September 5, 2026

Chapter 236 - The Banquet — The Conversation

After the ceremony ended, the banquet hall gradually came alive.

The long tables were laden with food. The smell of roasted meat drifted through the air, threading between the scent of red wine and desserts. Guests clustered in twos and threes, talking and laughing, voices overlapping from every corner of the room.

As the main figures of the day, Norn and Ruijerd had almost no time to rest. They were making their way from table to table, offering thanks to every guest.

I, on the other hand, had finally found a seat and a drink.

--------

"Here."

Paul pushed a wine glass across to me.

"No refusing today."

"When have I ever refused?"

"Heh. You think I don't know you? I've had three drinks and you've had one."

"Father, you're already getting fuzzy. You're saying things that never happened. That's exactly why the mothers all say you can't hold your liquor."

"Nonsense!"

"The last time you got drunk, you hugged a streetlamp and told it that it looked like Mother Zenith."

"......"

Paul fell silent.

Then thought about it. Seriously.

"Did I?"

"See. You don't even remember it yourself."

Cliff held his wine glass and chuckled beside us.

"Mr. Paul actually did something like that?"

Paul shook his head immediately.

"Don't you believe that. Rudy made it up."

I didn't say anything more. No matter what, he's still my father. I'll leave him some face.

Orsted had settled in at our table too, drinking quietly. On the other side of him, Nanahoshi was putting away her wine in serious gulps. She drained her glass in one go, set it down on the table, and looked at me.

"Still. I can't believe you're not sitting with your wives."

"On occasions like this, when have I ever not been drinking with you all?"

Nanahoshi propped her chin on one hand and thought for a moment.

"I suppose...... that's true."

She looked over at Norn and Ruijerd, who were working through the tables, greeting family and friends, accepting toasts here and there. For no particular reason, the corner of Nanahoshi's mouth twitched upward.

I smiled too.

"Nanahoshi, are you envious?"

What I didn't expect was for her to nod.

"A little."

"....... Envious of Norn?"

"Yeah. Envious of Norn, and envious of your wives too. They're all very happy."

Cliff drained his glass and said with a laugh that had a bit of an edge to it, "Nanahoshi, I've told you before, find a man who loves you and you'll be happy. Hahahaha."

"Heh. My standards for men are very high. Someone like you definitely doesn't qualify."

"Huh? What are you talking about? I'm a genius, and I'm not bad-looking. The fact that Lize Dedoldia loves me so much is proof."

"Let's just say you don't pass. Not in my eyes."

"What about Rudeus?"

At that, Nanahoshi shifted her gaze to me.

I looked back, genuinely curious. I'd always wondered what her ideal type actually was. She'd mentioned a romanticist before, but I wasn't sure anyone like that really existed in this world.

Nanahoshi studied me for a while. She furrowed her brow. Then, reluctantly, she nodded.

"Well....... passable?"

Cliff's mouth twitched.

"Passable? If Rudeus only barely makes the cut, there probably isn't a man in this world who meets your standards."

"Passable doesn't mean no. I could just about accept it. But you, Cliff, are completely out of the question."

"?"

I took a sip of wine and said with a smile, "I'm only passable, so what, does someone have to be on Orsted's level to actually meet your standards?"

Nanahoshi waved her hand right away.

"Orsted is completely out of the question too. Strength is all he has. Not a shred of charm when he talks."

I turned and glanced at Orsted.

He didn't seem bothered by that in the slightest. He just smiled.

Seeing he had no reaction, I continued.

"Your standards are too harsh."

"Are they? Seems reasonable to me."

Cliff and I shared a smile and left it there.

Then Paul elbowed me and lowered his voice.

"Hey. Rudy."

"What?"

Paul looked at Nanahoshi. Then looked at me.

"You........ never mind."

"Can you just say it?"

"It's nothing. It's nothing."

"......."

Paul raised his glass high.

"Alright! Drink until we drop!"

--------

On the other side of the hall, Norn and Ruijerd had reached the fifth table.

The smile on Norn's face had barely wavered since the ceremony began. Ruijerd stayed right beside her the whole time. When someone offered a toast, he drank in her place. When someone made a joke, he wasn't quite sure how to respond, but he listened to the whole thing anyway.

And Norn kept stealing glances at him.

Then smiling again.

Honestly, that expression of hers was so blissful it was almost hard to look at.

Paul followed my gaze over.

Then gently clinked his glass against mine.

"Reassured?"

"I wasn't uneasy to begin with."

"Don't give me that."

"......."

Alright.

I was reassured.

--------

Three rounds in, our table had gotten considerably louder.

Cliff started talking about his courtship days with his wife. He'd barely gotten started when Elinalize appeared from behind him.

"Darling~"

"Hm?"

"I want to join."

"Of course, Lize Dedoldia."

"Really?"

"Really."

Elinalize smiled and sat down gracefully beside Cliff. She reached over and straightened his collar without even thinking about it, the way you'd brush dust from your own sleeve.

Paul watched with naked envy on his face.

"Must be nice."

Elinalize frowned.

"What are you envious about?"

"Zenith and Lilia never take care of me like that."

"If you hadn't acted like such a scumbag before, they would. The reason I love Cliff so much is because Cliff is worth loving."

"I've changed a lot."

"I know. That's why I said 'before.'"

"....... Fine, keep drinking?"

"What else do you think I came here for?"

--------

Not far away, the wives and mothers had taken over an entire table.

Sylphie.

Roxy.

Eris.

Aisha.

Zenith.

Lilia.

Even Ariel was there.

