ALL NOVEL Chapter 181
Elia appeared.
Dressed in pure white, it was a rather embarrassing metaphor, but for a moment, it felt like an angel had walked out.
Her milky skin, occasionally flushed like a peach, looked even more beautiful thanks to the dress.
“Uh, um….”
I knew I had to control my gaze, but it wasn’t easy.
Usually, Elia’s outfits didn’t flaunt her figure.
So, I had no idea what kind of shape her body was beneath those clothes.
“To be honest, if I didn’t know at all from hugging her often, that would be a lie….”
But now, wearing a dress that fit her perfectly, the curves of her body were laid bare.
Her waist, hips, and other fascinating and alluring forms of her three-dimensional physique….
“I-I shouldn’t! How could I look at Her Majesty like this, such disrespect…!”
I scolded myself, feeling like I was doing something wrong.
At that moment, Elia swept her hair back and said,
Revealing her straight shoulders and collarbone.
“Y-you’re looking, but don’t just stare… say something….”
She must have been embarrassed too, as her face was flushed.
I probably looked similar.
“S-so, um… you look absolutely gorgeous. Yes. I think we made a great choice in getting married….”
As I replied in a dazed voice, Elia burst into a light laugh.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
It didn’t seem like she found my response unpleasant; she smiled widely.
Could it be because of the dress?
Today, her smiling face looked even… prettier. Hm.
Even though we were outdoors, a large mirror was prepared.
Elia stood in front of the mirror, checking herself from every angle.
The dress gracefully highlighted the curves of her upper body.
The skirt spread beautifully from her hips.
She nodded, seemingly satisfied with what she saw in the mirror.
Watching her, I suddenly wondered.
“Does Elia know she’s beautiful? I should ask her later.”
After checking her look, Elia smiled at me before going back inside the tent.
She said she would show me the next dress.
Once the staff helping her got in, I sat back down.
For some reason, my legs felt a little weak.
“…Is this where it finally hits me?”
I was getting married.
It felt a bit vague.
When receiving the proposal, when touring the Sun Symbol Temple.
Even when discussing the wedding with Elia.
Maybe I just felt detached from the reality of it all.
But seeing Elia in that pure white wedding dress, it finally clicked.
“So it’s really happening.”
They say marriage is the grave of life.
People with experience give such advice.
They say if you don’t want to, just don’t.
Maybe because I haven’t been through it, I couldn’t relate much.
On the contrary, I was so excited.
From the moment I saw the wedding dress, my heart raced so fast that I was practically sweating from my palms.
After that, I saw several more dresses worn by Elia.
Each one was stunning.
From voluminous skirts to slim ones.
Some revealed shoulders, while others were tightly wrapped.
I learned for the first time just how diverse the designs of plain white dresses could be.
While my eyes were dazzled, a problem arose.
“…What to choose?”
Elia delegated the decision of the dress to me.
She wanted to wear what I thought looked best on her.
“Everything looks good, though…?”
None of them looked bad at all.
“What to pick….”
This was torture.
Showing off nothing but beautiful looks and then asking me to choose just one?
There won’t ever be another type of torture this fresh and dreadful in the world.
I don’t think I’ve ever pondered this deeply in my life.
And after a very serious contemplation, I made a decision.
“How about that one from earlier?”
Elia confirmed again, and I nodded.
“I’m glad you found one you like.”
“Does that mean… do you like it, Elia?”
“If you like it, then I like it too. But is there a special reason? Just curious.”
“Well….”
It wasn’t that there wasn’t a reason.
A mildly embarrassing one.
I was conscious of the other staff around us.
I gestured to Elia and lowered my head subtly.
I wanted to reply in a whisper.
Elia naturally wrapped her arm around my waist and leaned closer to my ear.
“What I wore earlier has the least exposure….”
“Really? You like the less revealing one? That’s unexpected?”
“Well, it’s something I have to show to others….”
“…….”
