"Edric... Are you sure we can really go in here?"
Mule, staring at the dazzling building before her, shrank back and hid behind Edric's back as she spoke.
For her, a woman who had lived her entire life confined within her tribe on the outskirts of the continent due to the Black Dragon, Sorset Land was an even more intimidating place to enter than the Black Dragon's lair.
"Don't worry. Of course, we weren't exactly invited, but I'm sure Master will welco us."
Edric pulled Mule closer with his left arm, trying to reassure her.
"I'll go ahead and see my disciple first. I'll see you all inside,"
"And I'll take this opportunity to greet so old acquaintances."
After Eustaph and Harun disappeared, the remaining group with Edric consisted of the elven prince Garland, the dwarven warrior Noel, and Mule, the cat beastkin.
"I'll go to the entrance and call soone to see if we can get in. Please wait here for a mont."
Edric asked his companions to wait and then headed alone toward the entrance.
"The Empire has changed a lot."
He had wandered across the continent for years, hearing only bits of news about the Empire. Seeing it in person after so long left Edric in awe.
In the past, a group like theirs—elves, dwarves, and beastkin traveling together—would have drawn a lot of attention.
But now, in front of Sorset Land, where Rupert's wedding was being held, a diverse crowd of people from all races was gathered, making such a combination seem completely natural.
"Excuse , could you show your invitation?"
"I don't have an invitation, but could you call soone from inside to confirm?"
The guards at the heavily fortified entrance of Sorset Land couldn't help but feel suspicious when Edric admitted he had no invitation.
'He looks a bit too shabby.'
'But judging by his features, he could be from a noble family.'
Normally, they would have turned him away imdiately, but for so reason, they hesitated, feeling that doing so might be a mistake.
"May I ask whom I should announce?"
"Hmm... Just tell them Edric—just Edric—is here."
Edric figured revealing his na might cause a commotion, but he thought it would be fine as long as he didn't ntion his family na.
However,
"Th-the Third Prince?!"
He had miscalculated.
The guards imdiately reacted with shock and commotion upon hearing his na.
"Shh!"
"Please, co inside right away. The Duke had even told us to be prepared in case you arrived."
"My Master said that?"
"Yes, I will escort you personally."
"Wait, I have companions. Can they co in as well?"
"Companions, you say?"
When the guard asked, Edric pointed to his group waiting behind him. The guard hesitated for a mont but ultimately nodded in agreent.
For the guards, the re arrival of the infamous Third Prince was overwhelming enough to render them incapable of focusing on much else.
"Let's go."
"Oh, so you're pretty famous in the Empire, huh?"
"Indeed. Judging by the skills of the hidden watchers here, this must be an important place. Yet you got us through so easily."
At Garland and Noel's remarks, spoken with admiration, Edric waved them off dismissively.
Edric had yet to reveal to his companions that he was a prince of the Empire. Though he intended to tell them soday, the timing always felt wrong.
"I should pay my respects to my sister after so long."
"It is her wedding, so you should. But why that expression?"
"I might die."
"What? What a grim joke."
Despite Garland's comnt that no one could kill soone who had defeated the Black Dragon, Edric's expression remained grave.
He truly believed he was in danger.
He just hoped that Iolin hadn't kept up with her swordsmanship practice during all this ti.
*****
"Congratulations on your wedding, Zinnia."
"Master!!! I thought you weren’t going to co!"
"Haha, how could I miss my disciple's wedding?"
Since there were three brides, there were three separate bridal waiting rooms. In Zinnia’s room, where she was busy getting ready with makeup and other preparations, the arrival of Eustaph caused a commotion.
"Don't cry now; you'll ruin the makeup you worked so hard on."
"I don't care..."
Zinnia clung to Eustaph, sobbing like a child. Though her carefully done makeup would need redoing, she was just grateful that Eustaph had co to her wedding.
"Please walk down the aisle later, Master."
"?"
