For some reason, Winnesha and Elena seemed to hit it off instantly—like sisters who regretted not meeting sooner—chatting animatedly at Akira's side.
Meanwhile, Akira's attention remained fixed on Prince Telles and Prince Laps.
Today was his big day.
There was no way he'd let those bastards ruin it.
"What are you looking at?" Elena suddenly noticed his gaze wasn't on her and asked curiously.
"Keeping an eye on idiots," Akira replied calmly. "Making sure they don't sabotage the wedding."
"Why are you so concerned? It's not like it's your wedding…" Elena pressed, puzzled.
"I—"
Akira was just about to answer when Elena cut him off.
"Did you take on a mission from the Star Kingdom? Something like… protecting the ceremony?" she guessed.
Akira fell silent for a moment, then smiled.
"As expected of the Elven Princess. You figured it out."
"?"
Elena shot him a suspicious glance. His sudden shift in attitude made it obvious—she'd guessed wrong.
But she didn't press further. Instead, she simply smiled.
Akira didn't bother explaining either.
After all… in a sense, he really was here to complete a mission.
"If you're worried they might cause trouble during the ceremony, don't be."
At that moment, Winnesha gently took his hand, speaking with righteous conviction,
"The judgment of the Holy Light Church will make them regret their choices!"
"Uh… thanks."
Akira couldn't help feeling a bit flattered—especially since her hand was soft… and warm.
Still, something else puzzled him more.
He'd been chatting with an elven princess and a saint of the Holy Light Church for quite a while now—
So why hadn't anyone noticed?
He glanced around.
Everyone's attention was focused on the Elf Queen. No one paid them any mind at all…
Well… with the Elf Queen present, who would bother paying attention to a mere saint?
Just as they were talking, another Star Knight came rushing over in a panic, reporting to Idess, who was still speaking with the Elf Queen,
"My Lady! The Light Pope has arrived!"
At that report, Idess frowned slightly.
She hadn't expected Roxia to take this so seriously.
Not only did she participate personally—
Even her true body had come to the Star Kingdom.
Her feelings for Akira…
Heh.
A mysterious smile curved at the corners of Idess's lips as she immediately moved to receive the delegation of the Holy Light Church.
The crowd, upon hearing that the Light Pope herself had arrived to bless the newlyweds, erupted into even greater excitement.
"Did I hear that right? The Light Pope came in person!?"
"The Elf Queen and the Light Pope both attending—this is a once-in-a-century event!"
"What has our new king done to deserve such honor?"
"Shh! You want to lose your head? Saying that on the king's wedding day?"
"My mistake, my mistake!"
"This is an honor beyond measure for our Star Kingdom!"
"Who said our kingdom was declining? I think we're about to rise!"
"…"
If the Elf Queen's presence had been a shot of adrenaline—restoring hope to a nation shaken by chaos—
Then the Light Pope's arrival was a ray of dawn descending from the heavens.
After all, the elves were an external race.
But the Sun Theocracy was the most powerful among human nations.
The Light Pope's personal attendance signified one thing—
The new king of the Star Kingdom had her recognition.
Official endorsement from the Holy Light Church.
"Gotta go~"
Winnesha waved at Akira and Elena. "I need to welcome Her Holiness~"
"Mm."
After Winnesha left, Elena also bid Akira farewell and returned to the Elf Queen's side.
Akira stretched lazily, preparing to head back into the main hall to find Roxia and Ivsha.
While he was at it, he should probably summon Alice and the others from the guild—wouldn't want them to miss the wedding.
He had just taken a step forward—
When he suddenly stopped.
Because someone familiar was standing behind him.
"Princess Vivian?"
Akira raised an eyebrow, carefully examining the figure before him.
Vivian stood cloaked in black, her face hidden within the shadows.
If not for the faint aura of darkness surrounding her, he might not have recognized her at all.
More importantly…
He realized that aside from him, no one else seemed able to see her.
She stood there like an intangible shadow among the crowd.
"What's going on…?"
Akira frowned, staring intently at her.
He didn't know what Idess had done to Vivian.
But now, she seemed different.
The arrogance she once carried was gone.
She no longer felt like that calculating little princess far beyond her years.
Instead…
Her gaze was unsettling.
Cold enough to send a chill crawling down his spine.
And she just stood there—
Watching him.
"…Hello?"
"Hey~"
Akira waved a hand in front of her.
No response.
She didn't move at all.
Like a lifeless doll.
His expression turned serious.
Could she be… a ghost?
Well, in a world of magic, ghosts weren't exactly surprising.
But the real question was—
Why would she come to him?
Because he had ruined her plans?
Alright… that alone was enough to turn them into mortal enemies.
But still—
Vivian remained motionless.
Those golden eyes stayed locked onto him, as if trying to etch his image into memory.
"What are you doing here?"
Suddenly—
Idess appeared beside him, lightly tapping his back.
Akira snapped out of his daze.
At the same time, Vivian's figure dissolved into a wisp of black smoke, vanishing without a trace.
"She disappeared?"
A jolt ran through him. He rubbed his eyes, wondering if it had all been an illusion.
Then he asked Idess, "Did you just see Vivian?"
"Mm."
Idess answered casually.
That single response made Akira's gaze sharpen instantly.
So it wasn't an illusion.
"Today is… special. I'll explain Vivian's situation after it's over," Idess said, giving him a push. "Go get ready. The ceremony is about to begin."
"Got it."
Akira nodded, preparing himself.
His first time as a groom—
It was only natural to feel a bit nervous.
After he left, Idess's gaze lingered on the spot where Vivian had stood.
There was no one there.
Only a faint trace of black mist drifting in the air.
