Ch.161Wedding Ceremony (1)

The beginning was simple.

[As I mentioned before, Professor Feynman and I will be getting married right after the semester ends. I hope for Eidel’s keen interest.]

A reminder email came from Professor Stranov.

[Also, I’d like Eidel to bring many family members or acquaintances. I’ll make sure everyone is well taken care of.]

She added.

The professor’s words are absolute. I originally planned to go alone, but now I had no choice but to distribute wedding invitations.

So I asked my father. Could he accompany me as a guardian for a minor? Father shook his head.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t that day. I have a prior engagement.”

“I see. It can’t be helped.”

“Why don’t you ask Rezein?”

“Would Mother go with me?”

“We won’t know until you ask.”

That was the extent of Father’s answer. After thinking for a bit, I went to find Seti. I figured if my sister moved, Mother would follow.

“Why me?”

“It’s a wedding. We should congratulate them.”

“Even so… I don’t know who these people are. How can I congratulate strangers on their wedding?”

“You’ll know them next year.”

“Time is money. If you want to congratulate them, give them my share too.”

That’s when it happened.

“What’s going on here?”

Rustila entered the room and joined the conversation. Her cheeks were flushed red. She looked thoroughly cooked, as if she’d washed her face with hot water.

“Oh, someone my brother knows is getting married.”

“A wedding? Who is it?”

“Professor Feynman.”

“Ah! I know him.”

“…Wait a minute.”

Feynman, Feynman. Seti repeated the name several times before making a face.

“The one who’s always hugging you and crying his eyes out?”

“Bingo.”

“I thought this sounded familiar!”

Seti grabbed the back of her neck. Though she’d never spoken to him directly, he was someone she knew. Moreover, she would be seeing him more frequently once the gravitational bomb research began.

Why?

Because Seti would become the major shareholder of our laboratory.

“So you do know him?”

“This is really driving me crazy.”

“You’ll come, right?”

Think of it as expanding your network, kid.

“Oh, I want to go too! Can I?”

“Rustila, you co-authored a paper with the professor, right? It would be proper for you to attend.”

Rustila’s intuition had been very helpful in the simulation research for Aether Belt restoration. And since then, Rustila and Professor Feynman had become acquainted.

Blood may be thicker than water, but the ink of academic papers is thicker than blood.

The true meaning of academic connections.

This means we have to go!

“Eidel… wedding… wedding venue…”

“Oh, I can’t stand this.”

And so, a not-so-boring party of three was formed. Counting heads, it would be four. I would definitely bring Sonia.

“Where’s the venue?”

“Just sent you the address.”

Seti looked annoyed. She left the room with heavy sighs.

Shortly after, Seti returned with Rezein.

“Brother is going to a wedding.”

“And?”

“Rustila and I are going too.”

“And?”

“Mother should come with us.”

“…Why?”

“Because you’re our mom.”

Mom. An expression loaded with meaning.

We’re minors, so please take us. And we’ll treat you to something delicious while we’re at it.

But you’ll cover the wedding gift. Why? Well, it would cost more if the three minors paid separately.

“I don’t have to go…”

“Oh, Mom!”

Seti employed the drowning victim strategy. She couldn’t bear to suffer alone.

And that’s how Rezein was kidnapped.

***

As soon as the second semester ended, we flew to the venue in Mother’s private spaceship.

Since we were going anyway, I brought Ireh along. I couldn’t bear the thought of our protagonist tossing and turning in a shabby studio apartment while my party was chatting merrily at the wedding venue.

“Wow.”

Ireh exclaimed at the sight of the luxurious buffet. I felt pleased. She was like a daughter with a big brain.

“Where’s Zernya?”

“She said she’s busy.”

Rustila sighed with what seemed like relief.

“Student?”

“…Professor? Professor!”

Professor Feynman appeared suddenly with his arms wide open. We shared a warm embrace. Seti, who was standing nearby, was horrified.

“Congratulations on your marriage, Professor!”

I introduced my party and congratulated Professor Feynman on his marriage. Mother also put on a bright smile. The atmosphere was warm and friendly.

“I’m counting on you for the congratulatory speech today.”

“Of course. I’ll do a splendid job, staking my family name on it.”

Afterward, I met with the host and double-checked the speech script, putting my heart and soul into it. Time flew by quickly.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please.”

The host spoke into the microphone.

The wedding had begun.

“The bride is entering!”

Bang!

With a burst of confetti, a woman in pure white appeared, holding the hand of a man. The woman was undoubtedly Professor Callis Stranov, and the man beside her was to be Professor Feynman’s father-in-law.

Bell Stranov.

The CEO who runs Megacorp “Stronium.” He provided most of the funds needed for this wedding. This was my first time seeing him in person.

