31. vow eternal love
A majestic bell rings out all around. It's not a bell to ring to tell the time. The liturgical bell that exists in the normally closed spire of the royal palace. Its history is much older than the royal palace itself.
Tone informs everyone living in the royal capital that today is a special day.
Prince's wedding.
It's a national festival. People flooded the main street to catch a glimpse.
The cobbled streets were covered with colorful flower petals, and the houses celebrated with flags and flowers. A luxurious carriage pulled by a white horse in the center is guarded by the guards and slowly advances.
The beauty of the bride peeking through the slightly opened window took the breath away from all who saw it.
As for me, I was looking down on that situation from the tower of the royal palace.
"His Highness Vincent, it's about time."
"I want to see Elizabeth's profile too..."
“The royal palace painters have been arranged in various places.
There is a sigh that does not even try to hide it in the explanation.
After Ricardo-dono's visit, Harold's attitude seems to have become stricter.
"Okay, let's go."
The marching procession climbed the main street and entered the courtyard of the royal palace. A four-horse carriage is at the front door. After a while, Elizabeth should come down with the Duke and Duchess of La Montrivre.
I handed over the telescope and binoculars to Harold and checked the sleeves of his dazzlingly white formal dress.
The ceremony is held in the Great Hall of the Royal Palace. The audience was already waiting for the main character to appear.
The bell rang again. It's the signal to start.
The door opens. A crimson carpet runs in the middle of the guests divided into left and right.
I cross in front of the invited guests while stepping on the thick fur.
In the place closest to the entrance are the nobles of their own country. Next to Raphael is Miss Ulysse, and next to Edward is Miss Serena. I'm really engaged... Both Miss Ulysse and Miss Serena probably look tense in a different way than the other guests. Or rather, she turned pale.
and guests from other countries. Marius-dono, Miss Risha, and Leohart are also there. Ricardo-dono, who should have enjoyed our country just a few months ago, is also shrewd. It's hard for the king class to leave the country, so it would be nice to have representatives.
When I reached the front of the tall altar, I looked back at the path I had just walked.
A bell rings three times.
Elisabeth, who was escorted by the Duke of La Montrivre, appeared through the open door.
A sweet and cute dress with plenty of frills and lace, plump and long with a wide hem. At the same time, the hair pulled up and the tranquil expression peeking out from the veil also attracts beauty.
In other words, it is so beautiful and lovely that it cannot be thought of as something of this world.
It must have been an angel after all... it seems like he's hallucinating pure white wings.
The eyes of the attendees gather on Elizabeth. Elizabeth casts her gaze down, and she doesn't show any signs of flabbergasted.
I'm really glad I got the role I was waiting for...I thought. If I had been walking towards Elizabeth, I would probably have collapsed from her knees at this point and could not walk.
The escort, Duke-dono, was already watering, and even more so than Elizabeth, she was on the verge of bursting into tears.
I understand all too well, Duke. The irreplaceable joy of Elizabeth growing up and reaching her milestone, and the loneliness of losing that shining treasure from our hands... I cried because I empathized with the bride's father. That's it.
While the audience's gazes were fixed on Elizabeth, he blinked to cover up the tears that were oozing out.
In the midst of what seemed like an eternity or even a moment, Elizabeth calmly walked towards me.
The Duke of La Montrivre holds out Elizabeth's hand to me.
Elizabeth made a face.
Through the veil, their eyes met.
there were no words. But Elizabeth smiled with tears in her narrowed eyes.
I also hold out my hand and smile back.
"Elizabeth"
"Yes, Your Highness Vincent."
Elizabeth's hand overlapped her outstretched hand.
As I've done many times before, I escorted Elizabeth to the stage.
Looking back, the hall was lined with hundreds of people.
Lars also sticks out only his head from a basket with a gold ribbon placed on the wall.
Everyone smiles and watches over us.
But more than anyone else, I must have had a bright smile on my face.
"I am very happy to be able to hold the wedding ceremony in front of you all on this beautiful day."
My voice echoes in the quiet hall.
"Here we take our marriage vows."
