Chapter 94: All Set for the Wedding

“…….”

Isaac wore a bewildered expression as he looked at the two women staring at him.

They reminded him of kids gazing at their grandfather, waiting to hear a fun story.

Scratching his cheek awkwardly, Isaac asked,

“Exactly what is it you want me to teach you?”

“Shouldn’t we start with longing?”

“Longing?”

When he repeated the question, Princess Clarice nodded without hesitation.

“Yes, if I actually find myself wanting something, I think I could become more proactive.”

“…….”

“To be honest, right now, I’m in a state of utter perfection where I don’t need a man or love at all!”

“Whew.”

Isaac felt he more or less understood what she meant.

Absurd though it was, it was odd how her request ultimately came from wanting to help others.

Needing love for someone else’s sake?

‘The premise itself is kind of strange.’

If it were the romantic Isaac of the past, he would have pointed that out immediately.

But the current Isaac was different.

“All right, first off, do you have a type?”

“I don’t.”

He’d expected that answer.

“Is there any man you at least find a little different? Someone you’re somewhat comfortable around?”

“Well, if I had to pick someone I’m close with... it’d be Isaac or Heyrad? He’s my guard knight, so I’m with him all the time.”

“Then let’s imagine it. You hold hands with Heyrad and share a kiss—”

“Ugh, gross. No thanks.”

“…….”

“…….”

“I don’t even understand why people kiss in the first place. Don’t you know how dangerous that is? If there’s contamination or something—”

This princess clearly needed time.

****

When night fell, the procession stopped.

All around the carriage, small bonfires flickered, with people gathered according to their groups.

Knights with knights.

Ladies-in-waiting with ladies-in-waiting.

In small clusters, they warmed themselves by the fires, talking or watching the rising smoke. It felt as if the old romantic mood, once lost, had begun to bloom again.

Or maybe it was just because they were single and open to possibilities—who knows?

“So, you’re saying you’re teaching the princess about love?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Next to him, the Grandmaster bit into a skewer of meat and gave a wide grin. Licking her lips, slick with grease, she added,

“How intriguing. Love, by nature, is deeply emotional and centered on personal desire. Yet she wants to realize it for someone else’s sake?”

“Ooh.”

Sharen, who was also eating a skewer, let out a sound of admiration as if she had just heard something amazing.

The Grandmaster turned toward Clarice from across the bonfire and offered her advice.

“Emotions are natural, like a flowing river. They flow as they will, so do not try to force the current to change.”

“Ooh.”

“So, you’re saying I shouldn’t force it, right?”

“Even if you do, you yourself will know the truth eventually. Such is love.”

Though the Grandmaster primarily taught swordsmanship, she would occasionally comment on matters beyond the blade.

Her lessons ultimately circled back to keeping one’s mind in check so as not to hinder the sword, but still, she had wisdom to share.

“Then could you tell me more?”

“Hmm?”

Skewer still in her mouth, the Grandmaster paused at Clarice’s request.

“You’ve felt your heart flutter before, haven’t you? I’d like to know when and how you felt love.”

“…….”

She hesitated, about to speak, when—

“It has to be with a person, okay? Something like ‘I was in love with my sword’ is not allowed.”

Her mouth snapped shut again.

“…….”

Her ears drooped, and her tail dragged on the ground. Then, glancing at Isaac, she grumbled,

“I want a drink.”

“This is a bride’s procession. No alcohol allowed.”

“Then I’ll go smoke some tobacco. Change the subject while I’m gone.”

With slumped shoulders, the Grandmaster headed off to a corner to smoke.

Avoiding the bright bonfires, the faint glow at the tip of her tobacco seemed more forlorn than usual.

“Hah, this is tough. I wish there were a neat, preset answer.”

Clarice let out a long sigh, pushing out her lower lip.

But Isaac rather agreed with the Grandmaster about letting things flow naturally.

“Look over there.”

Isaac pointed to another bonfire.

Various groups sat around it, and among the knights, one knight carefully approached a group of maids to say something.

His face was flushed, but the light of the bonfire hid it, and the atmosphere felt almost dreamy.

