While Lilia couldn't reveal Noin’s true identity, she did warn Cattleya that there was a high probability a "heavyweight" would arrive. Ordinarily, Cattleya would have been delighted by such news, but Lilia’s deathly pale complexion sent a different message. Realizing the guest must be someone truly dangerous, Cattleya's own expression turned solemn.
As the tension in the room reached its peak, a sharp knock echoed. Everyone whirled around simultaneously.
"Are they here?" Lilia whispered, her face set as if she were marching toward a final showdown.
"You may enter," Cattleya called out, granting permission.
The door groaned open slowly as the room’s anxiety reached a fever pitch...
"Katy, sorry to bother you before the ceremony, but I wanted to do one last check on the reception schedule—"
"You’re being incredibly misleading!"
"Ouch! Hey, what was that for!?"
Cattleya had rushed over to Seigi the moment he stepped inside, reflexively delivering a playful but firm chop to his forehead. Seigi, entirely ignorant of the situation, stood there looking utterly bewildered.
"I... I apologize. I lost my composure for a moment. You wanted to confirm the schedule, correct?"
"Y-Yeah. What was all that about? Wait, Aoi-senpai, Hina, and Lilia-san too! You all came!"
While tilting his head in confusion, Seigi handed the schedule to Cattleya before noticing Lilia and the others. His face immediately brightened. Although Seigi had relocated to the royal castle shortly after being summoned, he had become well-acquainted with Lilia’s group through events like Kaito’s birthday party.
"Yeah. Seigi... haven't you grown a ton?" Aoi asked, looking him up and down.
"Well, unlike you two who had your growth reverted before returning to our world, I’ve spent a cumulative total of three years here. I was bound to get taller. Besides, even though the time discrepancy makes it hard to be exact, I’m technically nineteen now."
"So you’ve become older than me without me even noticing? That feels bizarre," Aoi admitted.
"It definitely feels a little strange to think I'm older than Aoi-senpai now," Seigi agreed.
Having gone through a significant growth spurt, Seigi looked quite different than he used to. Between his physical maturation and the experience he had gained as a Viscount and Lord, the youth had clearly developed into a responsible adult.
"Wait... where is Miyama-san?"
"Actually, we were just discussing that. Here, the schedule looks fine." Cattleya replied, returning the papers. After a brief explanation of the situation, Seigi finally understood why the atmosphere in the room had been so stiflingly tense.
"Seigi-san, do you have any idea who the companion might be?" Lilia asked.
"No, I’m sorry, I don't know either. I received the letter from Miyama-san at the very last minute, so there wasn't much time for us to exchange details. When I discussed it with Katy, we concluded it was unlikely a big name would show up... but seeing how everyone's reacting, I guess there really is a chance."
Seigi offered an apologetic look, confirming his own ignorance regarding the guest.
"Lilia-san and the others were worried it might even be Eden-sama," Hina chimed in.
"Eden-sama? No, it definitely won't be her."
"Eh? Why not?"
Seigi immediately shook his head at Hina’s suggestion.
"Eden-sama visited me yesterday. She appeared out of nowhere and said she didn't intend to attend the public ceremony, but she wanted to offer her congratulations in private. As a small wedding gift, she actually healed my vision."
"Oh, so that’s why you aren't wearing your glasses today."
"Yeah. That’s why I’m certain it won't be Eden-sama."
"Then who on earth is Kaito-senpai bringing?" Hina wondered.
Eden, who was obsessively attentive toward her "children," had already paid her respects to Seigi. Since she had explicitly stated she wouldn't be part of the ceremony, she was officially off the list of suspects.
In that case, was it Noin after all? Lilia turned her eyes back toward the door, her features tightening with renewed anxiety.
It was only a few minutes later that Kaito finally appeared through that door with his guest in tow.
Back at the front of the church, Kaito was chatting casually with his companion while a cathedral staff member led the way.
"I have to admit, I was surprised when I got your letter. Are you actually friends with Mitsunaga-kun or Cattleya-san?"
"————"
"Wait, really? You've seen their faces before, but you've never actually spoken to them? Then why go through the trouble...?"
"————"
"Ah, I see. You were just curious about what a wedding ceremony is like. I suppose you don't get many chances to see them."
It turned out the companion wasn't an acquaintance of either the bride or the groom; they had simply asked Kaito to let them tag along because they were interested in the event itself.
Kaito continued his friendly conversation, seemingly oblivious to the fact that the staff member guiding them was currently wearing an expression of absolute, paralyzing terror.