Next to me, Elizabeth attended the ceremony with a dignified attitude.
“I vow to nurture love with Elizabeth, who will become my wife, and to continue to devote myself to my responsibilities as the Crown Prince without neglecting my duties.”
"His Highness Vincent and the country of Ulhara,eternityTowaI pledge my love and loyalty to
Say your vows and face Elizabeth.
A kiss to prove that the oath is true.
Take a step towards Elizabeth.
I slowly lifted the veil from Elizabeth, who dropped her waist.
Elizabeth's purple eyes stare at me for a moment, and her eyelids slowly close.
The great hall was so silent that it was hard to believe that there were hundreds of people there.
Expectations and uneasiness mixed gaze stings. Mainly from my parents' generation who know my accumulated dark history, and from my friends who know my true nature.
I held out my hand to support Elizabeth.
All the scenery melted away from the corner of my vision. At this moment, all I see is Elizabeth. There are only me and Elizabeth in this world.
The distance between the two of them slowly closed, and their lips were about to overlap――at that moment.
“Be prepared nya, Mariabelle~~~~~~!!!!”
A high-pitched voice, completely unsuitable for a celebration, rushed in.
32. Neko Neko Parade
In front of me, Elizabeth's eyes widen in surprise.
The guests also groaned. The content of the line, and the fact that it was Plum who uttered it, could not be ignored.
I immediately made a face.
“Mr. Zachary, please direct the guards outside!
"Ha!!"
"I can help you too! Light, become a wallflicker lightTsu! ! ”
"Light, become a wallflicker light”
As soon as Zachary-dono, who received my instructions, gave a signal, the guards surrounded the attendees. In addition, Miss Risha was followed by Domenick-dono and Raphael chanting――A wall of light that absorbs attack magic spreads throughout the hall.
…the entire hall?
When I unintentionally looked at it twice, Leohart was also emitting an aura of magical power, aside from Marius-dono, who was putting his hands together to share the magical power next to Miss Risha. you too Did you learn it because you wanted Marius-dono to praise you?
And when I looked to the other side, next to Zachary-dono and Raphael, the pale Miss Ulysse was emitting a particularly strong radiance. Huh, there too? Could that be the reason why Miss Ulysse was able to return to the royal capital?
"... No, it's more plum than that."
I have a lot of things to think about, but now it's the approaching King Ketsey.
“His Highness Vincent, I will come too!”
"It's dangerous - but I can't stop you as the future queen. Please."
"Yes, Mr. Lars!"
We followed Lars who jumped out of the basket and ran to the balcony, and were taken aback by the sight outside.
A purple cat swaggers down the main street.
The figure that flips over the cloak and stands on two legs is Plum's as expected. But the problem was its size.
It's as big as a two-story mansion.
On top of that, he has dozens of Kett Sis who are thought to be his relatives.
Luckily, due to Elizabeth's carriage, there are no stalls or people on the main street today. Plums are advancing without hurting humans.
However, there were many royal citizens on the side streets who wanted to see the parade that was going to be held after this. Soldiers are trying to evacuate, but they seem to have misunderstood that this is part of the wedding ceremony, so they just clap their hands.
Well, it's a big cat and a lot of cats... but an accident might happen sooner or later.
"I'm going meow! Thunder Strike~~~~ Mutsu!!!"
As Plum raised her hands, all the cats in the army let out a meow. Thunder is released with a crackling sound from the hair that stands on end.
Countless arrows of thunder pouring down.
Most of them were broken down by being protected by the protective barrier of the royal palace, but some of them penetrated the barrier and burned the tree in the garden designed by Mother.
The royal palace is still safe because there is a barrier for Miss Risha and the others.
We must stop the plums now.
"Elizabeth, can you make Lars gigantic?"
"Yes, Master Lars, help me...!"
"Kyuoooo!"
ContractorElizabethLars shuddered as he soared from the balcony with permission from The body of the white holy dragon is covered with a layer of magical power and cringes.
With Elizabeth, she climbs onto Lars's back, which is growing bigger and bigger. Now you can fly to Plum.
