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Georg’s face twitched as he held his bride’s hand as I recited my lines. Sporadic laughter erupted from the guests. Oh, right. They’ve never heard that before. I was the officiant of this wedding. Reaction aside, I turned to Georg.

“Yes, I do.”

Georg replied, and the person behind him smiled and nodded. I turned to the bride, Camilla, and waited for an answer. Smiling happily into Georg’s eyes, Camilla looked more beautiful than anyone else today, her veil pulled back and flowing with her blonde hair.

“I do.”

I nodded, looking at them both alternately. I let them bask in silence for a moment. Emotions were blossoming between them. Georg’s smiled as bright and happy as sunshine. It’s a shame that photography doesn’t exist in this world yet, so I bide my time, letting them imprint this moment in their mind. I saw the silent thanks of the painter rapidly coloring the scene.

“You may seal this declaration with a kiss.”

At my words, Camilla leaped into Georg’s arms. He caught her in a quick embrace and kissed her. Shouts and applause erupted from the audience. I smirked, proud as I watched my friend’s happiest moment. Right now, the world is their oyster. I nodded slightly, joining in the raucous applause.

“Bride, groom, march!”

Hand in hand, Georg and Camilla stepped onto the podium. Their gazes locked once more, and they began to walk slowly but steadily down the aisle. The band played their best songs, and the crowd erupted in thunderous applause again. The high summer sun shone brightly, and the rings on Georg and Camilla’s ring fingers glistened. I breathed in the breeze that had come in just in time. It carried the scent of sunshine and, faintly, burning wood.

“Georg, congratulations, you bastard!”

“Congratulations, sir!”

Congratulations were shouted at the top of their lungs by those who were essentially Georg’s knights. Georg returned the favor, turning his head toward the cheers. I glanced around the room. Daphne’s beaming smile. Marianne’s warm gaze. Archduke Quenor’s laughter. Iris’ welling eyes. A moment etched in time and memory.

(It’s been a long time since I’ve watched someone get married.)

‘It seems the Holy Sword was a popular weapon.’

(It’s been a long time since I’ve been alive. Of course, I’ve seen many, but not just happy marriages. I haven’t seen a wedding where the two were so purely in love with each other.)

I don’t think the Holy Sword has ever watched over the marriages of ordinary people. Maybe it’s observed the marriages of her former users. It seems the previous Hereos were somewhat unlucky.

(…It’s because most of them couldn’t find happiness or didn’t know what happiness was in the first place.)

The Holy Sword said with regret. She must have lost countless people. How many of them had lived years of consistent peace?

(I hope you can find that happiness.)

Her words always went to my heart. They wrapped around my pounding heart, comforting me.

Georg and Camilla passed through the arch of flowers. I watched them through blurry eyes. People laughed and chattered as the couple walked by, crowding behind Camilla as she held the bouquet. Daphne stared at it, her eyes shining, while Marianne clung to Daphne’s hand with a puzzled expression as she led the way through the crowd.

“Throw it quickly, sister!”

“Wait a minute!”

Laughter erupted. Camilla glanced behind her and clasped her hands together to grab the bouquet. She threw it back with all her might, and the hands and eyes of the crowd followed it. Like a feather, it fell slowly. Each person at the falling point stretched out their arms. Then, like a bolt of lightning, someone snatched the bouquet up. They turned to look at the person who had caught it and froze.

“How cute that bouquet is, just like you.”

Red eyes under dark hair neatly tied up. Dressed more modestly than usual for the bride. Agnes Blanche Lumiere gently shook the bouquet in her right hand. When the crowd erupted, the Queen gently placed a finger over her mouth, signaling silence. The mischievous gleam in her eye and her relaxed body suggested she was secretly enjoying the reaction.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll take it.”

Camilla, who had tossed the bouquet, looked at Agnes in surprise. Georg, greeting acquaintances in the distance, came running up panting. Agnes looked at them side by side, smiling from ear to ear.

“Congratulations on your marriage, Georg and Camilla. May you live long and happily… in the words of today’s officiant, until your hair goes gray. Truly revolutionary.”

