A banquet was under way in the Great Hall of House Randol.
"Now then, to the prosperity of House Randol—cheers!"
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!!"
Reinhard, representing the head house of the Randol family, led the toast.
By rank, Empress Emerita Hilde stood at the very top, but since she was traveling incognito, the honor had fallen to Reinhard instead.
Poured into the wine glass in his hand was an Olsen 3450 white—his favorite vintage.
Knowing this, Moritz had personally fetched it from the wine cellar.
Occupying the seats of honor were Moritz and Ingrid.
Ingrid's condition had improved considerably after eating Persica from Hourai Island, allowing her to join the festivities for a short time.
Meanwhile, Henrietta was being looked after by Melia Caret.
Ingrid was currently sipping Persica juice. Jin had retrieved it from the refrigerator aboard Konron 3; in liquid form, its nourishing effects were even greater than eating the fruit directly.
A lavish feast covered every available inch of table space in the Great Hall.
While it did not quite boast every delicacy under the sun, the spread included tempura made from fish and shrimp caught in Magiroots, whole-roasted kokarisk, Cowbull steaks, and Glass Boar sauteed with janzy.
Aged red and white wines were also on hand.
On top of that, the Persica, citrans, and apululs Elsa had brought from Hourai Island were piled high across the tables.
Because Elsa had brought far too much, the plan was to eat them all before they could spoil.
Naturally, portions had already been set aside for Ingrid and Moritz, and more would be sent later.
"...I brought too much all at once. My mistake."
Without a mana tank at House Randol, keeping fresh fruit for more than three days was difficult. Persica, in particular, spoiled easily.
Three days in a refrigerator was about the best they could manage—especially given how perfectly ripe they were when she brought them.
"This apulul is delicious!"
"The citran is wonderful as well."
Fritz and Gloria savored the fruit with visible delight.
Moritz gave the pair a wry smile.
"Hey now, make sure you eat something besides fruit."
"Ah, my bad, Big Brother. But you see, while the food in Avalon is great, you almost never get to eat fresh fruit. You get sick of dried fruit and preserves after a while."
Gloria nodded in agreement.
"Yes, that is quite true. This citran is truly exquisite."
Fritz spoke in his relaxed, familiar manner at home, while Gloria maintained her polite, formal tone.
"Oh... wait, that's a ramon..."
Elsa watched in surprise as Gloria took a direct bite out of a ramon—a fruit Elsa had brought alongside the citrans, intending to make juice sweetened with honey.
"Is this called a ramon?"
As it was a fruit rarely seen in the Klein Kingdom, Gloria was apparently unfamiliar with it.
"I imagine it would be quite sour on its own..."
"And yet, this sourness is indescribably delicious."
Hearing that, a sudden thought struck Elsa.
"Could it be, Gloria-san, that your recent craving for sour food means..."
Fritz, however, laughed off the implication.
"Hm? Gloria's always loved sour things."
"...I see."
Elsa had wondered if Gloria might be in the early stages of pregnancy, but it seemed she had jumped to conclusions.
Even so, curiosity got the better of her, and she covertly checked with Diagnose. Regrettably, Gloria was indeed not pregnant.
"Uncoo, congwatuwations."
"Uncoo, congwatuwations."
Yuu and Mio chimed in with their own congratulations.
(Wait, their lisps are back?)
Jin and Elsa tilted their heads in amusement and bewilderment.
After the toast concluded...
"...I would like to hold a wedding ceremony right here and now,"
Empress Emerita Hilde suddenly declared.
"Y-Your Majesty?!"
Moritz and Ingrid were utterly flabbergasted, while everyone else remained entirely composed.
In truth, a secret discussion had been held before the banquet—behind the couple's backs.
Holding the ceremony right here and now carried immense weight.
Even traveling incognito, Her Majesty the Empress Emerita was present as a guest. One could hardly ask for a more distinguished witness.
"Well then, let us have Ingrid-san be formally adopted into the Nido family,"
Jin announced first.
"Eeeh?! I-Is that truly all right? Jin-sama, Elsa-sama?"
"Of course. This is what we wanted."
Fritz and his wife could have stepped up, but having adoptive parents from the same House Randol would create complications. Thus, the Nido household had volunteered to take the role.
Elsa's own heartfelt wishes were undoubtedly woven into that choice.
Aware of what her biological mother, Mine, had endured, Elsa likely saw a reflection of her own past in her newborn niece.
Incidentally, Jin was twenty-eight this year, Elsa was twenty-three, and Ingrid was twenty-two; Jin and Elsa were only barely older than her.
Calling the twenty-two-year-old Ingrid their daughter was quite a stretch, but since it was purely a formal adoption on paper, it posed no problem.
Empress Emerita Hilde had personally guaranteed as much.
In short, this would be the formal wedding of Moritz Randol von Amber and Ingrid Nido.
Jin and Elsa stood in as Ingrid's parents, while Georg and Marlene stood as Moritz's (which they were by blood, in any case).
The primary witness was, naturally, Empress Emerita Hilde.
Beside them stood Moritz's younger brother Fritz and his wife Gloria.
Reinhard Randol von Adamas represented the head house of the Randol family.
Viscountess Flora Hecherat von Melanthe attended as well.
There was certainly no lack of noble witnesses.
"Moritz, do you take Ingrid Nido to be your wife, and vow to walk through life beside her?"
"Yes, I do."
"Ingrid, do you take Moritz Randol to be your husband, and vow to support him?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then you may seal your vows with a kiss."
Exchanging their vows and a kiss before Empress Emerita Hilde, Moritz and Ingrid were united.
With that, simple though it was, the two officially became husband and wife.
"Once I return to the Royal Palace, I shall properly instruct the archivist to enter it into the imperial records."
"Y-Yes! Thank you so very much."
Still recovering her strength, Ingrid spent the remainder of the banquet seated comfortably in an easy chair.
Moritz remained by his new bride's side, looking after her with tender devotion.
Surrounded by family and friends, the entire room watched over the newlyweds with warm, affectionate smiles.