"Who else could do it? You disappeared so suddenly."
For the highlight of the wedding—the bridal procession—each bride had soone to accompany them. Iolin would walk with Leonias, now the retired emperor, and Alia would be escorted by the Duke of Bluewell.
Originally, Zinnia was supposed to walk with Rupert's father, Bradley.
But now that Eustaph, who was like a father to her, had returned, Zinnia wanted to walk with him instead.
"There's no one else, Master. You're the only one I can call 'Father.'"
"Zinnia..."
Her words brought Eustaph back to the day he first t her.
She had been a child who knew nothing about magic, using only primitive spells with her natural talent.
But despite her incredible talent, her upbringing had been far from ideal.
After taking her under his wing, Eustaph had learned about her past.
He had been furious enough to return to her uncle's family and give them a piece of his mind.
"It's fine now. I'll beco a hero,"
Zinnia had stopped him instead, calming his anger.
"You were my last disciple and like a daughter to ."
—And I’m so proud of you.
Eustaph was filled with pride as he looked at Zinnia, who had grown into such an extraordinary woman despite the hardships she had faced.
*****
"Poor brother-in-law."
"What?"
"He’ll have to eat your cooking every day, won’t he?"
"Evelyn, you!"
"Why are you two fighting on such a special day?"
In another bridal waiting room, Alia was joined by her father, the Duke of Bluewell, and her younger sister, Evelyn.
"Sorry, sis, I was just joking."
"I know. If anything, I should be apologizing to you..."
"There you go apologizing again. But honestly, I don’t mind."
Despite Evelyn’s lighthearted response, Alia’s expression remained slightly dark.
"I just hope you don’t end up walking a path you didn’t choose because of ."
On the verge of fulfilling her dream of marrying Rupert, Alia found herself worrying about her sister, Evelyn.
Originally, Alia was supposed to inherit their father’s title as the Duke of Bluewell’s successor.
But now that she was marrying Rupert and becoming part of the Sorset family, the responsibility had shifted to Evelyn.
"I’ll inherit it myself."
The Duke, not wanting to burden his beloved youngest daughter with such a heavy responsibility, had considered adopting an heir from among their relatives.
However, Evelyn had declared that she would take on the family’s legacy herself.
"Maybe I’ll bring ho a groom of my own soday. Maybe three, like brother-in-law."
"Over my dead body!"
"Oh? That’s exactly what you said to brother-in-law back then, Dad."
"That was..."
The Duke had initially disapproved of Alia falling in love with Rupert, the second son of the once-ruined Sorset countship.
But now, he had beco Rupert’s most steadfast supporter.
"Thank you, Father. Thank you, Evelyn."
Alia felt deeply grateful to her family, who had gone out of their way to create a lighthearted atmosphere so she could enjoy her special day with peace of mind.
*****
"You returned on this very day on purpose, didn’t you?"
"It just ended up that way."
"Thanks to my useless younger brother, there’s nothing to worry about anymore."
In the bridal waiting room where Iolin was preparing, a man had arrived. As soon as she saw his face, she dismissed everyone else, leaving only the two of them.
"Did you accomplish what you set out to do?"
"My part is done now."
—The rest is just waiting.
At Edric's response, Iolin let out a small, exasperated laugh.
‘I have no intention of giving up.’
Before Edric had left the palace, he had shared his ambitious plans with her. They had seed so far-fetched that she tried to stop him right away. But he had brushed off her protests and left.
That he had returned alive was already a miracle to her.
What’s more, he had defeated the fearso Black Dragon, a feat she had never thought possible.
Of course, her eyes kept being drawn to his right arm, which seed empty, as if sothing was missing.
"Our brother has worried about you a lot."
"Brother? I heard he inherited the throne."
"Now that he’s older, he regrets not being able to take care of us better. He’s been worried that it was his fault you left the palace."
"Brother has changed a lot. Though not as much as you, Sister."
"Indeed, hasn’t he?"
