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Chapter 264
Like Lightning Roasting Beans
"If the contractions are one minute apart... isn't it about time for the baby to come?"
Ferda, checking again.
"That's true, but I can endure a bit more. I'm okaaaay!!"
Ludmilla, gritting her teeth and clutching her belly.
Contractions came again.
Ê n um̂ a
"Don't be like that, why don't we call the midwife and do the delivery first? The wedding can be delayed about an hour—."
"No... way!"
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Even in the midst of pain, she absolutely refused to lose consciousness.
"My cute... first child with my husband... I can't let it be born a bastard...!"
For such a trivial reason.
However, as a high noble, it's not incomprehensible.
W̊еb ñ оv̇ ĕ l _Е n u mа̀
Even if they went through an engagement and love each other, a child born before the wedding is treated as a bastard.
That fact is inevitably recorded, and a label sticks forever, so later it becomes a defect where even legitimacy can be doubted when inheriting a position.
That's why both families rush into marriage after an accident.
"As far as I know, this wedding takes over three hours total."
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"It's only three hours... isn't it?"
"You're in a situation where childbirth is imminent."
Е́ n̆ ûṁ ă.і ď
If delayed, the mother is in danger.
Ferda made up his mind to stop her no matter what stubbornness she pulled.
"Anyway, I'll postpone this by the regent's authority. So—."
"Regent-nim...!!"
Ludmilla spoke with force in her voice.
Ferda was overwhelmed by it.
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"At the wedding... the bride's command is absolute. Do you know why?"
"....."
"Because after the wedding, you become a completely different family's person. At minimum a few years, at most decades thrown into someone else's household."
"....."
"If the body can't even bear a child properly, or the husband-to-be lusts after a young girl? If discarded like worn-out shoes, then you have to live in a nightmare for the rest of your life."
"....."
W̌ еb n оv̂_е̄ l̈_ Eṅŭ ṁа̇
"For a man, it's a kind of medal ceremony he can go through any number of times, but for a woman, it's the single most important ceremony in a lifetime. That's why they show consideration so she can have power not enviable even to a queen for at least one day."
"...So you're going to use that power?"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Yes...!"
Ludmilla's pain-filled eyes were filled with a venom even darker than her pain.
"If you tell Arwen or Father about this situation, I'll curse you, Regent Ferda, for the rest of my life!"
"Right now, me—."
Ẁ.e̊b̈ n̄о̊v е̄l̀ _Еn ǔm а
"Yes, I'm threatening you!"
He was dumbfounded.
The person about to become a countess speaking that way to a dragon's consort, moreover the Grand Duke's regent, was an impossible thing.
But his mouth, opened to protest, could no longer continue speaking.
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"I clearly... told you...!"
Ludmilla, catching her breath as the contractions subsided.
Ė ň ũ.m̂а .і̌d
Her eyes were frost falling in June, and a flame that won't go out even in the depths of a harsh winter.
Eyes bordering on madness.
Ferda had seen those eyes before.
And not in this world, but in the Land of Gaps, Limbo.
'Philiaz...'
Beings who live their entire lives cursing men and existing only to trouble them.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
>
Ludmilla looked like she might awaken as that existence at any moment.
* * *
Ferda emerging from the bridal waiting room with a dazed face.
He met eyes with Igor and Sergei who were waiting for Ferda.
"Did you get beaten?"
Е̄ n u m̃ ӑ.іd̄
From Ferda's expression alone, they'd already sensed he was a defeated soldier.
Ferda quietly nodded.
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"I think I understand why the Heir and Great Warrior are making those faces."
"Well, we can figure out one thing from this."
"That our cute younger sister also inherited a warrior's blood, after all."
"....."
Еnu ṁа̃
He tried to laugh it off, but the situation wasn't like that.
"First, let's proceed with the wedding as is."
"Without stopping it?"
"The bride is absolute at the wedding, they say."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Everyone seemed to have been pushed back by that logic, quietly nodding.
Whether Ludmilla's obsession is foolish remains to be seen.
Е̂ n ŭm а
Ferda decided to believe in her, and focused on after the wedding.
"Proceed with the wedding, but as soon as it ends, you two carry Ludmilla to the delivery room like tossing her in the air. Understood?"
"Yes. Understood."
"More tense than when orc bastards swarmed in an army."
"My wife and other sisters had a terribly hard time with their first births too, so how that little thing will endure those contractions for three hours..."
Making a woman with imminent childbirth wait three hours was insanity.
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"Can't we simplify the wedding a bit?"
It takes long because there's lots of empty formalities in the name of tradition.
If we just cut the useless parts, the time reduces dramatically.
"Whether that'll work as we wish is questionable..."
"If it's a dragon, not a human, it might be possible."
This wedding was grand because Valdrova visited.
Еn̊ um а ._ìd̂_
"If we say she's feeling bored, she might simplify it noticeably."
"That's a good thought, but there's a bit of a problem."