"Light, become a wallflicker light! ”
"! His Highness Vincent also uses this magic...?"
Elizabeth held her breath as the dome of light unfolded.
"Oh, I thought it would be useful. With this, even if Plum shoots that lightning, it will be fine for a while."
I can't protect Wrath, but... well, it's a holy dragon, so it'll work out somehow. Perhaps noticing this, Lars let out a dissatisfied voice "Guo..." and began to move.
Lars flies gently in the wind so as not to shake us off.
Of course, it was my first time riding on the back of a dragon. If this was an evil dragon, it would have had a lot of thorns and it wouldn't look good, so I'm really glad that it turned into a holy dragon.
"Oh, come on, you guys! Where are you going nya!"
The Kett Siths, who sensed Rath's approach, seemed to instantly realize the difference in status, puffing up their tails and running away like spiderlings. Even if Plum raises her angry voice, she completely ignores it. Some were blocked by guards trying to escape into crowded back alleys.
Glide to the standing Plum.
"Plum, listen to me—!"
"Yeah, damn it, nya!!"
The first step of persuasion ended in failure.
Plum bared his fangs, snarled, and thrust out his giant claws at us.
From the tip of my fingernail it is said that there will be several times more than beforehuge thunderIkazuchiburst out.
"Gyuoooooo!!!"
Lars also roared and released a flameball. Two magical powers with different attributes collide, and after antagonizing each other to swallow each other, they explode in a blast.
The windows of the shops lined up shook violently.
“Are you okay, Elizabeth!?”
"Yes, thanks to His Highness's barrier, magic can't reach."
Elizabeth calmly answered while holding on to Lars' wing roots.
It's a bad footing that's not comparable to horses, but it seems that the area is perfectly supported by the trunk trained by the princess education. Beautiful gestures start with the trunk—that's what my mother taught me.
"Kushaku meow!"
Another huge lightning strike. The claws graze the wings of Lars who dodged in the nick of time.
The thunder dashed straight to the royal palace behind us.
For a moment, a dazzling light that blinded even the daytime sun spread across the sky.
After receiving a large-scale attack, the mother's barrier that was crumbling completely disappeared.
I unintentionally hug Elizabeth as if to protect her. Plum seems surprised too and holds her tail upright. A beard that spreads like a fan.
"This is... Mariabelle's magical power nya...!!"
Golden eyes glittered.
"Now nya, finish off nya, one more time--"
"Wait, Plum!! If you do that, you'll never see your mother again!!"
I jumped in front of the claws where the lightning strike swirled. To be precise, it was Lars who carried me and Elizabeth, but.
33. reconciliation with the past
Although it has a protective barrier, there are heavyweights from various countries and nobles from our country in the royal palace. Shooting offensive magic at such people is nothing but a sign of hostility, no matter how you try to interpret it favorably.
The flow of magic stops.
Plum narrowed her eyes and looked at me. What is reflected in her eyes is sadness and conflict.
The cat's proboscis lifts up. To me, it seemed like the best bravado.
"What happened to that, nya?"
A foolish tone. But the magic doesn't move.
I am willing to listen to you.
"Parting isn't what I want. Of course Plum, neither are you... I'm sure your mother doesn't want it either."
Plum's whiskers twitched. It seems you can't believe my words.
“Mother said she forgot to reinforce the seal, but… that person wouldn’t make such a mistake. I didn't think it would cause such a fuss, but..."
It may have been unexpected even for my mother to put the citizens of the royal capital in danger. No, but since it's about my mother, it seems like I can put up a barrier on one side of the main street...
Anyway, luckily the audience thought it was a show and no one was injured. not yetdevil・To・a・cormorant・It's a stage.
Next to me, Elizabeth also nodded with a worried expression.
"I will also explain the situation and make sure that Mr. Plum will not be charged with a crime."
"What is it nya, Godjijou... Wagahai was revived to defeat Mariabel, and Mariabel wants to defeat Wagahai, nya."
"That's not true! Mother loosened the seal, and you didn't come back here to fight."
