Persuading Shiro-san had been an uphill battle, and the negotiation continued even as we moved toward the ceremony hall for the start of the wedding.
(If I were to attend, wouldn't that grant the event even more prestige?)
If you actually showed up, Shiro-san, "prestige" wouldn't even cover it—it would be a global catastrophe. Besides, if you come, then Chronoa-san and the other high gods will definitely follow suit, won't they? It’ll be a total madhouse... This is Seigi and Cattleya-san’s big day, so please, just let them have this without any chaos.
(Hmm... I see. If you feel that strongly about it, Kaito-san, then I shall give up on attending the ceremony.)
Thankfully, my persistent efforts finally paid off, and Shiro-san gave in. She doesn't lie, so if she said she was giving up on the idea, she wouldn't change her mind later. We were down to the wire, but I was just glad I managed to pull it off.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I took my seat and waited for the ceremony to begin. Shortly after, the proceedings commenced.
The doors on both sides of the hall swung open. Seigi, dressed in a sharp white tuxedo, and Cattleya-san, radiant in her pure white wedding gown, entered from their respective sides. They walked slowly along their separate paths until they merged at the center of the hall. Seigi offered his hand, Cattleya-san placed hers upon it, and together they began to walk down the central aisle.
When they reached the altar, Olivia-san began to recite a prayer of gratitude to Shiro-san, the Creator of the world. This was a standard part of the ceremony that the officiant always delivered at the start—though it was quite long. She spent nearly ten minutes meticulously expressing thanks to Shiro-san.
Once the prayer concluded, there was a brief pause before the highlight of the ceremony: the exchange of vows.
"...On this auspicious day, Mitsunaga Seigi and Cattleya Rea Sinfonia shall be joined as husband and wife. On behalf of the gods of the God Realm, and the God of the World who sits within the Sanctuary, Shallow Vernal-sama, I shall hear your vows."
After that solemn introduction, Olivia-san turned her gaze toward Seigi.
"...Mitsunaga Seigi."
"Yes!"
"Do you take Cattleya Rea Sinfonia as your wife, and do you vow to protect her, to love her, and to find happiness together with her, no matter what hardships may lie ahead?"
"...I do!"
Hearing Seigi’s firm declaration, Olivia-san nodded once and turned her gaze toward Cattleya-san.
"...Cattleya Rea Sinfonia."
"Yes."
"Do you take Mitsunaga Seigi as your one and only husband for life, and do you vow to support him, to love him, and to continue walking toward the future together, even if the path is fraught with difficulties?"
"I do."
When Cattleya-san delivered her vow with a dignified air, Olivia-san nodded once and held her hand over the book resting on the altar. Glowing letters coalesced in the air, manifesting their names before being drawn into the pages, overlapping as they vanished within the book.
"The Vow of Love is now complete. Mitsunaga Seigi, Cattleya Rea Sinfonia... with the Creator God Shallow Vernal-sama and everyone gathered here as witnesses, show us the undying love you have pledged."
"Yes." "Understood."
On that cue, Seigi and Cattleya-san turned to face one another for the wedding kiss. The hall erupted in a thunderous wave of applause.
When the clapping finally subsided, Olivia-san stepped to the side of the altar and gestured toward a massive bell in the back.
"...Now, both of you, as a Report of Marriage to the Creator God Shallow Vernal, the God of the World, please ring the Bell of Love together."
"Yes." "Understood."
Seigi and Cattleya-san joined hands once more and walked to the back of the altar. Together, they rang the massive bell, sending a loud, beautiful resonance echoing through the hall.
Once the sound faded, Olivia-san spoke the concluding words.
"That was a beautiful chime. I am certain the melody reached Creator God Shallow Vernal-sama herself."
Following the speech, Olivia-san handed Cattleya-san a stunning bouquet she had received from an attendant. Cattleya-san took it, joined Seigi on the central path, and the two walked out of the hall to the cheers of the standing guests. With that, the ceremony was officially over.
(...Should I tell you that I heard the bell quite clearly?)
Please don't. Seriously, that would start a panic...
In any case, while the formal ceremony had concluded, there was one last event to close things out: the bouquet toss outside.
Following the staff's instructions, we headed outside to the church entrance where the couple was standing. Lines had been drawn on the ground; those wishing to participate in the toss stepped inside the lines, while everyone else waited outside.
Aoi-chan and Hina-chan joined the fray, while Lilia-san and the others—or rather, the high-ranking nobility—generally abstained or had their attendants participate by proxy. I wasn't entirely sure if catching a bouquet by proxy actually meant anything, but since it was just a lighthearted event, I figured it wasn't a big deal.
With that thought in mind, I watched the church entrance. Cattleya-san, a blissful smile on her face, threw the bouquet in a wide arc... and then, the bouquet was suddenly sucked into a rift that had opened in midair.
(As long as I do not go there in person, there is no problem, correct?)
...She did it. She actually went and did it. Shiro-san... Sure, she said she wouldn't go to the venue, but she never said a word about giving up on the bouquet.
...How... How am I even supposed to fix this?
[Cattleya’s Bouquet Toss] [A sudden spatial rift sucked in the bouquet] [It is the work of the Creator God] [Confusion and silence descend upon the venue] [Great Damage to Kaito's Stomach]
Serious-senpai: "Shiro is one of the few characters capable of inflicting serious stomach pain on a Stomach Crusher like Kaito... As expected, is she truly the strongest character...?"