THE next day, we went to inform Captain Ludtink of the news.
“You two… I’d been worried about when the hell you were finally gonna tie the knot.”
“Oh dear. I’m sorry about that,” I said.
“Sorry to scare you, Crow.”
It seemed that Captain Ludtink had been nervously awaiting news of our marriage ever since we asked for permission to live together.
“Well, that’s all in the past. Congratulations. That’s great news.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
“We really appreciate your congratulations.”
“What, you didn’t expect it? Anyway, when’s the weddin’?”
“We’d like to have it next month if possible.”
“N-Next month?!”
“Yes.”
We didn’t want a large party or ceremony. We’d decided on a Fore Elf style of wedding, where we invited our closest friends to our home and ate delicious food together.
“Weddings are like that in my hometown too.”
“For real?”
Weddings between noble families were simply too grand. Even commoners living in the royal capital often had modest weddings.
“Besides, I already made Melly’s wedding dress, so we don’t have much else to prepare.”
That was true. Zara had made me an absolutely breathtaking wedding dress. He told me he started making it on the day we first promised to get married. As always, Zara never let a single minute go to waste.
“Anyway, we were hoping you’ll keep your schedule open for the wedding, Crow.”
“All right, I can do that. But now there’s the issue of what comes next.”
“Yes, I know.”
The Royal Order didn’t allow husbands and wives to be a part of the same squadron. That meant either Zara or I would have to transfer out of the Second Expeditionary Squadron.
“Melly is indispensable to this unit, so I’ll be the one to transfer.”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinkin’ too, except…” Captain Ludtink retrieved documents from his desk and handed them to Zara and me.
“This is…!”
The documents outlined the creation of a new department within the Royal Order.
“The knight support department…?”
“Yeah, it’s a place that sends out tasty food for the knights who struggle on their expeditions. They’ve been askin’ you to join them for a while now.” He explained that the department didn’t have enough personnel yet and wasn’t able to get started. “I think this is a job only you can do.”
“Only…me?”
My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t want to say goodbye to the others, but the thought of working in this new department fascinated me.
“It might be harder to go on expeditions once you’re married. What do you think? Wanna transfer and take the new job?”
I didn’t know what to say.
“Well, I’m sure it’ll take a while to make up your mind, so think it over first.”
“All right.”
My heart was still pounding even after we left the captain’s office.
“Are you okay, Melly?”
“Y-Yes. I was prepared for you to transfer, Zara, but I never imagined another department would ask for me personally.”
“Yeah, it’s all so sudden.”
I wanted to make use of my knowledge however possible. But the thought of leaving my squadmates was so depressing…
“I’m glad they want my help, but it’s very hard to say goodbye to the Second Expeditionary Squadron.”
“It’s okay, Melly. Even if you go your separate ways, all the members will think of you as a lifelong friend.”
“Y-Yes, I suppose that’s true.”
I didn’t know what we were going to do about the transfer. But for now, I decided to look to the future. It was probably better that the Second Expeditionary Squadron kept Zara too. If I left, I could come up with ways to support them from this new department.
“How about the two of us think about it some more later?” Zara suggested.
“All right, thank you.”
We wanted to go and report the news to Vice Captain Velrey next, but she was nowhere to be found. Finally, Charlotte directed us to the break room.
“Why don’t we just tell everyone together, at this point?”
“Yes, I agree.”
Liselotte happened to be passing by too, so we asked her to come to the break room.
Once we shared the news of our wedding, everyone looked completely shocked. Ulgus even started crying. Perhaps he was sad to lose Zara, whom he saw like an older sister…or rather, an older brother.
Hearing them congratulate us made me so happy.
“It’s all thanks to Sly. She’s the one who told us about the Griffinids.”
“Yep. We just never found the right moment before that.”
Sly gave us a thumbs-up and a big wink. It was like she was saying, “Well done! Congratulations!”
We were truly in her debt.
