IRER 155

Chapter 155 

The Finale, Part 2

Hielgreen. Such a lovely name.

Northern Territory, Iter Hiel Castle.

Outside the inner walls, the square was packed with countless people.

A soft, pale green aura floated above the balcony railing where the square was visible, speaking.

“Who came up with this? Judging by the style… was it Brody?”

Brody, Cloria’s conversational partner, smiled awkwardly. He realized he wasn’t particularly skilled at naming things.

“Ah, um… no, it wasn’t me. Aidan came up with it.”

“Oh! I see! ‘Green-eyed,’ huh? They really put their feelings for their lover into it, didn’t they? How romantic!”

Cloria gestured toward the deep blue aura floating stiffly in the air.

“To think someone like that could come from Hieldieta… amazing. All the Masons I remember looked like Hieldieta.”

Hieldieta grumbled curtly.

“Is that an insult?”

“Of course not. I like you so much—how could that be an insult?”

Cloria laughed and clung to Hieldieta, spinning around.

Hieldieta remained stiff, but inwardly, he felt Cloria seemed to enjoy riding on him like that.

“The love of a spirit… it never ceases to amaze me.”

Though the form looked far from human, Brody could clearly perceive the spirit’s actions and emotions.

Was it because he could understand the spirit’s words?

To anyone other than Aidan, it would simply appear as a beautiful, dazzling, and wondrous light.

So, in truth, the only real attendees of this “wedding” were Brody and Aidan.

Ah, no—if you include Kalihiel and Niziala, that makes four.

“A Spirit’s Wedding.”

Surprisingly, the one who suggested this wedding was Hieldieta, the Ice Spirit.

[Humans recognize these ceremonies as a declaration. It means the other is mine.]

[I’m already yours, Hieldieta.]

[It’s not enough for only you to know. You have to declare it to the world. Otherwise, there’ll always be those meddling fools.]

[Even after marriage, some people still meddle.]

Cloria teased, holding onto every word, and Hieldieta sulked.

[So… you don’t like it?]

[I don’t dislike it. It’s already yours, so why would I mind making it officially yours too?]

Hmm, indeed. Legends and history always portray things so differently from reality.

Who would have expected the fabled, passionate, and noble love between Hieldieta and Cloria to be so fresh and lively?

Brody smiled, gazing affectionately at the spirit couple floating above Hielgreen.

Being non-human, no elaborate adornments were needed.

But when River heard that they wanted a wedding, his eyes lit up.

“This is an opportunity! Let’s hold a grand wedding march across all of Hielgreen!”

Of course, River’s intentions were obvious.

He wanted to celebrate the victory and display Hielgreen’s prestige across the continent.

In truth, the Riley royal family was essentially extinct. The emperor, who had been the focal point of the spirits’ power, had disappeared, leaving the empire leaderless.

Moreover, the truth about Lailord’s deception had swept across the continent.

As a result, many people abandoned the empire and sought refuge under Hielgreen’s rule.

Living under Hielgreen, where Hieldieta and Cloria were alive and present, was far more stable than the ruined empire.

If this continued, the entire empire would eventually come under Hielgreen’s rule. Lords who read the trends quickly were already pledging fealty to the king of Hielgreen.

River intended to use this opportunity to showcase Hielgreen, protected by spirits, absorb the empire, and end the ongoing chaos.

Under this plan, the Spirit’s Wedding was lavishly prepared throughout the North.

Caleb had been running around for over a week without proper sleep to finalize the wedding decorations and concept.

Since decorations were meaningless for Cloria and Hieldieta, Brody and Aidan were dressed splendidly and regally instead.

“They say we can begin if we’re ready.”

Aidan stepped onto the balcony.

Brody looked at him, dressed in a dark blue suit with a bright sky-blue vest embroidered in silver thread and a dignified velvet cloak.

Brody, wearing a form-fitting dark green dress and a flowing pale green cloak, extended her hand to him.

Aidan took it and approached, placing a light kiss on the top of Brody’s forehead, where the tiara gleamed.

“You’re not even the main character today, yet you look so beautiful.”

“……”

Blushing, Brody rubbed the spot where Aidan’s lips had touched.

“No one else will see us, right? Who would notice up there?”

Brody gestured toward the sky.

The mysterious, aurora-like lights waited for the wedding to begin.

“I like it better when it’s just us.”

“……”

“Now that I think about it, this moment feels better than the wedding itself. I get to monopolize you.”

Indeed, though they were adorned like bride and groom, the balcony felt like a space for just the two of them.

It was almost like having their own private wedding all over again.

“Really, no one will see us?”

“Hmm?”

Brody offered the bouquet to Aidan.

He looked at her, puzzled, as she stood on her tiptoes.

