Chapter 101

***

“…I’m suddenly starting to get nervous. Do I even need to do this?”

I muttered as I stared at the pile of dresses and jewels in front of me. All were tailor-made for me.

Marianne next to me said with her eyes wide open.

“Of course. I think it could be more flashy. It is the first wedding ceremony in the Radon empire.”

“But isn’t it a little too much that the whole empire is on holiday for a week?”

“Ugh. I’ve heard it’s been adjusted to some extent.”

“At first, His Majesty the Emperor insisted that it would be ten days, but Sir Beynard made a complaint and shortened it to one week.”

For a week, if the entire empire stopped doing everything and just enjoyed the festival, it was a loss in many ways economically. In the meantime, all political affairs would be at a standstill, so it must be a headache for Oslin.

These days, Kwanach put off other government affairs and was busy preparing for the wedding.

“There is no middle ground.”

Oslin cried every time he saw me at a meeting between the heads of departments in the administration. Please don’t let Kwanach go crazy with the wedding preparations.

“But… He looks too excited to stop.”

I tried to dissuade him, but I couldn’t do it because he had a gloomy expression on his face each time as if the world had collapsed. A man as huge as Kwanach looked like a puppy in the rain at that moment.

‘How can I say more when he makes that kind of expression?’

Oslin didn’t seem to understand at all that Kwanach’s gloomy face weakened my heart.

Kwanach was really preparing something unusual. Not only the Imperial Palace, but the entire capital was immersed in the atmosphere of weddings and festivals.

Various flower arrangements were placed along the roadside. Light green leaves and pale yellow roses. Kwanach reported as if hoping for a compliment, saying that he was decorating it to match my eye and hair color.

His eyes sparkled with excitement, and all I could say was that he did well. As a result, everywhere in the capital city, the scent of flowers was deep and green was prevalent.

I couldn’t even imagine how big the outdoor banquet would be after the main ceremony. Nobles from all over the world were gathering at the capital without exception.

I also heard that Jenner also took time to attend the wedding from the Kingdom of Achaia. My father was ill, though he couldn’t come.

“It seems that all the eyes of the Empire are on the wedding.”

The wedding that was held in my homeland after regression was also gorgeous by my standards, but this one was beyond my imaginable range.

Moreover, the wedding ceremony in my motherland was held in a solemn atmosphere. However, this time it was a huge festival, watched by everyone living in the capital.

The main ceremony was now a week away. Gradually, I couldn’t help but feel the pressure.

Marianne said in a calm tone, as if she had read my worries.

“Everyone will be eagerly waiting for the ceremony with the thought of welcoming the Empress. Don’t worry. And before the wedding, everyone feels restless.”

“It’s like this even though we already had a wedding in our country.”

“Because the wedding in your home country and the wedding here will have different feelings.”

As Marianne spoke, I seemed to have calmed down a bit. When I looked at the many gorgeous dresses, I felt the confusion and tension again.

When the wedding ceremony was held in my home country, I did not feel that I was getting married. I thought it was more like a ceremonial procedure for forming an alliance. Though Kwanach’s feelings were different.

This ceremony was different. It was held after confirming our love for each other, so I thought that it was really a wedding. I was subtly tense and excited, and I felt like my heart was floating.

***

Time passed, and the day of the wedding came. A day to re-declare our marriage in front of all the peoples of the empire.

Already officially married to Kwanach, and even if the ceremony was held again, it wouldn’t be much different from the past.

“Whoa……”

As I got my hair done for the last time in the waiting room, I let out a tense sigh. Marianne said as she carefully examined my dress.

“You are absolutely beautiful, Your Majesty.”

“Really? Isn’t it too flashy?”

I looked in the mirror and swallowed dry saliva. I was decorated in a very different way from the ceremony held in my country.

Unlike in the past, my hair was braided into several braids and then rolled up to reveal the back of my back. Today, it was a half braid.

A tiara adorned with diamonds was attached to my braided hair, and a long veil was attached to the end of the tiara. In the center of the tiara was a large emerald gem that resembled the color of my eyes.

The veil was sprinkled with gold and diamond powder, and it sparkled dazzlingly. Diamonds were the main material for earrings and necklaces this time. In my homeland, jewelry made of pearls was worn, but the overall appearance was more splendid than at that time. If I was in the sunlight in this state, I wondered if it would give me an optical illusion as if my whole body was shining.

