What I really wanted to do.
I was worn out from the whole wedding fiasco, and after some affectionate time with Dirk, I was feeling somewhat recovered when it arrived.
“… An invitation?”
It was an invitation from my family home. But something was strange. There shouldn’t be anything at the location specified. If they were hosting a party at home, it should’ve included dress codes and other details, but it only mentioned the date and time, and that I must bring Dirk with me.
“Hmm…”
Since it was Martha who delivered it, it couldn’t be a trap. Maybe it was a surprise party or something? After all, the wedding was on my birthday.
Not thinking too deeply about it, I cleared my schedule. Still, Dirk had been getting home late recently. When I asked the capable old butler, he said Dirk had been cramming his schedule to take a long holiday. Apparently, he was planning to take more time off than expected—for our promised honeymoon, it seemed. I couldn’t blame him. I had my own work to do.
Then came the day of the supposed surprise? party. The moment I arrived at the specified location, I was seized by a laughing idiot hero.
“Wahahahahaha!!”
“Wait, Geraldin-san! She’s going to find out!”
They even stuffed a gag in my mouth. I couldn’t use magic either, since I couldn’t see clearly—too risky.
“Mmghmmghmm!”
I tried desperately to say, “I already know!” but all that came out was muffled groaning.
“Take this!”
“Mgh!?”
They took off my earring that nullifies all abnormal status effects and made me inhale sleeping powder.
That former legally-a-shota sage! I swore to make him cry later as my consciousness faded.
When I next woke up, for some reason, I was once again wearing a wedding dress.
“… Feh?”
“Oh my, good morning, sleepyhead.”
No way was I just a sleepyhead. The pervy sage clearly knocked me out. Not that it mattered. More importantly, the dress—this was the one I thought was gorgeous during the design phase but rejected because it was too cute for me.
Delicate lace wrapped around in layers, a soft, flowing princess-line silhouette. A pure white wedding dress, incredibly beautiful and charming.
“You look absolutely perfect! I did your makeup and hair too, you know! What do you think?”
“Kaasama, you're amazing. I look adorable.”
My hair was intricately braided and swept to the side, with flowers woven in. The makeup was done softly to reduce the sharpness of my features, so the cute dress actually didn’t look too out of place.
“Ufufu, I’m not quite as good as Rabisha-chan, but not bad, right?”
“You look beautiful, Ojousama.”
“Congrats, Oneechan!”
“You’re so pretty, Oneechan!!”
“You look lovely, Rosary.”
“Congratulations, Rosarin.”
“You look so beautiful, Ojousama… sniff…”
Rabisha-chan, our twin angels, Milfi, and Lumia-san all smiled and gave their blessings. Martha was crying.
“Martha, don’t cry.”
“O-Ojousama… I think of you not only as my mistress, but if I may be so bold, like a sister… or a mother. Your happiness is my happiness… sniff, these are tears of joy. Please… be the happiest of all… uwaaah…”
“To have you, Martha, and everyone else to bless me like this… I’m truly happy. Thank you, Martha.”
“Ojoushamaaa!!”
Oops. I made her cry even harder. And she had such a beautiful face of makeup too—now it was all messy.
“Why are you making her cry more… I get it though. Ojousama, I really always wanted to keep serving you. Even though our paths differ now, I’ll always be on your side. Please remember that.”
Rabisha-chan gave a gentle reminder not to get the dress wet with Martha’s tears and winked at me.
“Okay. Your status might be higher now, but let’s get along. I’ll never forget that you’re on my side too.”
“Yes!”
Rabisha-chan smiled radiantly. I had agonized for a long time over whether it was right for her to move up in rank as a maid—or rather, as a ninja. But seeing her smile now, I knew this was right.
“Rosary, that dress suits you very well. You really wanted to wear it, didn’t you?”
“Well, I mean… yeah.”
It wasn’t about whether it suited me. I just really wanted to try it on because it was so cute.
“You always hold back for the sake of others, Rosary. That worries me.”
“… No, I don’t think that’s really true.”
Honestly, I don’t hold back much. I’m Rosarin, ever loyal to my desires.
“Yes, which is why all of us decided to give you what you really wanted. Enjoy yourself, Rosary.”
“Milfi…”
My best friend is seriously kind. My carefully applied makeup was about to melt off.
“No crying!”
“Yeah, you’ve got to smile!”
Thanks to the twin angels, I managed to hold it in. I was dangerously happy.
“... Kaasama, I had a feeling, but where are we?”
“This is a church we just built.”
So it *was* a church. Wait, hold on!
“You built a new one!?”
“Yes. Since Kurarin-chan didn’t have a church, we built one. Now, your escort’s here. Off you go.”
“……… Wait, wait, wait! I almost accepted that, but why again!??”
Mother didn’t seem interested in explaining further. I was handed over to Father, who had come to get me. Since this was the third time, I caught on quickly.
“Rosarin, congratulations. No matter how many times we do this, I never get used to it.”
“… Ordinary people don’t do it multiple times.”
“True. You’re right. But in your world, some people do hold two wedding ceremonies, don’t they?”
“Ah… well…”
I remembered a senior who held a reception for work contacts and then a fancy wedding at a certain mouse-themed country with only close friends and family. Not common, but it happens.
“Dirk begged everyone to clear just one more day for this… Rosarin, you’ve chosen a good man. I can entrust you to him without worry. Still, if you two ever fight, come home anytime.”
“I’ll come even if we don’t fight.”
We talked as we walked. Subtle sculptures lined the corridor… Wait, I recognize this—Magchelia? No, the scenes on these walls are the ones that were in the stained-glass windows of the Grand Cathedral?
“Wow…”
The scenes painted on the walls were so beautiful I could stare at them forever.
“Rosarin, this part was decorated by Pochi. He holed himself up here for days. This is the first time I’ve seen it too… it’s magnificent. This place will be open to the public eventually. Come see it again sometime.”
Pochi… I hope he didn’t push himself too hard. He better not have gone without sleep again.
Worried about my brother-in-law’s stunningly overachieving work, I stepped into the waiting room of the church...
What do you think about this chapter?
