Chapter 281

EPISODE 281 – WEDDING (3)

Jude opened his eyes.

And blinked.

It was just a moment.

It felt like he had dreamt in that blink of an eye.

After a moment of silence, Jude blinked again and soon forgot most of the things that came to his mind.

All that remained was a broken heart.

What is this?

His question was soon gone.

Even his memory of dreaming for a moment disappeared like snow, leaving only a feeling of being absent-minded for a while.

So Jude looked straight ahead again.

The real Cordelia, and not the Cordelia in his dream that scattered like smoke, was in front of him.

Inside the tent.

Moonlight shined down the small ventilation hole at the roof of the tent, and Cordelia sat with a blushing face while dressed in comfy pajamas.

Why is she blushing this time?

Jude searched his memories and soon realized why, so he urged the hesitant Cordelia with a sly smile.

Hurry. (Jude)

Huh? (Cordelia)

Hurry. (Jude)

“Ueueueue.”

Cordelia blushed again as her lips squirmed, and soon twisted her hair with her fingers as she pretended to be indifferent.

“S-so…”

“Yes, so?”

But Jude spoke mischievously as though he wouldn’t let her stop, and Cordelia’s lips squirmed again as she shifted her gaze.

She seemed to be asking if she really needed to do it.

When Jude nodded, Cordelia took a deep breath. She was embarrassed, but she opened her small lips and said.

“W-wah-wah. I’m baby Corde-…”

That was it.

Cordelia, who was talking with her face dyed red, saw Jude’s face that was about to burst into laughter so she punched him.

“Hey! You told me to do it!”

“I did, but really… hahaha.”

Despite being hit by Cordelia’s light punches, Jude continued to laugh and Cordelia eventually became teary-eyed and shouted.

“I hate you! I don’t like you!”

She looked to be seriously sulking.

So Jude hurriedly spoke to Cordelia.

“It was cute, it was cute. It was really cute. Can you please do it one more time?”

Because it was indeed cute.

But Cordelia immediately turned her head and firmly said.

“No, let’s stop. I don’t want to do it.”

“You don’t want too? Really?”

As Jude gently hugged her waist and whispered like a serpent, Cordelia felt herself shaking again.

I really hate it but should I say it?

Jude wants me to say it, so should I say it?

‘Okay, fine.’

It’s not like it will kill me.

After changing her mind, Cordelia cleared her throat but couldn’t do it right away. Because she was ashamed to do it again.

‘Huu, okay.’

Cordelia took a deep breath and opened her lips again to speak.

“W-wah-wah. I’m baby-.. HEY! Stop laughing!”

“Kuku… but. It’s just… HAHAHA!”

Jude finally couldn’t suppress it and burst out laughing, so Cordelia was seriously angry and pinched his hand.

“You’re so mean!”

“O-okay. I’ll do it too. So forgive me. Wah-wah, I’m baby Jude. Mama, gibbme.”

“Ah! Seriously!”

Why am I embarrassed when Jude’s the one doing it?

Why am I the only one embarrassed!

“Wah, wah.”

“Ah, seriously!”

It was so embarrassing that she felt like dying.

Therefore, Cordelia covered Jude’s mouth with both of her hands, but he bit her hand.

“What’s wrong with you today?”

Why am I really doing this? (Jude)

Why do I want Cordelia to spoil me like this today-… no, at this very moment?

Jude hugged Cordelia. He gazed up the ventilation hole in the roof of the tent, embracing Cordelia who soon calmed down after her physical protests.

He saw the moon and stars.

Instead of a night sky that was completely dark, a sea of stars greeted Jude.

***

“The raid itself was completely successful. However, just like here, the enemy’s main forces… in other words, it seemed like the high-ranking demonic humans had pulled out in advance.”

The next morning.

Upon hearing Joanna’s words, Jude looked down at the map.

The branches of the Devil’s Hand that they attacked this time numbered twelve.

Four of these were large branches with more than a hundred residents.

‘And yet there was not a single high-ranking demonic human.’