Georg immediately took the example of a knight, and Camilla took the example of a subject. Those who crowded around to seize the bouquet could not help but gaze at Agnes’ features with envy. As I descended from the dais, Agnes approached me with the flowers. She looked as natural as holding the sword.

“An impressive officiant, Elroy. You’ve set the standard for weddings in the future.”

“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Agnes stared at me as if expecting me to say something. I stood still, looking into her eyes, and then spoke.

“You look beautiful today.”

“I know it’s customary, but thank you.” (TN: I know there’s a better word than customary, but I can’t think of it.)

Agnes replied, gently hugging the bouquet. Her laugh was another flower.

(…Cunning, very cunning. I have never seen a fox like this before, Elroy.)

‘A fox, no matter how you slice it, is too much.’

(Can’t you see the tail wagging behind her, Elroy? You’re too dull for your own good. You’d better be a little more alert lest you be eaten!)

No one else heard her, so Agnes stealthily approached me and put her arms around me.

I could hear the Holy Sword shouting angrily again. I pulled her closer. Agnes flinched, but her face remained impassive.

“Come on, let’s go get something to eat. It looks like the royal chefs are here to cook today’s meal. It smells quite delicious.”

Agnes dragged me to a table unobtrusively. She nibbled at her plate, watching the eyes of her guests.

“I would have preferred to attend more casually, but my presence would make everyone uneasy. I never thought having so many servants could be a hassle.”

She said while taking a bite of a canapé topped with cheese, cucumber, cherry tomato, and ham. Agnes nodded, savoring the flavor. Her table manners were impeccable.

“Anyways, I wanted to check on you.”

“I am well, by the grace of Her Majesty.”

“If the day comes when you aren’t, I can only blame my incompetence. Isn’t that right?”

There were thorns in her words. I bit into my sandwich with an awkward laugh.

“I just want you to be happy, Elroy.”

Agnes raised her glass of champagne and offered me another. I took it, and Agnes lightly touched her glass to mine and drank.

“Though, knowing your personality, that seems unlikely.”

“…I will try.”

“If it were up to me, I would have ordered you to live happily ever after.”

I sipped champagne with Agnes. As we nibbled on the different food, we chatted about the recovery in other parts of the world, the Queen’s improved swordsmanship, and the emotions that seeped through the small talk.

Compassion, guilt, regret. The longer the small talk went on, the wider the gaps, the more things mingled, and the more turbid the emotions became.

“It’s a luxury to wish this moment would last forever.”

“It’s not a luxury if it’s a wish everyone has.”

I said as I looked at Georg and Camilla, and Agnes comforted me.

“I wish the Seventh Disaster would never come.”

“I think we all wish that, Elroy. For now, no one knows where or what it is.”

The Disasters I fought were stronger than the last. I don’t know how or when the Seventh Disaster will strike. I gripped the hilt of my Holy Sword.

“Watching them be happy is my happiness.”

I looked at the wedding party, and Agnes looked at me.

“Then… let me tell you something.”

Her voice was uncharacteristically soft, with a hint of hesitation. I turned to face Agnes, and her smile was unlike any I’d seen before. A smile that seemed more like her own than a Queen’s.

“Watching your happiness makes me happy.”

She turned to face me. Holding my hand, she hesitated for what seemed like an eternity, then gently let go and inclined her head.

“I cannot stay long today. I must return.”

The knights, who seemed to be following her in secret, approached. Perhaps Agnes had been alerted to their presence.

“I will call on you soon, Elroy. Until then, be well.”

Agnes turned back to Georg and Camilla and said goodbye, then climbed into the carriage and left. I was left on the fringes of the banquet, sipping champagne. I closed my eyes and listened as people laughed and chattered.

***

“It’s the end, Mercenary.”

Arjen thought he had finally seen the end. But he couldn’t reach it. No, it was impossible. The roots of the doomsday worshippers were in a place that could never be touched.

“Where there is light, there is shadow. We are eternal, and you can do nothing about it.”

Black mist swirled and entered the body of a seated figure, who wriggled, his face contorted in a grotesquely.

“Open your mind and confront the darkness.”