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Jed, who appeared belatedly, said so.
>
He had arrived at the castle first as an attendant.
"What is it?"
Е̄n ùm̌ ã
>
"Penelope's raising a fuss screaming, so I checked the situation first, and had to ask the priest..."
"What was the answer?"
"The young priest officiating said he fully understands this situation and can proceed quickly. However..."
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"However?"
"The problem is the Church Leader who handles the blessing. He's been a highly virtuous Church Leader since long ago, but he's so old his hearing is bad and he's stubborn, they say."
Eñ ũ m̆а̄
"How stubborn?"
"There was a similar situation before, and he called off the whole wedding. Saying there's no shortcut to a sacred ceremony..."
Senile old man.
"What if we threaten with a dragon?"
"He'd probably say he'll become a martyr."
He's old enough to have nothing to lose, the most troublesome opponent for Ferda.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Can't we remove him?"
"That won't work, right?"
Since the Arken Empire's state religion is the Alteshin Religion, a priest's blessing is absolutely indispensable at a noble's wedding.
Since she wanted a perfect wedding, Ludmilla wouldn't compromise on this either.
"We'll have to leave that blessing as is. How many minutes does that blessing ceremony take?"
"Just the blessing spell of sprinkling holy water from a silver bowl onto both sides by hand takes over an hour."
Ѐ n uḿ ӑ
It accounted for a whopping 1/3 of the ceremony.
For a pregnant woman where every moment is urgent, an hour was equivalent to suffering for eternity.
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Postponing the wedding was the best option, but the bride herself didn't want that.
If he clumsily tried to persuade her, Ludmilla would become a witch and curse Ferda for life.
'This is a headache.'
The wedding is a day where the bride is absolute.
Е_ń_ū m̈ а
Ferda didn't know how to handle this.
* * *
After putting their heads together for a while, Ferda returned to his seat.
Valdrova seemed absorbed in the orchestra's music, not noticing Ferda's presence until he came near.
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"How was the music?"
Valdrova answered with an excited voice.
Ẇе̄bn оvѐl̄ Еňú mа
"It was very nice. Northern music seems truly cheerful."
"Glad you enjoyed it."
Ferda sat down as if nothing was wrong.
Soon after, servants withdrew the orchestra, and a young priest stepped onto the platform.
The priest cleared his throat and began the proceedings.
"We will now proceed with the wedding ceremony. Originally, I should quote the words of the holy Alte and impart wisdom to you all, but I can see that God already dwells in the hearts of everyone here. So this humble one with shallow knowledge will refrain from speaking."
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Just as Jed had said, he showed flexibility.
Normally, he'd quote scripture and eat up about 40 minutes.
Moreover, no one would dislike him saying he won't say useless things.
He worried it might seem too unnatural, but the young priest was skilled.
He proceeded quickly, yet properly observed etiquette so it wasn't too unnatural.
"This humble one declares here that I have become a witness according to the teachings of the Great Father of Light, Alte. Then, let the groom enter."
Е̄ n ũm а
The groom, Arwen, appeared.
His expression clearly showed nervousness.
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He definitely hadn't noticed what incident had occurred.
"Then, next will be the bride's entrance."
Everyone stood to welcome the bride.
Young Lady Ludmilla Purity entered, riding a sweet melody in a white dress.
Еň ů m ȧ . і̇ d̀
"Huh...?"
Valdrova looked at the bride and tilted her head with a question mark.
"Why is that?"
"That... Ludmilla's complexion doesn't look too good..."
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Eyesight sharp enough to see through the thick veil.
But she didn't look certain.
W е bn̊ ov еĺ Е̇ ǹŭm̀ а
"How does she look to you, Ferda-ssi?"
"She looks fine to me."
"Is that so? Then it might be my imagination."
Valdrova couldn't say anything more, just quietly watched Ludmilla with worry.
He felt guilty for no reason.
Meanwhile, the young priest's proceedings moved quickly.
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"We will now proceed with the blessing ceremony for the bride and groom's future."
Then the old bishop entered.
From his gait, you could tell how terribly old he was.
"Huu... wait a moment. My knees aren't what they used to be with age."
The old bishop stopping several times to catch his breath even while entering.
Those who didn't know the situation made understanding faces, but to those who knew, it was an incredibly frustrating sight.
Ẇ ѐ b n̊ о̃.v̇ e l Еń u̇ m̌ а̄
He wanted to piggyback him and deliver him upstairs right now.
Somehow making it onto the platform, he started sprinkling holy water from a silver bowl.
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"In the name of the Great Alte, I command, you two..."
He wetted his hand with the holy water in the silver bowl and sprinkled it toward the bride and groom.
The mouth chanting the spell was slow, the steps even slower, and the hand sprinkling water was the slowest of all.
Ludmilla had her eyes closed, smiling.
Е̃ n u mа̃
You could see tendons popping on her jaw from how hard she was biting her lip.
