C 177
"I decided to get married."
Crack!
Crack!
The sound of dishes falling sounded very loud.
"Ma-ma-marry? With whom? Who is it?!"
Who is it?
I just told you a moment ago.
I hadn't really planned to gather my family to make the announcement, but most of them were back home, perhaps due to the upcoming New Year's banquet at the Imperial Palace.
Surprisingly, it was Callan Etham who shouted. Of course, Sillian Etham and Sharnae had disbelieving eyes as well.
"You'll marry...?"
Though Sharnae's voice was calm, her eyes were red.
"So suddenly...?"
"Sister...?"
"You never said such a thing... What kind of bastard is it...? I thought I had blocked them well..."
Sharnae said, biting her nails. Her expression quickly turned teary.
What the hell did you block?
"You'll marry..."
When I looked up, Uncle Chronos was staring at me as if to say, "You...?"
"That's a little annoying."
What's with me?
As I crossed my arms and glared at him, Uncle Chronos quickly turned his head and avoided my gaze.
When I slowly turned my head, my father, who already knew, didn't move much...
Although the knife he held in his hand was exactly bent in half.
"Oh, I'm sorry. It was an accident. I put too much force into my hands."
If you make a mistake twice, you'll bend someone's body in half. I swallowed and rolled my eyes.
"Congratulations. What kind of person is it?"
Aunt Akrea finally responded normally. While her eyes shone with joy, she furrowed her brows.
"Why? Isn't it the Crown Prince, right?"
"No, just the High Priest."
"... What?"
"The High Priest..."
"... Isn't it impossible for a High Priest to get married?"
Aunt Akrea looked around with trembling eyes.
"Isn't it?"
Nothing like that was mentioned during the confession. I looked at my father with quivering eyes.
Dad didn't say anything about that either.
"He must have a plan. Boys, stop going crazy and sit down."
Dad lightly responded and told Callan and Silian.
"But did Father give his permission?"
"Yes."
"Why?! He's still young...!"
No, I'm not that young.
Callan, who pouted, looked at me silently and then sat down slowly. His puffed-up cheeks were still there.
After everyone offered some congratulatory words, the atmosphere turned solemn.
"It's our matriarch's wedding, so we'll have to make it quite grand."
Aunt Nelia smiled faintly and tried to change the mood.
I smiled quietly and nodded.
"Thank you."
"I know, I know, but it's so sudden..."
Said Callan Etham, rubbing his head.
"I agree with you. I want Eirin to be happier than anyone else in the world. You must have made your decision after a lot of consideration."
Upon Silian Etham's words, the corners of my mouth naturally trembled and drew a round line.
"Yes, thank you, Brother."
"Eirin... Can I visit you often...?"
"What? I'll still be living here."
"Really?"
"Yes, he's a High Priest, but he doesn't actually have a title... It's not like he can go to a temple and live there."
Sharnae hugged me with a tearful expression upon hearing my words. When I hugged her back, she smiled awkwardly.
"Then that's enough. Congratulations, Eirin."
"Yes, thank you."
I still can't believe that marriage is something worthy of such celebration.
"Eirin."
"Yes, Dad."
"If you want, you can leave it and come back at any time."
Dad's large hand lightly caressed my cheek. I quickly nodded in my father's arms.
I tried to laugh, suppressing the feeling that I was about to burst into tears.
Everyone was so kind and warm that it still felt like a dream.
"Everyone likes it."
The eyes of those sitting at the table widened at my words.
People who were silently watching my tearful expression came closer and started rubbing and pinching my cheek...
It was quite a heartwarming meal.
* * *
"Something like this happened. How did it happen?"
"Ah, I'll do it until this year and get rid of it. The High Priest position."
Lucilion smiled happily and replied.
"I think it would be a good idea to get married next spring. What do you think of that, Eirin?"
"I don't mind..."
"We'll rent a banquet hall at the Imperial Palace and make it a grand event. So that everyone remembers Eirin."
"Well, that would be fine too..."
Kwaang-!
The tea table shook violently. When I turned my head, I met Enosh's glare.
"Do you treat people as if they don't exist in front of you?"
"No, I came to report..."
"Who said I'd lend you the palace's banquet hall?"
"Why wouldn't you lend it to me...?"
Lucilion asked, the corners of his eyes drooping. Enosh pointed his finger at Lucilion.
"Hyung. Ah..."
