"I really wanted to see you in those."
"Did you really?"
"Yeah, however."
"However?"
"You look even more terrible than I imagined."
"Hey. What do you mean terrible?"
Javier's cruel analysis of the state I was in irritated me. I questioned on what basis he would make such a claim, but the grandmaster's response was even colder. He walked to the corner of the groom's room and picked up the full body mirror and carried it this way. And I looked at the reflection of myself dressed in the white tuxedo with a bright smile on my face.
"See? I look just fine," I fixed my posture in front of the mirror and looked back pompously. But Javier's response was not positive.
"Whew. You certainly would have looked a lot better in your previous body."
“...”
"And a lot more proportional."
"...Dude."
"And a lot less disturbing to look at."
"Hey."
"Yeah."
"Let's be real. Don't I honestly look better than when I was in my previous body?"
"No. Never."
"You're just refusing to admit it. If you examine the features carefully-"
"I see the resemblances here and there, but you've definitely gotten uglier in detail," said Javier in the coldest fashion yet with a serious look on his face. "To compare, your previous face was like a potato."
"And what about now?"
"An identified object that resembles a potato."
"You're fired."
"Seriously?"
"Of course."
"For real?"
"Yeah."
"Do you mean it?"
"Why do you keep asking the same question?"
"Jeez. I know I should never have brought you back from that tiny room of yours."
"I chose to come back, dude."
“...”
"Because you desperately begged for me to return, explaining how it was impossible to go on without me. The estate would be in shambles, the skeletal corp wouldn't listen, and things would just be in horrific shape. Master Lloyd, please come back and rectify things again! was what you said. Wasn't it?"
"Did somebody smack you hard in the back of the head?"
"No."
"Strange. You don't seem to have a fever either."
"I'm perfectly fine."
"Perhaps the anxiety and nervousness about the marriage has messed your rationale and memories up."
"I'm not that anxious or nervous."
"Except you've been sweating profusely for some time."
I became speechless because Javier was actually spot on. I plopped on the chair in the waiting room, letting out a sigh.
"Ugh. I really did not expect to be married off to Her Majesty without a chance to process anything, within two weeks after I returned."
I was being honest this time. I recalled the incident that transpired two weeks ago when I was crying all by myself behind closed doors while trying to munch on the only meal I had for the entire day, drowning slowly but surely in the bottomless lake of despair and hopelessness. That was when Javier appeared and stretched out his hand of salvation. He took me back to the Frontera Estate.
I did have my share of concerns about returning, however. It was the phenomenon of enforced destiny being restored. I was genuinely afraid of the curse that might haunt me again, but it did not take me long to shake these worries off.
Because Lloyd Frontera's body has gone through the gate of rebirth and is no more. Because I'm here as Kim Suho.
The tragic fate did not enforce itself on me again. The dreadful curse had been lifted finally.
Although I no longer have the mana heart or the circle since I am in my original body.
But I still had the RP, CP, title, and measurement and engineering skills with me, not to mention greater respect and love shown by everyone.
The first people that rushed to greet me back to the estate were...
"How goes the preparation, my son?"
"...Huh?"
The voice awoke me from the moment of reminiscing. When I looked, the count and the countess were inside the waiting room.
"Father?"
"Yeah. Your father is here. What were you daydreaming about?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
I felt the heat on my face from embarrassment, realizing I had just called the count "Father" inadvertently.
Ugh. This is awkward.
Immediately upon my return back to the estate two weeks ago, the count and the countess had given me the warmest hug ever. I've decided to call them my father and mother since then. They had told me that even though they discovered everything and found out that I wasn't Lloyd, they did not care and were grateful that I helped the real Lloyd's soul pass through the gate of rebirth. They appreciated all I had done for the estate and had already accepted me as their own child a while ago. They told me that while embracing my wet cheeks and drooping shoulders.
"I suppose I'm a little bit nervous because this all happened really fast before I had a chance to sit and process everything in my head."
"But rest assured," said the countess, my mother, as she tapped me on my shoulders and glanced at my father. "I felt the same way on the day of my wedding with this man. I was so nervous and out of it. Weren't you as well?"
"Haha, was I? I think I was calm and poised if I remember correctly."
"But you dropped the ring while you were putting it on my finger."
"Oh. That."
"And you almost put it on my toe instead because you were so nervous."
Father was defeated, just like that. Mother put a smile on her face and spoke to me again.
"Anyway. You should feel a bit more at ease. Her Majesty is so gracious towards you."
"That's true. But I really did not expect her to hold the sword-fighting contest as she had said."
Honestly speaking, it was a terrifying contest. The first thing my queen said the moment we reunited with one another two weeks ago was appalling and frightening enough.
You are terribly fragile, now that I think about it. How can you call yourself a man, if you get bullied and pushed around by the king of hell like that, before dying without much resistance?
That was what she stated, looking straight into my eyes.
This won't do. The more I think about it, the more I realize I can't leave a feeble man like you all alone. It's about time I did something to find you a spouse that could protect you for the rest of your life, she had added.