The dress did not have hanging sleeves that stretched out like before, but rather the sleeves were attached to the line of the arms. The shoulders were exposed in an off-shoulder style, and the colorful necklace stood out more. And on top of that, a half-tied platinum blonde hair hung down.

The skirt became more voluminous with several layers. It was bulky, but it wasn’t long, it was good for activity. It was because we had to walk down a long aisle.

After completing the oath in front of the nobles and priests at the Imperial Palace, we were scheduled to leave the Imperial Palace and walk along the central road of the capital. The people will come out to bless us on the central road.

It was not just a ceremony, but today was also a festival for the people of the Empire. It was different from the closed ceremony. It will be a wedding with the people.

I fiddled with my fingers on my bare shoulders, which were exposed in the warm weather. The sparkling diamond necklace was unfamiliar.

“You will do well.”

Marianne whispered in a strong voice beside me. I smiled softly, suppressing my tension, and nodded my head.

****

The main ceremony of reciting the vows began.

I walked out of the waiting room, step by step. Kwanach would be waiting for me at the entrance to the Imperial Palace. From there, I and Kwanach would walk to the center, where we were going to take another vow of marriage in front of the priest.

I was nervous as I walked towards Kwanach. Marianne followed right behind me, checking to make sure the hem of my dress wasn’t wrinkled. The guards on either side quietly escorted me.

The moment I left the main building, I turned to the exit and met Kwanach, who was waiting for me.

“Usphere.”

The low voice calling me was thick and low. Fortunately, it seemed that I wasn’t the only one feeling nervous. Kwanach also had a stiff face.

He wore a formal robe with an unusually long neckline. Unlike me, who was adorned with jewels, he was wearing only a small crown.

His clothes were also decorated with gold thread, but it was ascetic and modest rather than flashy. But that in itself was overwhelming. Unlike usual, it was a tight fit outfit, but even over the cloth, his overwhelming appearance was revealed.

“Come here.”

Kwanach reached out to me. I quickly took two steps and grabbed his hand. His large hand wrapped around me completely, and a familiar warmth permeated my skin.

Then my tension slowly melted away and I felt relaxed. Perhaps it was the same with Kwanach, as a slight smile appeared on the corner of his lips.

“You’re beautiful.”

It was a short but sincere voice. The tip of his voice trembled slightly. His dark eyes were directed at me.

I was somewhat embarrassed and whispered a little.

“Does it suit me?”

“Of course.”

I wiggled my fingers in Kwanach’s palm.

“But why am I the only one who’s dressed so glamorous and you…”

“Because today’s main character is you, Usphere.”

Standing next to a modestly dressed Kwanach, it was clear that I would stand out more. It seemed that Kwanach was aiming for that on purpose.

“Hold my arm. Let’s go.”

Kwanach, who smiled lightly, let go of my hand and stretched out his arm. I grabbed his tight forearm. Our bodies were close to each other. As Kwanach’s presence was vividly felt next to me, my confidence grew that I could make it through today.

We kept our pace and walked forward one step at a time. A long white cloth was laid on the floor of the imperial palace, and flower decorations were hung all over the pillars of the building.

The scent of flowers floated in the air, and it was a moderately warm day. On both sides, the guards were lined up with formal appearance.

I tried to walk with only looking forward, but my eyes kept turning and my eyes met with Kwanach’s. As we glanced at each other like that, we looked ahead again while holding back the laughter that was about to burst.

At the center of the Imperial Palace stood an arched flower column. Passing through there, it led to a priest standing at the altar to witness the oath.

In front of the altar stood imperial palace officials and invited nobles.

I saw familiar faces. First of all, my younger brother Jenner, who came a long way from Achaia.

Oslin, of course, and the ladies I saw at the tea party the other day. And even Oslin’s sister, Linbera, whom I helped.

This time, Linbera’s husband also came. Her husband stood firm by her side.

I could also see the officials of the Relief and Assistance department, which I was managing myself. With the attention of those I knew, Kwanach and I kept walking forward.

Passing through the arch surrounded by flowers and plants, we approached the priest. In terms of what happened in my previous life, this was the third wedding.

But a completely different feeling from before filled my heart. Kwanach’s body temperature, which permeated into the place where my arm was folded, was hot.

My heart was pounding strangely, and my emotions kept rising.

It was not a sold marriage in exchange for an alliance, but a marriage that was held in the blessing of many people. Marriage to the man I love, not to a stranger.

Is this happiness? In my previous life, I gave up on everything and lived indifferently. Now, I could feel each and every grain of emotion that filled my heart vividly.

***