Chapter 4 : The Hero Party Is Getting Married! Except Me (4)

“Charlotte! You came!”

From far away, the star of today’s event—the one who assigned me the officiant role without even asking—walks up to me, beaming. His

blond hair goes well with the white formal outfit. To others, he might look like the perfect groom. But to me, he’s nothing short of a disaster.

I may not be able to spit in a smiling face, but I sure felt like smashing that smile with a mace.

“If you wanted me to officiate, shouldn’t you have contacted me first, you damn failure of a hero?”

“I figured you’d be happy to do it for us, obviously.”

“Ugh, my blood pressure…”

Talking to Alec was always like this. If you don’t stay sharp, your brain might take damage.

I’ve suffered too much from this guy’s impulsiveness over the past three years. Words can’t describe it.

“Does Eris know about this?”

“Nope.”

“You…! The fact that Eris accepted you is proof that the goddess Aria truly exists.”

What did Eris even see in this failure of a hero? Love might make people blind, but in her case, her eyes might actually need checking.

“I didn’t even prepare anything to say for the ceremony!”

“You think this is funny?!”

Today’s wedding isn’t just any wedding. It’s the wedding of the hero who defeated the Demon King, a being said to revive once every hundred

years. But this Demon King lived over 500 years without dying, and Alec is the hero who took him down.

You think a wedding like this would only involve family? With Alec’s personality, he probably invited the Emperor himself. Wait… did he

actually come?

“Oh, crap.”

Watching Alec skip away all happy nearly gave me a stroke. But I didn’t have time to be mad.

I had to somehow come up with a ceremony speech before time ran out. I’m really not cut out for this.

“Saintess… should we refuse the officiant role?”

“What do you think happens to our church’s reputation if I refuse, Gold Priest?”

“If word spreads, we’d plummet into ruin…”

“You asked even though you knew that?”

Asking even though you know the answer is worse, Gold Priest. You’re dead after this.

The wedding of Alec, the hero of our time, and officiated by his comrade, the Saintess—it sounds like the perfect picture.

Alec’s happy. Eris is happy. Even the empire gets a good story out of it. As long as I suffer, everyone else is happy. What a freaking happy

ending.

“Charlotte!”

“Eris…”

Eris, wearing a beautiful white dress and holding a bouquet of blue flowers, approached me.

Her blue hair and eyes sparkled more than usual, like jewels. How did such a pretty girl end up with Alec…

“Congratulations. Your dress is really beautiful.”

“Thank you! Getting congratulations from the Saintess makes me feel really blessed!”

“Yeah… I’ll definitely bless you…”

Seeing her smile so innocently made me even less able to refuse Alec’s request. Eris didn’t do anything wrong.

Even the Pope of the Holy Nation doesn’t officiate non-royal weddings. But if the church’s symbol, the Saintess, does? It’s basically a blessing

greater than a royal wedding.

An hour flew by, and it was time for the ceremony.

Thankfully, the experienced Silver Priest, the Gold Priest, and I—the one who’s never been in a relationship—put our heads together and

managed to write a decent speech.

“Now entering, the officiant, Saintess Charlotte!”

The host introduced me and guided me to the podium.

As I walked up, I accidentally locked eyes with a major figure. Crap. The Emperor really did come!

After the host finished introducing the bride and groom, Eris and Alec stood before me.

Kids… Are you sure I’m the best choice to officiate? I’m not even married.

“The groom, Duke Claudian Alec… promises to live together… love that blossomed in the Demon Realm… a heart full of love for each other…”

I gave the most soulless speech ever, and after witnessing their kiss, I nearly fainted.

But with the Emperor watching, I had to hold it together.

If I caused trouble, it would become a national disaster.

Only once the bride and groom’s procession ended could I finally breathe.

“You did great, Saintess.”

“Damn right, I did.”

“Not the best time to say this, but… His Majesty has requested your presence.”

“Oh, goddess Aria…”

The whole “joy after suffering” thing? Total lie. There’s just more suffering.

And the one who summoned me is Carlisle Regulus—the man who founded the first empire of the continent. The very first emperor of the

Regulus Empire. A living legend.

“It’s probably about your reward for defeating the Demon King, so try to relax…”

“Then you go and receive it for me.”

“A little nervousness is healthy in important matters.”

Silver Priest shut up quickly when I suggested he go instead. Gold Priest gave me a look of pity as I walked off.

As the Saintess of the Holy Nation, I’m not someone who can be ordered around easily—but why does the one calling for me have to be the

living legend?