I will thus hold a contest of might, in which all female citizens of my kingdom could participate. The mightiest female warrior in the kingdom staying by your side to keep you safe – that would put my mind at ease, so she had continued.
Of course I will compete myself as a contestant. And I will do my absolute best, she had reassured.
And the outcome was so obvious. It was so blatantly one-sided throughout the tournament. My queen defeated all challengers that came her way and declared the moment she seized the trophy, dragging me towards her. She proclaimed that no one who harms this man would be forgiven: that her blade of ire would execute the perpetrator immediately.
That was just yesterday.
"...Ugh. And the wedding, just the next day."
My queen was indeed a woman of zero patience. But I couldn't dare stop her from proceeding with it, because I feared I could actually be kidnapped and taken away to the royal capital.
"Her Majesty clearly favors you. You must accept her kindness with gratitude."
"Very well. It's not like I'm dissatisfied about it, anyways."
"Do you mean it?"
"Yeah, if I'm completely honest."
I smiled at my father. And it was true. The people I thought about the most were Javier and my queen, throughout the day on which I returned to the tiny, moldy room in Seoul and withered away in despair. Javier was like a brother to me, with whom I spent the most time, and I hadn't had a chance to share my true feelings for my queen.
I felt extremely sorry. I regretted. I had been drenched in sorrow.
That was why I was genuinely happy for today despite the nervousness and anxiety. The second phase of my life was going to be side-by-side with someone who could face a hell's knight and come up victorious, but I was truly excited. The blessings of the people I knew added to the joy.
Shriek! "My friend Lloyd is different! His eyes, nose, and mouth became weirdly handsome!" Shriek!
The entrance to the groom's waiting room became crowded. I noticed the orc Arosh waving at me with his canine teeth shining so brightly, and the elf chief Moira next to him delivering the polite greetings.
"Congratulations. I was a bit surprised by your new outward appearance, but you are who you are."
"...Well, thanks."
"Don't pay too much attention to your looks, because what really matters is the inside."
"Uh, okay."
"Besides, you are now blessed with a spouse that truly cares about your character instead of your looks."
I wanted to burst out in anger at the elf for speaking the harsh truth while sugarcoating it as words of encouragement, but I could only inadvertently shed tears.
"You look so funny in that outfit, big bro," said the familiar voice in a mischievous tone.
Julian was trying his absolute best to hold his laughter in. Next to him was Lady Scheherazade, who was clearly nearing her due date. And that wasn't the end of the parade by visitors.
"...Mermaid?"
"Whoa. Look at all those muscles."
"Her abs are... perfect."
The mermaid queen showed up amidst the praises of everyone in the vicinity, as well as the centauri chieftain grabbing people's attention with his wild full-body tattoo and the clacking noises of the horseshoes. Angel of Thrones Raphael's fiery ring blazed even more intensely, as the hell's knight Sir Giolexius and the skeleton corp made creaking noises of their bones.
But not all visitors were here to congratulate me. Someone was making a challenging demand right on the spot.
"Alright, when are you going to set me up with a blind date as you promised?"
Solitas had found his way into the waiting room, passing through the crowd of visitors. The young red dragon was clearly agitated by the lack of fulfillment as he asked.
"You promised to set me up with a beautiful female dragon after the battle. Why are you getting married before me, when you were supposed to introduce someone to me first?"
"Ahahaha..."
I could only sweat nervously. I knew not what to say because I had actually lied about the blind date. It was a card I played out of desperation because the situation was extremely dire. I had been thinking of looking for someone after the grand battle against the king of hell.
"I really had no idea I was going to get married so quickly like this."
"Having had no idea isn't going to suffice."
Solitas grumbled and I felt the sorrow of someone that stayed single for a thousand years in my bones. I was only saved by the intervention of an unlikely savior.
"Excuse me. Are you the human Lloyd Frontera, set to marry another human Alicia Termina Magentano?"
"...Huh?"
A young woman had silently approached me and asked me a peculiar question with a smile on her face.
"Are you the human Lloyd Frontera... I mean Kim Suho?"
"I am. Who might you be...?"
"Me?"
"Yeah."
I couldn't tell. I had never seen a young woman with wavy, pink hair that seemed to have just become an adult. The answer was even more unexpected.
"I came here because my brother sent me."
"Your brother?"
"Dragon king Verkis."
"Oh," I got up from my chair immediately and prostrated to show respect. "Uhm... How should I address you, my lady?"
"Ggo... never mind. Call me Flores."
"It's a pleasure. But what brings you all the way here, by the way?"
"What else would I be here for? I'm here to congratulate you on your marriage. My brother supports you, so he was supposed to be here but... that lazy bum is taking a nap again. No wonder my sister-in-law always nags at him. So I came in his stead."
"I-I see."
"Here. A gift for you."
"Huh?"
"Take it."
Flores, the younger sister of dragon king Verkis, snapped her fingers at me.
"Long life without any illnesses."
"...Huh?"
"You defeated the former king of hell, and the underworld voted in a new, more diligent, and competent ruler. So you kinda deserve a good reward for your deeds. Goodbye, then."
