episode_0097

The second Saturday in February, at a wedding hall in the suburbs.

The sunlight cuts through the forest, creating patterns.

The sight of newly sprouted green shoots giving off a refreshing feeling. The chirping of birds that had returned to welcome spring sounded like singing.

The wind whispers in my ears. White chairs are placed on the green lawn.

Vita and Carlyle agreed to have their wedding in a small church near the forest. It was cheap because the government would pay for the food, and there were other reasons.

Vita suggested it first.

-Yeah, Carlyle. I just want the wedding to be small.

-I don’t really want to care about what other people think, and doing it in a big way feels burdensome.

To be honest, my interpersonal relationships are quite narrow. I wasn’t ashamed to admit it, but Carlyle chuckled at his own words that he didn’t have many friends who would come to visit him.

I feel the same way.

-Are you really okay with that?

Vita nodded in agreement to Carlyle’s words.

-Yeah, it doesn’t matter.

Isn’t it strange when you think about it?

In fact, both of them were not the type of people who actively dated others, but rather the type of people who made friends.

Vita herself and Carlyle have always been very defensive towards others. Neither I nor Carlyle were particularly extroverted.

Carlyle Schultz simply has a lot of social experience and a very clear goal.

Although he looks easygoing and confident, he is the type of person who always focuses on his own work rather than worrying about others.

So Vita thought.

To be honest, I can understand why Carlyle dated several women over the years, but they always ended in failure.

‘Who else can understand you completely if not me? Because it’s me who understands.’

You and Carlyle are destined to be together. You can’t be without each other.

Carlyle is Vita herself, and Vita herself is Carlyle, so they fit well together.

Of course, Vita didn’t know. Carlyle was completely immersed in her just because she was Bianca Shamal, and he had fallen for her without even realizing it. His dealings with other women were completely different from his dealings with Bianca Shamal.

Bianca Shamal was his true and true first love. The only person who first stole Carlyle Schultz’s heart was the one who made him feel sincere.

Anyway, to sum it up.

So Vita and Carlyle chose a small church with seating for only fifty as their wedding venue.

And on a sunny Saturday in the second week of February.

Today was the day the two were getting married.

A wedding hall in the woods outside the city.

“Congratulations, Maxim.”

“Oh my, thank you.”

Maximilian Shamal burst into laughter as he greeted his neighbors.

Until I got here, my wife Emma scolded me for having such a dead expression on my face, but it turned out to be a happy ending.

It may be heartbreaking to hear of a daughter getting married, but as a parent, you can’t help but be happy.

There are wild flowers blooming around. The weather is also very cool.

“Father. How are you?”

The blunt eldest son spoke to him.

“Whatever.”

“I think Bianca chose well. It seems like a pretty good place considering what you were worried about?”

In fact, Maxim was satisfied because the wedding hall was much better than he had expected. If possible, he would have liked to have the wedding at a fancy hotel, but this wasn’t bad either.

To be honest, I was a little embarrassed. As a parent, that’s how it was.

‘… When did it grow this big?’

The youngest child who was afraid of ghosts and had a soft heart. Now that the child is trying to solve everything on his own, it means he has become mature.

They even reserved a wedding hall together and are even looking for their new home. It’s been almost a month since I heard that.

-We’ll figure it out with the money Carlyle and I saved, Dad.

It seemed as if he didn’t know whose influence it was. To be honest, Maxim felt quite strange.

At the time, I told him not to talk nonsense, but on the other hand, I was impressed, so I kept watching him.

But the two of them really took care of reserving the wedding hall and preparing for the wedding in no time.

They haven’t found a new home yet, so they’re taking it slow, but they’re taking care of it together.

‘Oh, right… ‘

It’s true that one’s own eyes are accurate. Maxim had already noticed it.

‘Anyway, that bastard…’

Although I was somewhat dissatisfied with the fact that he was the one who would take my daughter away, I eventually allowed them to date, and even to marry, and it was not a groundless decision.

-Please give me your daughter.

-I am confident that I can take responsibility for making Bianca happy enough.

The will I saw then, the power to put it into practice.

He’s definitely a good guy. He’s someone my daughter can rely on for the rest of her life.

There’s just one thing that doesn’t suit my taste.

“Tsk, but still. There are quite a few guests. The venue is only a small amount of rat poop… ”

The second son speaks up about such petty complaints.

“Don’t you know, Dad? This is the trend these days. Small weddings.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Since my eldest son has also joined, I have nothing to say.

‘Anyway, young guys…’

Even as he thought that, Maxim’s expression was bright as he greeted the guests who followed.

“Congratulations, Mr. Maxim. What a great occasion.”

“The wedding hall is very pretty.”

“Then, it’s a slope. Oh, this is… the restaurant that our kids made a reservation for… ”

Start bragging.

Compliments for the wedding hall, and even more so, compliments from the daughter who made the reservation.

