Ch.144Wedding Ceremony (4)

When I opened my eyes, morning had naturally arrived. I got up, feeling strangely light, and looked around.

Irene had disappeared, and on the neatly made bed was a small note that read, “See you later.”

I chuckled at the words “see you later.”

In just a few hours, it would be our wedding day, so she meant we’d meet at the venue. I quietly rubbed my face. Why was I so nervous? It shouldn’t be much different from any other day, but my heart kept fluttering. Evan gently stroked his chest and carefully got up from the bed.

The hallway, which should have been bustling with activity, was quiet. As if it wanted only him to walk through it.

Evan observed his surroundings as he walked down the corridor. Through the windows, he could see several people already seated in white chairs in the garden, waiting.

In the center of the garden, which hadn’t changed since his first visit—if anything, it seemed even more beautiful—stood a white tunnel decorated with rose vines.

He walked for a long time, slowly taking in the various decorations prepared for today.

Evan walked until he saw people, until he saw a familiar face, and then smiled slightly at the figure in the distance.

“How can the main character wake up so late? You should have gone to bed earlier.”

“Well… isn’t everyone preparing too early? There are still hours left before the wedding.”

“You need to greet the guests, don’t you? Is this your first wedding?”

“Yes.”

Of course it was his first—he hadn’t lived long enough to get married twice.

At Evan’s answer, Chris made an awkward expression, cleared his throat, and looked at Evan with a subtle expression.

Somehow, it reminded him of when they first met. The complete transformation from then to now felt strangely awkward.

That once thin, twisted body had become firm, and those lifeless eyes now held more vitality than most people’s.

His personality had improved considerably, and he smiled much more often. That appearance of someone on the verge of death was nowhere to be found anymore.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“It’s been ten years already. Since I first met you.”

“Eleven years, to be exact. I met you when I was ten.”

“Back then, you wouldn’t have dared to talk back to me. You’ve really grown up.”

Originally, wasn’t he quite out of it back then? Between the brainwashing from the letters and everything else, his mental state had been precarious.

He had been too busy resisting the mind-eroding brainwashing to talk back, and when it reached its limit, he had even contemplated suicide.

But now, that was a story only Evan knew.

Even that had become just a memory. Evan shrugged and tilted his head.

Chris let out a hollow laugh at Evan’s pretense, as if asking, “Was I really like that?”

“…Well, it doesn’t matter anymore. Who would have thought you’d become a father of two children and marry the young lady you once served?”

“That’s right. I never imagined things would turn out this way either.”

What was I thinking when I first became a knight? Evan recalled the time before he had regained all his memories.

Back when he thought becoming Evan Fried was a possession, wasn’t his initial goal to somehow save Irene, who had died miserably in the novel?

He had saved her. But it didn’t end there. As time passed, he developed feelings for her, became her lover, and now, just hours remained until they would become husband and wife.

Unable to comprehend how things had turned out this way, Evan gently stroked his cheek and slowly looked at Chris.

“You seem to have aged more.”

“…Do you want to get hit on your wedding day?”

“I’m joking. Take care of your health. Exercise more often. You need to live a long life, don’t you? You have to see Arthur and Lobelia get married and have children too.”

“I’m already planning to take care of myself.”

With those final words, Chris stared out the window for a moment before falling silent.

A strange sentiment arose, various thoughts surfaced, and he couldn’t smile without thinking.

He knew that bodies grew heavier with age. How much longer could he move like he did in his youth?

Although he had lived longer than others due to his ability to handle mana, he was still human and would eventually die.

He was already old enough to be called an elderly man, so someday… As Chris sank into contemplation, Evan’s hand landed on his shoulder.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Thoughts you don’t need to know.”

Evan gripped Chris’s broad shoulder tightly, making him cry out in pain intense enough to scream.

After chuckling for a while, Evan spoke.

“Don’t think negative thoughts. Today is a good day, isn’t it? Not a day for such thoughts.”

“How do you know what I was thinking?”

“Just… thoughts that don’t need to be thought today.”

Evan stood quietly beside Chris, looking out the window.

After watching whatever Chris had been staring at for a moment, he smiled slightly when he saw Chris’s somewhat relaxed expression.

It was a thought they would both eventually have. Both Evan and Chris. After all, everyone ages as time passes.

But it didn’t have to be now, did it?

“When we first met, I thought you were going to die soon.”

“…Is that so?”

“But somehow, you’ve made it this far. No one died, no one got hurt. I never imagined things would turn out this way… but I’m glad they did.”

Perhaps it was the sentimentality that comes with age, but Chris frowned at this unnecessary emotion that he wouldn’t have felt in the past.

Why was it so difficult to say a simple word of congratulations?

After fidgeting with his lips for a moment, Chris awkwardly scratched his head and slowly opened his mouth.

