CHAPTER XI: CEREMONY
The initiative made sense. Though the Sorcerer Kingdom had its defence forces covered, it lacked an offensive arm in case it needed to defend foreign allies or intervene on behalf of other interests. Thus it fell on the Knights of the Sorcerer Kingdom to raise such a force, one composed of talented individuals who could act independently and decisively in foreign lands at the command of Lord Ainz. Though Lord Ainz had hoped Momon would join the ranks, he agreed with him that his talents were best used at his own discretion. Momon, however, did agree that Darkness would assist this plan as best he could. The Blue Roses followed a similar thought pattern of wanting independence but they also agreed to assist if the need arises. I could sense that Evileye had some ulterior motives given her sudden chattiness and willingness to overwrite the command of Lakyus to agree to keep adventuring though I couldn't pin down why.
King Ramposa III was to be kept on as King for as long as possible until restructuring was near completion, his throne then given over to a voting system of four candidates when he finally stepped down. Though he voiced his concerns for abandoning tradition for reform, he also noted that he didn't fully trust his son, Prince Zannac, to remain uncorrupt when he takes the throne. Grudgingly, he agreed that this new path for his kingdom that might finally rid the Re-Estrize Kingdom of future corruption and pledged his support for its execution.
The conversation eventually led to the massacre at Katze Plains that was accomplished by Lord Ainz, many questioning why such a use of terrible force was necessary. Lord Ainz did his best to explain that he had little choice and that it was a show of force to both the Re-Estrize and Baharuth nations to stop fighting or face true consequences. They couldn't fault him for that because even with the horrible death toll and the aftermath, both nations had indeed agreed to a cease-fire that held to this day. What only a select few in the room knew was that Baharuth was already a vassal of the Sorcerer Kingdom after the incident and we were just expanding our control over the Re-Estrize Kingdom.
The topic of Lord Ainz being declared dead also came up, Momon laughing in good humour at such a scandalous rumour and Lord Ainz sharing his laugh. He explained his real intention of simulating if the kingdom he helped build would fall into chaos if he left or died but was surprised that it did not. What also surprised him was the unflinching loyalty of the people even at the simulated event of his death, something that he felt made him more humble at being trusted so much despite his major grievances. Though he never wished to use such terrible powers again, he also confirmed that if the need is dire and there is little choice, he would do what he must.
Lady Chagama took over the conversation after the major business was concluded, telling the assembled group that she intended to move her home to E-Rantel to make it more convenient for me to be together with her children. She also added that she had grown tired of the Elf Country and their fight with the Slane Theocracy over a petty grudge, also noting to the shock of the rest that if they could unite the Baharuth and the Re-Estrize nations, they could form a force that could put the task both empires and bring needed stability to both. Lord Ainz considered this for a moment but disagreed saying that the primary focus for the room was on current plans, not those of the future.
Lady Chagama, as always, was one step ahead of the conversation and her next proclamation took even Lord Ainz by surprise.
I'm standing idly by looking into a mirror as royal attendants get me ready for the coming ceremony, their hands brushing my body to adjust and feel for any discrepancies in my white gown. My face is bright red from the sheer embarrassment of my outfit and looking behind me with the mirror, Mare standing nearby is sharing my embarrassment. The only one who doesn't seem embarrassed is Aura who's pacing the white carpet of the room in her black suit and watching us intently as we're preparing. "I can't believe this is happening...this is so sudden...we've only known each other for a few months and here we are...about to be married..." Aura says aloud mostly to herself, my shoulders shrugging in response but the royal attendants showing frowns at me moving and interrupting their work slightly. "It's symbolic, Aura. It means as much as you want it to mean-"
"It means we're married! Holy matrimony! It's such a huge commitment to make without my consent and now, there's no turning back," Aura responds while pacing still, the royal attendants finally stepping away and bowing so I can turn around and move. The outfit feels overly puffy but it's ceremonial for this one occasion and when I approach Mare, we both smile at each other and curtsey with light chuckles. This is kinda fun. When we right ourselves, we both turn to Aura who's still pacing and Mare forms a response in an attempt to calm her. "You're overreacting, sis. We're just following a preset plan and nothing is going to change among us after this. All we have to do is stick to our characters and follow through."
