I Thought I Was Married, But I Was Left Alone, So I'll Live as I Please. So Please Don't Mind Me Anymore, My Lord of the Border - Chapter 31

I attended the ennoblement ceremony in the royal capital and then immediately moved to Graphica.

The very next day, the wedding was held.

In Graphica, preparations for the wedding had been underway since Nia’s return, and almost as soon as we arrived, Nia began explaining the ceremony’s proceedings.

The wedding was happening tomorrow, right away.

All the invitations had already been sent out, apparently.

I’d heard there would be a wedding when I returned, but I never imagined it would be the next day!

A sudden ceremony with no rehearsal—isn’t that too harsh?!

When I complained to Lord Oliver, he just laughed and said, “I told you it would be soon,” making it clear he was doing it on purpose.

…But all of Graphica was eagerly awaiting our wedding.

With so much expectation placed on us, how could I not want to meet it?

Every time a carriage passed through the streets, colorful flowers danced in the air, and cheers rose up.

And Lord Oliver had been waiting for this day for a long time, too.

Today, I would go from Ash Kreuz, Viscountess, to Ash Graphica, Margravine.

The ceremonial attire, matching Lord Oliver’s, was incredibly lavish and dazzling.

Dressed by the servants, I gently peered into the mirror.

There I was, perfectly suited to the outfit.

The boy in shabby clothes who was driven out that day was nowhere to be found.

Now, attire befitting a margravine naturally suited me.

I felt a little proud of that.

“Ash, are you ready?”

“Yes!”

A knock sounded, and as I replied, Lord Oliver entered.

“Wow, you look handsome…”

At my involuntary exclamation, Lord Oliver’s cheeks flushed.

“Ugh, being praised so directly by you makes me shy.”

“But you really do look amazing!”

The black-based ceremonial knight’s uniform was accentuated by gold-thread embroidery and green stones.

It suited his well-trained physique perfectly.

“I could look at you forever… I want to preserve this image for all time!”

I want to take a photo and keep it.

Can I make a camera?

Film, lenses, and then developing chemicals too.

As I jotted down materials in the notebook I inherited from my father, a hand reached over from beside me and took it away.

“…Ah.”

“Ash. We’re about to have our wedding. No alchemy today.”

“You’re right…”

“Don’t make that reluctant face. I want to praise you too, so listen up.”

As he spoke, his face drew closer, but before he could kiss me, the attendant intervened, saying it would ruin my makeup.

…Oh, right. What a shame.

Lord Oliver and I made the same face, met eyes, and laughed together.

Then, Lord Oliver, gazing intently at me, showed a melting smile.

“You’re very beautiful, Ash.”

My outfit, while matching Lord Oliver’s design, was a white robe befitting an alchemist.

It was similarly adorned with gold-thread embroidery and green gemstones, with lace accents here and there.

“You’re the most wonderful bride, Ash.”

My hair was styled in a loose side braid, decorated with green gemstones and a gold chain.

Today, my entire body was colored in Lord Oliver’s hues.

I felt happy that it seemed to suit me so well.

And my white robe and Lord Oliver’s black knight uniform harmonized perfectly in the mirror.

It looked as if we were one from the very beginning, and that made me proud and joyful.

“Well, it’s about time. Shall we go?”

“Yes!”

In the cathedral were Count Grey, the knights of the Graphica border territory, and even the surrounding nobles—and surprisingly, the king himself had come.

And though they were at the edges, even commoner alchemists were able to participate.

The king declared, “Blessings upon the heroes who saved our nation from plague and the threat of magical beasts.”

Standing beside Lord Oliver and hearing those words, I could hold my head high.

With the ceremony over, the party began.

The guests started chatting freely.

But we slipped away early.

Tonight was our wedding night.

Especially for me, preparations were necessary.

The servants polished me up and sent me to the bedroom, and now I’m alone in bed, waiting for Lord Oliver to come.

My room. It had been properly prepared right next to Lord Oliver’s.

I was being treated as the margravine, and it moved me a little.

As I was thinking that, the door to the adjacent bathroom opened, and Lord Oliver entered the room wearing only a bathrobe.

“Ash. You’re beautiful.”

“Everyone worked really hard to prepare me.”

The thin, silky garment was so flimsy I doubted it served any purpose.

But when they said, “Lord Oliver will be pleased,” I couldn’t refuse.

My hair was left loose and flowing to avoid messing it up, which only heightened my shame and anticipation for what was to come.

Perhaps because of what happened that day, the servants now adorned me with surprising care and devotion.

“…Does it suit me?”

“You look absolutely lovely.”

As he spoke, he kissed me and pushed me down onto the bed.

“Ah. Finally, I can hold you without restraint.”

“We already did it a long time ago, though…”

“That was for treatment, wasn’t it? This is the first time since you’ve come to love me. It’s completely different.”

Whispering with deep emotion, he kissed me repeatedly.

His hand slid upward, pushing the thin fabric up from my legs.

“Wait, just a moment.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Um, I need to create the inside.”

With my introverted magical ability, I can create reproductive organs inside my body.

This is a marital act. If it’s Lord Oliver’s child, I want it.

I want to bear his child.

Placing a hand on my abdomen, I channeled magic, felt a strange sensation, and gasped softly.

There was already a feeling that something was “there.”

Lord Oliver smiled gently at me as I blinked in surprise.

“Don’t you remember?”

Lord Oliver intertwined his fingers with mine over my stomach.

“Ash, when we first joined in the demon forest, you created this organ yourself.”

“Eh…?”

“So I was convinced, on my own, that you truly accepted me.”

“…”

The chance to create a womb in one’s own body comes only once in a lifetime.

Doing it in front of someone is like a proposal, saying you want their child.

I did that…?

My face grew hot, and I could tell even my ears were bright red.

“No way…”

Back then, I was dazed from the aphrodisiac gas…

I don’t remember it at all.

“It’s true. I was so happy, so overjoyed, I couldn’t stop.”

And when he said he’d seared every moment into his memory, I suddenly felt embarrassed.

“Eh, but back then, that… we weren’t even… yet…”

Gyah! I want to crawl into a hole!

So embarrassing, so embarrassing!

“You’re adorable.”

“I want to forget it!”

“I won’t forget it. I was so happy, I was absolutely elated.”

“Ahhh, so that’s why you were so… on the way back. Waaah!”

So that elation was because of me!

Too embarrassed to look at him, I had nowhere to hide, so I could only burrow into Lord Oliver’s open bathrobe.

“Because of that, I was able to let you go once.”

He gently stroked me over the bathrobe.

“I believed that if I didn’t give up, someday you would accept me.”

“…”

“Let me hold you, Ash. My beloved.”

He whispered that he wanted to kiss me, and as I timidly raised my hidden face, he caught it and kissed me.

“I’ve been kept waiting long enough. Don’t expect to wake up tomorrow.”

Lord Oliver, pinning me to the bed, wore the face of a male.

In his beautiful green eyes, like an herb garden, my own reflection trembled with anticipation.