We Are Getting Married (3)
We Are Getting Married (3)
Perhaps they had been waiting for us, because as soon as our party entered the palace, we were immediately granted an audience with His Majesty the King, the Crown Prince, and the Princess.
My friend Luan, who had been smirking at me from afar as he walked over.
'Did you do it?'
Looking at that face that seemed to be asking if I had confessed, I just grinned and knelt.
"I, the hero party, report that we have fulfilled our destiny of subjugating the Demon King."
As I said that and knelt, Bina, Hart, and Ria all knelt as well, paying their respects to the king before us.
"There's no need for such formal courtesy between us; it's not as if we've only known each other for a day or two."
"...Thank you."
His Majesty the King is a benevolent person.
He is such an excellent leader that one could say humanity's ability to survive without succumbing to the demon race is entirely thanks to him.
Because of that, various countries were able to cooperate with the kingdom to capture the Demon King.
"You have changed a great deal since I first saw you."
He looked at the party members around me, laughing heartily.
Much has changed.
It also meant we had lost much.
After all, until the final battle to capture the Demon King four years ago, there were two more members in our party.
The thief and the archmage.
"...We will soon prepare a memorial service for the great heroes who cannot be with us in this place now."
Saying he would even hold a memorial service so as not to forget them, His Majesty the King gestured for us to raise our heads.
Saying he was not such an arrogant monarch as to force heroes who saved humanity to bow their heads.
"That intelligent gleam in your eyes is still there."
"Thank you."
"......."
His Majesty the King, who had scanned me and the party once, grinned and looked at his son.
"You seem very happy that your friend has returned."
"My apologies, father."
"Enough. I would have been the same."
With those words, His Majesty the King, having concluded the audience by congratulating us, rose from his seat and departed.
Simultaneously, the Crown Prince and the Princess approached us.
"I'm glad you came back alive."
"...I told you, if I die, I'll die happily."
When I said that, Luan burst out laughing and thumped my chest with his fist.
"You seem even tougher."
"Well, what can I do?"
After laughing for a while, he let out a sigh as he looked at the empty spot.
"Haa... Greg."
"...Sorry."
Greg.
The name of the deceased thief.
He was a capable friend.
Because he was the friend who would infiltrate any place and extract information.
I remember clearing many dungeons easily thanks to that friend.
"What do you have to be sorry about?"
"......."
When I gave him a guilty smile, Luan's expression turned awkward and he patted my shoulder.
Knowing it meant not to be too discouraged, I just gave an awkward smile and nodded.
"Right."
It's only natural to grieve for a friend's death.
However, there's no need to abandon the present just because of that.
Rather than being sad remembering him, talking about happy memories would be the greatest happiness for the deceased.
'It was a noble sacrifice.'
After all, I've also achieved one of the reasons he gave his life for me.
There's no need to remain troubled, thinking of him forever in this peaceful world.
"Shall we stop by a tavern? It's been a while."
"Sounds good."
I let out a soft chuckle.
Ria was fidgeting with her hands.
'...Ugh.'
A little more, and the priests will come to give their blessings and talk about returning to the Holy Kingdom.
Of course, since it's not just any man but the hero she's tied to, the Holy Kingdom has no grounds to reclaim Ria.
But being anxious is still being anxious.
Even now.
'Looking at our hero-nim with those eyes...!'
Because the Princess was eyeing 'our' hero-nim with lustful eyes.
While she was talking with the priests, that fox-like Princess might snatch away her own hero-nim.
'Sorry Ria, the Princess is the best after all. She says she doesn't care how many concubines he brings in.'
'Ohohoho! Since I'll be the legal wife anyway! If need be, would the Saintess-nim also like to enter as a concubine?'
"...!!"
In that instant, Ria shuddered violently after imagining something dreadful.
'Sh, should I maybe link arms with him to appeal?'
Should I mark him as mine by saying 'The hero is already mine!'? Just as she was thinking that.
"Her, hero-nim...!"
"......!!"
The Princess, Lucia, who had been hesitating and quietly gauging the mood, opened her mouth.
She had mesmerizing red hair resembling the queen, and her golden eyes, which clearly indicated her royal bloodline, shone brightly, asserting her presence.
Truly a heavenly appearance.
Looking at the Princess, who looked proactive and seductive—the complete opposite of her own innocent, soft appearance—Ria's shoulders slumped.