All they could think of was that the enemies noticed their plan earlier.

‘Did they cut off their tail and run away?’

In order to save the high-ranking demonic humans, they abandoned the low- and mid-ranking demonic humans and ordinary demon followers.

Considering the value of each high-ranking demonic human, it was the right thing to do, but the Devil’s Hand also suffered much damage.

“Nevertheless, I think this raid itself has been a significant success. There are still small branches left, but all the big ones have been destroyed. It’ll probably be hard for them to do anything to the Sälen Kingdom now.”

At Jude’s words, Joanna had a faint smile and nodded.

“Our leader suspects that the high-ranking demonic humans may have fled to the empire.”

“That is highly possible.”

The Devil’s Hand and the Devil’s Eye to be holding hands.

It was quite possible.

The two groups were originally wary of but not in conflict with each other, so they didn’t get along well.

‘As I thought, our future battles would be more against the demon followers rather than the 7 major calamities.’

Of course, the remaining 7 major calamities were still huge obstacles.

But their real enemy was the demon followers who wanted to bring about the Great Summons.

‘If only we could eradicate the demon followers in the empire…’

Or rather, if they could at least destroy its core.

They could prevent the Great Summons.

They could prevent Armageddon, the face-to-face confrontation between Heaven and Hell, from taking place.

[Are we going to the empire?]

When Cordelia asked with magic, Jude nodded his head.

There was nothing more to be done in the Sälen Kingdom.

After moving to the empire and gathering the playable characters on the empire side, they would start a full-fledged battle against the demon followers.

[But not right now. We still have some things to prepare.]

[Yeah, there’s also my sister’s wedding.]

The wedding of Gaël and Adelia was twenty days away.

By that time, they would be ready to leave for the empire.

“I understand, Dame Joanna. We will be heading north then. It’s been an honor to work with you in this operation.”

“It’s an honor for me too. May the light of the holy sun always shine upon you.”

“May the sun always be with you.”

Jude answered in the Solari denomination’s common greeting, and Joanna had a warm smile before she shook hands with Jude and Cordelia.

And twenty days later.

At the northern frontier city of Bailon.

The wedding of Gaël and Adelia began.

***

Two of the 12 northern families.

It was also a union of the Bayer and Chase families that had been gaining popularity these days.

Guests from all over the Sälen Kingdom and not just those from the north gathered.

Having received a letter from Jude, Kajsa came to Bailon with a lot of gifts from the south, and Lucas who lived in the north in the first place also visited Bailon with the Northern Jackdaws as if this was natural.

They weren’t the only ones.

Sylvia Crossbell who was on good terms with Cordelia from the beginning was present, and Emma Ficus who became Cordelia’s fan after the royal capital incident was also a guest, and the other 12 northern families also sent someone as guests. Because Gaël and Adelia’s wedding had become a national event so they couldn’t simply end it with just sending a gift.

‘A lot of people came from the royal capital.’

Not only the Royal Guard Magic Corps that Adelia had been serving for more than five years, but also several knights from the royal capital who had competed with Gaël in the fighting competition came as guests.

And several prominent nobles.

The Bayer family had three swordsmen belonging to the Ten Great Swordmasters, and was also the family that saved the royalty, so the prominent nobles also came.

“Congratulations.”

And Princess Darianne.

As the youngest member of the royal family, she visited Bailon to celebrate the wedding on behalf of the royal family.

An act that clearly showed how the royal family thought of the Bayer family, and its effect was truly great.

“There must be more than a thousand guests, right?”

Adelia had first thought of a small wedding with her relatives and friends, but it had become a big event now.

Therefore, Adelia couldn’t help but act like Cordelia, her younger sister.

“Ueueueue.”

Adelia had blushing cheeks and a tearful face as she was at a loss on what to do, and Gaël happily looked at her.

Brothers were also bound to resemble each other, just like sisters.

“But she looks happy.”

It was just as Cordelia said.

Wearing a white wedding dress, Adelia had a smile on her face the entire time.

