Let's Have Our Wedding Again - 1
I took Isabel to the church.
It was to introduce her to Reina, the woman who would be sharing our lives from now on.
"Ian, what kind of person is Sister Reina?"
"…She's an extraordinary nun in many ways."
Her everyday conduct might have been thoroughly lewd, but Reina was a Saint candidate — and not just any candidate. She was the one closest to becoming a Saint of anyone alive.
Her innate talent was incredible.
According to the lore, the divine power Reina had been born with surpassed that of every Saint in history, and her gift for working miracles was without equal. That was probably why she'd been assigned to the Entiel Village church in the first place. With talent like hers, she would surely be able to find the Angel's Shelter.
But the reality was that she'd lost her virginity at the request of a village man. Truly ironic.
"Brother!"
When we arrived at the church, Reina came out to greet me. But only for a moment. Looking distinctly put out about something, she puffed out her cheeks and launched into a sulky complaint.
"You said you'd come see me last night."
"I was going to, but someone caused an incident in the confessional. So I couldn't make it."
"Ah, you heard the rumor?"
"I saw it firsthand. Looking at that severed manhood, my legs went weak."
"Hehe, I did well, right? Just like you told me — I punished the man who approached me."
"You did well, but is that really okay? Didn't the Mother Superior say anything?"
"It's fine. I administered proper justice, so the Mother Superior didn't scold me at all. She even praised me for a job well done."
"I see… Isabel?"
Isabel had been listening carefully to our exchange — staring as though something had just startled her.
"Is something the matter?"
"I-I've never heard you speak casually before, Ian."
"Ah…"
I generally maintained formal speech in everyday conversation. It made winning people's favor that much easier. But with someone I was comfortable with, like Reina, my usual way of speaking slipped out — and to Isabel, that must have seemed novel.
"Don't worry about it. It's just how I talk with people I'm close to."
"Then… could you speak casually with me too?"
"I'm sorry. That might be a bit difficult."
Perhaps because of the original Ian's pure devotion to Isabel, the words simply wouldn't come easily in front of her. Maybe this formal register had always been the original Ian's natural way of speaking. But Isabel seemed to take it differently.
"Does that mean I'm not someone you're comfortable with, Ian?"
"That's not what I meant…"
"Sister, of course that isn't the case."
While I floundered at Isabel's reaction, Reina at my side extended a helping hand.
"Married couples spend so much time together that it's easy to grow careless, so you must always maintain courtesy and respect for each other."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Even in noble society, maintaining formal speech with one's wife is basic etiquette."
"Was Ian a noble?"
"Well? I don't remember, so I don't know either."
I took Isabel's hand as I answered her question.
"But as Reina said, the reason I maintain courtesy before you, Isabel, is for that very reason. It's what they call treating each other with the respect due a guest. Because we're so close, I believe I must be all the more careful. It is absolutely not because I'm uncomfortable with you."
"Wow, fancy words just rolling off the tongue. Are you really a noble?"
Reina's snide interjection from the side was thoroughly annoying, but fortunately Isabel was focused entirely on my words.
"I'll be careful around you too, Ian."
"There's no need for that. You're already doing more than well enough, Isabel."
Isabel and I looked at each other, then kissed. We were newlyweds, after all — still in the full heat of it.
"Ahem! Brother! Don't forget I'm here too."
"I know."
At the sight of us, Reina fidgeted with her hands and complained. She clearly wanted me to hold her as well, but seemed to be restraining herself because we were inside the church.
"That's right — I had something to show Sister."
"For me?"
The reason for today's visit to the church had been to introduce Reina to Isabel. I hadn't said a word to Reina beforehand, yet she'd already prepared a gift for her.
"Ta-da!"
What Reina pulled out was the pure white wedding dress the church lent to brides for their ceremonies.
"Let's have our wedding again!"
For a woman, a wedding was the most important event of her life — the moment she would shine brightest, and her happiest memory.
But Isabel had been forced to hold that vital ceremony as a mere formality. Because of Rose's Punishment, a proper wedding had been impossible at the time.
