Interlude: Abe's Wedding
It was a sunny day in the season of spring.
Today was Mr. Abe and Miss Suzy's wedding.
The venue was the grand cathedral in the royal capital. It's a famous church where even royal weddings are held, and normally there's a three-year wait due to its popularity. Apparently, many people want to get married here, hoping to be blessed like Their Majesties, who remain happily married despite their difference in status.
But in this case, it was a wedding between a lady-in-waiting to the Queen and a man who had protected His Majesty's life and been raised to nobility. And since royalty would be attending, they managed to reserve the venue without a hitch... The power of royalty is truly terrifying.
As for me, I was asked to be the flower girl. I stood by in a white one-piece dress with a crown of flowers on my head. At my feet, Pearl, serving as the ring girl, sat quietly with the same floral wreath around her neck.
“Pe-Pearl, are you okay?”
(Yup! I’m o-tay. How about you, Joan?)
“I-I'm really nervous.”
I've always been the noisy type in the background, so I’m not good at standing in front of people and standing out. I just hope I don’t trip...
“Thanks for today, Missy. You too, Pearl.”
“Mr. Abe! Congratulations.”
(Congwatuwations, Mista Abe.)
“Ah, thank you. I owe this wedding to you, Missy.”
“That's not true. You two were just stuck in long one-sided crushes.”
“But you're the one who gave us the push we needed. I’m really grateful. How should I thank you?”
“No need for thanks… Ah, if I end up going to the capital for school, I’d like Suzy to show me around, so until then, you two can scout out places I might like.”
“That's all?”
“Yup. Plus, it gives you an excuse to go on dates. Hehehe.”
“Hahaha, you really are something, Missy.”
Mr. Abe, the groom, and Pearl, the ring girl, entered the temple first and waited in front of the grand doors for Suzy and her father.
Before long, the two arrived.
“Lady Joan, thank you so much for being here today.”
“I’m Suzy’s father, Baron Michael Fox. I’ve heard much about you from Her Majesty and Suzy. Thank you truly. I never imagined this child would marry Lord Abe… truly… uuh~”
“F-Father, please don’t cry.”
“Congratulations, Sir. I just created the opportunity, that’s all. Their feelings were mutual.”
“Everyone, are you ready?”
A staff member of the temple approached.
“””Yes.”””
As the doors opened, a large number of guests sat inside. Their Majesties, the two princes, my family, the other two from the maid trio, Arthur the Sous Chef of our household, members of the Monster Subjugation Unit who were Mr. Abe’s colleagues, and the bride and groom’s families.
Though nervous, I walked ahead, scattering flower petals and leading the way to the altar where Mr. Abe stood. Suzy took Mr. Abe’s arm from Baron Fox, and the ceremony began.
The wedding concluded smoothly, and both Pearl and I fulfilled our roles.
Then the Queen whispered to me.
“The bouquet toss is next.”
“Eh? That tradition exists here too?”
“No, I introduced it. I mean, it’s something every girl wants to do at least once, right?”
“Ah, I see.”
“Alright, here we go—!”
At Suzy’s call, the unmarried women watched the bouquet intently. The men, seeing their intensity for the first time, looked slightly overwhelmed.
“Ready, and...!”
The bouquet Suzy tossed arced through the air. One of the maid trio, Sera, caught it with outstretched hands.
“I got it—! Kyaa...!”
Overcome with joy, she lost her balance, but Arthur, who was nearby, caught her.
“Are you alright?”
“Th-Thank you… Oh no, how embarrassing. People always say that’s why I can’t find someone.”
“No way... Someone as lovely as you? Everyone else must be blind.”
“Eh...? Ah, sorry.”
Just then, Sera realized Arthur was holding her. She tried to pull away but felt something wrong at her feet. Upon closer inspection, one of her heels had snapped when she fell.
“You can’t walk like this, huh? … Excuse me a moment.”
“Kyaa!”
Arthur picked her up in a princess carry and took her over to a bench.
“Oh dear, she’s fallen hard.”
The Queen and I, having watched the whole thing unfold, spoke in unison.
“Could Sera be next?”
“Looks like it… Look, Joan. Her eyes are heart-shaped.”
“They really are… By the way, what’s Sera’s background?”
“She’s an unusual case—a commoner working in the castle. She’s the younger sister of my childhood friend, which is why I requested her as my personal maid.”
“Then there’s no problem.”
“Yes, her family runs a diner in the capital. Her older sister’s already married and taken over. The only question is what kind of man that is.”
“Ah, don’t worry. He’s our family’s Sous Chef.”
“Oh, is that so? Then there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Right. Let’s leave the rest to the young couple, shall we?”
“Joan... You’re six years old right now. So don’t go saying stuff like a meddling old auntie.”
“Ah... I forgot.”
After the ceremony, the reception was to be held in the Lampail domain. Mr. Abe and Suzy mounted a bridal pegasus, rather than a bridal car, and headed for their mansion in the capital of Lampail.
Snowy walked steadily forward, spreading her wings.
““““““““““Ohhhhh—!!””””””””””
““““““““““Congratulations!!””””””””””
Amidst everyone’s cheers, they circled above the cathedral twice before flying off toward the mansion.
Sera, as a representative of the maid trio, the families of the bride and groom, and members of the Monster Subjugation Unit rode carriages to the mansion. From there, they used a teleportation gate to head to the Lampail domain.
Their Majesties had wanted to attend as well, but the Chancellor came to fetch them personally, and so, sulking, they returned to the castle.
Of course, the ever-prepared Queen asked me to bring her food from the reception later... Also, the last of the maid trio, Pia, asked me to keep an eye on Sera. But really, she wanted to see whether Sera and Arthur would grow closer...
Incidentally, after the bride and groom flew off on their pegasus, people who saw it bombarded the cathedral with inquiries, asking if the pegasus was included as an option when holding a wedding there... but no one knew this at the time.
And later, Their Majesties, who had suggested the bridal pegasus to the Chancellor, were severely scolded for it.
What do you think about this chapter?