When women get together, they build their own world. It doesn't matter how far away you are. The laughter carries.

And the loudest laugh, without question, belonged to Eris.

"Hahahahahaha! Rudeus actually said that?!"

"He did."

Sylphie nodded, looking resigned.

"Rudy always used to say the strangest things with a completely straight face."

I couldn't help myself.

"Hey~ I can hear you."

Eris looked at me with complete confidence.

"I meant for Rudeus to hear it!"

I had nothing to say to that.

Ariel laughed softly.

"Lord Rudeus's stories are truly entertaining."

I gave her a look.

"What are you joining in for?"

"Is it not allowed, Lord Rudeus....... it's such a joyous day. I only wanted to chat with everyone......."

Zenith immediately jumped in.

"Rudy~ don't bully Her Majesty Ariel."

"......."

Just how had Zenith and Ariel gotten so close? Was it because Norn had her wedding dress selected and tailored through Ariel's people? Probably something like that.

Ariel smiled and sipped her tea with elegant composure.

Aisha, meanwhile, tugged the tone in a completely different direction.

"Big brother~ you won't even come keep us company~"

I naturally started to get up.

Then Aisha quickly added, "Eh~ I don't want to be a wife who makes things difficult for her husband. It's fine~ big brother should stay and drink with Miss Nanahoshi and Dad and everyone."

"........"

She really hasn't changed.

After that little piece of mischief, the women's gathering seemed to get back underway. And honestly, it wouldn't really be appropriate for me to wander over there alone anyway.

---------

The children's side was even livelier.

Lara had already established herself as the undisputed center of attention.

"Clep! Edward!"

Clep snapped to attention like a soldier saluting.

Edward looked like his mind was somewhere else entirely.

"Present! Big Sis Lara!"

"What is it, Big Sis Lara?"

Lara pointed toward the dessert table, then sat down.

"Clep, go get me a piece of cake. I'll teach you an intermediate-tier spell."

"Really?!"

"Of course. I'm a Saint-tier mage. Teaching you one intermediate spell is nothing."

"But I'm only three. I couldn't even get it right back home. Dad said someone my age would have a really hard time learning......."

"Who do you think I am? Go."

"Yes! Big Sis Lara!"

And just like that, three-year-old Clep was fully under Lara's command.

With Clep dispatched, Lara turned to Edward.

"Edward."

"What is it.......?"

"Go call Big Sis Windsor over."

Edward's eyes lit up all at once. He nodded and ran off.

Lucy pressed a hand to her forehead.

"Big Sis Lara....... what exactly are you doing?"

Lara snapped her fingers.

"Lucy, we're about to start school."

"Yeah....... so?"

"Don't you want an underling? Like Edward."

"....... I don't."

"He's a prince. Making a prince our underling would definitely be fun."

Lucy had run out of things to say.

Tina raised her hand with great seriousness.

"I support Big Sis Lara! I want an underling too!"

"That's the spirit! Then when you start school, I'll make Clep your underling!"

"Yes!"

Lucy felt something in her starting to crack.

-------

Windsor's corner was considerably quieter.

She sat alone, wooden sword in her arms, watching the room in silence. She'd look at Norn for a while. Then Ruijerd. Then glance over at our table and the drinks.

After a while, Edward came back to her side.

"Big Sis Windsor......."

"Hm?"

"Big Sis Lara wants you to come over........"

Windsor considered this.

Then nodded.

"In a bit."

Edward glanced around. Just the two of them here.

He hesitated.

"Big Sis Windsor......."

"What?"

"Do you....... do you have someone you like?"

"Yes."

No hesitation at all.

Edward blinked.

"........ Who?"

"My little sisters. And Dad and Mom. Grandpa and Grandma."

"No, 'like' as in....... like Lady Norn's wedding, wanting to marry that person and be together forever. It can't be family."

"Oh. Then yes, I have someone like that too."

"Huh?! Who?!"

"Pursena. I like her a lot. Going by what you just said, I think I'd want to marry her."

"....... But you're both girls."

"Can't two girls get married?"

Edward opened his mouth to say no, then stopped. He thought of the Asura royal family. The Asura nobility. Even his own mother had female favorites.

He slowly shook his head.

"Between girls....... you can get married......."

"Good. Then I like Pursena. Any other questions?"

"No......."

"Then let's go to Lara."

And so Windsor and a thoroughly deflated Edward walked off toward Lara's corner.

I let out a quiet breath.

Windsor probably hadn't grasped what "like" meant in that sense. But she had absolutely no interest in Edward, and that was more than enough. Even if she ended up marrying Pursena someday, I could live with that. Because my daughter being taken away by some man.......

I really didn't want to see that.

Just then, applause broke out from the other side of the hall.

We looked over without thinking.

Norn and Ruijerd had reached the last table. The rounds of toasting were finally done.

Everyone's gaze had settled on them.

Norn's face was flushed. She'd clearly had a little to drink. But her smile was still bright, still completely her own.

Ruijerd stood beside her. Through every table, every conversation, his eyes had never strayed far from her. Not once.

Paul watched them for a moment without a word.

Then he raised his glass.

"Rudy. And....... Miss Nanahoshi, Cliff, Zanoba, Orsted."

"To Norn."

"To the future."

The glasses came together with a clean, bright ring.

And the laughter in the hall didn't stop.

Sunlight poured down through the church's stained glass windows, pooling in warm color across every face in the room.

For Norn, today was the beginning of something new.

For the rest of us, sitting here and watching her step into happiness was enough.

It was more than enough.

➤ Next: A Day with the Daughters