Before long, one of the maids took his hand, stood up, and the two began a simple dance.

It was just holding hands and matching steps—not much of a “dance,” really—but it was charming all the same.

“That’s what it feels like.”

“…….”

Following that first knight’s lead, other knights also approached the maids; likewise, some maids quietly sidled up to the knights who were just standing around, trying to look proper.

Before long, a modest dance party formed.

Beneath the cool night sky, the bonfires flickered and crackled, the popping sounds almost like music.

“How does it look to you?”

“To be honest…”

While everyone else was quietly smiling, Clarice scratched her cheek and said,

“We did stop to rest, but technically we’re still on duty. Is it really okay for them to be playing around like that?”

“…….”

“…….”

They stared at each other for a moment. Her rational mind was so strong that her emotions had no chance to come out.

Sensing that, Isaac was about to speak, but—

“I’ve got an idea!”

Sharen suddenly jumped to her feet and shouted with a grin.

Then she strode right over to Isaac and held out her hand.

“This is how it’s done, right?”

“It is, but I don’t want to.”

“…….”

Sharen’s outstretched hand did not retreat.

Whether out of embarrassment or stubbornness, she refused to back down.

But Isaac had his reasons.

“If I dance with you here, how do you think people will see it?”

“They’ll see a handsome man and a pretty woman?”

“Haah, dancing with my ex-wife’s younger sister might look scandalous.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, so—”

But Sharen simply snatched Isaac’s hand. Strong as you’d expect from someone of Helmut, she hoisted him to his feet with ease.

Then she pulled him into the midst of the dancing crowd.

“Sharen!”

“Aw, come on! It’s fun! I’ve always wanted to try something like this!”

At her cheerful outburst, the dancers nearby chuckled softly.

Perhaps they just saw it as an uncle having fun with his cute niece.

Sharen’s grumbling request was something Isaac couldn’t refuse.

“Ha! This feels so fun!”

“...Yeah. It does.”

As Sharen said, the atmosphere was wonderfully warm, and it felt like returning to an earlier time.

Their steps fell smoothly in sync. Holding hands with the red-haired girl evoked certain memories, and Isaac let out a bittersweet smile.

“Wow, you’re thinking about my sister, Rihanna, aren’t you?”

“How’d you know?”

“Whenever Isaac thinks of my sister, he gets that gentle, faraway look on his face.”

“...I see.”

“And for the record, when my sister thinks of Isaac—”

Sharen’s carefree tongue came to an abrupt halt. Realizing she might be making a mistake, she averted her eyes. But Isaac, growing curious, continued dancing while pressing the question.

“What does she do when she thinks of me?”

“You wouldn’t like it. You sure you want to hear?”

“...Then maybe I don’t need to know.”

“Wise choice!”

Sharen nodded with a bright smile. Watching her, Isaac felt words forming on the tip of his tongue before he could stop himself.

“Heh-heh! This is fun! Dancing with everyone like this is so different from the parties back at the estate!”

They spun in circles, exchanging simple dance steps.

“…….”

He knew there was no meaning in pondering ‘what ifs’ at this point. These thoughts were pointless, and yet—

‘What if.’

Ever since returning to the past, he found himself drifting into such hypothetical scenarios more often.

Those few parties they had attended... Back then, you’d been so nervous you wore a stiff mask on your face.

‘If, just once, you had smiled this brightly...’

Maybe—things would have turned out differently.

“Wow, that was fun!”

When their dance ended, the two released hands. On their way back, Isaac spotted Clarice and Heyrad in the middle of an intense argument.

They looked so heated that it was probably best not to interrupt. Indeed, the Grandmaster, who had been off smoking, returned and draped an arm over Isaac’s shoulder.

“Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

“Where else? To dance. You owe me a turn, don’t you?”

“…….”

He really didn’t want to—Sharen had already spun him around so many times that he was a bit dizzy. But the Grandmaster pressed on with a grin that was anything but benign.

“What, do I need to dye my hair red before you’ll dance with me? Is there some age limit I don’t know about? Wasn’t it at your age that you seduced Rihanna Helmut—”

“All right, let’s go! Let’s go!”

