Chapter 44: The Unintended Bride

“Slow down, slow down!”

Larry roared at Ellis from the sky.

Ellis, who was blazing through the air on her broom, had already pushed its speed to that of a high-speed train.

She was even performing various high-difficulty aerial maneuvers.

“Didn’t you say we were in a hurry? Why slow down? We should be going faster!”

“But that’s assuming you’re not dangling me from the tail of your broom! You’re clearly taking revenge on me!”

“Hehe.”

Ellis looked triumphantly at Larry, who was swaying in the air like a kite from the broom’s tail, and asked, “Letting you breathe some fresh air will keep your mind from being filled with dirty thoughts all day long.”

“What dirty thoughts? Tell me!”

“I’m telling you, you know it in your heart.”

“I’m asking precisely because I don’t know!”

Ellis became utterly unreasonable, stating directly, “If you don’t even know something like that, then just keep drinking the northwest wind back there. Of course, you can also freefall; I don’t mind.”

“Either erupt in silence or perish in silence. You’ve forced my hand!”

Larry leaped, using his superb agility to forcefully land on the broom.

However, since the magic broom was moving at high speed, coupled with Ellis’s lack of cooperation, he needed a brace to maintain his balance.

Naturally, the only brace available on that magic broom was Ellis herself.

He immediately wrapped her in a bear hug, pulling her into his embrace.

“You little rascal, did you really think I couldn’t handle you?”

Ellis had not anticipated such a predicament.

She immediately began to struggle frantically, but with Larry’s proximity and her own strength, she found it impossible to escape. It was a monstrous strength that even several layers of buffs on her body couldn’t break free from.

Instead, she became somewhat flushed and uneasy from the frequent physical contact with Larry.

Ellis’s tone softened, and she said with a hint of pleading, “Alright, I won’t kick you off. Please let go quickly.”

‘How lovely,’ Larry thought.

Ellis’s softened tone only piqued Larry’s interest further.

Larry said excitedly, “Come on, say, ‘Good big brother, please let me go, don’t do this.’ Remember to use a gentle, preferably weak, voice.”

“Don’t you dare go too far!”

If she were to meekly follow Larry’s wishes, she wouldn’t be Ellis.

“Let go of me, now!”

“I won’t let go. Say it quickly, or else I won’t be polite.”

With the upper hand, Larry showed no panic. Instead, he tightened his arms around Ellis even more arrogantly.

Her warm, soft body was far more comfortable to hold than any pillow.

What captivated Larry even more was the delicate fragrance that wafted into his nostrils.

If he wasn’t mistaken, it was Ellis’s natural scent.

To smell it more closely, he even buried his head in Ellis’s beautiful hair.

“Ah~, truly intoxicating.”

Clearly, Larry had no idea how much his pleasurable, almost addictive, actions were stimulating Ellis’s body.

Ellis was trembling all over, her head steaming as if boiled, and her face was flushed a deeper crimson than any paint. For a moment, she forgot to struggle, forgot to scold, forgot everything.

Her mind went blank, completely losing control of the magic broom.

Even as they were about to crash into a towering mountain peak, Ellis couldn’t think to dodge.

Larry, who had been immersed in the delightful sensation of the soft jade in his arms, was roused by a sense of impending danger. He dizzily looked up at the situation before them.

Staring at the mountain peak that was now alarmingly close, he froze for a second. The next moment, his expression changed drastically. He immediately scooped Ellis into a princess carry and leaped from the flying broom.

As for Ellis’s specially made, ultra-expensive flying tool, the magic broom, it shattered completely after carving a huge gash into the towering mountain.

“Phew, we almost crashed and burned.”

Larry, having landed safely, said with lingering fear after seeing the broom’s fate.

Looking at Ellis, who was still in a dazed state in his arms, he playfully hooked her small nose with his finger and said, “You really are something, so careless.”

The strange sensation on her nose finally jolted Ellis out of her body’s heightened sensitivity.

She first scanned her surroundings with a bewildered look, only to realize she was lying in Larry’s arms.