Wedding.

An occasion where two different people became one.

An occasion where they pledged to live together.

The wedding started in the morning and continued until late at night.

By the time Gaël, who was so happy that he burst into tears, princess-carried Adelia and left with applause from everyone, the moon had already risen and shined up high.

“But their siblings aren’t here. Where could they have gone?”

“Isn’t it natural for them to go somewhere?”

“You’re right.”

Kajsa and Lucas had become friends and exchanged jokes before they looked out the window.

Because Gaël and Adelia weren’t the only ones who disappeared from the banquet.

At Jude’s room overlooking the Bayer family’s garden.

Jude and Cordelia kissed on the lips. It started with a light kiss, but soon became a passionate one as they coveted each other’s tongues.

And they breathed out.

Jude caressed the cheeks of the nervous Cordelia who let out a warm breath.

Her soft and warm cheeks.

Cordelia inhaled. She blushed again in the place full of Jude’s smell.

After Gaël and Adelia’s wedding.

These two who had been engaged for a long time were next.

“Cordelia.”

At Jude’s call, Cordelia’s lips squirmed before she raised her head and saw Jude.

Jude gently held Cordelia’s chin and raised it, briefly kissing her on the lips again.

A smile suddenly spread on his lips.

Jude pinched the cheek of Cordelia who gazed at him longingly, and he put his hand into his chest pocket.

What he prepared three months ago.

Something he wanted to give.

Jude held out a small ring without saying a word.

They were already wearing a few rings as equipment items, but the ring now had a different meaning than before.

A silver engagement ring with a blue sapphire similar to the color of Cordelia’s eyes.

It was not a gift for an engagement that had been decided since their birth, but a gift for an engagement they truly wanted and longed for.

Cordelia knew what the ring meant. She became teary-eyed in an instant and gazed at Jude with wet eyes.

“After this is over… let’s get married.”

He could have said something better.

He had clearly prepared better words.

But in the end, the words that came out of his mouth were very plain.

But for some reason.

It made her cry strangely.

She was filled with emotion.

Her emotions surged.

She felt that something was out of place.

She felt a sense of déjà vu.

But one emotion overwhelmed all her other emotions.

Cordelia finally burst into tears.

She nodded and pressed her chest down as if trying to suppress all the swelling emotions that were about to burst. She replied to Jude with a big smile.

Jude took Cordelia’s hand.

And the two giggled and smiled. Because Cordelia had somehow guessed today’s event and already transferred Count Chase’s ring to another finger.

“As expected of Cordelia. You’re fully prepared.”

Now that I think of it, she used to carry a lot of stuff under her skirt before.

As Jude smiled again, Cordelia pouted her lips and slightly waved her hand. It meant that he should hurry up and do it.

Jude put on the ring on Cordelia’s finger. While still holding her hand, he kissed her lips and whispered again.

“I love you.”

Words he had repeated countless times.

Words he longed to be able to whisper once more.

“Me too, I love you.”

Cordelia felt the same. Although she was crying, she responded with wide smile.

There was a feeling that something was out of place.

A sense of discomfort that wouldn’t go away.

But Jude and Cordelia didn’t care too much about it.

The important thing was the fact that they were together like this now.

The two locked their lips again. They embraced as they both felt thankful.

***

Time flowed.

Time flows.

Time will flow.

Things had changed.

It had become different.

And that change would bring about a bigger change.

But this was the last time.

A next chance no longer existed.

The flow of time flowed strongly.

No one could go against it.

Everyone could only follow the flow.

They opened their eyes in that great flow of time.

In front of that dizzyingly fast speed, they forgot it.

But the sense of discomfort remained.

A very slight feeling that something was out of place.

And what that meant.

Another change that would arise from it.

The heavenly voice gazed upon the earth.

The voice from a higher place paid attention to the wounds engraved on the world.

And another being.

After her long sleep, the young goddess Atalia raised her head and looked up the night sky.

Her faded golden eyes reflected the darkness of the sky.