🥞🥞🥞
✦ ✦ ✦
WE decided to hold the wedding halfway through the next month. That left us with lots of preparations to make before the party.
Captain Ludtink had told us that, at the very least, we ought to hire chefs for the day of our wedding. But I was highly motivated to cook for our own wedding guests.
Zara and I seemed to be on the exact same page with this.
“The people getting married are usually the ones who do the cooking at Fore Elf weddings.”
“My hometown was the same. Helping my sisters prepare for their weddings was a lot of work.”
“Weddings in small towns are nothing more than gatherings of all the local villagers, after all.”
“Exactly. It turns into a competition to show off your cooking skills. Things can get really crazy.”
We weren’t going to have that many guests at our wedding. We planned to invite the Second Expeditionary Squadron members, Charlotte, Sir Aiskoletta, Lord and Lady Lichtenberger, Captain Ludtink’s wife, and Garr’s wife.
“We should definitely be able to feed this small a crowd.”
“I agree.”
Zara and I were also receiving a week of vacation after our wedding. We were going to visit Zara’s hometown so I could meet his family. I wished I could have done that before the wedding, but the trip took five days by carriage and two and a half days by griffin. There simply wasn’t enough time to schedule it.
“I feel bad about getting married before I’ve even met your family…”
“Don’t worry about it. My parents had already given up on ever seeing me get married.”
I’d exchanged multiple letters with Zara’s parents at this point. Not only did they approve of our marriage, but they even invited us to come and visit them any time we pleased.
“Now I know how you felt when you were so nervous to meet my parents.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been as terrified as that moment I introduced myself to them.”
“And I’ll probably be equally as terrified.”
Since it didn’t feel like something I could solve on my own, I had no choice but to wish on a shooting star that Zara’s parents would like me.
“What about the transfer? Did you think about it some more?”
“Yes, I did.”
Ulgus had sobbed when we informed him earlier in the morning. Vice Captain Velrey looked sad too, and even though Liselotte’s expression was blank, I knew she probably had her own thoughts about it. Even Garr and Sly looked crestfallen.
“I spent the day thinking about it, and I feel it might be best for you to stay with the squadron so I can transfer out.”
“Yeah, I’d feel better knowing you’re working at the barracks instead of going on expeditions without me, Melly.”
Now that he mentioned it, if I transferred, I would have no choice but to sit at home and wait for Zara’s return from expeditions.
“O-Oh no. I don’t know if I can take that.”
Charlotte was so strong to see us off with a big smile every time.
“Do you think I can do it?”
“Don’t worry. I can’t imagine Crow ever letting us be defeated, can you?”
“I guess that’s true.”
Captain Ludtink always prioritized everyone coming back uninjured. He seemed like a rough and careless person at first, but he actually looked out for those around him.
“He still has a lot of experience to gain, but Crow is a really strong captain. That’s why I don’t see the Second Expeditionary Squadron ever being taken down.”
“Yes, you’re right. I don’t either.”
I hoped he would continue to show off his bandit strength so long as he was their captain.
The longer Zara and I discussed it, the more I began to make up my mind.
After that, I discussed the issue with Captain Ludtink, Vice Captain Velrey, and Zara many times. Garr and Sly let me ask them for advice too. They encouraged me to choose whatever path I had faith in.
Then we invited Liselotte to tea and told her everything. At first, she asked me not to transfer, saying she could never go on expeditions without me. But finally, with a few tears in her eyes, she declared, “I can do it just fine without you. I’ll prove it!” I very nearly cried too.
Ulgus came up to me and said, “I’ll support whatever you decide, Medic Risurisu!” before I could even tell him anything.
Charlotte and I discussed our futures as we washed the laundry together. I knew she was probably unsure about my transfer, but once I told her we would get to go home together every day now, we both broke out into smiles.
Finally, I had made up my mind. I was going to transfer out of the Second Expeditionary Squadron.
🥞🥞🥞