"H-Hy-Hyung... Who, who is your hyung...? Aaaack!"
Upon Lucilion's pitiful words, Enosh smacked his chest and ran around the room, screaming.
"Hyung?"
"I'll lend it to you, so stop it!"
"Yes, understood."
Lucilion wiped his mouth as if he had never done it before and smiled at me cheerfully.
"Really..."
"Aren't you the one who always told me to be respectful?"
"When did I get this kind of respect...?!"
Enosh clenched his teeth and looked down.
"That's enough. By the way, I was wondering when you two would get married, and now you will. Your confession took quite a while."
"... Did you know? Lucilion and I..."
"I knew."
"Since when?!"
"It's been a while. Was it when I was kidnapped and started feeling unwell? He healed me several times."
Enosh nodded and pointed to Lucilion with his chin.
"Then I asked him why he was helping me, and he said it was because he didn't want to see you sad."
"Ah..."
Has it been that long?
When I looked at Lucilion with a completely pale face, Lucilion squinted his eyes into crescent moons.
"Why do people have those feelings? That's because they like that person."
My face brightened at Enosh's words. I didn't realize it had started a long time ago.
"But that's good. We'll get married too. Next spring."
"We'll get married next spring..."
"You know what? According to the imperial law, marriage is prohibited for a year after a royal family member's wedding."
"......"
Lucilion's eyes turned red as he looked at Enosh with a furrowed brow.
"I don't think there's anyone other than Enosh who can make Lucy so excited..."
In that sense, I thought their relationship was surprisingly good.
"We'll do it in spring, so you can do it in summer, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"I can't do that. I promised Lily it would be in the spring."
When I looked at Lillian, she was smiling quietly. It seemed that she had no intention of yielding either.
"You two can go to another kingdom and do it, Eirin."
"Oh, you two can't leave the empire until a year after my wedding. I'll prohibit it."
Lucilion's gaze turned fierce, and he looked at Enosh. I gently tugged at Lucilion's clothes.
"Lucy, it's okay if we do it later."
"Eirin..."
Lucilion spoke my name softly.
"Well, congratulations on your wedding. And after the wedding, there will be a succession ceremony."
Enosh said with a slightly flushed face. The fact that there would be a succession ceremony meant that he would soon become the emperor.
"Really? Congratulations!"
"Well, I'll just get what I was supposed to get."
"Oh, I heard that the position of the Tower Lord will change soon."
My eyes widened at Lillian's words.
"I see, Richard..."
I have to go back and write a letter to Richard.
"Congratulations on your wedding, Eirin."
"Yes, congratulations to you too, unnie."
"It must be tough for you to live with that thing, bun. I heard that her obsession is no joke."
"Is this something the Crown Prince can say?"
Lillian Daisy asked with a smile.
Enosh shivered, his shoulders trembling, and he slowly turned his head.
It seems like these two have been through a lot as well.
"I have to go to work soon. You can stay longer."
"Yes, thank you."
"... Don't do anything weird in someone else's living room."
"I'll leave too, Eirin."
The two of them waved and left the reception room.
"Shall we go then?"
"I just want to stay like this."
Said Lucilion, holding our hands. It felt strange to hold hands under the bright sunlight.
"It's nice."
"Yes."
"Eirin."
"Yes."
"Thanks to Eirin, I was able to live as a human being. Otherwise, I would have lived alone for the rest of my life."
Lucilion's palm lightly caressed my cheek.
"You saved me, so from now on, I'll spend the rest of my life saving you."
"Lucy."
"So that Eirin doesn't feel lonely. So that you don't break down during the long span of your life."
Lucilion's face approached.
"Thanks for choosing me."
"To you too..."
I said, holding Lucilion and pulling him closer to me.
"Thank you."
I quickly pressed my lips against his and pulled away. My heart was beating fast.
Lucilion's eyes opened a little, but then quickly widened, and he gently pulled my arm.
"What if you tease me like this and then run away, Eirin?"
Lucilion lay on the sofa, hugging me.
As I sat on his lap and blushed, he brought the upper part of his body closer to me.
"This is Eirin's fault."
Lucilion's smiling expression somehow looked excited.
He held the back of my head firmly, drew me in, and kissed me.
The sensation of someone opening my tightly closed lips and entering my mouth was an unfamiliar feeling.
The world turned white.
It was a color similar to Lucilion.