Because she felt she had lost in feminine appeal.
Of course, it was merely her misconception; no one could surpass the Saintess in terms of appearance.
"Is something the matter, Princess-nim?"
Leon looked at the Princess with a friendly smile.
'Hero-nim!?'
In that instant, Ria's eyes widened as she looked up at Leon.
But the hero-nim, whether or not he knew her inner turmoil that was bubbling over, even gave a smiling look with his eyes.
Even Bina beside them was startled by this.
Lucia's face flushed bright red and she fidgeted restlessly.
After taking a deep breath, she opened her mouth.
"I, if you haven't yet found a woman to marry... how about me!"
Proudly, looking up at the hero, Lucia made a provocative expression.
Placing her palm on her chest and slightly pushing her chest out, she simultaneously projected confidence and appeal.
'A heretic!! If we arrest her as a heretic! Then it'll be okay...! Ugh.'
Just as the Saintess-nim was turning dark in real-time.
"Ah."
Along with Leon's sigh and a grin, his hand wrapped around Ria's waist.
"Hueh...?"
Without even giving Ria a moment to be startled, her body was pulled close.
By the time she regained her senses, her body was already tightly pressed against Leon's solid frame.
"Ah, ahguk, th, ueh...? Hoehek."
Ria, who seemed to have short-circuited.
While gently stroking Ria's head.
"We're getting married."
Leon declared with a happy expression.
And Lucia, who had been struck down by such a Leon.
"...As expected, it was like that."
With an awkward smile, she folded the fan she had confidently spread open with a swish and clutched her skirt tightly with both hands.
She had expected it, but she couldn't help the ache in her heart.
Because even the slightest possibility had vanished.
But because of that, there was also a sense of relief.
"Be... happy! I, I hope the two of you become happy!"
With a sob, yet with only her face smiling, Lucia blessed the two.
Because Luan was not unaware of his younger sister's feelings.
Now, setting aside his status as Crown Prince and Princess, he comforted his younger sister simply as an older brother.
"...You did well."
"...Older brother."
"By the way, about colluding with the priests......."
With a 'just in case' thought, Luan cautiously asked Lucia.
But the answer he received felt somewhat hollow and also made him feel relieved.
"Th, that was of course a lie... what kind of collusion with priests would I do? Even if I tried to win him over like that, hero-nim wouldn't become mine."
"I, see."
Realizing her older brother was thinking strangely of her, Lucia began to sob even more pitifully.
In response, Luan slowly stroked her head.
But whether it was because of his characteristic warmth or because of memories, her tears didn't stop as the tension left her.
However, from Lucia's mouth.
"Saintess-nim... you must become happy."
"Pr, Princess-nim."
"Please call me Lucia from now on... I, I also want to call you Ria unnie."
Only words of blessing, wishing for happiness, seeped out.
After the audience ended.
Leaving behind somewhat complicated feelings, Hart, Bina, and I slipped out of the royal palace.
As expected, Ria said she had things to discuss with the priests of the Holy Kingdom and headed to the palace's guest rooms, as the priests from the Holy Kingdom were basically waiting there.
'She'll talk it over well, right?'
Lucia is originally fated to return to the Holy Kingdom if she doesn't end up with me.
Because if the Saintess doesn't marry the hero, the Goddess won't send down a new Saintess to replace her.
However, they don't strip the position of the Saintess who marries the hero.
Well, anyway, setting aside such complicated circumstances.
I looked at Bina before me.
"...Bina, you're ready, right?"
"Ye... yes...! Hero-nim!"
When I gently grasped Bina's shoulder, she trembled parreu.
From now on, Bina's role is important.
Because from now on, I had to choose the perfect proposal ring that would fit right into Ria's heart.
Bina let out her characteristic excited breath.
'Even though Bina is young, she's a girl.'
She just came of age this year.
She should sufficiently understand a woman's sensibilities.
At least more so than Uncle Hart, who was grumbling complaints behind me.
"H, why do I have to tag along!"
"You're part of the party too, Uncle, so just come along for now."
"Hmm......."
Uncle Hart kept complaining about why he had to come along.
How could I leave him on the street knowing what mischief he might get up to?
Of course, I had to bring him.
With Bina's help, using a disguise magic, we had to wander around the jewelry stores in the kingdom for quite a while.