The bouquet had vanished into thin air, leaving the crowd, Seigi, and Cattleya frozen in disbelief. Shiro, what on earth have you done?
(Hmm? I did not go to the site. I was told it would cause a commotion if I appeared in person.)
Well, you certainly didn't show up! You aren't lying! But if you don't provide some kind of explanation, no one here is going to understand what just happened!
Right now, it just feels like some bizarre emergency has occurred...
(I see. I understand.)
I wondered what exactly she understood. A vague sense of unease settled over me.
Right as that thought crossed my mind, Chronoa manifested directly in front of the stunned Seigi and Cattleya.
"The Goddess of Time!?"
"Everyone, remain as you are and listen. I shall convey Shallow Vernal’s words."
Ah, so since Shiro promised not to show up herself, she’d sent Chronoa as her proxy. I truly pitied Chronoa, but her ability to appear so instantaneously was impressive nonetheless.
"...Regarding the bouquet, Shallow Vernal has decided to take it for herself."
"Sh-Shallow Vernal-sama!? I—I understand!"
Naturally, no one was going to argue with her. Shiro often claimed that she was the rule, and she clearly wasn't joking.
In fact, the very appearance of Chronoa was an anomaly in itself. That was likely because I had asked for her help, but regardless, if Shiro had taken the flowers, that should have been the end of the matter—
"Furthermore, since she has prepared a replacement bouquet, she suggests you throw this one instead."
"Wait... No, um, we can't possibly throw that..."
Why did she have to add such unnecessary follow-up? The item Chronoa held out was a bouquet Shiro had made herself.
It didn't use any Sanctuary Flowers, and its appearance was identical to the one Cattleya had originally thrown. However, the moment the words "Handmade by Shiro" were attached to it, its value skyrocketed to terrifying heights. To put it bluntly, if they actually tried to toss a relic like that, a bloodbath would probably break out. The tension in the air was already becoming palpable.
"...I suppose that is true."
It seemed Chronoa realized the problem as well. A slightly sympathetic expression crossed her face before she spoke quietly.
"Then I have a suggestion. How about keeping this bouquet in this church as a memorial of this day? I shall apply Status Preservation through my Authority of Time."
"I-I see. However, would that be acceptable? To act against Shallow Vernal’s intentions..."
"...I'll speak with her about it, so it'll be fine."
I couldn't just stand by and watch in this situation, so I spoke up to back Cattleya.
And so, Shiro. Is it alright if that bouquet is kept in this church?
(I gave it to them, so they may do as they please.)
That might have been how Shiro felt, but for Cattleya, there was no way she could treat a gift from the Creator God carelessly.
Though things had taken a strange turn, it was eventually decided that the bouquet would be displayed in the church. There was no doubt this would become a legendary incident spoken of for generations to come.
As expected, Shiro’s influence was immense. The fact that a single, slightly impulsive action could turn into a historical event was truly a terrifying thought.
"...Chronoa-san, thank you for all your hard work."
"Yes, and to you as well, Miyama."
When I called out to Chronoa as she prepared to leave, she replied with an expression that looked somewhat exhausted, as if she sympathized with my plight.
Despite the incident, we regained our composure and moved on to the wedding reception. The party was being held at a large venue adjacent to the church, so the guests began to migrate there.
I let Lilia and the others head over first while I waited to join up with Olivia, who had finished her duties as the officiant.
"...Olivia-san, thank you for your hard work."
"Those words are more than I deserve. Being able to experience the ceremony firsthand was a great learning experience."
Following our previous conversations, Olivia had dedicated herself to learning about the world. Combined with her naturally serious personality, her passion for study was formidable.
According to what Kaori told me, Olivia had already mastered the use of chopsticks and could even distinguish the subtle nuances in various miso soups.
"Next is the reception, so it should be a bit more relaxed than the ceremony."
"If it is not a burden, would it be acceptable for me to remain by your side?"
"I wouldn't call it 'remaining' by my side. It's a party, so let's just enjoy it together. I'm a bit worn out from the ceremony myself, so I'd like to put my mind at ease."
"...Um... Kaito-sama, please forgive the rudeness of asking for clarification. Based on your statement just now, can it be interpreted that you feel at ease when you are with me?"
"Eh? Oh, yes. Olivia-san is someone I know well, so I find it relaxing to be with you."
After all, there were many people here today who were meeting me for the first time but already knew all about me. Personally, it was quite nerve-wracking. In contrast, Olivia was a friend, so I didn't feel like I had to be on my guard.
"...I... I see... Ex-Excuse me. I have some distracting thoughts... Please wait a few seconds."
Olivia looked completely bewildered. I tilted my head, not quite understanding what was wrong.
Serious-senpai: "Ah, I see. From Kaito's perspective, he meant it in the sense of 'In a party full of strangers, it's a relief to be with a friend'... but to Olivia, it sounded like he just confessed, 'I feel at peace when I'm with you.' Damn him!"
???: "Sensing a sweet atmosphere and immediately starting to curse... You're the same as always."