Chapter 13

"Selia"

"..."

"Let's get married"

"!"

"I vow to you my eternal love. True love."

"Lord Shin said that and went to that child. He said, 'I have found true love' and left me."

"Aaaaaa! No, that's not how it should be!"

The me in the game is so cruel!

No, I have to win against the me in the game right here and now.

I've made up my mind. I won't regret anything.

"Get dressed"

"Eh?"

"We're going out. Just wear something plain. We're going to the church."

"Church... at this hour..."

"Just do it!"

I undress Selia in her negligee, leaving her in her underwear, and pick out a few pieces of plain clothing from the closet, asking her to put them on.

Selia, bewildered, prepares herself. I help her put on her shoes and we stand on the balcony bathed in moonlight.

"I'll go down first. Follow me."

I grip the rope, put on gloves, and slide down.

Then, I throw the gloves up to the balcony and have Selia put them on.

Selia slowly descends.

I catch her when she slips and falls halfway down.

We both end up falling. How embarrassing, me.

"Ouch..."

"I'm sorry, are you okay?!"

"I forgot! Do you have the ring?"

"I'm fine. I always wear it."

Selia pulls out the ring from around her neck.

"Good. Let's go."

I take Selia's hand and run through the dark moonlit garden, slipping through a gap in the hedge.

We sneak through the streets carefully and reach the church.

"It might be locked if we come this late at night."

"The priest said, 'The doors of the church are always open.'"

So, I climb the fence and reach out from the top.

I stretch to grab Selia and pull her up, then jump down from the fence.

Luckily, the church door isn't locked.

There's no lock at all. It's part of their teaching. However, the fence around the church is securely closed.

Creak... Thud.

When we open the door, we enter the sanctuary. The altar is visible at the front.

In the darkness, the moonlight filtering through the stained glass makes everything faintly bright. A single candle is lit on the altar.

"Selia"

I extend my left elbow. Selia links her arm with mine and leans in.

We walk down the dark, empty aisle together.

The statue of the goddess Ranates stands at the altar.

We kneel before the altar and bow our heads.

"Goddess Ranates, we apologize for disturbing your rest at this late hour. Tonight, we, the young couple, wish to make a vow of marriage. We humbly ask that you hear our pledge and protect us in our love."

I place my hand on Selia's shoulder and turn her to face me.

I take out a handkerchief and place it over her head.

"Repeat after me"

"Yes"

"You, Shin Midland, take this woman, Selia Collette, to be your wife"

"You, Shin Midland, take this woman, Selia Collette, to be your wife"

"In sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth"

"In sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth"

"To love and to cherish, until death do us part"

"To love and to cherish, until death do us part"

"Do you vow to the goddess Ranates an unchanging love?"

"Do you vow to the goddess Ranates an unchanging love?"

I gently place my index finger on Selia's lips.

"Yes, I vow"

I take her hand and place it on my forehead, bowing my head.

"You, Selia Collette, take this man, Shin Midland, to be your husband"

"..."

"In sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, to love and to cherish, until death do us part"

A tear rolls down Selia's cheek.

"Do you vow to the goddess Ranates an unchanging love?"

"Yes, I vow"

"Ring"

Selia gives me the ring from her necklace. I also give her the ring from my own necklace.

I slide the ring onto Selia's finger. It's a bit loose.

I extend my left hand, and Selia puts my ring on. It's also loose, so we put them back around our necks. It's not ideal, but there's nothing we can do.

I lift the handkerchief from Selia's head.

"Let me kiss you"

Selia closes her eyes and leans forward.

I gently lean in and kiss her.

This is the first time I've kissed Selia.

I've always wanted to kiss Selia like this.

Finally, I can. I'm so happy.

I take her hand and help her stand.

"Hey"

"Yes"

"Can I kiss you again?"

Selia wraps her arms around my neck and clings to me.

I lift her up and kiss her.

Not just once, but many times.

I keep our lips together.

I can taste the saltiness of Selia's tears.