“Greetings, Your Majesty. Saintess Charlotte presents herself before the sun of the Empire.”

“Such a precious greeting from the Saintess—I am honored.”

Facing him directly, his presence was overwhelming. I remembered fighting the Demon King. That same tension was back.

“No need to be so nervous. I called you to talk about your reward for the Demon King subjugation.”

“I only did what was expected of me as a Saintess.”

“The Duke said you wanted a recommendation letter for the Academy, so I wrote one. Did you receive it?”

“…What?”

“You haven’t gotten it yet?”

“Ah… no, I did get it.”

What is he talking about? I asked for a recommendation letter to the Academy? I couldn’t believe my ears. There’s no way the Emperor is

joking like this on a first meeting.

Which means… the culprit is Alec, that damn bastard.

“He said you wanted to enter the Academy because of your contributions in defeating the Demon King. But at your age, being a student is

kind of…”

“Haha… Yes, I am beyond grateful for Your Majesty’s generosity.”

“Even after slaying the Demon King, your thirst for knowledge drives you to join the Academy. I admire it. I hope my own children can learn

from you. I support you fully.”

“I’m honored… Your Majesty…”

The Emperor gave me a hearty pat on the shoulder and left.

So ended my first audience with the Emperor—leaving me with nothing but hatred and rage for Alec.

“Ugh… I’m sorry, Eris… But I really wish Alec would just drop dead.”

“Saintess…”

Silver Priest, who heard my whispered curse, looked at me like he was begging me to be more careful.

But what could I do? I was furious.

I had to find Alec and get an explanation.

There he was, smiling and enjoying himself after screwing me over. What kind of “hero” is this idiot?

“Alec.”

“Oh, Charlotte! I saw you meeting with the Emperor earlier.”

“I need to ask you something.”

I really didn’t want to ruin such a happy day. But what the hell is inside Alec’s head?

I calmed the overly excited Alec and asked why he lied to the Emperor about me wanting to go to the Academy.

“What do you mean I want to go to the Academy? We’ve been together for three years and I don’t think I’ve ever brought that up even once.”

“Well, you seemed like you were really envious of us, so I pulled some strings.”

“I’ve been to the Academy. There are lots of great guys there. If you meet someone good, maybe you’ll change.”

That answer made my head hurt.

How could someone even come to such a conclusion?

Sure, I left early because I couldn’t stand seeing their lovey-dovey crap anymore. But how does that lead to this? My brain just couldn’t

process it.

Eris was glancing back and forth between me and Alec, unsure what to do.

Sorry, Eris… I might end up punching your husband today. If that’s all I do, it’ll be a miracle.

“I told you for three years—don’t decide things on your own.”

“But…”

“No ‘but’s. You should’ve asked me first.”

“Surprise—”

Before he could finish his sentence, I punched Alec right in the gut.

He couldn’t breathe, gasping silently like a fish.

Great. Now I’m the violent Saintess.

Eris closed her eyes like she’d expected this all along.

I almost hit him again, but Silver and Gold Priest stopped me, and I finally calmed down.

“Alec… Just because the wedding’s over doesn’t mean this ends here. Please, for the love of everything, talk to me before making decisions.”

Alec nodded silently, still unable to speak.

I walked past him and stood in front of Eris.

“Eris… I’m sorry. I ruined your special day.”

“No, Charlotte… I should’ve stopped him more firmly…”

“Who can stop Alec’s personality?”

I hugged Eris tightly, full of regret.

The Emperor was here. Most of the Empire’s big names were too. And I punched the groom at a former comrade’s wedding.

I couldn’t stay any longer. After apologizing, I got into the carriage.

“Saintess, your temper’s gotten scary…”

“You try living with that bastard for three years…”

The mood in the carriage on the way back through the teleportation magic circle was cold and heavy.

Every time I remembered Alec’s impulsiveness, I couldn’t help recalling all the crap from the past.

But then…

“We’ve… never been like that…”

Saintess!

“You were having sleep paralysis.”

Just seeing Alec’s impulsiveness again brought me to that state.

Normally I’d just go “Oh, Alec being Alec again” and let it go. But today, he went too far.

Forcing me to officiate was one thing, but making a request to the Emperor on my behalf was crossing the line.

All of it.

“Are you really okay?”

The usually cheerful Gold Priest now looked seriously concerned.

“I’m fine.”

I forced a smile, and he quietly closed his eyes like he wouldn’t press further.

A wedding I should’ve been blessing ended in disaster thanks to my own temper.

As I shut my eyes again, I started thinking about the apologies I’d have to make when I saw everyone next time.