Elia slightly parted her lips, her eyes blinking rapidly.
She looked a bit dazed, chewing on those words.
Then suddenly,
“Mmph—!”
She pulled my head in and pressed her lips against mine.
“Oh my….”
The surrounding staff muttered awkwardly and looked away.
Fortunately, the kiss was brief.
When she pulled away, she was smiling so brightly.
She looked so innocent it almost seemed mischievous.
“W-wait, suddenly, w-what about the others…?!”
“You’re cute.”
“Y-you think so?”
“Are you trying to control me right now?”
“W-wait, is that control…? Maybe…?”
“Is it because you don’t want others seeing? Are you jealous someone might look?”
“Hmm….”
That wasn’t entirely wrong, was it?
I mean, now that she’s my bride, I could see why she might not want others looking at her…!
I’d want to show off that she’s mine at the wedding, but when it came to more intimate views, I prefer just myself!
“Looks like you’ve got your cute sides too?”
Elia’s expression while looking at me was so lovely I could barely hold myself back from sweetness pouring out.
I didn’t even understand why that was cute, but oddly, I didn’t feel bad about it.
I hated that I felt that way, yet I liked Elia… such complicated emotions.
“Hmm. It’s my first time being meddled with like this, but it’s surprisingly nice.”
“Ahem….”
“Anyway, I understand how you feel. Then I’ll have her wear what you chose.”
“Yay….”
Elia lightly kissed me again and went back into the tent.
“Phew…. It’s hot out here….”
I fluttered my clothes and sat back down in my chair.
For some reason, I felt embarrassed and my face felt warm.
“Well, saying I’m cute… really, I’ve heard all kinds of things in my life… who’d have thought I’d hear someone call me cuter than they are, huh? Jeez….”
For no reason, something in my heart felt ticklish, and I kept muttering to myself.
In the end, it was me who grew more embarrassed.
But the awkward situation wasn’t over yet.
Now that Elia had chosen her dress, it was my turn next.
*
“Wow.”
I admired it, utterly pure.
“Goodness.”
I was wearing something like this for the first time in my life.
I had worn formal suits a few times.
At a glance, it looked somewhat similar to what I had on.
Pants, shirt, vest, and jacket.
However, it was dazzlingly extravagant.
“It looks like something a noble would wear in a movie. …I mean, am I a noble now? Or a royal?”
Anyway, I was wearing this ‘I have money and power’ outfit.
The fact that my suit was white was striking enough, but it was adorned with golden and red embroidery.
There were even jewels sewn into the fabric.
I didn’t exactly feel delighted about it.
It stood out too much.
Unlike me, Elia seemed to really like it.
With a satisfied smile, she looked me up and down, nodding.
“You really put a lot of thought into this. Your already handsome face looks even better.”
When she complimented me, a nearby staff member bowed their head.
She stared at my face, tilting her head slightly.
“But are you not happy with it? Please be honest.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it… it’s more like… it feels awkward and uncomfortable.”
“…Ah, I see. I suppose you weren’t used to this kind of attire where you came from.”
It felt like she was hinting at a class difference.
Yet she had peered into my memories and learned from them about the world I came from.
“Is it very uncomfortable?”
“Not to that extent…. Maybe I’ll get used to it as I wear it more?”
“Could you do that for me then? Because I think it looks amazing.”
She smiled and took a step closer.
Wrapping her arms around my waist and leaned in close.
With a face full of affection, her smile shone bright.
“I want to share this sparkling you with as many people as possible that day. You’re officially mine from now on.”
Ah.
After saying all that, I had no choice but to agree.
“In that case, I’ll wear it for you as much as you want.”
Elia giggled and then lightly kissed me again.
“Thank you.”
This was good. Hm. Everything was great, but kissing in front of so many people was a bit… I still hadn’t gotten used to it.
But I figured I would get used to it gradually.
To my surprise, picking the outfit went faster, even quicker than expected.