Iolin hadn’t thought she would ever desire soone so desperately.
Looking back, eting Rupert had not only changed her but had also brought a great transformation to their father, her two older brothers, and even Edric.
"I truly like the way our family is now."
"So do I."
Knock, knock.
"Your Highness, it’s ti for your entrance."
"Understood. I’ll be right out."
The siblings’ reunion was brief, as the ti had co for her to walk down the aisle.
*****
"Salute!"
The booming voices of knights flanking the virgin road rang out.
At the sa ti—
Swish!
In perfect unison, swords were drawn from their scabbards and lifted toward the sky.
"Honor!"
Clang!
The blades, descending slightly, t each other in an intricate pattern. Mana flowed through the swords, blooming like flowers in the air.
It was the Imperial Knights' ceremonial display, a sight seen only at royal weddings.
Bang!
Simultaneously, a burst of sound echoed as colorful fireworks lit up the sky.
"Wow!"
Though weddings were typically solemn affairs, the brilliant displays unfolding continuously left the guests unable to hold back their exclamations of awe.
And then—
"Look! Petals are falling from the sky!"
"In midwinter? How is this possible? Those aren’t snowflakes—they’re cherry blossoms!"
Guests were stunned as pink cherry blossoms drifted from above.
The combined efforts of the Imperial family, the Mage Tower, and Bluewell had created a spectacle that brought imnse joy to all present.
Three brides walked down the aisle beneath the archway of swords created by the Imperial Knights.
Fireworks continued to light up the sky, and petals rained down as if straight out of a fairy tale.
At the end of the aisle stood one man, waiting for them.
"Thank you for waiting."
The man spoke to the won standing before him.
"Will you marry ?"
It was Rupert, who placed rings on their fingers one by one.
For Alia, a ring adorned with her blue sapphire.
For Iolin, a ring set with a white diamond.
For Zinnia, a ring featuring a red ruby.
After placing the rings on their left ring fingers, Rupert looked at them again.
"I will make you happy."
At his words, the three won embraced him tightly.
"You really made us wait too long!"
"But even the wait was enjoyable."
"I’ll never let you go again."
The guests erupted in cheers at the sight.
"You won’t get any sleep tonight."
"That’s..."
Zinnia whispered a sly warning, her words hidden beneath the cheers.
"Wait a mont! The first night is mine—"
"I don’t want to pull rank, but clearly, I should go first."
"Let’s go by age order. I am the oldest among us, after all..."
The sweet mont quickly turned into a debate over who would have the first night. Rupert, caught in the crossfire, was at a loss.
"W-Wait, discussing this here isn’t..."
"Rupert! Tell us—who will it be tonight?!"
Iolin pressed him, leaving him no room to escape.
"Th-then... all three together?"
"What?"
"What did you say?"
"Excuse ?"
Their simultaneous responses made Rupert want to run for his life as they all glared at him.
—Hmph. You look like you’re enjoying yourself.
Startled, Rupert looked around at the sudden, familiar voice in his head.
"What’s going on?"
Everyone around him seed frozen in place, as if ti had stopped.
—Have you already forgotten my voice?
"The goddess?"
—It’s been a while.
"You scared ! Haa... it really has been a while."
—Though, it feels like I’ve seen you often, considering how frequently you bla when sothing bad happens.
"That’s just a habit..."
Rupert scratched his head, feeling guilty under the goddess's scolding.
—How do you find this world?
Hearing her question, Rupert answered without hesitation.
"To be honest, it was hard to admit at first, but..."
After a pause, he continued,
"Thank you for sending here. Because of you, I’m experiencing the happiest mont of my life."
—Thanks to you, I’ve been able to watch over my world with joy. May your days be filled with nothing but happiness.
As her words ended, ti resud its flow.
"Does that remark an you’re challenging to a duel?"
Facing the three won’s sharp glares again, Rupert smiled.
He truly thought this world was the best.
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