[The Vow of the Mercenary]
The next day, I finished training with my unit. The cold air of dawn pierced deep into my chest. Letting the water from the waterfall crash against my body had become a form of recreation for me.
I couldn't train the entire mercenary corps, so I only woke up my own leader squad—about thirty men—to shake off the sleep.
"Vice-captain, this is really too much. Training on the very day of your wedding? Ah... you really have no mercy at all..."
One of the squad members said this while lying on the ground with a refreshed expression after training. Even though he said that with such a relieved look on his face, I didn't pay it much mind. All the members of my squad were people who enjoyed sweating.
Baran was also gasping for air, slumped on the ground.
"...Just like the kids said, I really didn't think you'd do this even today. Can't we take a day off?"
I said to Baran, "Sweating never hurt anyone. It builds an appetite, clears the head..."
Baran, catching his breath while sprawled on the floor, gave a momentary smile at those words.
"Ah. Is this because of your first love, too?"
"...What?"
"You held this training because your head was getting complicated, didn't you? You should have just said so..."
I shook my head and didn't answer. Why did Captain Adam have to go and tell a guy like that such things?
The other squad members burst into light laughter at Baran's joke. As he broke the strict atmosphere, playfulness began to show on everyone's faces one by one.
Sean, who was excellent at horsemanship, asked, "Vice-captain, didn't you meet your future wife yesterday? How was it? Was she pretty?"
"See for yourself. You'll see her today."
"Aw, I'm curious about what she looked like to *you*. Answer us."
Giggling laughter spread. Jackson, who was quick to read the situation, chimed in, "Vice-captain. Was she pretty? It should be worth all the women you've pushed away all this time, right?"
I eventually got swept up in the atmosphere. After such intense training, there was a friendship that blossomed through sharing small jokes like these. I chuckled, responding to the mood.
"...She's pretty."
Pure exclamations popped out from here and there. Some of them started making a fuss again.
"I've never seen the Vice-captain call a woman pretty before."
"Wow, I'm looking forward to it. If you say that and then some ugly person shows up, seriously..."
Baran laughed, but then pointed out the members to keep them from crossing the line. "What do you mean 'ugly person'? That's the Vice-captain's future wife."
"Ah, I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention."
I raised my voice to wrap up the situation. "Enough. Training is over, so everyone go back and clean up. Dry yourselves off. The day of battle is coming soon, so take care of your bodies."
A solemn atmosphere returned at those words.
"As you all already know, we have to perform well for our comrades to survive. You all know this one is larger in scale, right? We need to be more alert than in any other battle. So, let's keep our minds sharp."
Someone asked, "It seems Gidin Blackwood is participating too, what's going to happen with that?"
"That's none of our business. He won't be joining the leader squad."
Everyone nodded at that answer.
"Alright. Training is over. Let's head back."
At my words, everyone shouted a disciplined response and stood up one by one. As they gathered their swords and gear, I also began my return to the barracks.
Baran, as always, stuck by my side, shaking the water from his hair as he asked, "Are you preparing now?"
"I have to."
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"No. Just—....Ah."
Following Baran's question, something I wanted to ask suddenly came to mind. Baran looked up at me, wiping the water from his face. He seemed to notice that something had entered my head.
I looked around and whispered to him quietly, "...It's not an important request. If any problems arise, you can give up on it."
"Just tell me."
I recalled the moment I met Neir and Gidin after dinner last night. The unease that had sprouted since then kept lingering in my mind. So, it was purely out of curiosity. It wouldn't hurt to know more about Neir Blackwood.
"Find out about the relationship between Neir Blackwood and her siblings."
"The relationship between the Madam and her siblings?"
"Madam... ha. Yeah."
Baran giggled and nodded. "That much is easy. I'll find out and let you know soon."
"Yeah. Thanks."
"I never thought this day would come."
Captain Adam looked at me intently. I was wearing the formal attire I had brought from Stakpin, our base, and was focusing on my final preparations. The feeling of the uncomfortable, tight clothing was unfamiliar. It was awkward because it was the first time I had groomed myself like this.
"...Berg."
In the midst of that, Captain Adam called me quietly. I could feel the seriousness embedded in his voice. As I looked at him, he was watching me with a small smile.
"Congratulations."
He said it without any childish laughter or playfulness. I didn't answer his cringeworthy words. However, at his words, I suddenly thought about how long we had been together. Would we have ever thought that we, who met in the slums, would become the kind of people who would attend each other's weddings?
