Chapter 683 - Fourth Story: The Fortress Wedding
I returned to Nakanohara, and while spending my days exterminating rats, foxes, and boars, I was called to the royal palace after the April recovery of the Northeastern Forest was over.
"Jeanne. There was a request from the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church. Separately from the investigation of the secret book, please go to Engrio. It seems a preliminary investigation is necessary to conquer the cave where the Demon Lord will be resurrected in Engrio territory. The Henry Party will be with you, so it won't take much effort to move. You should be able to return by the full moon in May."
"I understand."
As expected. But the Henry Party is also with me. The heroes will do the Medioland side.
"I heard you're attending a wedding."
He's chuckling.
"Yes. Because a girl I know is getting married."
"I heard Price-sama will be the officiant."
Instead of just hearing, Bishop Harris, who will assist together with me, is right there.
"I don't think the Henry Party will participate there. However, the day after the wedding or the day after that, they might have a place for discussion with King Seldic at the fortress."
"Haa..."
Does that mean, in other words, they're going to have a secret talk?
"I want Bishop Jeanne not to join there and to go to the Demon Lord's cave as soon as possible."
When I looked at Bishop Harris, he nodded with a very serious face.
"At the latest, you will depart on the afternoon of the next day. Regarding this, there is no change in the schedule. Because we're in a hurry. Please keep that in mind."
"Yes. I understand."
Will the negotiations go well? I wonder what the female demon will think. If she accepts, and if the number of Orcs is too many, the magic beasts will decrease and the hunters will be in trouble. If that happens, it will be a cause of conflict. I hope it all works out well.
Toward the scheduled day, I go to the border on the Henry Party's bowl together with Bishop Harris and Harrison-san. I parted with the party here. Since Price-sama and Sianya will be after participating in the local May Festival, they will be a bit late. They must have gone to pick up the two coming by boat. The plan is to have the wedding first, and then the investigation of the materials placed in the cave of the secret book. The investigation itself will be done at the place where the secret book is, so it'll take about two hours. Since there were five or six wooden boxes, it will probably take quite a while.
After seeing off the party, I passed through the checkpoint and met up with Carla, who came to pick me up.
"Is Annabella preparing?"
"Yeah, somehow, it's become something amazing."
"Something amazing?"
"Yeah. The captain is doing the arrangements now, but you know, Price-sama and Sianya-sama are coming, right?"
"That's right."
"The captain has become enthusiastic, and it's like, gorgeous... no, solemn? Is that the word? Like the captain's speech, or everyone chanting a celebratory prayer together—it's become like a ritual."
No wonder. For the captain, the officiants are too gorgeous. Even though there are many people, one is the church priest Number Two on the White Island, and one is a princess. Both would easily handle officiating a normal wedding, but the captain must be thinking of making it a wedding worthy of their status.
"Wouldn't it be better to make him stop?"
"Yeah. Annabella and her boyfriend are also in trouble. He's trying to make it as grand as possible, considering the lineup of the standing priests. Even though it's already conspicuous because even His Majesty is giving a gift. It's fine for the liquor and food, but if the wedding itself is made flashy, it's certain that later on, nobles will spitefully say behind their backs that it's disproportionate to their status. Can you say something from your side, Jeanne?"
"I wonder if it'll stop if I say it?"
"But you have to stop it before Price-sama and Sianya-sama arrive."
"That's true too. Then, I'll ask Bishop Harris and Harrison-san for support too."
"I see, the heroes are here. Will you ask them?"
"Understood."
Fortunately, both of them accepted while laughing. But it's suddenly a turbulent start.
When we flew on the shuttle bowl, soldiers lined up in front of the fortress's main gate were marching.
"Look, that. It's like they're the Royal Guard, right? They're going to follow behind the bride and groom."
They will apparently march from outside the main gate toward the shrine inside the fortress. In front of the shrine, the officiant Price-sama and the other priests are waiting for the bride and groom.
Wait? Hold on.
"By any chance, isn't it the ritual for the May Festival?"
No matter how I think about it, it's different from a wedding.
