Chapter 298
Chapter 298
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Story of a Guard Knight (2)
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「Today's star of the show, the Marquis of House Bertie. The groom, Sir Veil Mikhail, please make your entrance.」
At the prime minister's words, I flung both hands wide to throw open the doors with all my might.
Then, dressed in an awkward black suit, I slowly stepped onto the red carpet.
――――――.
From the citizens gathered at the cathedral entrance to the cherished connections inside.
Amid the thunderous applause of hundreds, I advanced slowly.
I'd certainly held far grander ceremonies before.
Like when I became the Imperial Guard Captain.
Or when I entered the capital after shining on the front lines.
Yet somehow, right now, this moment felt far more thrilling and ecstatic.
I could see the faces of my precious bonds in the seats stretching out on either side.
“Congratulations, you bastard…!!”
Cain, my one and only friend from my cadet days who even handled collections for me.
“Be happy, Veil.”
Baron Taylor and the Northern Archduchess.
“Congratulations, Master!!”
“If you make our princess cry, even as your disciple, I won't let it slide…!!”
Captains Tau, Allen, Richard, and Batsu.
“...”
The hooded old woman—no, the werewolf leader—waving from afar.
“You'd pull it off, I knew it.”
“I'll handle the kids' fortunes!”
Southern Archduke Rosetta and fortune teller Regina.
“Veil….”
My father.
Even Director Hans Cleverly and my lovely siblings.
「Thank you, everyone….」
As I passed those blessing me and reached the steps to the dais.
My new family came into view, seated right up front.
「Ahem…….」
Leonhardt IV, arms crossed, staring at me with a sullen expression.
First Imperial Consort Rozanna poking his side in reprimand.
“Congratulations, son-in-law.”
The platinum blonde woman smiled warmly at me with her eyes.
“Take good care of Lydia.”
The black-haired empress, Vanessa, did the same.
Former Crown Prince Leon and Liam applauded together with gentle smiles.
「Now, the great thief of the century. Groom Veil Mikhail's entrance is complete!!」
Laughter rippled endlessly through the guests at the "great thief" bit.
But I could only flash an embarrassed smile, glancing nervously at the emperor.
「Next up, the flower of this ceremony—and the finale. The brides' entrance!」
At the announcement of the brides, the consorts in the front row stood.
They glided elegantly toward the great doors.
――――――.
The doors swung open once more with majestic grandeur.
At that instant.
I stood ramrod straight, gazing into the pouring radiant light.
Beneath the stained glass, the silhouette of one beautiful woman gradually emerged.
It felt strangely familiar, as if I'd lived this moment in the past, heart pounding.
*When did I see this scene before?*
Lost in dazed thought.
I finally remembered.
At my knighting ceremony.
The First Imperial Princess entering the annex.
「Lea Andalusia.」
She stepped slowly onto the red carpet in a white dress hugging her figure perfectly.
The veil over her lustrous golden locks evoked a mystical aura.
She, who once wore only crisp white uniforms and kept a cold expression….
Now approached me as the most beautiful woman in the world.
With every step the First Imperial Princess took, her sensuous curves stood out.
Her hourglass figure, entrancing in its lines, captured everyone's gaze.
In this moment, her face held nothing soldierly.
Her blue eyes sparkled like a girl's facing the happiest time of her life.
“I'll help you, Lea.”
Rozanna approached her daughter and took one hand.
The mother and daughter, once glaring daggers and disowning each other, reunited.
Lea, facing me, glanced up.
From the veil's shadow, her sea-blue eyes shimmered with light.
“Veil.”
“Your Highness.”
Lea raised her other hand, clutching a bouquet of white flowers like herself.
“No, we don't need titles anymore.”
She whispered against her lips.
“I'm your wife now.”
At the princess's sultry voice, I swallowed hard.
I tugged at my suit tie to cool the burning heat.
「Now, next….」
Mosian moved to call Irina next.
But unlike the other two princesses, the Second Imperial Princess had lost her mother, so they switched the order.
「Lydia Andalusia.」
Beneath the radiant light, the petite black-haired princess's silhouette appeared.
The Third Imperial Princess, with her assertive twintails and pure white dress.
“Come, take my hand, Lydia.”
She linked fingers with Vanessa and stepped demurely onto the red carpet.
The woman who'd once exuded a monarch's charisma and flashed a license to kill like it was nothing.
Had become a beautiful bond, drawing near to me.
“You look pretty dashing today, Veil.”
“You look beautiful too, Your Highness.”
Lydia pressed close to my side.
Clutching her bouquet tightly in silk-gloved hands, she said.
“No more of that flowery talk. We're husband and wife, aren't we?”
“Shall I…?”
Lydia glanced up with a prim expression.
I couldn't help but chuckle and correct myself.
“Got it, Lydia.”
Once both princesses stood on the dais.
Mosian spoke up, looking a bit tense.
「Finally, Irina Andalusia will make her entrance.」
He seemed worried about Irina having to enter alone without her mother.
I'd even planned to go down and escort her myself.
But.
Just as I moved to step forward, someone else stood first.
Leonhardt Bodwin Andalusia IV.