In the secret space hidden behind the bouquet, their lips met briefly.

“……”

Aidan’s face flushed crimson.

When the bouquet returned to its place, the murmurs of the crowd from the square below could be heard.

Surely no one was watching them… but still…

“Wow, thrilling.”

Brody smiled softly, lightly flicking her tongue out.

Aidan’s face flared even more, fists clenching.

Brody watched him and smiled contentedly.

“Me too, Aidan. I’m glad it’s just us. Even the king.”

Her fingers brushed over his uniform briefly, a gesture filled with the desire to stay closer.

Even through the ceremonial uniform, his thick chest rose and fell with ragged breaths.

“…I wonder if we could do more without anyone noticing.”

He reached for Brody’s hand hesitantly.

Brody interlaced her fingers with his, smiling warmly.

“Not quite.”

“……”

Luckily, Cloria and Hieldieta approached just then, allowing Aidan to restrain himself.

Cloria, observing them kindly, spread a soft light around them.

After a short moment, she bowed politely (or so it seemed) and spoke.

“Thank you, Brody. Without you, this serendipitous ending would not have existed today. We might have had to wait another 800 years… or more.”

Brody recalled the whirlwind of events—her death in a previous life, arriving in this world, meeting Aidan, and enduring each challenging day.

Yet, she had been happy.

“Thank you as well. Because of you…”

Brody glanced aside before continuing.

“…I was able to meet someone precious.”

Beyond Cloria stretched the vast snow-covered lands.

Hielgreen, its people—each one came to mind, and Brody’s eyes glistened slightly.

“Congratulations on your wedding, Cloria, Hieldieta.”

With that, Brody and Aidan moved a few steps closer to the balcony.

As they slowly raised their hands, the orchestra began to play majestic music.

When Hieldieta led the way, Cloria followed happily.

It was a wedding march very different from humans’.

They soared through the icy blue sky of Hielgreen, scattering sparkling dust.

People cheered at the rare sight.

They would traverse nearly the entire continent along the path prepared by River.

Soon, everyone in the land would know that Hieldieta had married Cloria—a declaration the spirit had wished to make to the world.

Thus, their wedding proceeded in a way no one else could replicate.

“Quite the scale.”

“It’s a wedding waited 800 years for; that much is acceptable.”

Brody leaned affectionately on Aidan, watching the festival unfold above.

“800 years…”

Aidan narrowed his eyes.

“Not quite that long, but I’ve waited a lot too.”

“……”

Though she couldn’t see his expression from her position, Brody widened her eyes.

Aidan continued,

“I don’t think we’ve ever truly had a honeymoon after our wedding.”

Brody agreed silently. After the wedding, events kept exploding one after another—there had been no time for a honeymoon.

“Today could be called our third wedding, I suppose.”

“Ha ha, indeed. Marrying the same person three times.”

Brody smiled, leaning closer, lifting her gaze.

Her shining green eyes held profound joy.

An indescribable emotion flowed between them—so deep that one could almost understand what it meant to love beyond life itself.

“The fourth, the fifth… we’ll do it together too.”

Brody laughed incredulously.

“You’re thinking of doing it again?”

“You didn’t expect three times, did you?”

True enough. Brody blinked.

After a brief pause, she pulled their joined hands toward his ring finger and kissed it.

“Yes, no matter how many times, I’ll make you happy for life.”

A white ring appeared where they had touched.

“……”

Aidan recognized the ring. It was made from a new type of plant that could grow on ice—one Brody had painstakingly cultivated over centuries.

A plant that grows from ice. Aidan barely hid the lump in his throat and replied.

“…That’s unfair.”

“What do you mean?”

“That’s what I was going to say. You stole my line.”

Her sincere complaint, somehow, made Brody giggle.

Aidan frowned more, displeased, his vertical wrinkles deepening. He lifted Brody off the ground in a dramatic pose worthy of the title “Glacial Duke.”

“Eek!”

Brody, suddenly airborne, grabbed his neck in surprise.

Aidan locked eyes with her at close range, his fierce gaze making her heart race.

He saw her trembling green eyes and delivered a decisive line.

“We’re about to spend our third first night together. Do you really think it’s safe to tease me like that?”

“……”

The attack landed—her cheeks flushed like poinsettia petals. Her lips moved nervously before finally answering.

“…Then… can I tease you more?”

“……”

Of course, she wouldn’t stay quiet. His face flushed deeply from the retaliation.

Soon, the balcony was empty.

Though they left earlier than planned, who would care about the royal couple amid this extravagant, noisy spirit wedding?

Happiness, like misfortune, comes quietly—making this day perfect.

I adore the extra details. FIN

@Made by Jinsa