The End of Winter Is... (4)
The long winter's end ended much more ordinarily than I had imagined.
In an unknown temple, I wore a veil, and we held a wedding for just the two of us.
The guests were Hallibel, whom no one but I could see, and the Queen, whose face was full of dissatisfaction.
In a Kingdom like a cold winter, spring bloomed.
As I slowly blinked my eyes, Arthur placed his hand on my cheek.
「A wedding without even an officiant, it's quite humble for a Demon King and Hero's wedding.」
「So, do you dislike it?」
「...No.」
Rather, I preferred the simplicity.
I had always thought that if I ever got married, just the two of us would gather, and I would want to whisper words of love without an officiant.
Of course, I never imagined I would be the bride.
「Are you really sure you want to marry me?」
I asked, lowering my gaze slightly.
Even if we share the same name, we are absolutely not the same person.
I am Ariel, but I am not Ariel.
As we make children together, surely, someday, your childhood friend Ariel will also be born.
When that time comes, will you still love me?
Or will you come to love your childhood friend Ariel?
「The one I chose is you, Ariel.」
「...Ugh.」
In Arthur's voice, there was not an inch of hesitation or wavering.
Reflected in his eyes was not his childhood friend Ariel, but Ariel, the Demon King.
Right.
Yes, that's how it is.
That's what it is.
「...Okay.」
Feeling like tears would come, I slightly raised my head.
In the end, perhaps I couldn't hold them back, my vision blurred, but I didn't want to show an ugly side even at my wedding.
Let's smile. Just smile.
When I smiled brightly, the other person also responded with a smile.
Fortunately, tears didn't flow.
「Aren't you going to do a kiss of love or something like that?」
A cold, yet sly voice echoed loudly through the quiet space.
As the serious atmosphere suddenly broke, I turned my head, and the Queen shrugged.
「No, I heard that people from the Kingdom exchange a kiss of love when they get married.」
「...The North must be different, then?」
When I glared without fear, she let out a small laugh.
As expected, I don't like that woman.
「In the North, when people get married, they bite each other's lips and drink each other's blood.」
「How barbaric.」
「Lips mean mouth, and mouth means truth. Sharing the blood that comes from there means engraving true love for each other into one's soul.」
It sounded like a made-up story, but there was not a hint of falsehood in the Queen's eyes.
Oh? Is that so?
「Ugh?!」
「How about it, isn't it good? Since we're in the North, let's form our bond the Northern way.」
I firmly bit Arthur's lip, and subtly sucked the drop of blood that emerged.
I smiled sweetly at Arthur, who was staring blankly at me.
Now, it's your turn.
「I don't like pain, but I'll allow it just this once.」
「...Okay.」
As his face slowly approached, I felt a stinging pain on my lips.
Along with a deep sting, Arthur's tongue licked the wounded area.
Since we've shared each other's blood, from now on, we are one.
That thought suddenly crossed my mind.
「Alright, the wedding is over. Now, let's move on to the next topic.」
The Queen clapped her hands, *clap clap*.
Without even a moment to enjoy the afterglow of happiness, as the situation continued, I frowned, and sharp eyes turned towards me.
It was the look one gives a useless nuisance.
「I don't know what they're thinking, but the Kingdom has declared war on us.」
The rebellion within the Royal Capital probably hasn't settled down yet, but they used the Hero's betrayal as a pretext to raise an army.
What the hell is so special about the Demon King?
Why are they tormenting me so much, for someone like me?
It was so absurd, that I just got angry for no reason.
「Well, they probably won't invade immediately. The North's winter isn't that easy to deal with.」
Even if they raised an army, it didn't mean it would immediately head to the North.
Perhaps it was just a show to appease the confused public.
But my gut feeling was screaming that they would definitely go to war with the North.
「Still, that's not what's important right now.」
The Queen's gaze turned to me.
To be precise, it was directed at my abdomen.
To that place, which was round and swollen, as if announcing that something was inside.
「...Do Majok normally conceive children overnight?」
Her expression seemed shocked.
It was quite a sight to see someone who usually had a poker face and fierce eyes make such an expression.
Indeed, becoming full-term overnight is strange.
「I'm the strange one. Don't worry about it too much.」
「...It's not strange, it's special.」
Is that really true?
