As Seigi joined them in speculating about the identity of the companion, a voice called out from behind the door, punctuated by a sharp knock.
"I... I have brought Miyama Kaito-sama."
"Thank you. They may enter," Cattleya replied.
Lunamaria, hearing the palpable strain in the staff member's voice, leaned in to whisper to Lilia.
"...They sounded remarkably tense."
"There is no doubt now. Someone is out there... someone so significant that even the guides are paralyzed with fear."
The hunch that Kaito had brought a true heavyweight had shifted into a grim certainty. Every eye in the room—including Archbishop Gloria's—fixed on the door as it slowly swung open. Kaito stepped inside first.
"Excuse us. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Please, excuse my intrusion."
As the person following Kaito entered the room, every face went pale with shock. Gloria, in particular, looked as if her eyes were about to leap out of their sockets.
The woman who stood before them was clad in ceremonial robes far more majestic and ethereal than those worn by Archbishop Gloria.
"Y-Y-Your... Your Holiness!?"
The companion Kaito had brought was none other than Pope Olivia. Gloria had never dreamed that her absolute superior—the woman who presided over the entire faith—would suddenly appear before her.
Lilia and Lunamaria were equally aghast, whispering frantically to one another.
"Milady... he brought the head of the General Headquarters to a wedding in a local church."
"Truly, that man... I was a fool to let my guard down for even a second. My stomach... Oh, how it hurts."
In this world, the faith that worshipped Shallow Vernal and the Gods was known as Shenism. Its heart was the Central Cathedral in the Friendly City Hikari, and Pope Olivia sat at its very pinnacle. Beyond her status, the mere fact that she had left the Friendly City at all was nothing short of an international incident.
"Your Holiness, w-why are you here...?" Gloria stammered.
"Silence. Miyama Kaito-sama is about to speak. To interrupt him is a lèse-majesté of such magnitude that you could be sent to the guillotine this instant."
"No, it really isn't that big a deal..." Kaito interjected with a look of utter exasperation. He then turned toward Seigi and Cattleya. "Mitsunaga-kun, Cattleya-san, congratulations. I'm sorry for the suddenness of it all, but I’ve brought Olivia-san as my companion."
"I-I'm stunned. I never imagined it would be the Pope... I've seen her from a distance, but..."
"Well, apparently she was interested in weddings and wanted to see one for herself. Isn't that right?"
"Indeed," Olivia replied. "I am currently studying various matters under Miyama Kaito-sama's tutelage. While I am well-acquainted with the theory behind the Rite of Marriage performed by my organization... I wished to witness the reality of it. I fear I may have overstepped by insisting on attending, and I apologize for the suddenness of my visit."
"N-Not at all! Please, do not give it a second thought! It is an immense honor to meet you!" Cattleya replied, clearly overwhelmed. She exchanged formal greetings with Olivia, looking as though she might collapse from the sheer pressure.
After a brief greeting with Seigi, Olivia turned her attention back to Gloria.
"...You are the Archbishop of the Sinfonia Royal Capital cathedral, are you not? Are you officiating today?"
"Y-Yes! My name is Gloria! It is a daunting task, but I have been entrusted with the ceremony!"
Gloria stood at stiff attention, her voice trembling. To her, Olivia was an existence so far removed from her own that she might only catch a glimpse of her once every few years.
Olivia nodded once, then looked back at Kaito.
"Miyama Kaito-sama. Are the two individuals being wed here truly important to you?"
"Hmm? Yeah. Mitsunaga-kun is a junior from my world, and while I haven't spoken with Cattleya-san much, she was kind enough to celebrate my birthday and other events."
"I see..."
Olivia placed a hand on her chin in thought for a moment before looking at Cattleya.
"...Shall I perform the ceremony?"
"Pardon? Um..."
"If they are important to Miyama Kaito-sama, then they are important to me... and by extension, to Shenism itself. If you are willing, I shall perform the Rite of Marriage and the Rite of Blessing myself. What say you?"
"T-The Pope herself!?"
"Indeed. I have the procedures memorized. While I will need a briefing on the specifics of this particular venue's movements, I believe I can manage if the Archbishop instructs me. Will that suffice?"
"T-T-T-That is, of course, the highest honor imaginable... but are you truly certain?"
To Cattleya, this was a proposal she wanted to scream about with joy. To be blessed by the Pope herself was unprecedented; it would give her new house a level of prestige that could never be matched.
"I am. Provided you have no objections... Archbishop, I assume you have none either?"
"None whatsoever!"
"Then let us discuss the specifics in a separate room. My knowledge is purely theoretical, so I shall rely on your guidance."
"It is the greatest honor of my life!!"
Gloria looked nearly moved to tears by the Pope's words. Then, suddenly remembering something, she turned toward Kaito and clasped her hands together in a gesture of profound religious reverence.
Kaito, for his part, could only watch with a look of pained awkwardness.
Serious-senpai: "I knew it was going to be Olivia..."
???: "The introduction of Gloria as the Stomach Blow Personnel was the biggest giveaway."
Serious-senpai: "A master of stomach blows, delivering agony to the guts of multiple characters at once..."