And Larry’s detestable face was right before her.

Without an ounce of hesitation, almost by instinct, Ellis immediately delivered an uppercut to Larry—one thrown with all her might.

Larry’s facial expression instantly contorted, and he flew backward through the air.

His arms, which had been holding Ellis, naturally loosened.

Ellis dropped directly to the ground, but it didn’t matter. She immediately scrambled to her feet and, as Larry fell from the high point without yet touching down, landed a straight punch directly to his abdomen.

“How dare you take advantage of me, go to hell!”

Ellis, her mind clouded by fury, didn’t even notice her slip of the tongue.

All she wanted now was to thoroughly teach this scoundrel a lesson.

“Ellis, calm down! I just hugged you!”

“You enjoyed that hug, didn’t you? Did I tell you to hug me?!”

The beating continued.

Larry could see that Ellis had somewhat lost her composure.

Honestly, even if Ellis hit him for a year, it wouldn’t matter, as he was impenetrable. But clearly, they couldn’t afford to waste an entire year, and there was no telling how long it would take for Ellis to calm down.

“Ellis, I’m going to fight back.”

Ellis declared, her voice filled with righteous anger, “You want to fight back?! I…”

Before Ellis could utter another word, she felt a heavy blow to the back of her head. Then, her vision went black, and she fainted.

‘As expected, mages aren’t suited for close combat!’ This was her last thought before consciousness completely left her.

“Ellis, Ellis, wake up quickly! Your wedding is about to begin.”

In her deep slumber, Ellis heard a frequent and noisy voice in her ear.

Opening her eyes with difficulty, the first thing she saw was her mother in this world.

“What is it? I’m still so sleepy.”

“You’re about to get married, and you’re still sleepy?”

“Ah, I’m getting married?”

Ellis awoke with a start, then realized she was wearing a wedding dress, lying on a matrimonial bed.

“You child, once you’re married, you’ll have this wedding bed to sleep in. Get up quickly, the wedding is about to start.”

Ellis was completely bewildered: “Start the wedding?! Who’s the bride?”

“You’ve really slept yourself silly, child. Of course, you’re the bride.”

“I’m the bride, but I’m a man…”

Ellis was about to say she was a boy, but a mirror, appearing at just the wrong moment, perfectly reflected her current appearance.

In the mirror stood a bride as beautiful as a celestial fairy, clad in a wedding dress.

‘Oh, that Demon King transformed me; I’m a girl now. But how could I possibly marry someone?!’

Just as she was about to ask who the groom was, her mother hastily pulled her to the front of a church.

As the sacred doors opened, her friends and family inside the church were already waiting, all looking at her in unison.

None of this was Ellis’s main concern. What truly preoccupied her was: who was the groom taking her hand in marriage?

Then, a handsome face came into Ellis’s view.

Seeing that face, Ellis’s heart was surprisingly calm.

‘It’s him, after all. Fortunately, it’s him. No, why am I feeling fortunate? It shouldn’t be anyone!’

“Larry, Ellis is in your hands now. Please cherish her well.”

While Ellis was still battling with herself internally, her mother had already placed her hand into Larry’s.

In the very next moment, she and Larry were standing before the priest, receiving his blessings and making vows to stay together for a lifetime.

‘Wait, what’s happening? She hadn’t even reacted yet; how did it get to this point so quickly?!’

The rapid turn of events clearly surpassed Ellis’s expectations.

“Ellis, I love you.”

Suddenly, Larry’s heartfelt confession reached her ears.

“I love you too.”

Ellis swore she had never intended to say those words. But this body felt as if it wasn’t hers, acting on its own accord.

Larry’s face drew closer and closer to hers.

‘He wants to kiss me, doesn’t he?! Wait, I’m not ready yet!’

Ellis tried to escape, but her feet felt rooted to the ground, unable to move. Her body had completely slipped from her control, seemingly wanting to meet Larry halfway.

“Wait, wait, Larry, no, don’t! I’m not ready to be your bride!”