Chapter 389

I never thought I’d get married here, when I couldn’t even do it in real life.

Honestly, my heart was so fluttery that I barely slept last night.

But when the day finally came, I felt strangely calm.

Maybe it was acceptance.

My single life was really over.

It was the beginning of a life with my lifelong partner.

I felt a new sense of responsibility.

“First, the groom will make his entrance. Duke Odinel will be entering shortly. Please welcome him with a big round of applause. Groom, enter!”

I, who had been waiting, finally moved forward.

My back straight, more confident than ever.

*Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!*

Applause greeted me.

“Senior, you look amazing!”

“So handsome, so handsome!”

“100 points.”

“As expected of the pride of the 1011th graduating class of Lepheria, Team Leader Max!”

I heard many familiar voices.

I smiled and waved to them all at once.

And so, I finished my entrance and stood before the officiant.

The officiant was, of course, the Saint.

Sister Marianna was next to her, translating her sign language.

I bowed lightly to the Saint and Marianna.

They smiled back.

“Next, the bride will make her entrance. Please welcome Miss Regina, the bride, with an even more enthusiastic round of applause. Bride, enter!”

I quickly turned around and waited for my lifelong partner to enter.

I hadn’t seen her in her wedding dress yet.

It was the custom here not to see the bride until the wedding day.

And finally,

The bride appeared from the other side.

*Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!*

The applause was even louder than before.

“*Sniffle*, y-you look so beautiful, President!”

“Why are you crying on a day like this, Amy?”

“99 points.”

“Wow… P-Professor, you look so pretty…”

“Hehe, I have to admit, they really do look good together.”

“Camian, why are you staring at the Professor like that?”

“M-Me? N-No, it wasn’t me.”

The murmurs of the crowd faded into the background.

My mind was focused on only one person.

My bride.

Regina Erenbert.

She was wearing a blue wedding dress, her favorite color, instead of a traditional white one.

It suited her perfectly, the cool Northern lady.

Of course, what mattered most was her.

Her tall, model-like figure, with no excess fat.

All of it, combined with her dazzling beauty, created an irresistible aura.

I was simply mesmerized.

The bride approached.

I just stared, as if under a spell.

If it hadn’t been for the announcer’s voice, I might have stood there dumbfounded until she arrived.

“G-Groom, Duke Odinel, please welcome the bride.”

I snapped back to reality.

I walked towards Regina.

Our eyes met.

Was it because of the occasion?

My expression felt strangely stiff today.

Then,

Regina smiled, as bright as a spring flower.

I had never seen her smile like that before.

And I realized,

That smile was only for me.

In that moment, all my tension and stiffness melted away like ice.

I smiled back at her warmly.

My hand took hers.

“Honestly, I didn’t recognize you.”

“And who might you be?”

She replied with a joke.

The atmosphere completely relaxed, just like usual.

I linked arms with her.

And we walked forward.

I finally understood the feeling of having someone I could rely on for the rest of my life by my side.

I was no longer alone.

“We’ll always be together now.”

I whispered, my voice filled with emotion.

“Yes, forever.”

She whispered back.

I was truly happy.

In this moment, all my worries disappeared.

I was simply enjoying my happiness.

* * *

“We will now have a commemorative photo session. Guests, please come up to the stage.”

The wedding ceremony had already moved on to the photo session.

The crowd of guests on the stage, a testament to Regina’s and my vast network, was so large that they couldn’t all fit in one photo.

“Ugh, I-I need to get closer to the President!”

I heard Baguette Senior’s familiar cry.

It was understandable, as she looked up to Regina like an older sister.

“Stop it, stop it, Amy. It’s embarrassing, so stop.”

Our newspaper club president was still trying to calm Baguette Senior down.

“Hehe, I’ll take the spot above Senior.”

This familiar laugh and voice?

It was Empress Oscar.

A path opened up like the parting of the sea.

W-Was she using her status to push through?

But,

*Thump!*

“Where do you think you’re going?”

…It seemed like there were people who weren’t intimidated by her.

It was obvious who it was.

My eccentric classmate and female friend.

“Oh my, oh my, cute Senior? You’re so small I didn’t see you.”

W-Was she suddenly resorting to personal attacks at a wedding?

More importantly, didn’t you guys form some kind of alliance at your graduation?

Had it already broken…?

“It’s right for the smaller person to go up. Right, photographer?”

“W-Well, that’s right… N-No, no, maybe not…”

I could feel the photographer’s predicament from here.

Riviera was right, but the other person was the Empress of the Empire, so his social survival instincts (?) were kicking in.

This wouldn’t do.

It was my wedding, so I had to take control of the situation.

“Just come here, little sister.”

I pulled Liss up.

“Ugh? Why are you pushing me into this?”

Liss was terrified.

Even though she was a bold girl, the Empress seemed to be too much for her.

It’s okay.

You have the invincible shield of being the groom’s family, right?

“Hehe, so that’s how you want to play it?”

The Empress moved as if she couldn’t miss the spot diagonally next to me.

But Riviera didn’t back down.

“That’s my spot.”

*Push, push.*

The two of them engaged in a physical struggle, their pride (?) on the line.

