[TKOSINM] 138 – Do you swear?

As Noel was about to leave his position, he heard the door behind him. Irene and Noel swivelled towards the door. Soon, the door began to open and the light of the ceremony hall began to enter the dark hallway.

What happened all of a sudden? Irene’s eyes fluttered in the sudden change of situation. At that moment, Noel reached out to Irene and took her hand

“Irene.”

Hearing his voice calling out her own name, Irene raised her head. Noel smiled as he held out his hand.

It was bewildering and embarrassing, but somehow the entrance door rang, and then the door to the ceremony was opened. The wedding had begun.

“Yes.”

Irene grabbed his hand and took a step forward. The two walked slowly into the ceremony hall, smiling at each other.

♔♔♔

Although the number of guests was supposedly minimal, there were still quite a few people sitting in the guest seats. First of all, the Grand Duke and the Crown Prince, who came on behalf of the emperor, were seated at the top of the table. Then the Senate, vassals, and major nobles of the Empire filled the rest of the seats.

There was no one from the Chase family among them. It was Irene’s wish to not invite them.

After the wedding ended today, her surname would change from Chase to Kristen. It meant cutting ties completely.

When she first entered, she was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice, but as she got closer to the podium, Irene could not believe her eyes.

“Why is Sir Mulliman there…?” she asked bewildered.

He was Noel’s exclusive wizard, Mulliman. And for some reason, he was standing on the podium wearing the priest’s officiant attire.

 Noel also found him and frowned, but Mulliman greeted the two of them very naturally.

“Today, the union of these two will be laid down before God. There must be no lies in it. Do you promise?”

He was even reciting the officiant rites perfectly.

Noel looked at Mulliman bewildered, but he caught on to the situation. If it was as he thought, it would be best to match his wavelength.

“I promise.”

“Bride, do you promise?”

Following Noel’s answer, this time Mulliman looked at Irene. Irene glanced at Noel for a moment, then turned her head, and she answered, staring straight into the distance.

“I promise.”

After hearing Irene’s confirmation, the ceremony began in earnest. The wedding of the Empire did not take very long. This was because they valued making an oath before God more than the formality of the ceremony.

When the two made an oath before God, the officiant continued his perfectly memorised marriage proclamation.

“On October 26, 1200, of the imperial calendar, the bride Irene Chase and the groom Noel Kristen make an oath that will be engraved in their souls before God today.”

“Even if the door of ordeal blocks your way and unquenchable fire engulfs you, do the two of you swear to keep moving forward past these tribulations, without letting go of your hand?”

The vows made at the time of marriage were recorded before God, and if they did not keep the vows, they could receive divine punishment. As such, marriage had to be done carefully and sincerely, as there were often brides and grooms who could not overcome this pressure and ran away.

Irene also felt the pressure ahead of this vow. If she found herself in such a situation, could she not let go of Noel’s hand? However, the moment she remembered Noel, the feeling of pressure disappeared without a trace.

If it’s him who remains by my side, wouldn’t everything be okay? I think I can handle it.

Suddenly, such a thought popped into her head.

“...Yes. I swear.”

The thought did not last long. Irene answered first. At her unwavering straight voice, Mulliman and Noel looked at her. But Irene was just staring straight at the distance. Seeing that she did not doubt her own words at all, Noel’s eyes clouded his surroundings. All that was in focus was Irene’s figure who filled his eyes.

“Groom, do you swear?”

Mulliman repeated the question to Noel, who was quietly watching at Irene. But his answer did not come back. Not hearing his immediate reply, Irene looked up at Noel; he was still watching her.

So silence ensued. As the groom did not respond, there was commotion in the audience, but Irene and Noel were projecting only each other into their eyes without being shaken.

The world could have stopped.

But though Noel did not answer, Irene did not feel anxious or worried. Because she seemed to know without saying anything. Because he made eye contact and was saying that.

Noel, who had been staring at Irene for such a long time, finally parted his mouth.

“I swear.”