Chapter 298: The Wedding Procession Heads South
The effects of the sacred numbing potion should have worn off by now, but my waist refuses to cooperate—I can barely move.
Oracle, help! Bring me some energy booster, now!
Not that I have the energy to actually say it out loud. All I can manage is to lie here on the bed, occasionally twitching as aftershocks ripple through my body. Any attempt to get up sends a surge of residual pleasure through me that leaves me shaking all over.
Sister Marea and Sister Rosa’s ‘final Sacrament Duel’ was too intense. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d slipped something more than a numbing potion into the mix.
The bed is completely wrecked, and this room won’t be usable for a while. For all my experience in such matters, these two… truly left me in pieces.
They had even said it was their first time. No way that was true.
「Mmm, Hero-sama, we have practiced plenty.」
「There are no restrictions when it’s just between women, you know.」
Yet another loophole in the commandments—what a surprise!
「Rosa, shall we head to the bath afterward?」 「An excellent idea. Hero-sama, you’ll join us for a nice, relaxing soak, won’t you?」
I could tell from their faces it wasn’t just going to be a soak.
「Please… just give me a break.」
「Fufufu, don’t worry—we’re only kidding. Let us clean you up properly.」
Rosa wrings out a wet towel and carefully starts wiping me down.
「Oh, allow me to do that part.」
「Then let’s split it, shall we?」
Their faces glowing with satisfaction, Sister Marea and Sister Rosa exchange a chuckle.
Letting them wipe me down, I thought to myself—wasn’t this supposed to be a contest? Instead, they’ve somehow become fast friends. If only they’d kept competing with each other, I might’ve had a chance, but it ended up as a fully coordinated team effort.
And as if that wasn’t enough, they’d even decided to educate Her Holiness Anastasia by letting her observe! Wasn’t the whole ‘vying for a position as Hero-sama’s one true sister’ thing supposed to mean something?
Why did they drop it the moment it was over?
Is this some cruel fantasy logic where my suffering magically brings peace to the world?
As I lay there covering my face in embarrassment, listening to the sound of their robes rustling as they dressed, I felt as if I’d never be marriageable again. Not that it mattered—they’d probably insist on marrying me after all this, anyway.
Suddenly, Anastasia walked over, leaning close to whisper in my ear.
What, still more? I was finally starting to move and just trying to get my clothes back on!
「Hero… I know you’re exhausted, but let’s discuss the wedding arrangements.」
「Wait, you’re talking about this like it’s just any other conversation.」
After everything that just happened, here she is calmly planning our wedding. I rush to pull on my pants, trying to get dressed quickly.
「Since I can read people’s thoughts, I’m used to this sort of thing. Watching it all unfold was new, though—I found it quite… educational.」
「Okay, no need to bring that up again! We’re discussing the wedding ceremony in the Holy City of the Papal State of Ravenna, right?」
「Indeed. I, Anastasia II, shall personally preside as the officiant. Though the date is still a ways off, preparations require precise scheduling. The Asama Church headquarters will announce it globally, so make sure you’re in the Holy City in plenty of time.」
Her Holiness Anastasia presiding over her own wedding as the officiant was odd, but as the young Pope, there was really no one else fit for the role. The only alternative would be if Asama herself descended to officiate.
But as much as Sarah-chan called it the wedding of the century, I doubt there’ll be any divine surprises like that. Still, I’m a bit curious about what Asama actually looks like.
「I hear there’s a plan for a grand procession through the territories, like a lord’s parade, on our way to the Holy City.」
Though I’m involved in the preparations, the Inner Palace Council is running the show, so I’m just going along with whatever they decide.
「By ‘lord,’ you mean royalty? Then indeed, it shall be a procession fit for nobility.」
「It’ll probably end up more like a costume parade, though it’s also a political statement.」
「Since I’m here, I’ll be joining as your wife in that parade.」
Anastasia smiles as she wraps her arms around me.
「Ah—wait! Don’t hug me right now.」
「Hmm? What’s wrong?」
I’m feeling intensely sensitive right now, so I really need her to hold off on the touching.
※※※
Our wedding procession would begin, not from the Royal Capital of Silesie, but from Northmark, the capital of the newly unified Germania Empire.
Why? Well, of course. It made sense. This was the official marriage of young Empress Elizabeth Germania Germanicus, after all.
The people of the Empire deserved a formal introduction. And, as usual, it would be celebrated with festival-like fanfare.
「Thank you for coming all the way to the capital…」
「Something wrong, Eliza?」
She seemed unusually reserved, almost shy.
「No, it’s just… I was wondering how I should address you now. Should I call you ‘husband’?」
「Just call me Takeru. If you’re this tense already, we’ll be in trouble. Let’s keep things relaxed.」
I pat her blonde head reassuringly.
Before the public ceremony, I went to pay respects to her grandfather, former Emperor Conrad Germania Germanicus.
「Grandfather’s health is well today.」
Former Emperor Conrad lay in bed, asleep most of the time due to his weakened condition, though today, it seemed he was still awake—a rarity. Emaciated, he couldn’t speak, but when he saw me, he offered a quiet smile.
「Emperor Conrad… it’s a bit awkward to say, but I’ve come to marry Eliza.」
Guardian Knight Herman, standing by his side, assured me, ‘He’s pleased to hear it.’
「Right… just so we’re clear, though, this marriage is ceremonial, and I won’t touch her until she’s of age.」
The Emperor nodded faintly, still smiling.
「His Majesty says you shouldn’t hesitate to touch her.」
「Don’t lie.」
I chuckled, nearly breaking into laughter.
Even Herman had started joking now.
「Anyway, I’ll protect Eliza for the rest of my life.」
With that, the once-great Hero Emperor nodded softly, then closed his eyes again, slipping back into sleep. I only hoped he would live as long as possible.
Afterward, I stood on the Imperial Castle’s balcony to make my public vow to ‘take Eliza as my wife and protect her always’. As I finished and was about to step down, Eliza tugged at my sleeve.
Somewhere, Herman was shouting.
「Hero-sama, you must seal it with a kiss!」
「But I just vowed to Emperor Conrad that I wouldn’t touch her!」
「A kiss doesn’t count as ‘touching’!」
「Well…」
Eliza had her eyes closed, waiting. Not wanting to leave her hanging, I quickly gave her a peck.
The crowd burst into cheers, and I waved from the balcony, which prompted even more cheering. Eliza, smiling brightly beside me, waved as well, but I could barely contain my embarrassment over that public kiss!
Then began an endless series of ceremonial kisses. Passing through the Duchy of Lanct, I kissed Duchess Eleonora on the cheek—even though we were already married, I wondered what that had to do with this. ‘A nice addition.’ they said. A nice addition to what?
Then, in the Royal Capital of Silesie, I made sure to kiss everyone in line to keep it fair. And despite having already done it, I repeated the kiss ceremony at the castle in Agene, Sarah-chan’s domain.
‘Can’t we just save all this kissing for the actual wedding?’ I grumbled.
‘It’s a joyous occasion—why not do it as many times as we like?’ Sarah-chan said.
「Yeah, fair point…」
Eventually, I became accustomed to these public displays of affection. We’d really come a long way.
And so, slowly parading through the territories, we finally arrived in Ravenna, the Holy City of the Papal State, situated on the southern peninsula of the continent.