When I listened carefully, the fortress captain didn't know what kind of wedding was appropriate for the rank of Price-sama and Sianya's attendance. The Monster Extermination Unit captain didn't know either. Both are from commoner backgrounds, and their duty stations have long been in the frontier. They probably had no experience even guarding the weddings of royalty or great nobles. On the other hand, it's obvious that if they consulted a noble, they would be mocked and not taught. After worrying, they seem to have attached the May Festival. They're overthinking it.
"Did you do the May Festival at the fortress?"
"We don't. Maybe those off duty went to a nearby village."
"Did you go?"
"W-Well, yeah. Because I was invited."
He must have been invited by a man. Shall I set some gunpowder? No, no, that's not it.
"Then, why not just do the May Festival?"
"Eh? Isn't the timing off?"
"It's fine. Even if it's a bit off."
When I asked Bishop Harris just in case, he said there was no problem.
"How about it? Doing the May Festival and holding the wedding there too."
I try asking Bishop Harris. I think it's better than throwing cold water on the excitement.
"That's more natural. But the four spirits will be played by soldiers, but what about the Goddess of Spring?"
"How about someone like Sianya?"
"Regarding that point, I won't be involved at all."
Well, it can't be helped.
When Price-sama and Sianya arrived at night and I consulted them, I was told that if I played the role of the water spirit, she would play the role of the Queen. It seems she means I should take responsibility since I'm the one proposing. Being a princess, she was an experienced person regarding the Queen role.
"Then, the wind is Carla."
"Eh? Me? I've never done it."
"It's fine. You just walk along."
"There are some lines, right?"
"We can put them in, but it's no problem without them."
"Then, the one without."
It's decided. Let's have young soldiers do earth and fire.
When I proposed it to the fortress captain, he agreed. Of course, I told him that Price-sama and Sianya had already agreed.
"Bishop Jeanne, honestly, it was a help. I didn't know how to manage a wedding where Price-sama and Sianya-sama would serve as officiant and assistant. I'm relieved that the Bishop proposed it and even got the consent of the two. I don't know how to thank you..."
"It's because the captain originally thought of a ceremony following the May Festival. I thought of it when I saw the practice."
"Thank you very much. By the way, regarding that demon, would it be alright to invite her?"
"I think it's no problem if it's just watching. That's right, since it's better to leave the bride and groom alone on the night of the wedding, let's have a girls' night out at her house the night before. It's Annabella's last night as a single woman, so we'll have a blast as a breather."
"That's good. Then, we'll take care of the groom."
It's getting exciting.
The night before, I stayed at the female demon's house. It's a girls' night out. I'm inviting the female demon to tomorrow's wedding. I thought we'd get excited with love talk, but I was bombarded with questions by the female demon. Apparently, the concept of marriage doesn't exist for her. In the case of the Demon Race, it's fine if both sides agree, and they don't report to the surroundings one by one. If they're always together, they're recognized as a couple.
"Humans, why do you do such things?"
"I think it's to eliminate conflict."
Sianya answered. Neither I, Carla, nor Annabella could answer well.
"Conflict?"
"Yes. One reason is to let the surroundings recognize the relationship between a man and a woman, and to exclude those who would lay a hand on someone else's wife."
"Shouldn't you just beat such a guy up?"
Well, I thought she'd say that. Even for humans, those who lay a hand on someone else's wife are beaten up.
"That's fine too, but isn't it better if it can be eliminated beforehand? Also, some are deceived by ill-natured partners. Therefore, it's a relief if you receive confirmation of the partner's identity from parents who are guardians or surrounding leaders... for example, priests, right? By making that whole procedure into a ritual, it's made clear, and at the same time, society can give certain considerations to the status and taxes of those who have become married."
Um, frankly, I don't understand the latter half well. It probably changes depending on the country.
"They're thinking of difficult things, huh."
The female demon is also tilting her head.
"When there are many, there must be many things that can't be organized without doing such ritual-like things. I think it's originally a ritual that isn't necessary. Therefore, it might be fine to think of it simply as a banquet to show off and brag about your own partner."
"What, then it's simple and easy to understand."
At Miana's (T/N: Likely Sianya's) words, which were unlike a priest, we all laughed. Especially for royalty and nobles, that meaning might be strong.