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

A gentle breeze ruffled their hair.

As they gazed at each other for a moment, Chris swallowed hard when he saw Evan bow his head slightly in gratitude.

Indeed, saying such things made him feel awkward. They weren’t distant enough to need formal congratulations,

despite having known each other for years. Chris found the act of congratulating someone like this embarrassingly uncomfortable.

After a long silence, Chris was about to leave when he flinched at the feeling of being watched from behind.

“I’ll see you later. At the front of the venue.”

“…Sigh.”

Evan smiled wryly at Chris. Chris also understood the meaning behind that smile, and after grabbing his white hair, he sighed deeply and glared at Evan.

“Why did you have to make me the officiant of all people?”

“Because there was no one else I could trust with it besides you, Sir Chris.”

He had been looking for someone to officiate for a while, but Chris was the only person he could trust.

He was also the only elder he was close with, and the Duke was already playing the role of the bride’s father.

Why did the words “see you later” feel so burdensome? Chris rubbed his sore stomach and began walking toward the venue, trying to recall what his officiating speech was supposed to be.

#

“Kaisel, I’m nervous.”

“So am I. It’s my first time at a wedding venue.”

“How can you be nervous? I’ve never been to a place like this either.”

Kaisel couldn’t say anything in response to Scarlet’s words.

They had deliberately come without knights, just the two of them, but now that they were here, he couldn’t help feeling nervous.

Occasionally, knights who recognized him would stiffen, but Kaisel waved his hand, instructing them to pretend not to notice.

Today, he had come purely as a guest to congratulate the wedding, and he didn’t want to draw attention.

Today’s wedding was for Evan and Irene. Kaisel and Scarlet wandered around in modest clothes they rarely wore.

Should they go to the groom first, or to the bride?

After arguing about this undecided topic, they finally settled on visiting the groom first after three intense minutes of rock-paper-scissors.

“Usually, one should visit the head of the family first. And I am the crown prince.”

“Still, we should thank Evan first. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

But it’s not like he didn’t do anything. As Kaisel’s expression darkened slightly, Scarlet hugged his arm and smiled brightly.

“That doesn’t mean I’m not grateful to you. You’re always my number one, you know that? Evan is just someone I’m thankful to.”

“Then what am I?”

“…Do I really have to say it out loud?”

“I tend not to believe things unless I hear them directly.”

At those words, Scarlet pouted, glanced around, and then whispered quietly as she pressed against Kaisel’s side.

“…I like you. Isn’t that enough?”

Wondering if she really had to say such things out loud, Scarlet twirled her hair around her finger as she saw Kaisel’s shoulders rise.

Her cheeks felt hot and flushed. As she was fanning her heated face, Scarlet nudged Kaisel’s shoulder when she spotted someone coming out of a room.

“Kaisel, isn’t that Evan?”

Turning his head at her words, Kaisel could see Evan emerging from the groom’s waiting room, adjusting his attire.

Though Scarlet was surprised by the neat appearance she rarely saw, Kaisel frowned but waved to Evan, whom he hadn’t seen in a while.

“Looks like you’re all dressed.”

“Ah, Your Highness.”

Evan also smiled happily upon seeing Kaisel. Since it was their first meeting since the last time at the imperial palace,

seeing the two of them together stirred up strange feelings.

In the original novel, these two were lovers, and yet they had met again despite so many changes… could it be called fate?

As always, the two of them looked good together, and Evan could smile comfortably at the sight.

He had been wondering what to do until Irene finished preparing, but thanks to these two showing up, he wouldn’t have to spend the time bored.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen you two together.”

“I wanted to greet you sooner, but I’m sorry we’re only visiting now.”

To think he would hear such words from Scarlet. It gave him a strange feeling in many ways.

At first, he had even thought about killing Scarlet, the original female lead, and had considered punishing her in advance for Irene’s sake.

But now, here they were, smiling at each other at a wedding.

What kind of twist of fate was this?

“It’s fine. By the way, you two seem to be a good match. You’re in a relationship now, right?”

Kaisel nodded at Evan’s words and hesitated for a moment, studying Evan’s expression.

Actually, there was something else he wanted to discuss at this wedding.

A concern that was also related to Evan and Irene’s current situation.

As Kaisel continued to stare at him intently, Evan tilted his head in confusion.

Scarlet, who was standing beside them, slapped Kaisel’s shoulder and looked at Evan.

“Well, we actually came to get some advice too. Of course, congratulating you on your wedding is a given!”

“That’s fine. But advice on…”

As if they found their own thoughts a bit ridiculous, Scarlet exchanged glances with Kaisel before taking a deep breath and carefully moving her lips.

“…We’re planning to get married too. This winter.”

At this sudden marriage announcement, Evan could only gape in astonishment for a long time.