Chapter 154: The Fortuitous Wedding 2

As the protagonists of this wedding walked forth, profound shock engulfed Queen’s expression.

‘Im…Impossible… Those guys… How are those guys here…?’

The beautiful bride in a resplendent pure white dress.

And the groom, walking beside her in dignified attire.

Queen knew them all too well.

Of course she did.

They were the very people she had been contemplating until moments ago – those whose love she had inwardly mocked as an impossibility shattered against reality’s wall.

‘Sa…Santana… And… And that woman there… Su…Surely that lowly holy knight wench from back then?’

Figures indelibly etched into her memory, never to be forgotten.

That those two were not mere guests, but the central figures of this opulent, dreamlike wedding ceremony – Queen could scarcely believe her own eyes witnessing this scene.

‘This… This is unbelievable. Why are those guys here? Es…Especially that wench! Why is she standing where the princess should be?!’

Though adorned in an exquisite dress radiant enough to dazzle the eyes, bedecked in precious gems that made her shine resplendently unlike before… Even so, Queen could discern with absolute certainty.

The woman before her eyes was that very same lowly wench…

The one named Cazeros.

‘Just… Just what is going on here… How did this happen…’

Still unable to comprehend the unfurling situation, Queen was gripped by profound bewilderment amid the dizzying shock.

Trembling, she turned to her mentor beside her, giving voice to a nagging thought:

“E…Excuse me… M…Mentor…?”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Th…That is… Erm… By any chance, could you tell me the names of those people over there…”

“Ah, now that you mention it, you were in Bohemia, so you’d know them. The lord’s son, Santana Andreas. And the one beside him is our Princess Cazeros Sophia Dragonia. You spent time together in Bohemia before, so you must have seen her at least once, no?”

“…Y…Yes… I… I did…”

“Haha, it must be quite the shock, eh? Well, it’s not every day you encounter your former master in such a faraway place.”

“Mmm…”

From Soul’s perspective, her disciple “Fredy” was simply witnessing her erstwhile master from her time serving in the Bohemian lord’s estate.

A startling enough occurrence for the disciple, especially considering Cazeros had concealed her identity back then.

However…

Separate from her mentor’s assumptions, Queen could only feel an even deeper wave of nausea wash over her.

Having received definitive confirmation from her mentor, memories of her past misdeeds and current precarious situation came crashing down on Queen like a tidal wave.

‘I’m doomed… Utterly, gravely doomed… Not only Santana, but if that princess recognizes me, this won’t end with just a simple return to Bohemia.’

Back in Bohemia, Queen had consistently displayed a contemptuous attitude toward Cazeros, believing her to be a lowly holy knight.

Though Cazeros had quietly endured it while concealing her identity, now restored to her rightful princess status, she would no longer need to show such restraint.

‘If she takes issue with my past behavior, I’m literally finished… As a princess of the Dragonian Empire, crushing a former count’s daughter like me would be child’s play.’

Furthermore, Queen was currently studying magic under the guise of “Fredy,” concealing her true identity.

Learning magic also meant acquiring the nation’s techniques – a different situation from merely residing there like Cazeros had.

Depending on the circumstances, she could face punishment for this violation.

Most critically, once this wedding concluded, Santana would become Cazeros’s husband and a noble son-in-law of the Dragonian Empire.

Santana’s standing, bolstered by his prestigious status as the eldest son and formidable abilities admired by others, would be further elevated to an unshakable position. In contrast, Queen, who had consistently clashed with him, would find herself at his mercy – not in Bohemia, but in the Dragonian Empire where she lacked any true protection.

‘Danger… To survive this, I absolutely must not let those two discover my identity at any cost. The moment I’m exposed, I’m utterly doomed.’

Having steadfastly concealed her identity until now, it had become a matter of life or death for Queen.

Moreover, given Santana’s familial relation, even a slight misstep could lead him to recognize his elder sister, heightening her trepidation.

‘…Dammit… I really shouldn’t have come here. For now, I must avoid any eye contact while remaining completely hidden.’

At least wearing the mask concealed her face for the present, averting any immediate crisis.

However, when the time came to greet the newlyweds as a guest, she would need to exercise utmost caution.

Recognizing her dire predicament, Queen swallowed dryly.

‘Please, let that brother of mine not recognize me…’

Amidst the multitude of onlookers, the wedding ceremony unfolded.

At its heart, feeling a profound tension and exhilaration, I gazed cautiously at Cazeros’s face as she tightly gripped my hand.

‘Truly… Even without any embellishments, she was already so beautiful, but adorned like this, she resembles an angel.’

Emanating a radiant beauty that seemed to blind the eyes.

The fact that such a woman would become my wife made this moment feel like a dream.

‘Still, it seems I must have accumulated immense merits in my previous life… to marry a woman like her.’

Of course, a veritable mountain of challenges still loomed before me, yet in this moment, I set them aside to focus solely on her presence beside me.

The one who had sustained my life until this point.

The one who would continue walking this path of hardship alongside me.

And… the one I must resolutely protect, no matter what befell us.

Reaffirming this resolve inwardly, I met her bashful, reddening smile with one of my own as she gazed tenderly at me.

“Now, let the bride and groom seal their vows with a kiss.”

In that instant, the final stage of the wedding ceremony reached our ears, though I had scarcely registered its progression.

Slowly facing her, I spoke in a soft voice:

“I love you… Cazeros. I have until now… and forever more.”

“I love you too… Lord Santana… I have until now… and forever more…”

With those words, we gradually leaned toward each other.

And then…

“Mmph…”

A soft sound audible only to us, accompanied by the warmth of our intertwined lips.

Simultaneously, thunderous applause and pealing bells resounded from all around.

We embraced each other tightly, savoring this blissful moment.