Once the reception ended and the last of the guests had been seen off, Seigi and Cattleya retreated to a private room deep within the venue to recover from the day’s festivities.
Seigi slumped onto a sofa, looking utterly spent. He let out a heavy, weary sigh.
"I’m... beat. Do the greetings always take that long?"
"No, this time was an exception," Cattleya replied. "Normally, it’s a simple matter of brief well-wishes. However, today many of the nobles were desperate to leave a lasting impression. They weren't just offering congratulations; they were trying to weave in as much small talk as possible. That lengthened the time spent with each person considerably."
"How did I do? Was my conduct okay?"
"I'll give you credit for maintaining your composure until the very end," Cattleya evaluated, "but your conversation lacked flexibility. While your knowledge base is decent, you must learn to adapt your tone to your conversation partner and take control of the flow. Overall... I would give you a borderline passing grade."
"So strict..."
"Hehe. Well, for someone who has only been a member of the nobility for two years, you did quite well."
Seigi’s shoulders slumped exaggeratedly at her assessment, but Cattleya’s expression remained soft. Despite her "passing grade" comment, she looked genuinely satisfied.
Seeing her reaction—which suggested he had at least met the minimum standards she expected of him—Seigi allowed a faint smile to cross his lips.
"...Still, Miyama-san is truly something else. Things didn't go at all like I expected."
"He is an extraordinary person indeed," Cattleya agreed. "While I had hoped the Pope might oversee the marriage, having the Creator God, Shallow Vernal herself, personally bestow a bridal bouquet was far beyond anything I could have predicted."
"But it wasn't a bad thing, right?"
"Of course not! If anything, it exceeded my wildest expectations. Many will be clamoring for a connection with our house now. Furthermore, we now possess a church where a bouquet crafted by the Creator God is preserved for eternity by the power of the Goddess of Time. Couples from across the globe will be desperate to hold their ceremonies there. Our territory used to have no notable strengths, yet in a single day, it has become famous throughout the world. The economic impact alone will be immeasurable."
In fact, several inquiries about using the church for future ceremonies had already arrived. As word spread through the nobility, those requests would undoubtedly grow at an exponential rate.
When he considered how a modest, unremarkable viscountcy had garnered global attention in just one day, Seigi found himself awestruck once again by the sheer scale of Kaito’s influence.
"We might need to increase the budget for the ceremony venue and the reception hall to handle the demand," Seigi suggested.
"We absolutely should. Going forward, the church will be the centerpiece of our domain. However, we must carefully consider whether or not to open it up as a tourist site."
"I see... Well, this turned out even better than you hoped, Katy. It’s the best result possible. We can worry about the details later; for now, I think you should just enjoy the success."
Cattleya let out a sigh, looking somewhat exasperated by his comment. Seigi blinked, confused by her reaction, but Cattleya simply sat down beside him.
"You're number two," she said.
"Huh?"
"The thing that made me happiest today was standing at the altar with Seigi and becoming your wife in name and in truth. I’d be troubled if you got that part mixed up."
"...Katy."
As a noble and a former princess, she was naturally concerned with social standing and the future management of their territory. However, their union was no political arrangement—it was a marriage born of genuine love. Though her personality made her slow to show it on the surface, Cattleya was truly happy to have held this ceremony with the man she loved.
She wore a tender smile as she reached out, lightly cupping Seigi’s cheek.
"When we first met, I said many unkind things—that you were unreliable, even pathetic. But now, even if I don't always show it... I rely on you, Seigi. We are still a young noble house, and we will surely face many hardships following today’s events, but let’s work hard together... Husband."
"...Yeah. I’ll keep giving it my all to live up to your expectations. I’m still counting on your guidance."
"Fufu. As you well know, I am quite strict, so be prepared."
"Haha, please... go easy on me."
Despite her talk of being strict, Cattleya’s voice was incredibly gentle and filled with deep affection. Seigi felt a tickle of embarrassment, but more than anything, he savored the profound happiness of the moment.
Slowly, they drew closer to one another... until their shadows, illuminated by the glow of the magic lighting, finally overlapped.
Serious-senpai: "W-What is this!? I can't believe these two are actually getting a romantic scene... But, well, considering Seigi-san is usually the foremost of the unfortunate characters, I guess I can't complain..."
???: "Now that this arc is wrapped up, his next turn in the spotlight will probably be in another five years."
Serious-senpai: "Stop that! Don't jinx him!"