Chapter 288: Marriage with Eliza
「Oh, so there’s going to be an opera?」
Summoned by Lyle-sensei for the first time in a while, I was greeted with this unusual news.
Apparently, the idea came from Zither, the court musician of the new Germania Empire. I’d already heard that a delegation was coming from Germania to celebrate our victory, but Zither seems to have gotten carried away and decided to stage an opera about the heroic exploits of Emperor Conrad, the grandfather of the young Empress Elizabeth, on the grand staircase outside our castle.
「And regarding that…」
If Zither’s all hyped up about it, he’s welcome to go ahead with the production. But then, Lyle-sensei suggested I take part in the Germania opera.
「No way, no way, no way!」
「But Takeru-dono, you’re always quite good at speeches. Just approach it in that way.」
Hey, I struggle with those speeches every single time, you know.
「No way! I’m seriously hopeless at acting! I can’t remember lines!」
「Ad-libbing will be perfectly fine.」 「What kind of opera relies on ad-libs?」
「Nine-year-old Empress Elizabeth will also be playing the role of the princess. It’s only that level of production.」
Even Eliza will be in it? Sounds more like a children’s play than an opera.
「But there will be a big audience, right?」
That’s what worries me. The plan is to open the entrance to the castle and let the public watch.
With life becoming more peaceful recently, the people of Silesie, now enjoying some comfort, are eager for entertainment. They’ll come flocking to this sort of thing in droves.
If I fumble a line in the Germania Empire’s opera, that could be a big embarrassment for the Silesie Kingdom in terms of national pride.
Lyle-sensei praises my speech skills, but that’s only because the adrenaline from wartime tension lets me pull it off. I’d probably flub my lines if I had to do it in a relaxed setting.
「There’s no need to worry. It’s an opera, so the audience won’t hear the lines clearly from afar. They’ll only see the action.」
「Just the action?」
「There are other spectacles too, but your role, Takeru-dono, is simply to appear in the final scene, where a dragon shows up, and defeats it to rescue the princess. Simple enough, right?」
「Well, if it’s just that, I think I can manage.」
「Then please check this script. When the dragon appears, go all out, and just follow the flow from there.」
「What is this, a sumo match starting call…?」
Basically, I just need to make it look convincing. Glancing over the script, I see it’s your typical hero story.
After various adventures, the hero defeats the dragon, rescues the princess, and proposes to her—a straightforward plot, to say the least.
This story is apparently based on a well-known true event in Germania.
Conrad, the emperor in his youth, had actually performed these over-the-top heroics. The princess he saved was Empress Elizabeth’s late grandmother. Germania really is something else—a land of real-life heroes.
「This script… it says Eliza’s name here.」
「It seems her grandmother shared the same name by coincidence.」
「I see. But having the same name… it feels a bit embarrassing, like I’m proposing to the actual Eliza.」
「Ahahaha…」
Huh, Lyle-sensei suddenly burst out laughing.
「Did I say something funny?」
「N-no. Anyway, please give it your best. Here’s a prop bouquet. Present it when you propose.」
As Lyle-sensei handed me a white bouquet of Casablanca lilies, she covered his mouth, looking flustered as he hurried off.
Why did he laugh?
Thinking it over, maybe I was overthinking the whole ‘proposal’ to a child. Right, it’s silly to be embarrassed about something like this with a nine-year-old kid.
It’s not like this is a full-scale production. If Eliza can handle it, it’s probably like a child’s play. I’ve been cooped up in the inner palace lately, my body getting sluggish (except for certain overworked parts…), so trying out some acting might actually be a good change of pace.
「Alright, if I’m doing this, I’ll give it my best.」
The people need entertainment, too. Now that I think of it, this is the first time a delegation from the new Germania Empire will visit Silesie.
This event is perfect for introducing the young Empress Eliza to the people of Silesie. It’ll show them that Germania, once our enemy, has been reborn and is now a friendly nation.