The cathedral fell silent as he rose in his impeccable uniform.
In the world hushed like time had stopped, his footsteps echoed.
From the great doors, the silhouette of a beautiful woman slowly appeared.
The emperor approached it, then halted abruptly.
In the figure drawing gradually nearer from afar….
「Istina…?」
A cherished, longed-for bond came to mind.
――――――――.
Her sleek silver hair fluttered, catching the noonday sun.
Emerald eyes blinked vibrantly within.
The empire's Second Imperial Princess, in a dress as white as her pale skin.
She entered the cathedral slowly.
Veil and the emperor stared at Irina in a daze for a long while.
Then, as she drew right up to them.
「May I walk with you, Irina…?」
Her father mustered his courage to ask.
“...”
Irina stared at her father's large, rough hand.
The palm that had striven to protect her and the empire all this time.
“Of course, Father.”
Irina gripped that hand tightly with misty eyes.
They ascended the dais side by side.
“Veil.”
I gazed steadily at the silver-haired princess calling my name.
Her eyes trembled faintly as she clutched the misty flower bouquet in both hands.
“This isn't a dream, right…?”
Irina's trembling intensified.
Even her delicate eyelids quivered.
“You have no idea how many times I've dreamed of this moment.”
The emperor, holding her hand, felt his daughter's surging emotions vividly.
He bit his lip and exhaled deeply.
“Even in the crumbling palace, when we reunited, even last night—I kept dreaming it.”
Irina let the bouquet slip.
With one hand, she scolded her own overflowing tears on this joyous day.
“So tell me, Veil….”
The princess's choked voice struck my heart.
“That the you I see before me isn't a dream….”
I gazed quietly at Irina facing me.
Then slowly took both her hands in mine.
In that instant.
By chance or magic, the image of Irina who'd died before me in the past flashed up.
Her, fingers interlaced, praying desperately before my corpse.
Begging for just one more chance.
“It's not a dream, Irina.”
I gently lifted the princess's face and said.
Meeting her eyes, I whispered.
“You've been through so much because of me.”
「Do you, the groom, swear to protect your brides for life?」
In response to Mosian's officiation, I stared at the princesses lined beside me.
Then bellowed loudly.
「Yes!!!」
My resounding shout echoed grandly.
Lea hid a smile, finding my display endearing.
Yet her blue eyes glistened wetly too.
「Do you, the brides, swear to love the groom forever and never waver?」
“Of course we do!!”
Lydia, with her sharp eyes, declared boldly first.
But her voice trembled faintly with emotion.
“Yes.”
Irina swallowed tears and managed to reply.
Lea turned her head away with effort and murmured softly.
“Yes….”
「Then, groom. Please kiss your brides.」
My throat and body began to swell with emotion.
Suppressing it, I approached them.
And….
Vowed to stay by their sides forever.
First beside Irina, I slowly bowed my head.
Just as our lips neared.
――――――.
Far off, the sound of someone's shoes approached.
Listening closely, it wasn't just one or two pairs.
The clamor of several drew every eye in the cathedral.
“Huh……?”
Two silhouettes neared from the open doors.
At first, I couldn't tell who.
But the moment I looked up.
“Veil…!! You weren't gonna marry without us?!”
“How could you!!”
Senior Miya with her bobbed hair and catlike sharp eyes.
My childhood friend Mago, her black hair beautifully unbound.
Both in white dresses, they entered the cathedral.
“……………!!!!”
But it didn't end there.
Behind them, the rumble of a grand carriage pursuing.
Then, as it pulled up to the cathedral.
A woman with snow-white hair like a winter expanse descended regally.
“A wedding without me? Planning to elope on the sly, Mikhail!!”
Princess Christina joined in, her beautiful foxlike eyes and bearishly voluptuous figure.
“If you end the ceremony here, we're heading straight to Bakal. We'll do it bigger and flashier there!!”
It was meant to be a small wedding.
In the now rowdy atmosphere, the three princesses blinked in surprise.
「Veil Mikhail.」
But not everyone was just stunned.
Emperor Leonhardt watched the scene blankly.
His face twisted completely at the arrival of three more women he'd been especially close to, beyond the princesses.
「Veil Mikhail!!!!」
“Eek……!!”
The emperor thrust his hand into the air.
From somewhere, a massive spear, Eckley, flew in again.
“Father-in-law……!! Let's talk—just a moment!!”
「Silence!! Today I'll skin you alive and hang you over the fireplace!!」
In the sacred cathedral, I bolted like a madman.
I dashed out, trampling the red carpet like a startled fox.
“Please spare me, Your Majesty!!”
Miya and Mago scratched their cheeks, faces saying they'd done it now.
Leaving them behind, I played deadly tag with the emperor for a good while.
The princesses watched us with wry smiles, deeming it hopeless to intervene.
Though our love had borne fruit, it seemed the war was just beginning as they exchanged looks.
They pledged a friendly rivalry.
“We'll make sure you're all happy!!”
The cathedral's occupants—and even the citizens peeking from outside—watched the bizarre spectacle with amusement.
Thus, the tale of the guard knight the princesses obsessed over reached its conclusion.