I'm so happy, I spin her around while holding her.

"Now everything is fine!"

"Everything is fine?"

"Yes. See, engagement is just a promise, right?"

"Yes"

"Engagement can be broken. It's a promise between families, between me and Selia. But marriage is a vow. We've made a vow to the goddess, so it's real! It will surely protect us from any forced marriage!"

"Yes!"

"Is someone there?"

We look to the side of the altar in surprise.

The priest stands there, holding a candle.

"Excuse us for disturbing you at this hour"

"Children...? What are you doing here at this hour?"

The priest approaches and shines the candle on our faces.

"Is that the prince...? I'm surprised. What brings you here at this hour?"

"We were getting married"

"Getting married, you say"

The priest is clearly surprised.

"No, no, no... The prince is only about ten years old, isn't he?"

"I'm ten years old"

"The young lady... isn't she the one from earlier?"

"My fiancée... my wife, Selia Midland"

"Daughter of Duke Collette. I heard about the engagement, but there was no need to get married in such a place at this hour"

"We've already made a vow of marriage to the goddess. We are married"

The priest sighs in exasperation.

"Marriage is for adults. We do not accept any marriages until the age of sixteen"

"That's just a church custom. There is no law in this country stating a minimum age for marriage, and it's not mentioned in the holy book"

I've checked this. It's accurate.

"Without the permission of your father... the king?"

"Engagement is a permission from both families to get married. When to get married is up to us. Please register us in the marriage records"

"That's not possible. Marriage requires witnesses. Without them, it cannot be recognized"

"Even if we've made a vow to the goddess?"

"A vow can be made by anyone. It cannot be considered an official record"

"Then I'll be the witness"

I'm so shocked I feel like my legs are giving out!

A man walks up to the altar, his face illuminated by the candlelight, looking incredibly scary! The priest screams in terror!

"Ah!"

"I am Shriegan Daxton, a knight of the Laster Kingdom's royal guard. Your Highness, I offer my heartfelt congratulations on your marriage. If it's not too much trouble, I would be honored to serve as a witness and sign the marriage record"

"Shriegan, when did you get here!?"

"Since you left the castle"

Oh no...

"Why did you know?"

"That's a secret. If I revealed it, you'd try to avoid me from now on. You won't be able to escape my protection"

"That's not protection! That's surveillance!"

"Either way, it's the same thing"

Oh no... Everything is exposed...

"We need two witnesses"

The priest is reading the room.

"I will be the second witness"

...Please forgive me.

Bel, dressed in a maid's uniform, walks over.

"I am Bel, the maid assigned to Lady Selia of the Collette family"

She bows gracefully.

"Bel, is it okay for you to be out at this hour?"

"Of course, I must accompany Lady Selia when she goes out"

"Bel, when do you sleep?"

"I don't sleep"

That's a lie, right? She's clearly trying to intimidate me. She's looking for leverage to pressure Lady Selia.

"Since I, the royal guard, have been protecting you all the way here, there shouldn't be any problem"

You really like Bel! You're clearly prioritizing her over me!

"Alright, priest, let's get the marriage records"

"Ugh... Yes, please"

The priest, intimidated by Shriegan's scary face, brings out the thick marriage record book.

I write my name first, followed by Selia.

Shriegan and Bel sign as witnesses in the same column.

"The royal family's marriage being just one line in the church's marriage records among the citizens..."

"Records are records, priest. Even if it causes trouble later, this will be sufficient proof that these two are already married"

The priest nods in resignation.

"It's a vow to the goddess, so no one can deny it"

"Congratulations, Your Highness"

"Congratulations"

Shriegan and Bel bow to us.

This is all too quick. These two might actually be a good match.

"Let's go back"

"Yes"

No, they're both so calm about this situation.

It's as if they're saying the matter is settled.

"Wait!"

"?"

We all stop at the priest's voice.

"Registration fee, two gold coins!"

...This is not good. Priest.

Next: "14. The Ten-Year-Old Bride"