…I suddenly felt exhausted.

Please, just stop.

Ugh, whatever.

“You, come here!”

I pulled Camian over.

The protagonist shield.

“N-No, what are you doing? Why are you pushing your junior into a dangerous situation?”

Camian was flustered.

…Sorry, protagonist or not, you’re not going to work.

“What are you?”

“Go away.”

“Ugh?”

Camian was pushed aside easily.

…It took a long time for the commotion to subside.

* * *

“…Then, on my signal, the bride will toss the bouquet.”

The photographer looked exhausted.

It seemed like he had aged several years in the meantime.

I understood.

How could he not be exhausted when such unmanageable people were causing such a ruckus?

But it didn’t seem like it was going to end quietly this time either.

“Then, the person who will catch the bride’s bouquet…”

“Right here.”

Riviera raised her hand so naturally.

“Who says so?”

The Empress interjected again, as if it were out of the question.

“Hmm, this will be good social practice.”

Elaine, you too?

“I’d like to experience human culture on this occasion.”

Even the elf senior?

This crazy combination, what on earth…?

A former executive of an evil organization, the current Empress of the Empire, a former student council president and genius mage, and a rare high elf.

Was this some kind of world-saving party, or just a group trying to catch a commemorative bouquet?

It was scary.

…I was scared of the situation I had created.

“F-Four of you?”

The photographer’s eyes darted around in panic.

I understood how he felt.

“W-Why don’t you decide beforehand?”

The photographer tried to suggest a peaceful solution, but…

“Competition is beautiful because it’s competition.”

“Yes, it’s a competition.”

“I-I can’t lose.”

“A battle worthy of Mother World Tree.”

…It was no use.

“Uh, uh…”

The photographer stammered, not knowing what to do.

Regina saved him.

“This is fun. This is part of the joy of a wedding, isn’t it?”

A faint smile appeared on Regina’s lips.

“Then, to be fair, would all four of you please stand at the same starting line?”

“Alright… yes, Professor.”

“Hehe, the Professor is so fair.”

“C-Can I use magic?”

“Victory will be brought by the wind.”

The four of them lined up, as if for a 100-meter dash.

The guests watched with interest, as if it were a strange spectacle.

I would have done the same.

Where else in the world could you see such a bouquet toss?

“Huh? Uh, uh? W-Where?”

The photographer still seemed disoriented.

I told him clearly.

“Over there, you should film over there. Not here.”

“Huh? N-Not here, but over there?”

“That’s right. But you should aim for a bit further. The winner won’t be decided in a short distance.”

“W-What do you mean?”

“Here I go.”

A mischievous glint appeared in Regina’s eyes.

She was unusually expressive today.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

*Whoosh!*

Finally, Regina’s hand tossed the bouquet backwards.

With a lot of force, as if she meant it.

The bouquet soared.

No, it shot out like a fastball rather than soaring.

Normally, it should have fallen by now, but it continued to fly forward, as if gaining speed.

“O-Ooooooh?”

“A-As expected of the Knight of the Snow Wind?”

“T-The bride from the North… T-Tossing the bouquet is also very different…”

…No, it probably had nothing to do with her being from the North.

“Hmph.”

“Hehe, I can’t lose.”

“F-Fly, fly.”

“I’m confident in my running.”

Three people and one high elf started off.

Two flew with flight magic, and two sprinted with wind-like speed.

It was a breathtaking competition.

Fortunately, no one interfered.

There weren’t any specific rules, but it was heartwarming to see them competing fairly.

And so, they chased after the bouquet like crazy.

The fleeing bouquet finally started to lose momentum.

The four of them spotted the landing point with hawk-like eyes.

They lunged forward almost simultaneously, reaching out their hands.

“Got it!”

“Who says so!”

“I can’t lose!”

“Who do you think I am?”

W-Wait, elf senior, your true personality is showing, it’s showing!

“I-I have to get this!”

The photographer’s eyes widened as if he had found the best photo opportunity of his life, and he raised his camera.

Not just the photographer, but everyone was focused on one spot.

Me too.

*Swish.*

The bouquet fell.

Four hands reached for the landing point.

It was a fierce competition, and it was impossible to tell who had the advantage.

And then.

*Thump!*

*Thwack!*

*Tap!*

*Thud!*

Four different hands caught the bouquet almost simultaneously.

W-Wait, could this be?

*Riiiiip!*

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

The four of them froze like statues.

Not just them, but everyone froze.

This must have been the first wedding in history to have such a ridiculous disaster (?).

And then.

“W-We should share even a single bean.”

“H-Hehehe… Come to think of it, I think the late Emperor said to share power too.”

“It’s the teaching of the thousand-year-old Lepheria Academy for seniors to share even small things with their juniors.”

“I vividly remember sharing even a single drop of dew with Mother World Tree.”

The four of them suddenly switched to peace mode.

And then they amicably divided the torn bouquet into four pieces.

…Why were they suddenly filming a youth drama?

The guests stared blankly, unable to adapt to the sudden change in genre.

Regina smiled.

“It ended well, didn’t it?”

“I guess so.”

I smiled too.

And so, my first wedding ended.