The wedding reception in the Celuroa Kingdom was in full swing.
Jin and Elsa had left the tedious greetings and appeals from the nobility to their Doppels, but timing their return perfectly, they seamlessly swapped back with their doubles midway through the event.
"Lord Jin, are you enjoying the festivities?"
Knute Amond, the Director-General of the Food Agency, approached Jin as soon as he returned. He seemed particularly concerned about the reception's culinary reputation.
"Yes, thank you very much," Jin replied.
Since he hadn't actually eaten a single bite yet, he could only offer a noncommittal response.
"I can truly appreciate the immense dedication that went into preparing all of this," Jin added, attempting to sound appreciative.
"Oh, I am delighted to hear that!"
Knute grew quite cheerful at Jin's words. He appeared to be slightly intoxicated as well.
"Pardon me, Lord Jin."
Next to approach was Kabanea Gasumo, the Undersecretary of the First Technology Bureau. He was the man who had served as a tournament official during the Gonpetition. As always, he wore a polite, affable smile.
"My congratulations on your union. Your wife is truly radiant."
"Thank you."
This sort of social maneuvering continued for about another hour, and both Jin and Elsa were beginning to feel the strain. However, just as the clock approached 9:00 PM, King Cesar's voice rang out across the hall.
"Everyone, our guests of honor, the Lord of Kunlun and his bride, must be growing weary. Therefore, while the party is still in full swing, I would like to bring this evening to a close."
No one seemed to have any objection. Of course, few would dare complain to the King's face in any case.
"Now then, Lord of Kunlun, Madam, please favor us with a final word to conclude the day."
"Ah, yes."
While his Doppel might have been prepared for this, Jin had swapped back without a briefing on the closing ceremony, leaving him momentarily caught off guard. That said, the speeches required in these settings were mostly formulaic, so he didn't struggle for long.
"...To everyone in attendance, I am Jin Nidou. On behalf of my wife, Elsa, and myself, I would like to express our deepest gratitude for this magnificent celebration."
This was their third kingdom, after all, and Jin was becoming quite adept at public speaking.
"...Lastly, as a token of our appreciation, we have prepared commemorative gifts for you all. Please accept them. Thank you for joining us today."
As Jin and Elsa bowed in unison, a thunderous round of applause erupted from the hall. And with that, the wedding reception in the Celuroa Kingdom reached its conclusion.
"...Oho, this is quite remarkable."
"A fascinating memento."
"The oval shape is quite unique; one usually expects a circle."
"They say it is plated rather than solid gold, but its craftsmanship is exquisite nonetheless."
The guests who received the commemorative koban voiced their admiration. As a side note, not a single person realized they were holding the currency of another world.
＊ ＊ ＊
"...It’s finally over."
The couple looked exhausted. Despite only being present for about an hour, they were completely drained. Their mental fatigue likely stemmed from the fact that they had so few close acquaintances in this kingdom.
"We still have tomorrow."
"...I wonder why words that should normally inspire hope only make me feel weary."
Exchanging tired banter, the two sank into the sofa in the reception room of their guest suite.
"Father, Elsa-sama, the bath is ready," Reiko reported. She had been preparing the family bath attached to the suite.
Even though it was called a family bath, this was the guest suite of the Celuroa Royal Palace; the tub was large enough to accommodate ten people if they squeezed in.
"Well then, shall we go in?"
"...Mm."
Jin stood up, and Elsa followed suit.
Reiko said nothing.
And then.
"...!!"
A silent, startled gasp echoed through the dressing room.
"Ah, just as I thought—they hadn't noticed."
Perhaps because they were so tired, Reiko had thought it a bit strange when the two of them, who had never actually bathed together before, headed for the dressing room side-by-side without a second thought.
"..."
"..."
The two of them soaked in the hot water together. Their faces were already bright red, though whether from the heat or embarrassment was hard to say.
A small mercy for them both was that the bathroom lighting was dim. Still, they could see each other's faces clearly, making the situation incredibly bashful. Although they shared a bed every night, they were still far from accustomed to seeing one another's bare forms in a well-lit space.
The two eventually left the bath in silence, but as for what transpired in the bedroom afterward... only Reiko knows.
＊ ＊ ＊
The following day, the 23rd, was a day with no scheduled events, intended for them to enjoy the Celuroa Kingdom at their own pace. Jin and Elsa spent the morning relaxing.
"Shall we head out into town after this?"
"Mm, that sounds lovely."
If Jin disguised himself slightly—changing his black hair color, for instance—they could easily move about incognito. They had done something similar in the Klein Kingdom before, so it wasn't a problem.
Following suit, Reiko pulled her hair into a ponytail, changed its color to brown, and donned the clothes of a common town girl. Elsa also changed her hair to brown and put on everyday clothes. They were just about to head out when...
"Lord of Kunlun, at the very least, let me provide a guide."
King Cesar, having heard they were heading into the city, came rushing over. A single woman dressed as a commoner stood behind him.
"This is Veronica, one of my royal ritter. She was born and raised in this city, so she knows it intimately."
"I am Veronica. Lord of Kunlun, Madam, it is an honor to serve you."
With her shoulder-length red hair hanging loosely, she certainly looked the part of a commoner. She reminded Jin somewhat of Beena when he first met her, though she stood nearly 170 centimeters tall with a well-defined, curvy figure.
"...We look forward to your guidance," Elsa said, greeting her in Jin's stead. The look she gave the woman was perhaps a touch resentful, though that might have just been Jin's imagination.
"In that case, I ask that you return by 2:00 PM. We have a tea party scheduled for 3:00 PM."
"Understood. Thank you for your consideration."
Jin offered his thanks, and the four of them—Jin, Elsa, Reiko, and Veronica—headed out into the city through the servants' entrance of the Royal Palace.
"I've been to the Celuroa Kingdom many times, but this might be the first time I've actually gone sightseeing in Esaia," Jin muttered to no one in particular.
Veronica immediately responded.
"Is that so? In that case, what would you like to see? I grew up here, so I can take you anywhere."
"Let's see... since we're here, I'd like to see shops that sell daily necessities and household goods. What about you, Elsa?"
"Then, I would like to see the clothing shops, please."
It seemed Elsa was interested in the local fashion.
"Understood. The Clothing District is closest to our current position. Let's start there..."
Veronica took the lead, and the group set off. Watching them from a distance, several individuals acting as secret guards followed quietly in their wake.