Chapter 85 - Episode 84: The Eve of the Wedding
After a scene where Clara and Matilda opened their hearts to one another and solidified their resolve to live together as a trio with Noein.
Returning to Retovik, Clara left behind the words, "As soon as I return, I intend to ask Father for permission to marry Noein-sama."
A few days later, Noein also made his way to Retovik to propose the marriage with Clara to Arnold.
Since he was not there to discuss business this time, he was invited to the mansion's courtyard rather than the reception room.
"...I have heard the story from Clara. For my part, I have no reason to oppose the marriage of you two. After all, I was the one who recommended the engagement."
Even as he said this, Arnold had a somewhat dissatisfied look on his face.
"But just what kind of trick did you use this time? Until now, my daughter had been agonizing over marriage, but when she returned the other day, she suddenly had a refreshed look on her face... Even when I ask her herself, she only says, 'I saw a hope for living and my resolve is set.'"
"That is Matilda's achievement, not mine."
Noein looked to the side with a wry smile. A short distance away from Noein and Arnold, Matilda and Clara were chatting familiarly about something.
"No matter how carefully I spoke to the young lady to try and draw out her worries, I couldn't do it, yet Matilda seems to have drawn them out effortlessly just by speaking with her for a bit, and it seems she even went as far as proposing a solution to resolve them."
The greatest contributor this time was Matilda. Matilda had easily overcome the wall that Noein could not, finding a path where she, Clara, and Noein could all become happier.
"...I see. 'In carving out a life, women are stronger than men,' is that how it is."
"Yes, I have felt that acutely once again."
What Arnold muttered and Noein nodded to was a maxim often heard in this world.
In this world full of absurdities, women possess a stronger power to accept them and find hope within.
While men are agonizing, women set their resolve, look forward, and carve out their lives.
Noein, and Arnold as well, had strongly realized this truth derived by their predecessors.
"The ceremony for you two is in two months, then. This has become quite a sudden affair."
It seemed Clara had pestered Arnold, saying she wanted to hold the wedding as soon as possible, but because there was a need to send invitations to other nobles and allow them time to prepare wedding gifts, Noein and Clara's ceremony was set for the middle of July.
The host sides, the Arqvist and Koenitz families, had a reasonable amount of preparation time, but even so, this was considered quite rushed for a noble wedding.
"...You don't seem very enthusiastic; perhaps this was an inconvenience?"
Noein asked Arnold, who still wore a subtle expression.
"No, it is not an inconvenience, but... seeing my daughter's state until recently, I thought it would take another few months before she decided on marriage. And yet, in two months, she will have her ceremony and be wed... well, what is it, as a father, I am lonely."
Arnold's face as he spoke so displeasurably was simply that of a father who couldn't let go of his child.
"I see. Father-in-law is sad that he won't be able to see his daughter as often."
"...It gives me goosebumps to be called 'Father-in-law' by you."
Receiving Noein's words, which were spoken in a mischievous mood, Arnold became even more sullen.
.....
Days passed, and the season became summer. The wedding preparations for Noein and Clara proceeded smoothly, and finally, it became the night before the ceremony.
While the nominal protagonist of the wedding was Noein, the head of the Arqvist Baronet house, the Koenitz family was higher in social rank, and Retovik was more convenient considering the lodging for attendees, so the venue for the ceremony was the Koenitz Viscount mansion.
That day, Noein was staying in a guest room at the Koenitz Viscount mansion. Although he was the groom awaiting marriage, thanks to Arnold's consideration, he was permitted to stay in one room with Matilda.
All that remained was to rest well in preparation for tomorrow. Since the relationship between Noein and Matilda would not change even after the marriage to Clara, there was no sense of tragedy between the two; rather, there was even a drifting sense of anticipation to welcome Clara and become happy as a trio.
However, there was something Noein absolutely wanted to do, something he wanted to tell Matilda.
"Matilda, do you have a moment?"
Noein said this just as it was time for the two of them to get into bed and spend the night.
"Yes. What is it, Noein-sama?"
When Matilda turned back to Noein—there was a small box in his hand. It was likely a case for a ring.
Holding that box, Noein approached Matilda. Then, he dropped to one knee before her.
Noein opened the box.
"This is... the wedding ring to be given to Clara-sama?"
What was inside the box was a ring adorned with lapis lazuli from the Arqvist territory. It used a part of particularly high purity among lapis lazuli raw stones and had been processed by the most famous jeweler in the northwestern part of the kingdom.
Matilda had also seen that Noein was preparing this as the wedding ring to give to Clara.
"No. The design is the same, but this isn't the one for Clara... Matilda, this is for you. Actually, I had it made secretly without telling you."
Hearing this, Matilda gasped. She gazed at the offered ring.
"Matilda, you have been by my side since I was nine years old. You have supported me longer than anyone, and closer than anyone. That is why I thought that if I were to give a ring as proof of eternal love, the first person should be Matilda. Will you accept it?"
When Noein asked that—Matilda began to shed tears in torrents, to Noein's own surprise.
"Ma, Matilda?"
"I am sorry, it is just... I am so happy, so happy that I cannot stop my tears."
As Matilda continued to spill large tears while saying this, Noein first stood up and pulled her close with a wry smile, wiping her tears with his finger.
"Noein-sama, thank you. I love you from the bottom of my heart. I am happy to be owned by you. I am the happiest slave in the world."
"I love you from the bottom of my heart too, Matilda. I will make you happy forever from now on. This ring is the proof of that vow."
While embracing Noein, Matilda was enveloped in a deep sense of security.
Until Matilda calmed down, Noein continued to hold her tight.