But it wasn't something that could be endured just by trying.
Eventually, everything has its time, and Ludmilla's time came without fail.
The pure white dress was seen dampening from the inside.
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As feared, her water broke in the middle of the ceremony.
'What do I do now...'
Eň u mа .і́ d̂
Right now only Ferda, who was aware, could barely see.
But soon everyone would notice.
The wedding is absolute by the bride's word, but does that apply even now when the child's life is in danger?
Better to be resented and save the mother and child's lives.
Ferda thought so and carefully tried to rise from his seat.
-Kkeul-kkeul-kkeul!!
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A frivolous laughter ringing in the sacred atmosphere.
The old bishop narrowed his eyes and threatened.
"Who is it? Which bastard dares make that kind of laughter at this sacred wedding?"
-If you ask who, it's only proper to answer, foolish servant of Alte!
Pung!
With purple smoke, something revealed itself.
Е̃ ñŭ m̆а.ǐ d́
Wearing a party mask, but white hair and purple skin.
A spade tail and bat wings.
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And horns on her head.
Only one being can possess those characteristics.
Everyone called out that existence in unison.
"A demon!?"
Ẃе̂b̊n ov̌ е̄l̇ Е̌n u m а̃
"Why would a demon intrude on such a sacred wedding...!?"
It was a moment of confusion for everyone.
The difference was, most were flustered not knowing its identity, while a few were flustered knowing its identity.
'Penelope?'
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"Penelope?"
Valdrova noticed and called that name.
Еn u mа̃. і d̂
"Why is she there—."
When she tried to say something, Ferda quietly held her hand.
Don't act like you know.
Whether the meaning was conveyed, Valdrova stayed still.
The demon, Penelope, moved like a prankster and stood before the old bishop.
"Eit!"
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She knocked over the silver bowl in the old bishop's hands, spilling it toward Ludmilla and Arwen.
"Th-that impious thing!!"
"Drag that demon out immediately!"
When the guards tried to move at the angry guests' orders,
"Quiet!"
The one who stopped them was the old bishop.
Е n̆ um ӑ
"Do not act rashly at a sacred ceremony!"
Hard to believe it was a dying old man's voice until moments ago, so resounding.
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With years and authority combined, even the Purity Family Head couldn't move easily.
"You filthy demon bastard! You intend to ruin a wedding under Alte's protection...!?"
"That's right! I came to ruin these two's wedding! So what? Old man??"
Penelope taunted annoyingly.
Е.ǹ úm a
"What can you do?"
"You damn bastard—!!"
"The so-called Church Leader of the Alteshin Religion is nothing but talk! Kkeul-kkeul! The only thing you can do is splash a bowl of plain water on a face, you senile old man!"
That was when it happened.
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As he was criticized and mocked, the old bishop's wrinkles deepened and he began to forge a form.
The powerless old man's appearance instantly twisted into something like a terrifying judge.
En ūm̆а. і̀ d̈
His drooping eyebrows flashed, and his pupils burned with faith.
"You filthy third-rate demon! Just as your shallow tricks cannot cover the sky, you cannot cover Alte's light!!"
With a clear voice, he raised both hands high, forming a round sun shape.
"Though the water was spilled by your hand, Alte's blessing has seeped into the two! It only remains to declare it in the Church Leader's name!"
"Wh-what!?"
Penelope feigning fluster.
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As if striking her, the Church Leader shouted powerfully.
"In the name of Alte's representative, Church Leader Nordic Grayhorn, I declare these two have become husband and wife under Alte's blessing!"
"Damn, it's over!!"
Penelope, having done her job, started fleeing, and the bishop with flipped eyes shouted resoundingly.
"The ceremony is over with this! Catch that impious demon!!"
"Catch them! Guards! Knights!!"
W е b̀n̂ov е́ l̄ Е̌ nu mа
Amidst the chaos, Igor and Sergei, who had received the plan beforehand, carried the bride away under the pretense of tossing her in the air.
Everything happened like roasting beans in lightning.
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Arwen, who could only find this situation bewildering, approached Ferda and whispered.
"That demon... isn't it that bastard Penelope?"
Arwen had also instantly seen through that suspicious demon's identity.
Ferda nodded.
Еn̂ ŭ ḿǎ
"Right, it's Penelope."
"Ludmilla said she's cunning inside but shallow-witted, a usable friend... why did she make a mess of the wedding? She doesn't seem like a demon lacking that much judgment..."
Not knowing the full story, it was natural he didn't know how this situation was turning.
Would anyone believe it?
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That the demon protected Ludmilla's honor.
Ferda put his hand on his shoulder and said this.
W̃eb̃ n оv é l Е ṅû m̊ а
"Anyway, congratulations."
"Huh? Ah, thank you."
"Hope the firstborn son coming soon is healthy."
"Yes... Huh?"
Arwen would only understand the meaning of those words 30 minutes later.