I pulled my gaze away from Captain Adam and scanned my clothes again. He said to me, "...And I'm sorry."
"...?"
"...Because you're sacrificing yourself for us. The person you're—"
"—There you go again."
The more Captain Adam got to know Neir Blackwood, the more sorry he felt for me. From the fact that she couldn't attend our first meeting because she was sick, to the silence at dinner last night. Certainly, the appearance Neir Blackwood had shown recently was not in its best state. I pondered how to convey that I was okay, but eventually gave up on it all. In the first place, the more such words were exchanged between us, the more uncomfortable it became.
"Then buy me some expensive liquor."
I requested compensation instead. It would be easier for him to shed his guilt this way. "What we had last time won't cut it."
"...Heh heh."
Only then did he smile and lighten the mood. "Understood."
Honestly, I was truly okay. Neir Blackwood's behavior hadn't bothered me that much yet. Perhaps, since I was in the same position, I understood her feelings, which might be why. The bigger problem was how to navigate our married life well in the future. And that was something I would only know if it would be difficult or easy once I experienced it.
Also, the purpose of this marriage was not my happiness. It was the future of our mercenary corps. I had to keep that in mind.
"Berg. So, are we really going to exclude the officiant?"
"Exclude them."
"I know you don't believe in gods... but shouldn't you still receive a blessing? I even brought someone to officiate for you."
I shook my head. I was grateful for his effort, but I didn't want an officiant. Officiants were usually conducted by apostles who believed in Hea, the Goddess of Purity.
"I can do well without such blessings."
Just then, Baran walked into the room. He scanned me up and down and nodded. "It suits you well. You look like a real groom."
I smiled at him and asked about what I had requested in the morning. "Did you find out?"
"Yes. It wasn't much of a secret, actually."
"So?"
Baran shrugged. "She's hated. By her siblings. It seems the problem was that the Lady of Blackwood passed away while giving birth to the Madam."
"What's that story?"
Captain Adam showed interest for a moment. Baran explained the situation to him. Meanwhile, I was filing away the new points of caution I needed to be aware of. Neir Blackwood would be my wife from now on. I felt like I was getting a rough idea of how I should take better care of her.
Time flows. The moment to hold the ceremony was right before our eyes. Captain Adam, myself, and a few squad leaders were waiting behind the entrance gate next to the podium until everyone was ready. On the other side of the door, the mercenaries holding their cups were laughing loudly, and the atmosphere was rising with anticipation.
'Berg! Berg! Berg!'
'Berg! Berg!'
Calling my name like apes was just a bonus. I let out a laugh because it was so absurd. Thanks to that, my heart felt much lighter.
'Alright, alright, attention!'
And at that moment, Baran's voice rang out from outside. As we had decided to proceed with a simple wedding, many processes were omitted. Especially the officiant. Accordingly, Baran decided to conduct the wedding process. It would have been better if someone older or more experienced did it, but a human wedding had to be led by a human, and there weren't many older people in our mercenary corps. It wouldn't have been bad for Captain Adam to do it, but he chose to stand by my side.
Baran's voice continued to ring out from outside. I sighed at the strange pressure that surged in an instant. I was standing before a very important vow in my life. It was only natural for a person to be nervous. I was gaining someone to be with for the rest of my life. It would take time, but we had to be able to be each other's strength.
...This time, I hoped we could be.
Even if it wasn't a marriage born of love, that didn't mean we couldn't love each other for the rest of our lives. Since we were getting married, I wanted to dream of a happy future with my partner.
Captain Adam peeked through the door to check outside, then looked at me and nodded. The moment had arrived. I nodded as well, and at the same time, the door opened.
As soon as it opened, I saw Baran directly in front, and the door on Neir Blackwood's side, which was still closed. There was a large wall on the right, and the guests were seated on the left. As we walked toward the podium, the door on the opposite side also swung wide open.
Neir Blackwood was standing there, wearing a white formal dress. Heavier makeup. A more determined expression. She was definitely in a better state than yesterday. Neir Blackwood met my eyes for a moment, then began to walk out while looking at the floor.
The mercenaries had shouted and cheered at my earlier entrance, but the moment Neir Blackwood appeared, they closed their mouths one by one. I could understand. To my eyes, too, Neir was a beauty. In fact, from the moment I first saw her at dinner yesterday, I felt that Captain Adam's words, "I've never seen such a pretty person," were not nonsense.
I walked to the center of the podium first. And standing there, I waited for Neir to reach me. Behind Neir stood Gibson and her siblings. Her siblings were smiling... but a subtle sneer was also mixed in. It was so faint that I wouldn't have noticed it if Baran hadn't told me about their relationship.
