Ding-dong… Ding-dong…
Under a bright blue sky, the cathedral bells chimed. The capital was alive with cheerful faces, and vendors set up stalls along the streets. The stretches of road leading from the royal palace to the cathedral were filled with people excited to see today’s stars, while knights were positioned at regular intervals to ensure safety.
“Congratulations, Crown Prince Cecil and Princess Consort Bertia!”
“Long live Crown Prince Cecil and Princess Consort Bertia!”
Today’s stars were myself—Cecil Glo Alphasta—and my fiancée, Bertia Ibil Noches. Our carriage, flanked by numerous mounted knights, slowly progressed forward. The day had finally come. Today was our wedding day.
✦ ✦ ✦
About two years had passed since the “defeat” incident. Finally, Bertia had graduated from Halm Academy. Her graduation naturally signified that our marriage was imminent. With her student life, preparations for our marriage, and training as the future Crown Princess, Bertia claimed these two years flew by in a flash.
For me, however, unable to see Bertia as often as before, these were two long and exceedingly dull years. So dull, in fact, that I engaged in various activities to keep myself entertained—from forming an aggressively advantageous alliance with a neighboring nation, to purging corruption within our own borders, to teasing Zeno.
I even briefly considered the idea of invading a politically unstable country, but I quickly dismissed that thought, knowing it would bring Bertia to tears. Instead, I secretly supported the fifth prince of a friendly nation, born to a concubine, assisting him in gaining an advantage in his country’s affairs.
That nation is likely to remain unstable for some time, but in my view, the fifth prince is a capable individual who should be able to manage. Amid these distractions, I quietly created an environment where Bertia could enter our marriage with peace of mind. And now, those days are finally coming to an end.
Right now, we were being taken to the grand cathedral in a carriage. From this point on, I anticipated that we would share a peaceful, enjoyable, and happy life together. Just the thought of it lifted my spirits, and the smiles I gave to the citizens who have gathered to see us became more sincere.
This growing feeling of elation must surely be what happiness felt like. Next to me, Bertia was…
“I feel really anxious. In situations like this, aren’t you supposed to write the kanji for ‘person’ on your palm and swallow it? Or maybe I should go with the local script—what should I do? I’m so nervous, it feels like my heart might just jump out of my chest!”
Clad in a pristine white gown, Bertia appeared far more refined than usual. In this lovely moment, she mumbled something unintelligible and traced shapes on her palm with her finger.
I wasn’t entirely sure what she was doing, but from her murmured words, it seemed to be some kind of charm she thought should be performed before appearing in public.
“My dear, sweet Tia, I hate to interrupt whatever captivating thing you’re doing, but could you wave to the people? They’re certainly looking forward to it.”
“Ah! Yes, that’s right! As someone aspiring to be a top-tier Crown Princess—not just a top-tier villainess—I must strive to become a figure beloved by the people!” At my reminder, Bertia quickly raised her head in a fluster. After scanning her surroundings, she began waving energetically.
Although it might be a bit too lively for a Crown Princess, it appeared to please the citizens, so I deemed it acceptable. Plus, it was enjoyable to watch her.
As the carriage arrived at the cathedral, Bertia and I were about to go our separate ways. Usually, we would disembark together and enter the cathedral, but—
Bertia wanted to walk down the “virgin road” with her father, so I was instructed to enter the cathedral and wait for her. Initially, the more traditional clergy were hesitant to break away from this custom.
Fortunately, there was no rule stating we had to enter together, nor did I see any reason to adhere strictly to such a custom, so I dismissed their concerns. I managed to quiet a particularly vocal priest by whispering in his ear, “Who is your favorite nun these days? The redhead? I hear she’s three months pregnant?” After that, no more objections were raised.
As I observed Bertia walking toward the cathedral, I got ready to take my position when Kuro came up to me. Typically clad in a maid’s outfit or attire that complemented her dark fur, today she donned a distinctive light blue dress embellished with sheer, multicolored layers on the skirt, bold and eye-catching.
Kuro handed me a booklet that looked handmade.
‘A List of 100 Things I Desire for Our Wedding—By Bertia’
A hundred felt like an overly big number. Throughout our wedding planning, she had sometimes modestly hinted at her wishes for certain things, yet it appeared there was a lot more she wanted. Had she been holding back, perhaps?
I wanted to grant every wish of my lovely bride; I only wish she had shared them with me sooner.
As I leafed through the booklet given to me, I swiftly reviewed its contents. Some items were already past their deadlines, while others needed preparations that seemed unrealistic at this point. Yet, many tasks still seemed achievable.
“Thanks, Kuro. I’ll have Tia prepare some ‘inari sushi’ for you later as a treat,” I said with a smile, extending my hand to pat her head, but she swatted it away. It’s expected since she usually only allows Bertia to do that. However, her typically emotionless face showed a solid thumbs up, indicating she appreciated my offer.
“Zeno,” I called as I looked down at the booklet, and he immediately responded from nearby.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“For the time being, please organize these, these, and these. We’ll require a short conversation with the Marquis Noches and my father regarding some of these, so kindly coordinate with them. I’d also like to oversee these… Do you believe we can get everything ready in time?”
“Certainly. With assistance from some spirited friends, we should handle the preparations; the challenge is whether we can gather sufficient staff in time.”
“Do your best.”
“Your Highness?”
“You can do it, Zeno. Go for it!”
“What! You’re dropping this on me? That’s really unreasonable, isn’t it?!”
“Don’t fret. Charles and the others, familiar with my whims, probably have extra servants ready for today’s needs. If it comes to that, we can seek their assistance.”
“I can’t just borrow servants from another house without permission!”
“Don’t you think you should get that permission before Tia and I enter the venue? Isn’t this urgent?”
“So, this is a done deal now, right?! Right?!”
“I’ll take my time getting to my spot. Once I’m inside the cathedral, it’ll be the bride’s entrance next. If I’m not in position, Tia won’t come in either. If you hurry, you should make it. Good luck!”
“You idiot, Your Highness!” Zeno shouted back at me as I gave him a thumbs up with a big smile, mimicking Kuro’s gesture. He then dashed off. Despite his protests, I knew he could handle it; he was quite capable when he put his mind to something. This time, I had indulged my whims, so I’d choose to ignore the “idiot” comment.
“I must also do my part.” Most of Bertia’s top 100 wishes revolved around tasks she wanted me, the groom, to fulfill. Therefore, I needed to firmly imprint the details into my mind to ensure I caught the right moments and integrated them effectively into the schedule.
“Still, Kuro, it would have been nicer if you had given this to me a bit earlier,” I muttered to Kuro, who had been silently observing the exchange between Zeno and me. As usual, she kept her expressionless demeanor but gave a large swish of her tail. Then, looking satisfied, turned her back on me and started walking away. It seemed her timing in delivering this message was her own little prank or perhaps a sort of retaliation for having accepted her master.
“I suppose it’s time for me to leave. Kuro has assigned me considerable homework, and above all, I want Tia to be the happiest bride imaginable.” As I walked at a relaxed pace, I flipped through the booklet once more.
As I made my way to my designated spot in the cathedral, I got ready to wait for my adorable fiancée.