…
Back inside a room within the main hall, Roxia and Ivsha sat quietly, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
"Time to bring them over."
With a thought, Akira activated his spatial ring and summoned Alice and the others to the venue.
Since he had informed them in advance, everyone had come dressed in their finest…
Well.
Aside from Alice and Viola, who had actually changed into new outfits, the rest looked pretty much the same as always.
Loserine still wore her white-and-gold armor, as if she were attending a knightly vow ceremony.
Mare Rhein remained in her crimson armor—looking like some kind of tokusatsu hero—and the first thing she did upon arrival was plant her hands on her hips and demand to know when she'd be fed.
But—
Akira's gaze fell on the last figure to step out of the spatial ring.
Canlutia.
For once, she had changed her attire.
She wore a gothic lolita dress dominated by black, accented with deep crimson.
Her pale hand held a red parasol.
She looked like a peculiar noble lady… elegant, yet dangerous.
The outfit suited her perfectly.
Fragile in appearance—
Yet overwhelmingly powerful.
And somehow…
There was a sinister beauty to her.
"Well, brat~ Have you been captivated by this progenitor's beauty?"
Canlutia puffed out her chest, smiling with confidence.
"Why so formal today?" Akira asked curiously.
"I may thirst for blood, but I still understand proper etiquette," she replied with a light laugh. "Since it's your wedding day, of course I'd dress appropriately. Go on—praise me. Consider it your honor."
Akira chuckled.
"Our Progenitor looks absolutely stunning today. Truly breathtaking."
"That's more like it~"
She smiled, clearly pleased.
"Wow! So beautiful!"
At that moment, everyone's attention shifted away from Akira—
Toward the two figures seated on the bed: "Vivian" and "Katrin."
"Is that Sister Roxia? And Sister Ivsha?"
Alice and Viola rushed over, eyes sparkling as they examined them closely.
"Yeah."
Akira nodded. "According to the mission, they'll be impersonating the two princesses of the Star Kingdom and marrying me to stabilize public morale."
But no one really cared about the explanation.
Instead, they burst into admiration.
"Wow~ they're gorgeous~!"
"Even if they look like someone else… I can still tell who's who at a glance!" Alice declared proudly.
"They're so pretty~ I want to wear a wedding dress like that too…" Viola said enviously.
"You're a half-deer. How are you even supposed to fit into a human wedding dress?" Mare Rhein shot back bluntly.
Viola: "┭┮﹏┭┮!"
Alice: "Don't cry, Viola! There'll definitely be one that fits you!"
Watching the lively scene, Akira felt a warmth spread through his chest.
Aside from a few individuals who still needed… discipline—
They were all indispensable members of the Puff Fantasy Guild.
"Our groom may now bring out his brides."
At that moment, Idess's voice echoed in his mind.
The ceremony had begun.
"Alright! It's time!" Akira clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
Then, he extended both hands toward Roxia and Ivsha, inviting them forward.
"Give me your hands… my brides."
Roxia and Ivsha exchanged a glance—
Then placed their hands into his.
…
Meanwhile, inside the Star Kingdom's palace—
Tens of thousands had gathered, awaiting the ceremony.
Aside from the Sun Theocracy and the Elven Kingdom, delegations from dozens of other nations had also arrived.
Though none of their rulers had come in person like those two.
Even so—
The sheer scale of the event filled the citizens of the Star Kingdom with excitement.
"I can't believe our new king is recognized by so many nations!"
"Thank the heavens! Our kingdom is saved!"
"With Princess Vivian and the Rose Duchess, our future will only get brighter!"
"…"
Listening to the crowd, Idess—host of the ceremony—felt deeply satisfied.
This was exactly what she wanted.
The will of the people.
Only with their support could she justifiably crush Prince Telles and Prince Laps.
"Begin."
She turned slightly, instructing a white-haired elder in the distance.
"Yes."
The elder nodded, then raised his voice, loud and clear across the sky:
"Today marks the wedding of our new king of the Star Kingdom!"
"Our king is the chosen of the Star God—the purest royal bloodline in thousands of years! Bearing the power of night and stars, she vows, in the name of sin and protection, to lead her people toward the light of the stars!"
As his voice paused—
Nobles and commoners alike knelt, shouting in unison:
"Eternal stars! Long live our king!"
These praises reached Akira's ears.
But something about them felt… off.
More precisely—
There was a contradiction.
The bride of this wedding was Princess Vivian, who would ascend as the new king.
But because of Roxia's involvement—
Princess Katrin was also part of the ceremony.
Two princesses marrying a single outsider…
So who, exactly, was the king?
Still, that wasn't Akira's problem.
Whether it made sense or not—
That was Idess's headache, not his.
Come to think of it…
Had Idess even informed the nobles and citizens that Katrin would also be part of the wedding?
From earlier, Katrin's mother had been sitting alone in a corner, with no one congratulating her.
Which meant…
They didn't know.
But judging from her anxious expression—and the fact she was dressed for the occasion—
She definitely did.
Just as Akira was lost in thought, the elder's voice rang out again:
"Though the Star Kingdom has endured constant war, fortune smiles upon us! Our king has found a perfect partner!"
"He is the sole relative of the Rose Duchess, and like our king, he has earned the recognition of the stars! A loyal guardian and pioneer of the Star Kingdom!"
"The union of our king and her consort will give birth to the greatest Child of the Stars in history! When that time comes, the entire cosmos will shine for our kingdom, ushering in a golden age!"
"Long live the king!"
Akira frowned slightly, remaining silent.
What the hell is this old guy talking about?
Child of the Stars?
And what exactly is his role in this kingdom again?
Something like… Star officiant?
Why did it sound more like he was some kind of life coach…?