"Why are you both so calm about this!?" she shouts as she turns towards us in bewilderment, both me and Mare smiling at each other before approaching her. "You know, Mare and I should be the ones who are more upset. You haven't even proposed to us properly and here you are about to bind us to you for all eternity," I joke, Mare chuckling in good humour and Aura tries to hide her humour by turning away from us. She can't fully mask her amusement when she replies, "You...you guys aren't taking this seriously, are you!?"
We all know it's just an act we're performing in the room, the fun jibes and casual conversation hiding a very real tension we all feel at a primal level. In answering Aura's question, I take Mare by his right hand and guide him to Aura so we're standing together, my arms moving around both of them as we share a hug. They're shaking lightly and when I move my right arm off Aura's back, I realize that I'm shaking too. "I think we can all agree that even though this is...ceremony...there's plenty of real fear for us-"
"I'm not ready for this...I don't want to do this..." Aura whispers, Mare nodding his head in agreement. I agree with them but don't say so out loud because all three of us also know that we don't have a choice given our hierarchy. It's Lady Chagama's wish...but she really didn't inform any of us... "I understand among the three of us what it means to be rushed into something," I say hollowly, Aura and Mare growing still in my arms at my words. "The last few months have been a string of hard choices I've had to make, many of them costing me greatly and changing my life forever...but this...despite my fears and despite my doubts, this decision doesn't seem too difficult..."
"Will you...will you do us a solid and stay with us forever?" Aura asks with a shaking voice, my eyes closing as I hold them tighter and they do the same to me. My doubts are already running about how we aren't immortal and there's a high chance the coming conflicts may see us all dead but I don't voice the doubts. There isn't a need to anyways because Lady Chagama probably already knows.
We have to avoid crying as to not ruin the outfits we have on but the urge to let our sadness take form is almost irresistible.
Lord Ainz had converted the grand room we just had our audience into a makeshift wedding scene with the white-clothed tables arrayed to create a centre aisle. Mare, Aura, and I are the last to arrive, taking our positions at the far end of the aisle hand in hand and waiting for our cue to approach. My hands are lightly sweating in nervousness as Lord Ainz takes the centre stage, Albedo and Shalltear flanking him without disguises as he calls for the attention of all of the guests present.
All of the guests were already focused on the scene and I smile when I look at the left tables and see Rassah smiling and crying to herself with Bormu mimicking her sister for the first time I've known them. Krat gives me a simple nod from his seat and is content with feasting of what he can as he watches the ceremony. Every guardian is present in disguise on the right, Demiurge appearing as a smiling, thin alchemist with jet black hair and inquisitive red eyes emphasized by his customary red suit. Next to him is Cocytus who's disguised as a giant that takes up the position of three people, weapons decorating his back and his habit of breathing out still present even in a form of scarred, tanned skin.
Sebas Tian and the entirety of the Pleiades Combat Maids are a table next to Cocytus in their uniforms, each of them silently observing but sitting casually and with little regard for the ceremony. Sebas coughs into his hand and as if on command, all of them wave at us pleasantly and generate an outcry of vocal approval that makes me chuckle lightly. Must be some heavy coercion to make them do that as one group.
A gentle tune piano tune starts to play from nearby and I look forward again, stunned to see Albedo step forward and close her eyes, locking her hands together as she starts to sing in an angelic voice.
Yoouu~ shooould~ knooow~
If you seee~ whaaat's~ in-my-hands~
I'm-shoowing-you what's-left~
Eeaach~ pieeece~
Beeelooongs~ tooo~ yoouu~
It's darkly beautiful to hear her commanding voice reach such a serene sound but I focus on the next part of the ceremony, gently swinging my hands to get Mare and Aura's attention as we each take a small step forward.
Even if-I-lose~
Everything I own~
I-know-that-I-haven't-lost~
All my worth~
Our steps remain slow, giving Albedo plenty of time to sing and giving those watching plenty of time to see us in our splendour. It's still embarrassing to be wearing a white gown but I get over it quickly as we approach.
My-future-un-known~
My-eteeernal-liiife~
Albedo hits a few high notes that makes me wonder how she's able to sing but I keep trying to focus on walking slowly and looking calm and serene for the audience. Her tempo increases as she sings the last portion with a switch passion I've never seen her have.