These kids are still so young and they’re doing so well without even asking their parents for help. My mouth was split all the way to my ears.

“Really… Father.”

“You can’t be honest.”

The two sons shook their heads as they looked at their father. Soon, they would be fasting.

***

Waiting room inside the church.

Thump- thump-

My heart is beating fast.

My head is spinning and I can’t believe what’s happening right now.

I was also tired.

‘Is it because you came early in the morning…?’

From early in the morning, Vita had to go to the restaurant with Carlyle and make various preparations.

We rehearsed in advance and checked with Carlyle to make sure the venue setting was perfect.

We also took wedding photos.

-Father, smile! Your expression is a little awkward.

-Ah, yes…!

Strangely enough, I was so nervous, my heart was pounding so hard, that taking pictures with Carlyle took up a lot of my time.

Really, that’s it.

It started to feel real at the same time that it didn’t feel real.

‘Just a little bit more…’

Because once the meal is completely over, you and Carlyle will truly become a couple.

Yes, they are a couple.

Wife, husband. A lifelong partner.

Vita herself is the wife, and Carlyle is the husband. It feels so unrealistic and yet so real at the same time. It’s really coming.

Vita’s head was dizzy while the hairdressers were touching her hair.

I was completely out of my mind.

“Father, what do you think? Wouldn’t it be better to just let it go?”

“I emphasized a mature feeling rather than a lively feeling.”

“… Oh, yes.”

I tried to answer every word that was said, but honestly, I felt like it didn’t matter.

When I came to my senses, my friends Sasha and Emily were in the waiting room.

“ and, Bianca… ”

“You’re really so pretty.”

I feel like Sasha and Emily are congratulating me too.

“Wow, seriously. My friend is getting married. And so early.”

While Sasha looks so excited and amazed, Emily looks as if she is feeling something new.

If you think about it, Emily is one of the people who knows the truth about ‘Vita Shamal’.

Actually, it was difficult to bring it up to Emily.

-That, Emily…

First, I invited her, but she said she didn’t have to come, and then Vita got scolded.

-I confessed my feelings and came clean. So I have no regrets or foolishness.

Emily’s argument was that it was already in the past and had become meaningless, so don’t worry about it. How could you not go to your friend’s wedding?

So today, Emily was happy to come. As a friend of ‘Bianca Shamal’.

“Are you happy, Bianca?”

Emily also has a bright expression.

“Okay, then.”

Naturally, Vita nodded vigorously to Emily. She smiled faintly and scratched her cheek with her hand as she answered in an excited voice.

“Be happy, of course.”

“Well, that’s fortunate.”

Emily with a gentle smile.

In fact, I still regret the slip of the tongue I made back then. But now that the other person is happy, my heart feels a bit lighter.

It’s true that I once liked Carlyle Schultz, but now that’s just a thing of the past.

He confessed and was just coolly rejected. Even his friend Bianca tried to push him during the process. I also liked Carlyle and was about to give up.

So Emily became friends with her partner again, and now she truly considered him a precious friend in her heart. She could speak sincerely even now.

“Congratulations on your wedding. I feel good too.”

“Thank you, Emily.”

There was a look between the two of them that only they knew about.

***

“What’s going on, you two all of a sudden?”

Emily laughed heartily at Sasha’s antics.

“No, nothing. By the way, Bianca, your makeup is really good!”

It was rare for Emily to change the subject, but today’s bride, Bianca, felt dazzling.

“She really is like a fairy. How did she eat so well?”

“That’s right, really. Anyone can see that she’s a total new bride.”

Because Shasha also responded.

Vita blushed slightly, feeling embarrassed at being called Sasha’s new bride.

“Is that so…?”

As I chatted with my friends, time passed quickly.

After that, his mother, Mrs. Emma Shamal, came and held his hand.

“You haven’t found a new house yet?”

“Yes, Mom. It’s not that urgent.”

For now, I plan to stay in my room for a month or two.

“So, cohabitation… ”

As I spoke hesitantly, my mother smiled.

“You weren’t doing that?”

“… Oh, no.”

Vita was shocked and immediately denied it, but it seems that he is not good at lying.

“What should I do with those who say they like it?”

The mother sighed, but her smile remained the same.

“But you used contraception…?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

And then I got scolded. I made excuses saying I wasn’t pregnant and got beaten on the back.

When I came to my senses, the dinner party had really arrived. All the guests had come in.

[Groom, enter-!]

I heard that loud voice in the hallway, with his father, Maximilian Shamal, standing next to him.

But my father’s condition doesn’t look good.

You seem nervous.

‘Is your father nervous…?’

Actually, I also feel my heart pounding.

“Dad, are you okay…?”

Only when Vita asks that does his expression lighten.

“Go, column.”