Plum looked like a crushed orange. It seems she can't be honest after all. He wrinkles all over his face and complains.
"Then, let me put it bluntly. The fact that I am here is the best proof that I want peace. If Mother had recognized you as a complete enemy, she would have gone out alone and destroyed you. I'm letting you
"...nya..."
Hmm... and the swirling magical power at the tip of the nail disappeared.
I feel like Plum, who was able to imagine normally, was attacked by fear rather than finally understanding, but I don't care about the details.
Plum, whose hair had changed from purple to blue, bowed her head.
Golden eyes moist with tears.
“Then Mariabelle, what do you want Wagahai to do, nya?
"Well... Plum, I'm with you."
Plum looks up. I let out a wry smile at the purely questioning gaze.
A tsundere is just a tsun if he doesn't show his tsundere. Both Mother and Plum.
"I wanted to make friends with Plum."
「～～～～!! Mariabell……!!」
Tears welled up from my round eyes. With its golden iris, the purple cat is sniffling and crying.
As if he had run out of energy, his body gradually shrunk.
A plum that has returned to its original size jumps into my chest.
"Mariabelle's son...! Mariabelle's son, thank you, Wagahai, I'll try my best nya."
"It's Vincent."
Elizabeth smiles and watches over Plum.
There was no sign of anger even though the wedding had been tampered with. That's what I love about her from the bottom of my heart.
"I caused trouble by talking about my house."
"No, not at all. Thank you for resolving the issue."
"Return to the royal palace? Lars, please."
"Kyuo..."
Lars looked curiously at Caitsey, who was sobbing while being held behind him, but he turned his head and jumped up.
Cheers rose from the citizens of the royal capital who were watching the progress.
Me and Elizabeth smiled and waved. cheers grow louder. Children and young people in particular seemed fascinated by dragons and magical beasts they saw up close, waving their arms with full faces.
Among them, I found the lady of the butcher's shop, and I raised my voice, "Ah!" Elizabeth, who was waving her hand in a different direction from me, also turns around and lets out a small mutter, "Well."
It seems that the other side also noticed.
With his mouth wide open, he shakes the shoulders of the owner next door.
“If you knew that Ricardo-dono was King Nive, you would be even more surprised…”
"Fufu, that's right."
Elizabeth laughs mischievously.
I shook my hand with a hint of embarrassment, and the lady waved her hand back with glee.
With me and Elizabeth on board, Lars slowly flew along the main street and returned to the balcony of the royal palace.
The people who had been watching the situation inside the wall of light greeted me with a look of relief.
Since I can't let Plum go to the royal palace unconditionally, I decided to let Lars, who had returned to the size of a baby dragon, keep an eye on me, and put them in the basket together.
"I'm fine now. I'm sorry for disturbing you."
As I bow my head, Elizabeth also bows deeply.
Although no damage was done, it was a predictable crisis. It wouldn't be strange to call it a security oversight.
However, such concerns were dispelled by Ricardo-dono's firm voice.
"No no! There's nothing to apologize for. We were able to spend our time safely in the double barrier. Mariabel--and Gaius-dono were also present. It was reassuring."
Ricardo-dono, who was glared at by his mother, immediately named him after his father, but the surrounding foreign dignitaries nodded in agreement even before his father's name came up. It seems that my mother's black history is spreading.
"And to tame King Ketsey in such a short time is a splendid skill. I was surprised that he even received the protection of the Holy Dragon."
After passing through the line, Ricardo-dono steps forward in front of me.
“Applause to the young future king!
Ricardo took the initiative to clap his hands while saying that. The people lined up turned to me and Elizabeth, who were standing near the balcony.
The mood of celebration returned to the hall, which was once again surrounded by applause.
"...Ricardo-dono, are you trying to bring up me and let Plum take the lead?"
"What are you talking about? It's a heartfelt compliment. Oops, you forgot one important thing."
Ricardo-dono deceived me with a smirk, looked at me, then at Elizabeth, and raised his index finger as if to divert the conversation.
"It's a kiss of oath."
……It was.