As the Grandmaster dragged Isaac away, Sharen was left standing there, watching.

“I don’t want to go join them...”

No way she was going to butt into Clarice and Heyrad’s serious conversation. After glancing around, Sharen simply ran toward the maids’ bonfire and snagged some of the snacks they had brought.

*****

About half a month passed.

“Tomorrow’s the day we arrive.”

Once so magnificent, the Pegasis now felt no different than any other carriage. Inside the gently swaying vehicle, Isaac spoke up.

“Are you prepared?”

Clarice paused a moment, then gave a faint smile.

“Even if we’d taken twice as long, I don’t think it would change how I feel now.”

She had tried in her own way to grasp the idea of love, but no grand transformation had occurred. It was mostly just abstract lessons repeated over and over—though that’s often how love is.

“Still, I think my mindset has shifted a bit. It’s like... I feel a bit more able to act as a wife.”

“…….”

“Because someone here practically wore their tongue out drilling it into me.”

Smile for your husband.

Talk to your husband.

Spend time with your husband.

Dine with your husband.

Your husband is not the enemy.

Even if you’re upset with him, talk it out.

Your husband is on your side.

Consult with your husband.

Even if he’s an idiot, he’s still your husband.

And so on.

“Well, at least you learned something, right? Like how important it is to have a healthy married relationship,” Isaac offered with a somewhat embarrassed smile.

Clarice wrinkled her brow.

“At first, it felt that way, but later it just came off as you lamenting everything about Rihanna.”

“Ahem.”

That shut him up quickly. Seeing Isaac cough awkwardly, Clarice laughed softly.

“Thank you.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, traveling with people like you and Sharen, people I can speak with so freely... it really helped me not to overthink everything.”

“…….”

“I feel like I can greet my future husband without any needless worries.”

“I see.”

Clarice closed her eyes calmly. Bathed in the sunlight streaming through the carriage window, she wore a gentle smile on her lips.

“It’s a bit sad that this kind of fun might be coming to an end.”

After all, once she was married, Isaac probably wouldn’t see much of Clarice again. She would become the queen of another kingdom, so at best, they might only run into each other at formal events—never as freely as now.

“My sister and Heyrad say I’m sacrificing myself, but I… I’m actually relieved.”

Because—

“I don’t know what love is, so there’s nothing for me to be sad about.”

“…….”

“If I had someone I truly wanted, someone for whom I’d give everything, like Isaac did back then—”

It would undoubtedly be painful.

Clarice murmured softly,

“Your Highness.”

In the memories Isaac carried from before his regression, Clarice had been the kingdom’s last pride.

Half-forced into commanding the army after Princess Adeline was assassinated, she neither gave up nor fled—until the day she died a heroic death in battle.

Isaac didn’t know the exact circumstances of her end, but…

“Whatever lies ahead now is surely a better future.”

Compared to that tragic time, marrying a prince from another kingdom probably counted as happiness.

“Forget all that ‘Transcendent’ business, the strengthening of royal authority—just leave it all behind. Just live as a wife to one man.”

“...Is that so?”

Clarice bowed her head slightly.

When Isaac first saw her, he had judged that, like Silverna, her true potential had yet to bloom.

The Clarice from his past life and the Clarice now were clearly different. Silverna was probably still working hard up north to fully awaken her talents—but perhaps Clarice didn’t need to bloom at all. If she could rest peacefully, that alone was a good outcome.

“I see.”

As Clarice slowly opened her eyes, a small smile played on her lips.

“Congratulations on your wedding, Your Highness.”

“Thank you, Isaac.”

A bright smile graced Clarice’s face. She was now fully ready to become someone’s wife.

Just then—

Heyrad flung open the carriage door, panting as he burst in with urgent news.

“Y-Your Highness! Prince Raphael has run off in a passionate affair—he’s fled!”

“…….”

Isaac blinked in surprise and turned to Clarice.

Her mouth hung open, and she summed up her feelings in a single phrase:

“That bastard….”

– – The End of The Chapter – –

 

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