"You're participating, right?"
"Yeah. I heard she's going to wear a beautiful outfit called a wedding dress? If it's Annabella's fine appearance, I have to see it."
"Right? It's more fun to have a celebratory ritual and then have a banquet and make a fuss together, isn't it?"
"I see. I understand well."
What a wonderful explanation. As expected of a royal advisor.
After that, we conducted a hearing investigation of the love story of Annabella and the man. There was also a special exposé from Carla, and we all had a great time.
On the day of the wedding, Sianya in the role of the Goddess and the four spirits, leading about twenty young soldiers, entered from the main gate and marched through the courtyard. The costumes were borrowed from nearby villagers by the soldiers. They went up to the stage prepared in the courtyard and declared spring. When the Goddess loudly declared the arrival of spring, the battle cries of the old men watching and the heckling of the female demon livened up the place greatly in response. Since she's shouting from the outer wall, it echoes and the effect is outstanding.
After the Goddess and the four spirits exited, the two who are starting a new beginning were introduced by the fortress captain. The reason he's talking at length about the two is to buy time for Sianya and me to change into ritual robes.
We managed to finish changing, and when the two of us stood next to Price-sama with composed faces, we went up to the stage in the order of Price-sama, the Engrio Royal Capital Great Church Head, Bishop Harris, Harrison-san, Sianya, and me. And the groom wearing chain mail appeared at the entrance to the stage.
The heckling from the old men is amazing!
"Silence!"
The captain shouts loudly. "Quiet! Quiet!" the female demon, who is sitting cross-legged on the outer wall for some reason, shouts loudly. She might have taken on the role of an assistant.
"Now, the entry of the bride!"
"Yay! Applause~!"
She's even taking the lead. Seeing that there's a wine barrel next to her and she's holding a bowl in her right hand, she's definitely been hired as a voice-maker.
Amidst loud applause and whistling, the bride appeared, led by Carla, who had been changing with us. The noise turned into a stir.
Annabella is wearing a cute one—a light cherry-blossom-colored one-piece made of green marble fabric for weddings, a gift from the Class of 175 members and designed by Beatrix... of course it's not green, but dyed with dye taken from small branches of the cherry tree growing behind the farm—with cute embroidery done by Miana! in dark cherry-blossom-colored thread. She's wearing a crown woven with flowers on her head. The makeup person is Sianya, and the tools are a gift from Sianya, used by the Primordia royal family. Originally having a calm and cute feel, she's finished it elegantly. You don't see this much in the frontier. She's truly a bride. Hearing voices like "You bastard!" along with the groom's name must be from guys she turned down.
Walking demurely with her head slightly down to the place where the groom was waiting, she took the right hand the groom offered, and the two went up to the stage. They proceeded straight to the front of the officiant Price-sama and knelt together.
Price-sama offers a prayer, and the other priests chant together. The bride and groom remain kneeling with their hands clasped at their chests, also chanting together. The soldiers watching also all chant together. The female demon is watching with interest while tilting her bowl.
The prayer ends. Price-sama has the two stand and confirms the intentions of both sides, and both give a reply of agreement. Prompted by Price-sama, the two stood up and turned around... toward the spectators.
"From this moment on, the two are recognized as a married couple. Everyone, give them your blessings."
At Price-sama's words, applause echoed again, heckling flew, and magic was shot up. Several large lightning bolts that went up must be the female demon's magic. Everyone was stirred by the volume of the sound, and at the same time, applause erupted again.
"Now, let's all celebrate! The celebratory wine and food today were provided by the gift His Majesty gave. Be grateful to His Majesty and do it grandly. Oh, I'll tell you, he's already given Carla's share too. There's still a chance for that one. It's first come, first served!"
Following the captain's words, it showed the greatest excitement of the day.
After that, it became a grand banquet with drinking and singing. I don't know if the female demon knows, but more than half will go to the Demon Lord's cave with the captain. Since they're all from commoner backgrounds, they've never challenged it. Everyone came to greet me. If only the humanoid monsters on the first floor could move, a useless sacrifice could be avoided.