyone in the room forgot how to breathe. Dressed in his wedding robes, Schlieffen was arguably the most handsome man in the empire, but unfortunately, next to him was Irene in her wedding dress. The Duke of Gracia, watching them stand, muttered to himself.
“—thief.”
“I don’t know how that blunt guy ever got a girl like Irene. God bless him.”
His wife stood by his side. Even she could not defend her son. The power Iril now wielded was comparable to the descent of the Navardoze into his true form.
The ends of a long, colorful wedding dress, like the fins of a tropical fish, glided over the road. Two flower girls with baskets were five paces ahead, scattering blue petals across the road.
Finally, they reached the dais and stopped. Ronan looked at them both nervously, and when his eyes locked with hers, Iril whispered softly, “I’m sorry.
“Lo, Ronan—so—.”
She was overwhelmed with embarrassment and euphoria for the first time in her life. Her face was visibly red, but she was much better off than the idiot next to her. Nervous as hell, Schlieffen was on the verge of passing out.
“That’s awful.
Ronan smirked. Not that he couldn’t sympathize, having been married himself, but this was a bit much.
Ronan thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Well, before we proceed with the ceremony, let me just say a few words.”
“Hmm?”
The Duke of Gracia waggled his eyebrows. This was unscripted. Ronan stepped to the front of the dais and opened his mouth.
“Honestly, I was in a rage until this morning, just trying to figure out how I was going to kick this guy’s ass, because he’s the biggest thief in the world for stealing my sister, and I’m still getting sick to my stomach.”
“Lo, Ronan—!”
“I have to admit this. My sister, Miss Irene, is the most perfect woman on this planet. The fact that I’m standing here smugly, not dead, is due to the fact that she’s worked her ass off to raise me. In fact, even at this very moment, I’m wondering if I should run away with her.”
Once again, laughter erupted from everywhere. Iril’s face flushed bright red. Ronan, approaching Schlieffen with a nudge, said sarcastically.
“How about this one, on the other hand, he’s a bit of a looker, I’ll admit, but that’s about it, except for his delicate side, where he can’t pee properly if anyone looks at him.”
Ronan chuckled. Schlieffen’s face turned bright red. Unable to contain his shame, he was about to say something.
“Ronan. You—”
“But hey, he’s a nice guy.”
Ronan trailed off, then looked back at his guests.
“To tell you the truth, he’s a pretty good guy, at least the best I’ve ever seen, regardless of race. The best thing about him, Schlieffen, if nothing else, is that he’s a damned good man of his word. Once–about five years ago now–I was away for a long time, and he made a promise to me that he still keeps. He promised to protect his sister.”
“Well, did you make that promise?”
Iriel’s eyes widened, this was something she had never heard before. Ronan spoke up.
“And Schlieffen kept his word, not only through the bitter winter, but also through the warrens of the Bald. In fact, the sundry titles and accomplishments of being the heir to one of the most prestigious families in the Empire, the swordsman who defeated the greatest swordsman of all time, Jaifa Turgung, and the hero who saved this star from the clutches of the Bald Cultists are shit compared to the merits I just mentioned, because keeping your word, no matter what, is something.”
Suddenly, the room was silent. Not even the clinking of silverware could be heard. Everyone was focused on Ronan’s words.
“So I’m going to take this opportunity now to get another commitment, and it’s great that we have so many people who are willing to be notaries public, hey, is that okay?”
“—Yes.”
Schlieffen stammered. He had no idea what he was going to say. Ronan, muttering to himself, turned to face him.
“Make your sister happy—no, cancel. I think this will be better.”
I had a hard time choosing what to say. Ronan paused for a moment, then spoke up.
“Be happy together. Till death do you part.”
And I smiled. No answer came. Iril’s shoulders, clasped over her mouth with her hand, began to shake slightly. After a few seconds of silence, Schlieffen nodded slowly.
“——I swear.”