Following my prompt, the archbishop also composed himself. With a wide, joyful smile, he announced us as husband and wife and presented the marriage covenant for our signatures. All that was left to do was sign the document and listen to the final remarks to officially wrap up the ceremony.
With the archbishop’s support, I regained my composure and returned to my usual self before signing the covenant. I encouraged Bertia to follow suit. Once we affixed our signatures, we were officially married. I exhaled in relief as the ceremony concluded, despite having to sit through the archbishop’s drawn-out closing remarks. I longed for a swift ending, but some things cannot be avoided.
“… This wraps up the marriage ceremony!” The archbishop’s traditional announcement was met with a wave of applause echoing through the cathedral. We surveyed the congregation, standing closely together, and greeted the guests with wide smiles.
✦ ✦ ✦
Returning to Bertia’s “List of 100 Things I Desire at Our Wedding.” One particular item stood out to me: “Carrying the bride after the wedding!” This was a task I felt quite capable of, provided my physical fitness held up. My only worry was that my recent desk work might have caused a little loss of muscle tone, though I did squeeze in some exercise during breaks.
The ceremonial garments, while lovely and glimmering, featured intricate decorations and were quite heavy. Generally, bridal attire is designed to be just light enough for the bride to move comfortably. I figured that with Bertia’s weight factored in, it ought to be manageable. However, Bertia was no ordinary woman.
She frequently called her training “dieting,” yet her physical strength greatly surpassed that of a typical young woman, setting her capacity to move in heavy dresses at a significantly higher level.
When I lifted Bertia in a bridal carry, her astonished gasp elicited smiles from everyone in the room. Despite the dress’s intricate design and considerable weight, Bertia gracefully twirled in front of the mirror, showcasing elegance that masked its bulk.
“Let’s go, Tia,” I said after waving goodbye to the guests. At my suggestion, she nodded with a rosy smile—not only relieved to escape the archbishop’s long speech but genuinely thrilled by the successful end of our wedding ceremony.
As I held her close, I felt my own happiness swell, my usually stoic heart unmistakably stirred by her presence. “Hold on tight,” I said softly.
“Eh? Eh? Wha—?!” Bertia’s charming, startled gasp resonated softly as she instinctively wrapped her arms around my neck. Although her weight was notable, it felt unexpectedly delightful. This closeness made even the heaviest burden seem like a weight of joy.
“Lord Cecil?!” she exclaimed, her entire body blushing deeply within my arms.
I smiled at her and kissed her forehead before making my way down the central aisle of the cathedral. Our relatives, friends, domestic nobles, and foreign dignitaries applauded us, celebrating our union. Typically, newlyweds strolled hand in hand down the aisle, but my choice to carry Bertia seemed to evoke an even more enthusiastic reaction than I anticipated.
Numerous women in the congregation cast envious looks at Bertia in my arms. Those with husbands or fiancés drew nearer to their partners, perhaps motivated by our affectionate display. Even the men seemed unfazed by the romantic gesture, with some mirroring the act by pulling their own spouses or fiancées closer.
Among those observing were not just the regular attendees but also the king and queen, along with Marquis and Marquise Noches. Despite the initial surprise, their faces softened into expressions of approval and joy.
As we passed Bertia’s group of friends, she seemed puzzled by my behavior at first, but she soon relaxed and started to wave shyly yet authentically at them. Her friends responded with glistening eyes full of emotion, while my friends…
“It seems like a good workout. Perhaps I should try doing squats while carrying Cynthia.”
“Hey, Your Highness! Don’t raise expectations too high for us! We have our own weddings to plan… but I will certainly do my best if I get to marry Anne.”
“Can I really lift Silica? Should I begin working out now?”
“My little sister finally…”
Bard, Charles, Nert, and Kulgan—aren’t you forgetting to congratulate me in particular? Meanwhile, Shaun sat among the royals, muttering, “I wonder if Joanna would like something like this? I may not be as cool as my brother, but if I start practicing now…”
As we neared the exit, knights clad in ceremonial attire gracefully opened the doors for us. Surrounded by honor guards in formal dress, their ceremonial swords held high in salute, we moved through the serene yet dignified atmosphere they established. Their faces, though serious, exuded warmth and congratulations.
We strode directly down the hallway flanked by guards until we arrived at the exit door. Faint whispers from the crowd assembled to honor us drifted in. The knight stationed by the door looked to me for a nod of approval to proceed, which I granted with a slight gesture. Gradually, the grand doors opened, allowing bright streams of light to pour in.
As the doors opened wider, the crowd’s cheers intensified, creating a vibrant atmosphere. We were greeted by smiling faces, a joyful sea celebrating our arrival.
In this moment of bliss, I stepped out of the cathedral with Bertia snuggled into me. Amidst the rising applause, we exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
Nobles of considerable rank surrounded the cathedral grounds, though they were not quite high enough to enter the cathedral itself. They waited to extend their congratulations, representing those in our closer social circles. Commoners, who were not permitted on the grounds, celebrated from beyond its borders.
“Come on, Tia. Wave to them,” I softly urged Bertia, who was cozily nestled in my arms. I emphasized my request with a tender kiss on her cheek.
“!” Even though I had repeated similar affectionate actions throughout the day, Bertia’s reaction remained endearingly novel each time. She blushed deeply, lightly brushing her cheek where I had kissed her.
Our loving display elicited even louder cheers from the audience. Bertia, clearly relishing the attention, appeared to radiate joy, despite her shy nature.
“Please, let me down now!” she requested after a moment, possibly feeling a touch embarrassed by the extended show.
“Just a bit longer,” I comforted her, still reluctant to let her down. Soon, we would take part in the “bouquet toss,” a tradition Bertia eagerly anticipated and had insisted on adding to our wedding. At that moment, I would finally set her down, but her friends, who intended to catch the bouquet, hadn’t arrived yet.
I had become familiar with her weight in my arms, establishing a comfortable balance that enabled me to keep holding her without discomfort. I wished to savor the sensation of declaring she was mine a little longer.
“Look, everyone is eager for you to wave. Since I’m preoccupied with holding this precious treasure,” I said, gesturing toward Bertia with a playful smile, “I can’t wave myself. Would you wave for both of us, my dear wife?”
“~~~~~~~~!!” Bertia emitted another indescribable squeal, her face a blend of embarrassment and joy. Still, she enthusiastically waved to the crowd, fully embracing her role in my arms.