We’ll move on to picking accessories next.
I didn’t have an eye for jewels, but thanks to Elia helping with the selection, we finished quickly.
Finally, there was one last important item left.
Elia subtly brought it up.
“And about the wedding rings….”
*
On the wedding day, Judah and Elia advanced hastily.
The venue chosen was the Sun Symbol Temple’s hall.
A peaceful tune played gently from the orchestra.
In one of the audience’s seats.
Richard nervously bit his nails and fidgeted with his styled hair before nudging Dillon’s shoulder.
“Hey. Am I okay today? Huh?”
“Please stop asking that. You’ve already asked five times.”
“But I’m serious!”
“Seriously! I have no idea, so you just manage it yourself. Honestly, you look like a thug who shouldn’t be here.”
“Don’t joke around!”
“I’m not joking.”
Next to them, Richard’s partner, Beninita, smiled and spoke.
“She said you’re fine. I’m fine, and Dillon has said it several times. Why can’t you just sit still?”
“But… it’s my first time in a situation like this…!”
The eleven guards were all dressed up and seated in the best audience area.
Some were overly nervous, while others were relaxed.
Argon, who belonged to the latter group, pointed out Richard’s anxiety.
“You’d think you were Judah’s parents with how jumpy you are. What’s with the jitters?”
“Well, I raised him, so isn’t that why I should be worried?”
“You’ve officially gone over the edge.”
Argon said with an air of incredulity, ignoring Richard’s nervousness.
“Anyway, is it really okay to say all that about the soon-to-be envoy…?”
Beninita spoke up nervously, and Richard straightened his shoulders.
“Of course! I’ve got a lot of history with him, you know!”
“Please, just cool it!”
Lindell barely managed to calm Richard down who was far more excited than usual.
The guards were seated at two tables due to their numbers, and among them were Gawain and Shylock.
Gawain was nervously shaking his legs and chewing his fingernails.
Sitting beside him, Shylock chuckled lightly.
“It’s the first time seeing Sir Gawain so nervous.”
“Cough. Who said I was nervous? And it’s Gallahead.”
“Ah, I still can’t get used to that.”
Fidgeting with his artificial arm and adjusting his posture, Gawain was trying hard to play it cool even though it was obvious he was anxious.
“You’d think it was your own son getting married.”
“Well, to be honest, that’s not entirely incorrect. Hrm.”
“Ah, yes….”
At the next table sat Hermis, Yurideke, and Orphe.
“Judah getting married… my goodness. It feels like just yesterday I met that little brat while escorting him….”
Hermis blankly murmured while staring at the door through which the groom and bride would enter.
Yurideke smirked.
“It sure has been a long time. When that kid first showed up, I was quite shocked.”
Beside her, Orphe sighed and shook his head.
“You young folk… what marriage could possibly happen at such a young age… whew.”
“…Oh my. Do you have some critical opinions on marriage?”
Yurideke asked in a tender yet haunting voice, and Orphe jolted as if she had touched cold water.
“Ah, no…! That wasn’t what I meant…!”
“Uh-huh. So that’s not what you meant?”
Hermis sipped wine while listening to the familiar bickering between them.
Back at the palace guards’ table.
Shylock shook his head, surveying the glamorous hall that had transformed for the wedding.
‘It’s impressive.’
The extravagant venue wasn’t the only unusual part of the ceremony.
First of all, there was no officiant.
And it was for a good reason.
With Elia being both the Empress, Pope, and Saintess, who could officiate her wedding?
Just like one who wears a crown, the scene was indeed a self-important one.
The only ones filling seats were guests.
The whole event was directed solely by Elia.
‘Quite a leap in status.’
From being a brash child of a slave to a national envoy.
Life sure is a curious rollercoaster.
At that moment, several knights guarding the entrance boomed.
“Her Majesty the Empress and the National Envoy are entering!”
Then, the heavy doors creaked open.