And seeing Eliza and me, as consort and empress, performing together in a play is a good way to symbolize that friendship. Zither really thought this one through.
「Actually, Zither’s too much of a natural airhead to have planned all that.」
Maybe it was the old General Mainz who gave him the idea. Zither just probably wanted to put on an opera.
Anyway, I might as well make myself useful diplomatically for a change.
「Since the delegation from Germania’s here, shouldn’t I go and greet them?」
I spotted Sherry among the busy courtiers and called out to her.
「You can greet them later. For now, please focus on studying the script, oniisama.」
I’d been thinking of going out to greet the delegation, who should already be in the city, but Sherry insisted I wait until after the performance. Apparently, everyone was in a frenzy with preparations around the castle.
「Alright, fair enough.」
So, I sat down with the script and began studying my part.
※※※
「Wow, they really went all out with this stage.」
When it was time for my cue, I came out and saw the grand staircase at the castle’s entrance transformed. I can’t believe they set up such an elaborate stage just for this.
「They’ve even got smoke.」
Heroic music filled the air. I looked over and saw five drummers, five string players, and five flutists gathered together.
Since when did we even have an orchestra like this?
Seeing such wealth on display, it seems Germania’s recovery is further along than I thought. They almost lost their country, but they’re a former world empire for a reason.
In the center of the orchestra, Zither was waving the conductor’s baton wildly, her honey-colored hair flying all over. I have no idea what a conductor’s purpose is, but she sure was putting on a show.
「Who knew she could conduct too?」
Not only was the area around the stage packed, but the castle’s inner walls were open to the public, filling with spectators. They really utilized the castle’s layout well for this performance.
Zither might be an airhead, but when it comes to music, she’s surprisingly versatile. I was admiring her work when she suddenly started singing.
「Oh, mighty hero of our homeland, come save the princess~♪」
What the heck?
「Oniisama, it’s the climax. It’s almost your turn.」
Sherry’s voice snapped me back.
「Oh, right…」
I’d been caught off guard by Zither, the conductor, suddenly bursting into song. But then I remembered this is an opera.
As the drums echoed, the orchestra stopped playing and broke into a full chorus, singing, ‘Defeat the wicked dragon and save the princess~♪’
Are all of you singing too?
It was hilarious, and it relaxed me a bit.
「Alright… Onward to the battlefield!」
As I yelled my line from the script, I stepped onto the stage slowly. Then, through the swirling smoke, an actual green dragon lumbered out, moving with heavy, deliberate steps.
「Hey!」
They’re using a real dragon? I thought it’d be some kind of prop!
The audience was as shocked as I was, murmuring in surprise. None of this was in the rehearsal.
「King General-sama, just pretend to fight it.」
Came a whisper from the wings. I looked over to see Hydra, the beast tamer, lurking just offstage.
So this is Hydra’s doing, huh?
「Gyaoo!」
The dragon roared, breathing out a terrifying blast. The sheer intensity had some of the audience shrieking.
The green dragon stomped around and whipped its tail, making a convincing show of fury. If it went all out, this wooden stage wouldn’t stand a chance, but I could tell it was holding back.
Looking closer, I realized it was Midori-chan, the dragon Hydra had ridden here last time. Trust a dragon trained by a beast tamer to be this well-behaved.
「Hyaa!」
I swung the sword I found on stage, and Midori let out a dramatic ‘Gyaoo!’ before rolling onto its back and tumbling off the stage. The audience erupted into cheers.
「Hey, are you alright?」
It looked like it actually flipped before falling!
「She’s fine, go on.」
Seems like Midori-chan’s doing alright.
「Alright then…」
Next up is the bouquet, if I remember right. I stepped up to the raised platform, which was designed to look like a fortress, where Elizabeth sat with her eyes closed and her hands clasped together.
Her long, platinum blonde hair with a bluish sheen framed her face, and in a pure white dress, the young Empress looked like a picture-perfect princess.