Now that her health had been restored, things were different. She could finally hold the wedding she'd always dreamed of. Yet Isabel deliberately never brought up the subject. She'd already made unreasonable requests of him — she couldn't burden him any further.
Hehe, no way, Sister. It's the most important event for a woman.
Having sensed Isabel's feelings, Reina was the one who first raised the topic of a wedding. She had her perverted side, but Reina was a woman too. As a woman who had once dreamed of a beautiful wedding, and as a nun who built bridges of love, Reina wanted to see Isabel's beautiful marriage.
"What do you think, Sister? You'd like to have the wedding again, right?"
"I-I…"
At Reina's words — holding out the wedding dress and proposing they redo the ceremony — Isabel's heart wavered for a moment. Wearing the dress of a lifetime, exchanging a vow's kiss with the man she loved before everyone, receiving everyone's blessings as she married. It would certainly be happy. It would certainly become a memory she'd treasure for life.
"It's all right. We're already married — I don't think we need to do it again."
But in the end, Isabel voiced her refusal. She'd resolved not to be a burden to Ian any longer, and she didn't want to impose on him again.
Contrary to her wishes, however, Ian had already accepted Reina's proposal.
"Sounds good. Let's have the wedding again."
"I knew you'd say that, Brother!"
"Ah…"
Isabel despaired at the fact that she'd once again become a burden to Ian. She regretted not rejecting it outright instead of hesitating.
"Isabel."
To that Isabel, Ian corrected her thinking.
"I want to see my woman at her happiest. So don't feel burdened. This is simply my own desire."
"Honey…"
At Ian's consideration, Isabel felt tears welling up. She was so happy to be the wife of such a man.
"I'll talk to the Mother Superior, so Reina — find a wedding dress that suits Isabel."
"Yes, sir!"
At Ian's words, Reina answered with a bright, lively smile. At that, Ian made a displeased face.
"Don't do anything weird to Isabel while I'm gone."
"Of course not!"
Though he didn't fully trust Reina's answer, Ian headed for where Vanessa, the Mother Superior, was waiting.
At Reina's proposal to redo the wedding, I accepted without a moment's hesitation.
Not bad.
The fact that Isabel's wedding had ended as a formality had bothered me, and any man wants to see the woman he loves looking happy. If I could just see the happy smile she wore in a pure white wedding dress, I was willing to make any sacrifice.
"Brother Ian, good morning."
Vanessa was watering flowers in the church courtyard. Thanks to frequently volunteering at the church, I'd reached the point of exchanging greetings with her.
"I've come to discuss something."
I got straight to the point.
"I'd like to hold the wedding with Isabel again. Is that possible?"
"A wedding, you say?"
"Yes. It bothers me that the ceremony was conducted as a formality. If possible, I'd like to receive everyone's blessings at the Brightness Festival."
At my words, Vanessa smiled and answered.
"Very well. Our church will make the arrangements."
"Thank you. I'll pay the wedding costs separately later."
"The cost is fine. Ordinarily we would collect a certain amount, but we have a favor to ask of you, Brother."
"Of me?"
"Yes. A Heretic Inquisitor will be visiting for the regular report at the Brightness Festival. If you would attend that day as an honorary believer, we will waive the entire wedding cost."
I flinched at her words.
I knew they were coming, but I can't help feeling tense.
Heretic Inquisitors. The most powerful military force of the Sun God Sect — and simultaneously the most fanatical group of all, fanatical enough to purge the entire corrupt Papal Court.
"Do I just need to explain what happened at the lake to the Heretic Inquisitors?"
"That's right. Tell the Heretic Inquisitor the precise location of the lake and everything that happened that day, without omission."
"Understood."
Compared to the original, the church probably wouldn't withdraw from Entiel Village. Not only had they discovered the Angel's Shelter they'd been searching for, but Reina's virginity issue had also been thoroughly resolved. If the regular report proceeded as things stood, they could simply take the report and leave quietly.
Kate. I'll need to use that woman.
The nun who had reported Reina's loss of virginity. I planned to use her to shake the Heretic Inquisitors.