Despite a few minor incidents, the wedding reception ended peacefully. The guests gradually went their separate ways—some to stay overnight at the Randol estate, some to hotels in town, and others to make their journey home.
As for Jin and Saki, they were scheduled to spend the night at the Randol mansion.
Once the guests had departed and silence returned to the halls, Reinhard and Berche spent their time looking over the wedding gifts.
"This one is from Mattheus," Reinhard murmured as he looked at a mithril dagger. It was a gift for Berche.
"And this must be from Lady Karen."
She had gifted a heavy, beautifully decorated office desk and chair. They were perfect for a lord’s study.
"This is… from Jin, isn't it?"
A solidly built bed stood next to a pure white futon. Reinhard recognized the texture immediately. It was a futon made of magisilk. He didn’t know anyone besides Jin who could produce such a thing.
"Lord Reinhard, this futon feels wonderful!"
Berche seemed to be instantly enamored by it as well.
"Bell, now that we’re married, well… why don't we try changing the way we address each other?"
"Oh?…You are quite… right.…'Dear'?"
"Yeah. 'Honey'… No, I think I still prefer calling you Bell."
"Yes, I would prefer to be called Bell as well."
It was a scene cloying enough to give anyone watching a case of heartburn. Eventually, they reached the mascot doll.
"Oh, what a lovely mascot! Dear, look! This mascot’s arms and legs actually move!"
"Let me see.…Hoho, this is incredible! The internal structure is remarkably similar to an automata!"
As expected of Reinhard, he immediately saw through the mechanism of the mascot doll Elsa had made.
"Hmm, there aren't many people who can make a doll this sophisticated.…But this style doesn't resemble anyone I know.…No, it's a bit like Jin's… but it’s not Jin's…"
Having seen many of Jin's works, Reinhard concluded that while there were similarities, the overall approach was fundamentally different.
No, it couldn't be.
Someone close to Jin who would want to give Reinhard a gift—only one person came to mind. However, he found it difficult to believe that this person possessed such advanced techniques.
Even if she had started learning Craft Magic, is it possible to become this skilled in just over a month and a half?
The precision was such that he wondered if he could even replicate it himself. He thought of his cousin, whom he had always regarded as a younger sister.
Well, I’ll find out if I ask Jin.
Telling himself that, he moved on to the next gift.
Berche had left Reinhard to his thoughts while she examined another item, but she spoke up brightly as he approached, holding a small box.
"Dear, this jewelry box is from Saki."
In another room, Jin and Saki were leaning back in their chairs, exhaustion written on their faces. Saki had removed her glasses; since she wasn't used to them, wearing them all day had tired her eyes.
"Phew, it’s finally over..."
"It certainly is."
"I attended because it was Reinhard's wedding, but I wouldn't want to do this often."
"Kufufu, it seems you aren't fond of these things, Jin," Saki teased. Jin countered by asking if she enjoyed them.
"I don't like them either," Saki replied easily. "Right after my mother passed away, I was taken in by the Marquis’s family for a while. They tried to drill etiquette into me there. I hated it so much I could hardly stand it. However, my father was still just a novice alchemist back then, so he didn't have the means to raise me. There was nothing to be done."
"I see."
For whatever reason, Saki had begun to open up about her upbringing. Jin remained silent, playing the role of the listener and nodding occasionally.
"By the time I turned sixteen, my father was finally recognized as an established alchemist. I ran away from the Marquis’s house and returned to him."
"You went through a lot."
"I suppose. It was right around the time Aunt Karen’s mother, Emma, passed away. The Marquis probably didn't have the emotional energy to worry about me, either."
"A lot was happening back then."
"Indeed. And so, I followed my father and studied alchemy. I was stunned when I realized that in this world, there are far more things we don't know than things we do."
"Yeah, I understand that feeling."
Jin felt as though he recalled someone once saying that the more one learns, the more they realize the depths of their own ignorance.
"I believe that academic pursuits exist to make people happy. That’s why I think alchemy should be the same, and I strive for that."
So that’s why she was researching those tree saps the other day, Jin realized.
"My father, on the other hand, seems to do it more to satisfy his thirst for knowledge," Saki laughed.
"I also want to create tools and magic tools that are useful to people," Jin added, sharing his own philosophy.
"Is that so? I’m glad to hear it. Jin, will you continue to work with me from now on?"
"Yeah, gladly."
Having readily accepted Saki's offer, Jin asked about something that had been on his mind.
"Hey Saki, is there such a thing as a 'honeymoon' in this count… in this country?"
"A honeymoon? From the sound of the word, is it a trip taken by newlyweds? No, I've never heard of it. Newlyweds usually just set aside their work and spend about a week to ten days together. I suppose you could call it 'honeymoon leave.' They might go out to nearby areas, I suppose."
"I see..."
In that case, Jin thought, it might be nice to invite Reinhard, Berche, and Saki for a visit.
"Saki, have you ever been outside the country?"
"Hmm? I've never left the Shouro Empire. My father is always flying off here and there, though."
"Right. For example, would you like to try going to a foreign country?"
To Jin's question, Saki replied with a mischievous smile.
"Kufufu, Jin, are you going to take me? If so, I’d love to go. Unfamiliar lands, local products… especially after hearing about your and Reinhard’s travels the other day, I'm quite curious."
"Yeah, well, someday."
Saki seemed reasonably satisfied with that vague answer.
"Someday, huh? Yes, I'll be waiting. If it’s you, Jin, I doubt I’ll be kept waiting very long."
That night, after dinner, Jin had a private discussion with Reinhard in the latter's workshop.
"So, Jin, what is it? This 'secret talk' you mentioned?"
"Right. Actually, it’s about a honeymoon."
"A honeymoon?"
Jin then explained the custom of honeymoons as they existed on Earth.
"Hmm, that’s interesting."
As expected, Reinhard was immediately intrigued.
"So, I wanted to invite you, Berche, and Saki to Kaina Village and Hourai Island."
"Kaina Village, huh? That’s the village you’ve leased, right?"
Reinhard made his decision on the spot.
"That sounds great! I’d love to go!"
"Alright, then let’s settle on the schedule."
Thus, Jin and Reinhard hammered out the timing for the trip to Kaina Village and how they would explain their absence.
They decided that Jin and Saki would return to Saki's house the next day and head to Kaina Village from there. Reinhard and Berche would follow two days after that—meaning on the morning of the 4th, Jin would come to pick them up and bring them to the village.
"Well, if we just say the two of us are going for a long carriage ride and taking the Schwarzritter with us, no one will press us too hard."
Since it was within his own territory, Reinhard laughed optimistically. They couldn't leave Berche alone for too long, so they brought their meeting to a close.
"In that case, I'll keep the destination and the travel method a secret from Bell."
"Yeah, I'll leave that part to you, Reinhard."
The two shared a mischievous smile.
"And so," Jin said after returning to the main house to talk to Saki, "you are invited to Kaina Village in the Klein Kingdom tomorrow."
"I’m not sure what the 'and so' was for, but I’ll gladly accept." Saki beamed. "Kufu. I thought I wouldn't be kept waiting long, but I didn't expect it to be quite this soon."
She wore a look of genuine delight.