TSMMT SS 3

A Simple Wedding

When Guiscard dragged Dianna back to the royal palace, she expected fierce opposition.

Is the queen’s crown a toy?

How can they act like lovers breaking up and reconciling on a whim?

Do they even understand the sacred weight of marriage? It will only fall apart again!

She braced for a barrage of criticism. Having survived countless trials, however, she had full confidence in her ability to brush it aside.

And yet...

Duke Kragel spoke up casually.

[D. Kragel] "Ah, the wedding? Will it be a grand affair?"

Duke Islag bowed obsequiously, his massive frame bending low.

[D. Islag] "Could my daughter, Rosalia, serve as the flower girl?"

Duke Eirick murmured softly under his breath.

[D. Eirick] "My daughter wished to stand beside her as well..."

She stared at the nobles in utter bewilderment.

[Dianna] "You aren't opposing this?"

The aristocrats looked at her as if she had uttered total nonsense.

[D. Kragel] "Ah, how could we possibly dare to oppose it!"

[D. Islag] "Indeed. That would be treason."

[D. Eirick] "We owe another debt to you. How could I dare!"

The dukes cast cautious glances past her. Dianna turned toward Guiscard standing behind her.

He threatened them.

The nobles had likely discovered Guiscard's immortality. Having witnessed him during the war, rumors had surely spread. Even Duke Eirick, who harbored a long-standing grudge after being wounded while trying to stop Guiscard from killing his own father, appeared strangely amiable.

Perhaps the people of Lodbrog were far simpler than she thought.

Was this a good thing?

Was it truly acceptable to proceed like this?

Regardless, she felt a wave of relief.

---

The wedding remained modest. Neither desired an extravagant ceremony after having already married once. They preferred a meaningful, intimate ritual between themselves, yet mild threats from those around them forced their hands to send invitations.

Dianna drafted the guest list: Alexa, Anders, Ionia, and her friends from Panborough. A gentle smile touched her lips as she wrote their names.

Perhaps a wedding isn't so bad after all.

She had always viewed the concept as suffocating and hellish. Yet the mere thought of receiving blessings from loved ones naturally brought a smile to her face.

Next, she checked Guiscard's guest list. His was simple: the Vargrhati Knights and Revius.

Revius.

She wrote down the name. A faint smile lingered as she recalled what had transpired shortly after her return.

---

A few days after Dianna's return to the palace, Revius had suddenly appeared while she leisurely drank tea after breakfast.

Having not seen him upon her arrival, she assumed he opposed her return once again. Instead, he dropped to his knees without warning.

[Revius] "I am... deeply sorry."

[Dianna] "For what?"

[Revius] "You must... despise me."

She offered no answer.

[Revius] "I heard everything from Guiscard. About my past life. And the sins I committed."

Dianna quickly grasped the situation. He had learned about the 'Revius' of the previous timeline and how he had treated her. She expected a superficial apology, but his posture held genuine solemnity.

[Revius] "Once I wrap up my duties, I intend to depart."

Dianna looked down at him.

Though Guiscard remained unaware, Revius had intentionally stayed silent regarding her struggles in the past life, ultimately concealing the fact that Dianna had helped Guiscard escape.

Would their fate have changed if Revius hadn't hidden it?

She could have coldly told him off, insisting Revius was acting arbitrarily without consulting her. But in truth, their relationship likely wouldn't have differed much. She had certainly resented him after discovering his past actions, even feeling revulsion toward his existence.

Yet acute hatred no longer lingered within Dianna. Looking at the pitiable man kneeling before her, she let out a quiet sigh.

[Dianna] "Your apology belongs to the Revius of my first life, not you."

[Revius] "No. I state this with absolute certainty. I would have done the exact same thing. In fact, I harbored thoughts identical to that 'first Revius' initially."

Dianna remained silent.

[Revius] "Faced with the same circumstances, I undoubtedly would have made those choices."

His expression darkened with gloom.

The first Revius would never offer an apology. He had already been killed by an enraged Guiscard.

Revius had devoted his life to placing Guiscard on the throne, only for his friend to murder him over a woman—a Panborough queen. Even though Guiscard himself was the ultimate perpetrator, through Revius' eyes, his life had ended miserably, betrayed by a friend over a romance.

When Dianna had witnessed the tragic end of Revius in Guiscard's past memory, a brief thought had crossed her mind.

Serves him right.

He had already paid his retribution.

[Dianna] "The difference between you and the past Revius lies in execution. You didn't act upon those thoughts. In the end, you trusted me and stood by my side."

She refrained from mentioning his grim demise.

[Revius] "However—"

[Dianna] "I have chosen to leave the events of the past life in the past."

[Revius] "Your Majesty..."

Before he could utter another word, she cut him off.

[Dianna] "Because that is my decision."

Tears welled in his eyes.

In truth, Dianna felt she should be the grateful one. Revius was suffering over sins he hadn't committed, willingly lowering his head to bear responsibility.

It remains difficult to like you, but I have absolutely no intention of punishing you.

That was her ultimate conclusion.

She harbored no regrets about keeping Revius by their side. Even if he were to act under the guise of protecting Guiscard, she had full confidence she wouldn't fall victim again. Besides, she knew the bond between the two men was not so easily severed.

Having meticulously written out invitations according to the guest list, Dianna stretched and stood up.

The wedding was set for a week later.

---

A brief commotion arose among the nobles who longed to attend the ceremony, but a few short words from a man holding a sword quickly quelled the disturbance.

Rather than holding it in the grand royal palace, they celebrated their modest wedding in the open meadow where Guiscard had proposed.

Wearing flower crowns, they mirrored the legendary Founding King and the Maiden of Flowers.

Guiscard chuckled.

[Guiscard] "We already had a wedding as King and Queen, so marrying as a simple man and woman isn't a bad idea."

He looked at her with fondness.

[Guiscard] "You look just like a forest fairy."

[Dianna] "What?"

Clad in white attire with a delicate wreath of blossoms resting on her head, the bride stood out brilliantly against the lush green field. Her makeup was minimal compared to standard weddings, yet the serene smile gracing her lips served as her finest ornament, rendering her more beautiful than ever.

Flower petals fluttered down softly from her crown.

He pressed a tender kiss to her hand.

[Guiscard] "I will make you happy for the rest of our lives."

The memory of their second—or rather, their 'first' wedding with this man—flashed through her mind. He had trembled slightly back then, and he trembled now.

After kissing her hand, he boldly pulled her close by the waist. Cheers erupted from the crowd, accompanied by an old man clicking his tongue in disapproval.

[Dianna] "Wait—just a moment!"

As Guiscard leaned in to kiss her, overwhelmed by affection, she placed her hand over his lips. A bride blocking the wedding kiss, just as the mood threatened to dim, she spoke softly.

[Dianna] "I will make you happy, too."

He remained silent.

[Dianna] "I won't make you anxious about me leaving."

He stayed still, listening.

[Dianna] "Just as you are my pillar of support, I will become someone you can lean on."

Unable to contain himself any longer, Guiscard captured her lips in a deep kiss.

Hearty laughter broke out among the guests. Startled at first, Dianna soon relaxed into his hold and returned the kiss.

Dianna glanced around at her family, her friends, and everyone she cherished. Surrounded by their genuine blessings, she finally swore a vow and pledged her future to her lover. That alone filled her heart with warmth.

The sky was brilliant blue, and the sunlight fell pleasantly warm, perfect for a cozy afternoon nap. Clear weather, a gentle breeze, and the presence of loved ones.

A wedding she once believed she would never have.

A simple wedding.

Yet, it was sweet and filled with pure happiness.

And so, they were genuinely wed.