The time had come for Galf’s son to be married.
Custom dictated that the person with the highest social standing among those involved should oversee the wedding proceedings. While this was partly a matter of prestige, it also involved a significant financial burden: the person in charge was expected to cover half of the total wedding expenses.
In this case, the one with the highest standing was me. As the Village Head, I accepted the responsibility gladly.
However, it wasn't necessary for me to handle the logistics personally. Normally, the duty would fall to my first wife rather than me. That would mean Lu, but apparently, it is considered taboo for a pregnant woman to oversee a wedding. There are various theories behind this. Some say it’s to spare an expectant mother the strenuous labor of organizing such a massive event. Others claim it’s because the guests would end up fussing over the pregnant woman more than the couple getting married.
Regardless of the reason, if that was the culture, I had no choice but to comply. Lu stepped down, and Tia was out for the same reason. After some discussion, we decided that Frau would take charge.
Frau began by greeting the couple to discuss the arrangements. She presented them with three different plans:
The Luxurious Wedding: A ceremony at the Village Five Church followed by a week-long reception at the Village of the Great Tree.
The Flashy Wedding: Construction of a new shrine in Village Four specifically for the ceremony, followed by a three-day reception at the Village of the Great Tree.
The Simple Wedding: A half-day ceremony and reception held right here at the Village Head’s Mansion.
As a side note, the couple was required to pay their portion of the costs using Reward Medals. Regardless of the scale of the event, the couple’s contribution was fixed at thirty medals. Galf’s son used his own savings, supplemented by support from his parents and loans from those around him. Apparently, being able to secure a loan for a wedding is seen as a mark of trust and creditworthiness, so it doesn't carry a negative connotation.
Since the payments were made in Reward Medals, the cost essentially came out of my pocket anyway. Frau and I had consulted beforehand to ensure the plans weren't restricted by financial concerns. We focused instead on the location, scale, and duration of the festivities.
"Which one would you prefer?" Frau asked.
The two chose the simple wedding.
I wondered if they were just being modest, or perhaps they simply thought a week-long party sounded exhausting. Personally, I had been rooting for the flashy option, but they were the stars of the show. It wouldn't do for the observers to get more excited than the couple themselves. We would proceed with the ceremony they wanted.
After finishing preparations that taught me a great deal about local cultural differences, the wedding day arrived in a flash. The venue was set in the courtyard of my mansion, right in front of the shrine.
There were... a lot of attendees.
The groom looked sharp in a crisp white suit, while the bride wore a stunning white wedding dress. Both outfits were meticulously crafted by Zabuton and Zabuton’s Children. I made sure to send them my thanks.
Saint Seles conducted the ceremony before the couple.
Wait, what? I’m supposed to stand next to Seles? I tried to protest, but I was told those were the arrangements. Fine, fine. I just had to stand still, right? I could do that.
...Or so I thought, until I was told I needed to offer words of blessing. They told me I just had to stand there!
I told myself not to panic. I just needed to reflect on my life and let the words flow.
I tried. I really did. But nothing flowed. I had to wring them out of my soul.
"In the days ahead, you will surely face many hardships! But as long as the two of you walk hand-in-hand, those hardships will cease to be hardships! That is the essence of marriage. Today, a new family is born—"
"Hm? What is it, Seles? I wasn't finished."
Apparently, those were the Church’s lines, not mine. Then what was I supposed to say?
"...Congratulations on your marriage. You have my blessing!"
Despite the minor hiccups, the ceremony concluded smoothly. Tables and chairs were set out, and the reception began. We used the courtyard, the mansion’s main hall, and several other areas to accommodate everyone. The High Ogre maids and High Elves began serving the food they had been preparing since the night before. There were many elaborate dishes, but the centerpiece was a simple, roasted whole Giant Boar.
When roasted whole, the outside cooks perfectly while the inside remains somewhat rare. Apparently, this is intentional.
"It is an 'incomplete' dish," Frau explained, "symbolizing that marriage itself is not the finish line."
That made sense to me. Still, I felt the spread needed something more, so I had made wedding cakes. I originally considered a massive three-tiered cake, but the oven wasn't big enough for the base layers, so I pivoted. I made five forty-centimeter round cakes instead. I worried if we could finish them all, but seeing the children staring at them with predatory intensity, I realized that wouldn't be an issue.
Once the formal ceremony ended, my duties and Seles’s were over. We were free to enjoy the reception as guests, but the bride and groom remained stationary. They stayed in their designated spots to receive greetings from every guest. It looked exhausting, yet they never stopped smiling. Galf’s son, in particular, looked like he was over the moon.
Their joy was infectious, and most of the guests were beaming—everyone except Galf, who was off in a corner sulking. He was still unhappy that his son’s wedding had been decided while he was away. I had been told that he and his wife had talked it out and resolved the issue, but looking at him now... had they really?
I thought about going over to cheer him up, but the dwarves beat me to it. They surrounded him in a tight circle.
"Why do you have a face that doesn't fit a wedding!?" Donovan bellowed.
"He’s clearly suffering from a lack of alcohol!" another dwarf shouted.
"I see! Then the solution is booze!"
"More booze!"
I decided to leave Galf to the dwarves. If he was still grumpy tomorrow, I’d deal with it then.
As an aside, I noticed the bride’s relatives weren't in attendance. When I asked if that was a problem, I was told it was perfectly fine. In their culture, when a groom goes to "claim" his bride, her family generally does not attend the ceremony. It wasn't because they didn't get along; it was just the standard custom.
As the sun began to set, it was time for the couple to make their exit. This involved a specific event: the "gauntlet." The couple had to walk down a straight path lined with men who would reach out to try and touch the bride. The groom’s job was to brush their hands away and protect her as they moved.
It was purely ceremonial, of course. Actually touching the bride would be a massive breach of etiquette and a good way to earn a grudge, so only the sober guests were supposed to line up. I thought I’d join in just to liven things up, but the High Elves immediately stepped in to block me.
"This is to avoid any potential trouble, Village Head," they said firmly.
I suppose I couldn't argue with that. I went back to enjoying the food. Even after the couple left, the party was expected to roar on until morning.
"Hmm? More cake?"
Ah, the Fairy Queen had arrived. I told her I’d get right on it. I had the ingredients ready; I just needed an open oven.
Suddenly, a massive cheer erupted from the exit path. I moved closer to see what was happening and found Galf standing right in the middle of the road, blocking his son’s way.
"Son! If you truly intend to marry, show me your resolve!"
Galf’s son didn't hesitate. He answered with his fist.
"I’m going to be happy!"
His punch landed square on Galf’s face. Galf didn't even flinch. He just grinned. I braced myself, thinking a full-blown father-son brawl was about to start, but then the bride joined in.
"I will be happy, too!"
She closed the distance in a blur and threw a heavy hook with her whole body behind it. Her fist buried itself in Galf’s ribs. I actually saw Galf’s entire body shift sideways from the impact before his knees buckled and he hit the dirt.
Ah, I see. He made sure to let the kids take the glory. Not bad, Galf.
The crowd went wild. Men rushed in to haul the "defeated" Galf off the path, and with no one left to challenge them, the couple made their exit to thunderous applause. I truly hope they’ll be happy together.
Anyway, more cake. I know, I’m going. I’ll start baking right now.