Burnt-out from the tears~
That-I've-shed~
And all of-my-un-answered-prayers~
And-this dark-ness I-clench~
The-ig-no-rance that I-have-beared~
Though-my-vooice may-be-waarn~
And my hands-may-be-cooveered in reeed~
My-heart's-held o-pen by-these-scars...~
Aaall fooor yoouu...~
We had agreed that we wouldn't cry on our way up but after hearing something so unlike Albedo and so deeply moving, I can't help but feel tears roll down my face as we get closer to the centre stage. Aura helps wipe my tears away after dealing with her own since my hands couldn't help me at the moment and we stand there in front of our direct superiors trying to get a hold of ourselves emotionally.
"We gather here today to witness the joining of Aura Bella Fiora, Mare Bello Fiore, and Beric Lowarm in mutual union," Lord Ainz intones ceremoniously as we stare up at him, his form still a head taller than us and more so now that he's on a slightly raised platform. I can feel the eyes burning into our backs as he continues, knowing that there are plenty of choice words for me once this is done. "Though they are worlds apart and different in personality and ideas, each one has gone to lengths for the others and in my time as a magic caster, I've never seen such a strong bond that even transcended death itself."
I feel Mare and Aura hold my hands tighter and share their concern, my own hands tightening slightly in response to Lord Ainz's words. Even though I know the words aren't true, I'm still moved by them. I won't do that again. "But the road ahead will be long and many hardships will come for them. The path of life is fraught with dangers big and small, dangers that they will be facing together as one. Do you vow to care for each other, to serve each other faithfully in hardship and strife, through old age and passing until the very earth reclaims you as its own?"
"I do," we all respond automatically, Lord Ainz smiling only for a moment before becoming serious again and raising both of his hands into the air. "Then I proclaim in the name of Ainz Ooal Gown and the Sorcerer Kingdom that you are now wed. Congratulations."
Loud applause greets his conclusion, all of us turning around to see the guests breaking into a celebration of loud cheers and applause. It was funny to see some of the more contained guardians break loose in celebration, Demiurge clapping his hands above his head with raucous laughter and even Lord Sebas lightly laughing to himself as he claps heartily. Lady Chagama is at the same table but she can't clap because she's too busy wiping her eyes of tears.
An odd scene plays out where all of the guest on one side of the room move to the other, all of the guests in one area as Shalltear step out in front of us with a wide smile and three bouquets of flowers in her hands. "It's an old tradition for the bride to toss a bouquet into the crowd as a blessing to whom may be next in matrimony. Seeing as all three of you can fall into that category, I have one for each of you." There's a hint of smugness in the way she explains herself but I release my held hands and take a bouquet with the others.
Shalltear steps out of our way and directs us to perform a gentle toss into the crowd, Mare and I doing as instructed but Aura winding up and giving her toss a bit more strength. I follow each bouquet and blush slightly when the one Mare tossed lands in Bormu's hands, Rassah hugging her with a loud yell of excitement as Bormu looks at her sister in bewilderment. Albedo grabs mine out of the air with an evil smile, holding it in both hands and smelling them in a way that fills me with unease. My body rotates quickly to see that she's no longer standing behind me and Lord Ainz is standing there alone with shoulders shrugged. How did she get over there!?
I turn around quickly to see the last bouquet land in the right hand of Momon, his hand holding the flowers curiously in front of him until he offers them to Nabe. Nabe gives him a blank stare and shakes her hand in front of her in refusal, Momon then offering the bouquet to Evileye who turns away embarrassed with her hands on the sides of her face. She eventually reaches back with her left hand trying to find the item, Momon placing it in her hand and Evileye giving an excited yell at odds with her calm demeanour.
Shalltear directs us then to follow her into the crowd and mingle with the guests, my head looking between Mare and Aura to see what they want to do. I smile when Mare and I share a knowing glance, both of us turning to Aura feints scorn at us turning on her. "Fine...I'll make the big decision and say let's go mingle with the guests," she states in annoyance while gesturing towards the crowd, both of us still staring at her and gesturing with our heads towards the crowds. "Fine! I'll also be the one to take the first step!" she shouts in annoyance, walking away from us towards the guests as we follow swiftly behind her.
As I follow behind, I feel myself in a state of ease that I've never felt in my entire life.
"Marriage is not a noun; it's a verb. It isn't something you get, it's something you do. It's the way you love your partner every day."
-Barbara De Angelis
SONG: "HYDRA" BY MYTH AND ROID
ENGLISH COVER: KELLY MAHONEY, STUDIO YURAKI