Professor Stranov today was more beautiful than anyone. Well, she was already known for her beauty. With makeup, she could make any man fall head over heels.

“The groom is entering!”

Professor Feynman appeared, pushing open the doors. He glided down the red carpet with confident steps.

I saw the eyes of the couple meet. The groom, stopping in front of the bride, seemed to tremble slightly. The bride, on the other hand, skillfully took the groom’s shoulder and linked arms. The father of the bride began to cry.

“Next, we will have the congratulatory speech. The speech will be given by Eidel von Rheinland, son of the great Rheinland family and a supernova in the Federation’s physics community.”

“Ahem.”

I cleared my throat and began.

“It is truly a wonderful day. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming…”

***

This was all new to Ireh. She didn’t know where to look.

Born and raised on a backward frontier planet, she had suffered at the hands of aliens her entire life. But now, a wedding? A wedding venue? Wasn’t this too luxurious?

Even the food was extraordinary. Until now, she had survived day by day on artificial meat jerky, calorie bars, or high-tech capsules condensed with essential nutrients.

But now, such lavish food.

“Delicious. So delicious…”

She barely held back her tears. But it was useless. As soon as the bride and groom linked arms, an inexplicable sense of elation welled up.

The groom was handsome, and the bride was beautiful.

Ireh had always been averse to men. This was the first time she realized that a woman could have a man by her side and still wear a happy smile.

“…It’s like a dream that my two advisors are getting married. May brilliant light shine on your future. May you have the blessing of the Saints and Constellations. May you do good research and live happily together for a hundred years. That is all.”

Eidel returned after finishing his speech. Ireh was secretly glad. Besides Eidel, she had no one to talk to comfortably in this timeline.

“Bride and groom, show the guests your proof of love!”

“Kiss! Kiss!”

Ireh was flustered. Here?

Before Professor Feynman could hesitate, Professor Stranov stole her husband’s lips. And it was a long, deep kiss…

Ireh covered her eyes with both hands. Then, out of curiosity, she peeked. The couple’s kiss lasted for over a minute.

“Oh come on, save the rest for the hotel!”

“Hahaha!”

Seti giggled.

She said:

“The bride looks a lot like you. Right?”

She was talking to Rustila.

“Blonde hair, blue eyes, exactly the same. With her hair up, she has a similar vibe to you, Rustila. Ah, what a good show.”

It seemed like a deliberately provocative comment. Rustila’s body trembled. A broken exclamation that couldn’t form into words escaped her lips.

Seeing Rustila like this, even the dazed Rezein smiled.

“The future of Federation physics is bright. So bright. Ah…”

Eidel returned to the table with tears in his eyes. That’s when Rezein’s expression hardened. In a short time, Ireh deduced many things. Rezein was afraid of Eidel.

“Here you are.”

Ireh turned her head at the deep voice. She couldn’t help but be surprised. Bell Stranov, the CEO of a massive corporation, was offering a handshake to Eidel.

“I’m honored to meet the hero of the Federation.”

“Hahaha, you’re embarrassing me, sir.”

Hero of the Federation. Not a term used for just anyone. Ireh knew the weight of that title. The fact that the word “hero” came from Stranov’s mouth meant that he valued Eidel highly.

Rezein stood up with a rigid posture.

“…And you are?”

“I’m the mother of these children.”

“Ah, madam.”

Bell shook hands with Rezein as well.

“You have an outstanding son. Thanks to him, my daughter is so happy. You must be very blessed, madam.”

“…Thank you.”

Rezein wore an artificial smile. Ireh knew that Rezein wasn’t Eidel’s biological mother. This place must be uncomfortable for her.

That’s when it happened.

“You must be Seti von Rheinland, right?”

“What?”

Seti, who had been fiddling with her phone, was startled and answered reflexively.

“Your name appears frequently in the stock market these days.”

Bell showed interest in Seti as well.

“You’re famous for buying and selling stocks without ever making a loss. Some people call you the Queen of Securities. Did you know that?”

“No?”

“Countless people are willing to pay for your portfolio. Everyone’s clamoring for you to make it public.”

“I have no intention of making it public.”

“You know how to accumulate wealth. That’s right. A pie is most delicious when eaten alone, not shared with others.”

Bell Stranov seemed to see a glimpse of genius in Seti. His gaze was unusual. It was the face of someone who had caught the scent of money.

Bell looked at Rezein and said:

“You have a daughter with a keen eye for business.”

Rezein’s shoulders tensed up. Her reaction was quite different from Eidel’s.

After Bell left, Rezein whispered something to Seti. With her senses enhanced by the power of the Constellation, Ireh could eavesdrop on their conversation. It was about getting close to that person.

That’s when:

“Ladies and gentlemen! Please come this way!”

The host raised his voice energetically.

“The bride will now throw the bouquet!”