Ch.148148. For Whom the Sword is Drawn (1)

“Do you two swear to love each other until your black hair turns white at the roots?”

At the phrase “until your black hair turns white at the roots,” George Gunther’s expression twitched as he held the bride’s hand. Scattered laughter erupted from the guests. Oh right. These people might be hearing this expression for the first time. I inwardly groaned as I recalled the wedding officiation speech I had prepared so ambitiously. Setting aside the reaction, I turned my head toward George first to hear their answers.

“Yes, I swear.”

George answered, and the bride across from him smiled and nodded. I turned my eyes to the bride, Camilla, waiting for her answer. Camilla, smiling happily as she gazed into George’s eyes, looked more beautiful than anyone today. Her veil, pushed back, fluttered along with her blonde hair.

“I swear too.”

I nodded and looked at them both in turn. I let them enjoy that moment of gazing at each other. Emotions were blossoming between their exchanged glances. A bright, happy smile like sunshine. George’s dazed expression as he looked at her. The guests were watching the couple with warm expressions. It was a shame that photographic technology didn’t exist in this world yet. So, to ensure they would forever cherish this moment in their minds, I gave them time. The painter would be diligently capturing the couple.

“The kiss of oath.”

At my words, Camilla leaped into George’s arms. George lifted her up and kissed her. Cheers and applause erupted from the guests. To witness my friend kissing right in front of me. I let out a small laugh before breaking into a proud smile like the guests. Right now, these two were the protagonists of the world. I joined in the thunderous applause with a small nod.

“Bride and groom, march!”

George and Camilla, holding hands tightly, stepped onto the red carpet. Their gazes met once more, and they began walking down the carpet slowly but powerfully. The band played the processional music, and people again burst into vigorous applause. As the high summer sun cast a dazzling light, the rings on George and Camilla’s ring fingers sparkled. That’s how an oath shines. I breathed in the breeze that happened to blow by. The breeze carried the scent of sunshine and a faint smell of burning wood.

“George, congratulations, captain!”

“Commander! Congratulations!!”

Members of George’s knight order shouted their congratulations loudly. George turned his head toward the voices and responded. I glanced around at the guests. Daphne Ephiphone’s bright smile. Marianne Prim’s warm gaze. Grand Duke Quenore’s laughter. Isis Blume’s teary eyes. A single moment was being etched into everyone’s time and memory.

“[It’s been a while since I’ve watched someone’s wedding.]”

The Holy Sword’s voice suddenly came to me. Had I watched a wedding before?

“[With all the years I’ve lived? Of course I’ve seen many. Though not all the weddings I witnessed were happy ones. I haven’t seen many marriages where both parties are so purely delighted with each other.]”

Well, I don’t think the Holy Sword has ever witnessed an ordinary person’s wedding. She probably watched her former users’ weddings. Or perhaps the weddings of extraordinary heroes.

“[They were people who wandered, unable to find happiness. Some didn’t even know what happiness was.]”

The Holy Sword spoke as if lamenting. She must have sent off countless people. How many of them lived a life consistently filled with happiness?

“[Ilroy, heroes were people too. They also searched for reasons to live and wanted happiness.]”

I smiled gently and stroked the Holy Sword’s hilt. What she wanted to say always seeped into my heart rather than my head. Her words seemed to pierce and then wrap around my beating heart, comforting me.

“[Like those two.]”

George and Camilla passed through the floral arch. I watched them with misty eyes. As the couple passed through the arch, people laughed and chatted as they gathered behind Camilla, who stood holding the bouquet. Daphne looked at the bouquet with sparkling eyes, while Marianne, with an expression of confusion, was pulled by Daphne’s hand to line up with the others.

“Throw it quickly, sister!”

“Wait a little!”

High-pitched laughter. Camilla kept glancing back as she held the bouquet with both hands. She threw the bouquet hard behind her, and people’s hands and gazes followed it upward. Like a feather, the bouquet fell slowly, and people at the landing spot stretched out their arms. Then, the bouquet was suddenly caught by someone’s hand that darted in like lightning. People turned their heads toward the person who had snatched the bouquet and froze.

“This flower bouquet is as cute as you.”

Red eyes. Neatly tied black hair. A simple and clean attire, more modest than usual out of consideration for the bride. Agnes Blanche Lumiere waved the bouquet in her right hand. When people were startled, the queen brought her hand to her mouth, signaling them to be quiet. Her mischievous gaze and relaxed demeanor seemed to subtly enjoy their reaction.

“I’ll take this gladly, Camilla.”

Even Camilla, who had thrown the bouquet, looked surprised and unsure as she gazed at the queen. George, who had been greeting acquaintances in the distance, came running hurriedly. The queen looked at the two standing side by side with a broad smile.

“Congratulations on your marriage, Commander George, Camilla. Be happy for a long time… as today’s officiant said, may you live together until your hair turns white at the roots.”