Was it his own illusion? For some reason, his father was blinking. His voice seemed hoarse. Vita tilted her head, but she could not even imagine that her father was on the verge of crying.

[Bride, enter-!]

His turn has come.

One step, one step.

Take a step with your father.

Sasha, Emily, my junior Lou and the other kids. The elders of the neighborhood I saw when I went to my parents’ house.

People Carlyle probably invited, people he didn’t know well.

Everyone’s eyes are fixed on it.

“Oh my, so pretty… ”

“You’re pretty, Bianca-!”

“Congratulations, senior-!”

A wedding march is heard along with many voices.

So Vita looked ahead and started walking away.

One step, two steps.

‘It’s a lot more than I thought…’

I’m embarrassed and also a bit flustered.

Because at the end of the white carpet is Carlyle Schultz, whom she likes very much and whom she clearly loves.

***

The wedding was over quickly.

Actually, surprisingly, a wedding is nothing special. The preparations are much harder.

I heard that the one who gave the long speech was Carlyle’s boss when he was studying abroad. Was it the department head?

He said that he came to this branch and asked for it without any expectations, but they readily accepted.

Vita had no doubts that Carlyle had asked her to do this, since he was a very nice person. Fortunately, her parents were also convinced.

The man with a sad expression looked to be in his thirties. He seemed like a capable office worker.

Actually, the weekly ceremony was also easy.

Carlyle was momentarily lost in the sight of the bride, Bianca Shamal, all decked out, and when he came down from the stage to hold her hand, he stumbled for a moment and his joke instantly warmed up the atmosphere of the wedding hall.

“Looking at this now, you guys, it looks like the groom is on fire trying to snatch away the fairy bride, right?”

A raucous laughter spread across the lawn.

“Right-!”

Someone shouts this, and there is applause and cheering.

Vita and Carlyle too.

From the beginning of the ceremony, the two people’s faces turned slightly red. But they had no intention of letting go of their holding hands.

My heart is pounding for some reason. My hands are sweating.

It was so natural that they slowly and naturally kissed each other.

I feel a little bit relieved. Just by holding hands.

After a typical weekly routine.

“Yes, I swear.”

The two took turns holding each other’s hands and made brief vows. Carlyle promised to take Bianca Shamal as his wife, and Vita promised to take Carlyle Schultz as her husband.

“Then the kiss of the oath-!”

Vita hesitated for a moment, but of course Carlyle had no hesitation in his actions.

What Vita remembers is that the kiss was very sweet, and for some reason, all the strength in her body went away.

So Carlyle’s arms were firmly, very firmly, supporting her waist.

For a moment, time suddenly seemed to pass slowly.

Without realizing it, I made eye contact with my parents, who were sitting below the altar.

And, yeah.

I had a feeling that I would never forget this moment for the rest of my life. In that moment, countless emotions surged through me.

I also said hello to my parents.

Carlyle also greeted his parents as they were not around.

“Be happy, daughter.”

Her mother only shed tears, but her father cried instead, and Vita was really flustered.

The veteran’s hot tears flowed down his cheeks.

“Ah, Dad… ?”

Sometimes, one action speaks louder than a thousand words. My father just held my body tightly. I could feel his affection. So, I almost shed a tear, but I managed to hold it back.

On the contrary, the person my father opened his mouth to speak to was none other than Carlyle.

“I’ll keep watching.”

“Don’t worry, Master.”

Carlyle answered confidently.

His lips twitched, perhaps because he still didn’t like the title of “Master Craftsman,” but in the end, his father hugged Carlyle too.

-… If you cry, it won’t stay still.

-…yes.

I don’t know if my father whispered such a conversation to Carlyle. From Vita’s perspective, it was so awkward to see the two men hugging that she couldn’t help but laugh. I guess everyone in the restaurant felt the same.

“Okay, then… ”

The priest was secretly mischievous and made him do one more thing.

Vita was carried around the venue in Carlyle’s arms, holding her in a princess-like position.

‘Ugh… what.’

Of course, I was quite embarrassed and buried my head in Carlyle’s chest, but I had no idea that everyone else was having more fun because of it.

Afterwards, the two went around thanking the guests who came to the wedding together.

My eldest brother indifferently congratulated me, while my second brother smiled and offered his sincere congratulations.

“Congratulations, Bianca.”

“Yeah, brother… ”

My playful third brother, I had to look into the cause of his trauma that made him afraid of ghosts.

“I can’t believe it… My little brother is getting married.”

And a woman at that? That’s an omitted word.

“If you talk nonsense, you will die.”

“Haha, congratulations… ”

We received many congratulatory messages from other people. We were even teased about how much we liked each other to get married so early.

That’s not wrong at all.

Every time that happened, the two of them would look at each other, sometimes a little awkwardly, but smiling happily.

The wedding was a success.

Amidst everyone’s congratulations, the two became a couple without any problems.