We swing our cake knives. The speed at which we do so is not that of a typical cake cutting, but that of our full-blown battles. For an ordinary person, not even a shadow of us would register. However, the important part starts now.
“Hah!”
In perfect synchronization, we repeatedly swung our knives, continuing to cut into the wedding cake. Because we had unified our thoughts through “mutual understanding,” we were able to move with almost no error. That said, Lion, who excels at “swordsmanship,” was the main one wielding the knife, and I was merely matching her movements. In exchange, I was working hard to protect the sliced cake with a barrier and deliver it to everyone on the wind.
“Wh-Whoa?! The cake flew onto my plate!”
“Mine too?! And it’s just floating above my plate!”
“No way, they’re serving it to us at the same time as the cake cutting?!”
That’s right! If you hold out a plate directly beneath the cake, it will land gently. Please enjoy it!
…By now, you’ve probably understood most of our joint operation. Actually, this super-giant wedding cake is designed so that if it’s cut precisely, the contents like fruits, fresh cream, and sponge will be divided equally. It was realized thanks to Efil and Claire, whom Lion and I asked to go to great lengths for our joint operation. I’m the one who asked, so it’s strange to say this, but it really was an unreasonable request. I can’t thank the two enough for readily agreeing.
Although, Efil did say with a huge smile, “If you return the favor when it’s my turn, there’s no problem♪” …What will I be forced to do on the final day of the wedding ceremony? Well, I have a pretty good idea, but still. Future me, try your best…! In return, current me will try my best with the cake cutting…!
“Fufufu, look Edgar. Have I mesmerized you with my charm? The cake is flying to me on its own. Quite a cake with good taste, wouldn’t you say?”
“No, it’s being delivered to everyone here…”
“Whoa, this smells amazing! So photogenic~!”
“Ugh, Lion cut the cake for me… And she even cut it a little bigger for me…”
“No, mine is slightly larger. Fuh, to be loved not only by Serabel but also by Lion, I am undeniably a scoundrel.”
“Gerard, you mustn’t let that stand. Take a good look, mine is bigger!”
“It is you, Gerard, who should take a good look. You might have trouble seeing due to your old eyes, but mine is definitely bigger!”
“…Huh?”
Thanks to the efforts of myself and Lion, the cake seems to have been safely distributed to everyone. A minor dispute is occurring between some old men and my father-in-law, but the atmosphere of this reception is just like a banquet at a tavern. Well, one or two arguments are bound to happen. I’m not worried at all.
“Mmmmmm, delicious…!”
Once you take a bite of the cake, its overwhelming deliciousness, combined with Lion’s “Absolute Purification,” blows away all impure thoughts. It instantly squashes any arguments.
Well, with that, our tense joint operation has concluded, and we’ve entered the much-anticipated cake tasting time. As a collaborative work that embodies the culinary skills of Efil and Claire, its deliciousness is immeasurable. Furthermore, since it’s also purified, there’s probably nothing that can surpass this cake.
“So, Dorothy, why don’t you try some too? I’m sure you’ll love it!”
“Love what? Please don’t say such dangerous things on such a special day.”
“Now, now, Shi-chan, that’s just a figure of speech. I want you to try it too, Shi-chan.”
“I’ll have some!”
Immediately after Lion spoke, Dorothy unhesitatingly took a bite of the cake. Dorothy is really just like Dorothy.
“~~~!”
Then, she wore a look of utter happiness. She looked so soft and cuddly. Seeing her expression, Lion and I also felt a sense of happiness. It’s good to argue. It’s even better to have serious matches. But ultimately, we want to end up laughing together.
“That way, we can fight again in an even stronger state! A perfect eternal cycle!”
“Older Kel, I think you’re ruining everything.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The second day of the wedding ceremony, night. Lion and I, having finished our various plans for the day, were lying side-by-side on my bed. Ah, it truly feels comforting to be home. Today’s “Wait a moment” wasn’t a fight I was involved in, but I’m moderately tired and should sleep well. Huh? What about the night’s plans? …Like I said. Today’s various plans are already finished. Well, that’s how it is.
“Lion, are you alright?”
“Not a problem at all. In fact, I’m filled with happiness. Ehehe.”
With that, she shyly rested her head on my chest. Is she the embodiment of cuteness? Yes, she is. Cute, I approve.
“Did Lumiest’s friends go home after the reception? I wish they could have stayed for one night.”
I tried to change the subject a little to cool my flushed head and body.
“Yeah, they said they would have missed their next appointments if they didn’t leave right away because they overshot their planned travel time. They said they barely made it using Pars’s transfer gate, so it was really close.”
“Th-That was a really tight schedule, wasn’t it…”
“Rai-chan and Sharu-kun were lingering at the transfer gate, saying, ‘We’re going to enjoy the festival until the very end!’ But in the end, Rai-chan was caught by Graham, and Sharu-kun was told about his potential for repeating the year by Edgar-kun, so they meekly passed through the transfer gate.”
“Yeah, if there’s such a suspicion, it’s definitely better to just go home quietly.”
I don’t think repeating a year would be taken lightly at all for royalty.
“Hmm? Come to think of it, Dorothy also disappeared towards the end of the reception. Did she go back to her room earlier?”
“She said she’s not staying at the mansion tonight and is going to the Spirit Song Inn with Claire to stay there. She had to escort a few people who had gotten too drunk, and also, um… well, she seemed to be being considerate…”
“Ah, I see…”
She’s really good at being considerate. Thank you, Dorothy. Thanks to you, everything went smoothly.
“Well then, let’s go to bed early today. Tomorrow is also an early start.”
“Indeed.”
Tomorrow’s ceremony with Colette will be held in Delamis. In terms of scale, it will likely be similar to Shutra’s. Hmm, I’m already very anxious. In many ways. Also, I can’t quite figure out what the other party is thinking.
“…”
“Older Kel, is something bothering you?”
“Mm, you can tell? I can’t hide anything from you, Lion.”
“Haha, I’m Kel-ni’s younger sister and wife, after all. Of course, I can tell~. So, what are you anxious about? Is it about your opponent for tomorrow’s ‘Wait a moment’? You only seem to know the name Mystery Swordsman S, right?”
“Yeah, it’s the only battle where the opponent is unclear, so that’s a source of anxiety… but there are other things I’m concerned about too.”
“Things you’re concerned about?”
“Well, Adams and Maria haven’t shown up at the ceremony for the past two days, have they? Even though they were invited from the first day.”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true. I haven’t seen the Ten Authorities, nor Rukil.”
“Right? I thought Adams and the others would certainly be here, but Maria and Kuon, who I thought loved events like these, are unexpectedly not participating… Hmm, perhaps my intuition is just off?”
“Or maybe they have something more urgent to attend to than the ceremony?”
“Something more urgent…”
For now, it’s just a slight premonition for me. I don’t know if it’s something good or bad. But, hmm. I have a really bad feeling about this. I can’t stop feeling excited…
“Older Kel, you’ll get too worked up to sleep!”
“Ah, yes. I’ll go to sleep quietly.”