Flores, the dragon king's sister, chuckled and left for the garden outside of the waiting room. I caught a glimpse of five beasts that seemed to have accompanied her.
"Grr... Grrr!"
"Creak. Creak!"
"Cawww!!"
"Dadadak. Dadak."
"Badumtss. Badumtss."
Old manticore, living armor with a soul, gargoyle, flaming salamander, and a huge ice golem were engaged in a conversation with my summons.
"Ppodong! Ppodong!"
"Bangul! Bangul!"
"Hamang! Hamang!"
"Bibeong! Bibeong!"
"Ggoming! Ggoming!"
"Grr. Creak, Caw! Dadak! Badumtss!"
"Ppodong! Bangul! Hamang! Bibeong! Ggoming!"
"G! C! C! D! B!"
"P! B! H! B! G!"
The strange conversation between five monstrous beasts and special summons covered the entire wedding hall with noise, in the midst of which Flores disappeared without a trace.
"...Forget about the blind date," said the red dragon Solitas, who had just been harassing me with the demand.
"Huh?"
"Issue settled," said he, chasing after Flores with a blank look on his face.
I couldn't believe how unfortunate the red dragon was, because he clearly seemed to have fallen for the younger sister of the dragon king.
...I wouldn't go after that woman if I were you.
I could see a series of proper beatings by the dragon king, but that thought soon subsided. I had to care about my own safety.
"Why do you tremble like a leaf?"
"...Your Majesty?"
The only non-visitor in this establishment today was standing right in front of me, wearing a white bride's dress with a mysterious smile on her face.
"Hmm. I think I get it. The marriage with me must have been so exciting and ecstatic for you."
"O-of course it is. Except..."
"Except?"
"Aren't we supposed to not see each other before the actual wedding ceremony?"
"We're not?"
"Uh, yes, actually-"
"Because of the superstition that forbids the groom from seeing the bride in the wedding dress before the ceremony?"
"..."
"I knew it."
"Your Majesty."
"It's really okay," said my queen with a consoling smile on her face. "No superstition would get in the way today, because I decided so. Anyone that speaks of such nonsense today will be incarcerated."
“...”
That is obviously an abuse of power, I thought to myself. But I did not have a chance to hint that it was kind of a tyrannous move.
"I gave it a lot of thought overnight."
"Huh?"
"As to where we're going to go for our honeymoon."
"Well..."
"We should head south. I heard there was a gorgeous beach with beautiful sunshine in the region of Canaria."
"I see."
I actually loved the idea of spending some time in the warmth of the beach. My queen continued in an excited voice.
"I heard there's a prestigious training arena by the beach. Many renowned warriors and knights supposedly spent time honing their skills there."
"...Huh?"
"Training you there would make it a perfect honeymoon."
"...Pardon?"
"You've lost both your mana heart and mana circle."
"I did, but-"
"Then you gotta get them back."
"Your Majesty?"
"I'm listening."
"Why can't you just protect me-"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I can't wait to cross blades with you in sparring matches."
“...”
"I am overjoyed just at the thought of spending time wisely during our honeymoon. We'll swing blades while enjoying the picturesque scenery of the beach and the sea, and you will struggle. It's going to be absolutely beautiful."
"Uh... So are you suggesting an endless session of sparring matches during the honeymoon?"
"Yeah."
“...”
"For the entire day, from sunrise to sunset. Actually, even at night."
“...”
"Is something wrong?"
“...”
Everything was wrong. There wasn't anything right about the itinerary. But I couldn't dare bring it up, because of the genuine smile on her face. I could only put up futile resistances.
"Uhm... but if you go too tough on me like that..."
“?”
"I might die, my queen."
"It's okay, because I will protect you."
"...Ugh."
I smiled but was crying on the inside. But my queen continued regardless.
"Anyhow. The time is drawing near, so I will be off to make some final preparations. Lloyd Frontera... I mean, Kim Suho."
"...I'm at your service."
"I ordered a nice, warm drink for you to calm your nerves with. Take a sip and be at ease. Understood?"
"As you wish, Your Majesty."
"Hmm. You're still calling me that."
"...Huh?"
"You were addressing me differently before."
"Well, there are too many people around us."
"Then when we're alone?"
"Yeah."
"Good," said she, as she stroked my cheeks and signaled with her eyes to meet again in a few moments. It did not take long for Javier to bring something on a plate.
"Master Lloyd. Your Majesty has sent you a drink."
"...Yeah."
I could see the steam from the cup of tea that was gently placed on the table. I chuckled without even realizing it. I couldn't hold it in. I prayed and hoped to enjoy this much warmth and happiness for the rest of my life. I genuinely wished for everyone around me to be full of this much joy. I was confident that I could make it happen.
"Don't you think?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, but congratulations nonetheless."
"...Thanks."
Javier had an unusually big smile on his face. I nodded towards my best man and picked up the cup of tea and took a warm, honeyed sip.
"It's so sweet," I inadvertently smiled out of genuine joy.