“Your grace is immeasurable.”

George immediately gave a knight’s bow, and Camilla also gave a subject’s bow. The people who had gathered to catch the bouquet could only gaze at the queen’s dignity, unable to even cast envious glances. Agnes approached me as I came down from the platform. A queen holding flowers. It suited her as much as holding a sword.

“That was an impressive officiation, Ilroy. It will become the trend for royal city weddings for a while.”

“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Agnes stared at me intently. As if expecting me to say something. I quietly looked into the queen’s eyes before opening my mouth.

“You look beautiful today as well.”

“Such flattery. But thank you anyway.”

Agnes answered while gently embracing the bouquet. The queen’s smile was like another flower.

“[…Cunning, truly cunning. I’ve never seen such a fox, Ilroy.]”

The Holy Sword’s disgruntled voice echoed in my head. Even so, calling her a fox seemed too harsh.

“[Can’t you see that swishing tail behind her, Ilroy! You’re too dense. It would be better to be more vigilant. So you don’t get eaten.]”

Since the Holy Sword’s words couldn’t be heard by anyone else, the queen approached me without hesitation and casually linked her arm with mine. I could hear the Holy Sword shouting angrily again. I gently pulled Agnes’s arm. Agnes seemed startled for a moment, but her face maintained a composed expression.

“Come, let’s go get something to eat. It seems that chefs no less skilled than the royal court chefs are in charge of today’s cuisine. There’s quite a delicious smell.”

Agnes pulled me to the end of the table. Trying not to be noticed, the queen looked around at the guests while putting small portions of food on her plate.

“Actually, I wanted to attend normally, but then it would have become a royal event. Dismissing the guards and courtiers was more troublesome than I expected.”

Agnes put a canapé topped with cheese, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and ham into her mouth and nodded as she chewed, savoring the taste. Even amid the complexity, her dining etiquette was perfect.

“While I was at it, I wanted to check on your condition too.”

“I’m doing well thanks to Your Majesty’s grace.”

“If a day comes when you’re not doing well, I’ll consider it my fault. My grace wasn’t sufficient to protect you. Isn’t that right?”

There was a barb in her words. I took a bite of my sandwich with an awkward smile.

“I just want you to be well. I mean that I want you to live a happy life as yourself, even without my grace.”

Agnes picked up a champagne glass. I accepted the glass she offered, and Agnes lightly clinked her glass against mine before drinking.

“From what I’ve observed of you so far, that seems difficult to achieve.”

“…I’ll try.”

“If everything could be accomplished by my command alone, I would have ordered you to live happily.”

Words were steeped in the alcohol. I drank the champagne with the queen. We picked and ate various foods prepared for the wedding feast while chatting with Agnes about different topics. The restoration status of other regions, the queen’s improved swordsmanship—our small talk emerged through what we each wanted to say, and emotions seeped through the gaps in our conversation. The emotions bore an indefinable light. Compassion, guilt, lingering attachment. As the small talk lengthened and the gaps widened, with many things mixing in, emotions became murkily colored.

“I find myself thinking the extravagant thought that I wish this moment could last forever.”

“If it’s a wish everyone has, then it’s not extravagance.”

I said that while looking at George and Camilla, and Agnes comforted me.

“I wish The Seven Calamity would not come, as if nothing had happened.”

“Everyone would wish for that, Ilroy. At least for now, no one knows where it is or what kind of calamity it is.”

The calamities had grown stronger. No one knows how or when the seventh calamity will strike. Unable to put my mind at ease, I gripped the Holy Sword’s hilt.

“Watching their happiness seems to be my happiness.”

I looked at the people at the wedding, and Agnes looked at me.

“Then I should tell you something too.”

Her voice carried a slight hesitation, unlike her usual self. I turned my head toward Agnes. The smile she showed was different from what she had shown before. A smile closer to Agnes the individual rather than Agnes the queen.

“I think watching your happiness could become my happiness.”

Agnes turned toward me. She held my hand and seemed to hesitate for a long time, then released me and gently tilted her head.

“I can’t stay long today. I’ll be heading back now.”

Knights who seemed to have secretly followed the queen were approaching. Agnes had probably noticed their presence all along.

“I’ll summon you soon, Ilroy. Take care until then.”

Agnes went to find George and Camilla again to say goodbye, then got into her carriage and left the venue. I was left alone at the edge of the feast, sipping champagne. I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of people laughing and talking.

==

“This is the end, mercenary.”

I thought I had finally reached it. But I couldn’t reach it. No, it was impossible to reach from the beginning. The roots of the evil god worshippers were in a place that was impossible to reach.

“Just as light has shadow, we are eternal. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

Black mist. The root I found after following the trail of the evil god worshipper looked like that. The mist swirled and entered the body of a person sitting there. He writhed, then opened his mouth with the voice of the black mist, distorting his face grotesquely.

“Open your mind and face the darkness.”