She was breathtakingly beautiful. Even at nine, her features had a regal dignity that belied her age.
Oops, better say my line.
「Eliza, I kept you waiting.」
That should be it. Eliza opened her eyes, and her mismatched gold and blue gaze met mine.
「Oh, thank you, Hero-sama!」
Eliza’s performance was spot-on. She was really putting her heart into it.
「I picked these flowers for you along the way.」
I recited my line calmly and handed her the bouquet of Casablanca lilies.
「Oh, how beautiful!」
「Heh, though not nearly as beautiful as you, Eliza.」
What kind of cheesy line is this? It’s in the script, so I don’t have much choice.
Eliza pressed her hands to her cheeks, blushing a bright red despite the corny line. The audience murmured, and some even whistled.
What is this? It’s so embarrassing. Let’s just get this over with.
I gently pulled Eliza into my arms.
「Eliza… will you marry me?」
「I gladly accept!」
She answered, her voice shaking. Alright, now the priest should be coming out.
「I am a humble traveling priestess by all means! I bless this young couple!」
The script said ‘traveling priestess’ but Ria appeared dressed in a saint’s robe. Come on, at least try to act the part—does any costume work for this?
「Priestess-dono, I’ve decided to marry her.」
Even as I said it, it sounded so abrupt. Zither, grinning, gave a swift flick of his baton, and the music shifted to the wedding march.
「Such joyous news! Then I shall serve as the officiating priest by all means!」
If the hero and Emperor Conrad were holding a wedding, they could just do it in the imperial castle, but no—this was speeding along at a ridiculous pace. Apparently, Conrad married on the spot with a traveling priest as the officiant. They say he held a formal ceremony later, but young Conrad didn’t yet seem to grasp the gravity of his imperial role.
「Hero, do you swear eternal love to Elizabeth?」
「Yes.」
「Elizabeth, do you swear eternal love to this hero?」
「Yes!」
Ria nodded, satisfied, and the ankh around her neck glowed for dramatic effect. What kind of display is this?
「Good! Then these two are now wed. And now, everyone, let’s proceed to the much-awaited vow of the kiss. Yes, kiss! Kiss!」
Ria started clapping in time, pushing it too far even for a performance.
「What are you two doing? See, the audience is waiting. Without further ado, go on—kiss! Kiss!」
Incredibly, the audience joined Ria’s clapping. What’s going on? Is this actually some kind of ritual in the Asama Church?
Asama Church… what’s their deal, anyway?
「Alright, fine.」
Since it wouldn’t end otherwise, I decided to go through with it, just pretending to kiss Eliza. With a bit of exaggerated acting, I bent down.
「A bit lower, Hero-sama.」
Eliza whispered, so I leaned in a little more. She dropped her bouquet, wrapped her arms around my neck, and instead of pretending, she actually kissed me.
「Mmm? Mm!」
Feeling the soft press of her lips, I raised my head in shock. Eliza clung tightly to me, even dangling as I tried to stand up.
「And with the vow of the kiss complete, the marriage ceremony between the new Germania Empress Elizabeth and the hero Sawatari Takeru has concluded without a hitch!」
The audience roared in applause.
「Wait, what’s going on here?」
This is a play, right? Finally prying Eliza off me, I approached Ria in disbelief.
「Takeru, congratulations by all means!」
「Thanks… Wait, no, what about the play?」
「Yes, it was indeed a ceremony-play hybrid! All went smoothly, and this seals the bond between the new Germania Empire and the Silesie Kingdom.」
「Oh…」
I turned to find Eliza throwing her Casablanca bouquet to the audience like a wedding bouquet. She returned with a joyful smile, hugging me from behind.
「Takeru-sama. I’m still learning, but I please take care of me from now on, and always.」
Wait, what? This isn’t a joke—did I really just marry Eliza?
Thunderous applause continued. Before the castle, food and drink were already being laid out as a wedding feast, and the capital began to bustle with celebrations.
To be continued.