Soon, she stopped in front of me. She didn't look up at me.
"Vice-captain! The Madam is so pretty!"
"First night! First night! First night!"
"Vice-captain, be happy!"
The mercenaries, who had regained their senses, began to throw mischievous jokes again. I don't know how Neir Blackwood took that, but she hunched her shoulders more and lowered her head further. She was the very picture of someone swallowing their fear.
Soon, Baran proceeded with the wedding ceremony. Since we both just had to stand there, there wasn't much to worry about. I looked down at the hunched Neir Blackwood and whispered quietly so only she could hear.
"...I'm sorry."
"Yes?"
Neir looked up at me, startled. Our eyes met for the first time. Her perked ears folded back.
"..."
I didn't bother explaining the reason for my apology. If she had listened even a little to the words the excited members were shouting from the side, she would have clearly known why I was apologizing. Confusion filled Neir's eyes as she looked up at me. I turned my eyes away, not wanting to put unnecessary pressure on her. I didn't know why she was like that, but I intended to let her resolve it on her own.
"Alright, Vice-captain."
And in the meantime, our small wedding entered its final stage just before the feast. As a man who would become the head of a household, I was to declare my vows for my wife. The members also lowered their voices one by one. A silence so quiet it was hard to believe so many people were in attendance emerged. It was to the point where even the sound of me inhaling echoed.
With that loud breath, I recalled the words of the vow. They were sentences I had repeated hundreds of times years ago. And then, looking at Neir Blackwood, I opened my mouth. Everyone in attendance became my witness.
"...In exchange for your love, I will give you my all."
Neir Blackwood and my eyes met. As if vowing to myself, I continued, chewing over every single word very slowly.
"...No matter what happens, I will be on your side, and I will protect you from any threat. Whether your beauty is radiant or plain. Whether you are healthy or sick. Whether sad or happy, I will love you and cherish you just the same. I will give honorable and pure names to the children we bear, and I will teach them a wise and merciful life. I will be the pillar you can lean on, the roof you can rest under, and the foundation you can trust."
I took out the ring I had prepared and held out my hand to her. Neir Blackwood slowly extended her left hand to me with trembling, hesitant fingers. It took time for her hand to reach mine. That was how much she hesitated. As soon as her hand touched mine, I gently held it and began to slide the prepared ring onto her ring finger. I could clearly feel Neir Blackwood's hand trembling uncontrollably as we touched. However, I spoke the words I had memorized until the end.
"...Until my last breath leaves me, I dedicate my life and honor to you."
Soon, the ring I gifted was placed deep on Neir Blackwood's ring finger. Neir stared at the ring for a moment, then looked up at me. Countless emotions flashed across her face. Because of that, I couldn't tell exactly what she was feeling. Neir Blackwood then answered by nodding at my words. This, too, was one of the processes of the marriage. And Gibson handed Neir the ring I had prepared from the side. Neir also cautiously grasped my left hand. One hand supported mine, and with the other, she held the ring. Her hand, trembling mercilessly again. The ring began to slide slowly onto my ring finger, shaking uncontrollably.
As I had vowed, it was now my moment to accept. There was no turning back.
"The two of you are now husband and wife!"
As the rings were placed on each other's fingers, Baran shouted in a loud voice. Cheers erupted, and the feast began.
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"
"Kiss her! Vice-captain, kiss her!"
And the talk of a kiss, which couldn't be missed at a human wedding, flowed out. I looked at the crowd, a mix of mercenaries and Blackwood territory residents, then reached out my arm to Neir. Placing my hand on her cheek, I turned her body slightly. I showed my back to the people. And then, I brought my lips close to Neir's lips. I intended to just do it lightly and move on, following the atmosphere. But Neir, whose body was turned by me, was stiffening all over.
Our faces became close enough to touch. Our expressions were visible only to each other.
"..."
And I saw it. Neir's frozen expression breaking, and her looking terrified. With her lips pressed tight, eyes squeezed shut, she was trembling.
"....Please..."
She whispered quietly, as if talking to herself. Her desperate breath dampened my cheek.
"..."
Watching her like that, instead of a kiss, I lightly brought my nose to hers.
-Tap.
And then, as if we had shared a kiss, I turned my body and looked at the crowd throwing blessings.
"....Uh...?"
Neir Blackwood looked confused, as if she didn't know what had happened, but I just wiped my lips and acted as if I had kissed her.