The softly spoken voice was truly as sweet as could be, but I couldn't accept those words so casually.
This happened because of the Goddess's blessing—or curse, so should I really call it special?
I let out a laugh for no reason.
「At that speed, a wealthy nation and strong army wouldn't be a dream.」
「...Queen Evangeline, even if it's you, such words are—」
「Don't get too excited. It was just a joke.」
Yet, she slyly brushed it off.
It was certainly enough to be offensive, but because of her unique confident attitude and expression, she was a strange person who never seemed to get on my bad side.
Of course, I could never forgive her for trying to take him away from me, but still.
「And now, he's the lord you'll be serving, so that kind of attitude, even for me, is a little hurtful.」
The Queen's hand lightly patted Arthur's shoulder.
I don't know what happened between them, but I could easily tell that Arthur had taken a loss for my sake.
Idiot.
Perhaps because I was now in a position where I couldn't even shout for them to let me die, only that much thought came to mind.
「Anyway, I'll see you again soon.」
At the sight of the Queen disappearing after those words, Arthur clicked his tongue.
She's a self-centered person right to the very end.
If the North's fickle weather were personified, it would probably feel exactly like that.
「Then, let's finish what we couldn't last time.」
「...」
「Why are you like that?」
「Your way of speaking, I thought it had returned to normal.」
Is that so?
I recall my memories.
So, while we were intimate yesterday...
'Ah, go! Go on! St-stop...♥'
'Y-you've come this far... Hngh...♥'
'Kiss, kiss me, kiss...♥'
...
「...」
What is this memory?
Things my body had reflexively forgotten began to rush in like a tsunami.
Embracing, biting, sucking, lifting.
After sharing intimacy in all sorts of positions, I fainted and woke up, and then the wedding talk came up.
Normally, I would have thought about it, but at that time, I was completely out of my mind, so I agreed, and now this is the situation.
「P-please forget it...」
「I'll try.」
「Don't try, just forget it!!」
As I lightly hit Arthur's shoulder, he gently held my hand.
Watching the ring slowly being placed on my left ring finger, I blushed.
You moodless bastard.
It was funny that I was looking for mood, but if it were me, I wouldn't have just shoved the ring on like this.
「Still, well...」
A golden gem.
A gem the color of my eyes, and similar to Arthur's hair.
Seeing the ring also on Arthur's left hand, I let out a laugh for no reason.
「This isn't bad, then.」
I stood on my tiptoes, and carefully kissed him.
I couldn't use my right arm, so I swayed for a moment, but thanks to Arthur holding me, I didn't fall awkwardly.
「Do you know that wedding rings symbolize restraint?」
「If it's from you, I welcome it anytime.」
He says such embarrassing lines so casually.
Come to think of it, this guy was an Eroge Protagonist.
He's so good at saying buttery words.
Originally, he would have said them to his childhood friend Ariel.
「I'm glad you look happy, Demon King-nim.」
「...Hallibel.」
Hallibel, clinging to my back, smiled sweetly.
What kind of reaction should I show?
She was someone who hated Arthur so much, but now that I was marrying Arthur, she was offering congratulations.
It's probably better to just be genuinely happy here.
Since Hallibel always wished for my happiness, it would surely be fine.
「Ariel.」
「No, it's nothing.」
I shook my head.
Arthur wouldn't be able to see her. And of course, he couldn't hear her voice either.
It was a bitter thing.
I wish there was anyone who could see Hallibel.
Then, I wouldn't have to torment myself by thinking I was crazy.
「Come, let's go to the room. It's uncomfortable to move now.」
「...Okay.」
As my mood settled, my original way of speaking came out.
Original, original, huh.
If it's 'original', is it this old-fashioned way of speaking, or the way I speak normally?
「Kyaa?!」
But that thought was momentary; I screamed as Arthur picked me up.
H-he picked me up without any warning!
Gently stroking my round, swollen belly, I pouted my lips.
What if the baby got startled?
「This time, will a boy be born, or a girl?」
「I hope it's a girl who resembles you, but...」
I knew very well that that couldn't come true.
Surely, a child who resembles neither me nor Arthur will be born.
Nevertheless, since it will still be born from my belly, I will love it with all my might.