Chapter 6

Ten days after returning to the Royal Capital, Reina’s wedding to Chris was set to take place.

Chris’s enthusiastic claim that they would hold the ceremony “immediately” hadn’t been an exaggeration at all. When Reina was informed of the schedule upon her return to the palace, her eyes literally turned into saucers.

“Wait… can a wedding really be put together that fast?”

It was a natural question, but apparently, Chris had intended to hold the ceremony as soon as the night of the full moon had passed. He hadn’t moved the date up; he was simply following his original plan. Reina could only stare in exasperation at his meticulous level of preparation.

Guests were already pouring into the capital. At this stage, she couldn’t exactly throw a tantrum and ask to change the date, so Reina found herself being ushered into her bridal gown whether she was ready or not.

On the day of the wedding, which arrived in the blink of an eye, Reina finished her preparations early in the morning in the waiting room of the temple—the site of the ceremony—and sat there dazed, waiting for Chris.

Wrapped in a pure white wedding dress, she felt as though she were living in a dream. ‘The period for mental preparation was certainly short’, she thought with a wry smile, ‘but it’s strange that I feel this way even though I’m fully committed to this ceremony.’

As she was lost in thought, a soft tap-tap came from the door.

“Yes?”

It was much earlier than the scheduled time. Thinking it might be Chris, she answered, but the voice that filtered through was that of a young woman.

“Pardon the intrusion.”

A young lady with refined features entered hesitantly.

She was likely one of today’s guests. Her long blonde hair was elegantly styled, and she wore a dress perfectly suited for a royal wedding. Seeing the young lady, whose high-born upbringing was evident at a glance, Reina let out a small gasp.

“You are…”

“My name is Vanessa Barrett, the former fiancée of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. This is the first time we have spoken directly, is it not? I hope I am not disturbing you?”

“N-no. I have time, so it’s fine, but…”

The woman visiting Reina was indeed the Duke’s daughter, Vanessa—Chris’s former fiancée, whom Reina had seen a few times before. Though they knew of each other, this was their first face-to-face conversation.

“Um… what can I do for you?”

“I wanted to offer my thanks, just once, and so…”

“Thanks?”

“Yes.”

Vanessa nodded gracefully, bowing with a fluid, beautiful motion.

“Thank you, Saintess. It is thanks to you that I was able to dissolve my engagement to the Crown Prince. I am truly grateful.”

“Oh… uh…”

“I always wondered if I would truly have to marry a Prince who gave no indication of what he was thinking. Of course, I understand my noble duties, so I would have become the Crown Princess had the time come, however reluctantly. But if I may speak my true heart, the idea of marrying that man was utterly repulsive. I could not imagine spending my life with someone who didn’t harbor a shred of interest in his own fiancée.”

“…”

Remembering the Chris who used to wear that “enlightened” mask of indifference, Reina felt a pang of sympathy for Vanessa, thinking, ‘Yeah, marrying that guy would be a bit rough.’

Seeing Reina grimace in silence, Vanessa gave a bright smile.

“I am glad you understand. Regardless, that was the situation, and I already had someone I loved. Ordinarily, I couldn’t have hoped to marry him, but because of his achievements during this crisis, he was granted a title and permission to marry me. I felt I had to thank the Saintess for that as well.”

“Me?”

Reina tilted her head. She understood the part about Chris, but she shouldn’t have anything to do with the man Vanessa loved. She didn’t see why she deserved credit.

Vanessa let out a laugh that sounded like the chiming of silver bells.

“He is surprisingly secretive and tight-lipped about such things, isn’t he? My fiancé is the mercenary, Ortega.”

“Huh? Ortega?!”

The name came from such an unexpected direction that Reina’s eyes practically popped.

Ortega. One of the companions who had traveled with them. A master swordsman who had definitely said he was single. He’d scoffed about having no place to return to… but to think he was in a romantic relationship with Vanessa.

He was in his thirties, at least ten years older than Vanessa. Reina was genuinely impressed that the rugged, wild man had managed to capture the heart of this lovely young lady.

“W-well. Way to go, Ortega.”

“Actually, I was the one who pressured him to marry me.”

“…”

Another bombshell dropped casually. Vanessa’s cheeks flushed as she continued.

“My father knew him through work, and we have been close since I was young. I have adored him since then. But because my engagement to Prince Chris was set, I had given up. Now that the engagement is finally dissolved, I proposed to him the moment he returned from his journey with you.”

Looking at Vanessa, who had apparently cornered Ortega into marriage, Reina briefly wondered if Chris and Vanessa might have actually been a good match in terms of temperament.

“At first, he didn’t look very pleased, but I suppose the power of love wins out in the end. He eventually nodded and obtained permission from His Majesty.”

“C… Congratulations.”

Reina realized then that she hadn’t seen Ortega even once since returning from their journey. Vanessa gave a beaming smile and looked at Reina with dazzling eyes.

“You are truly beautiful, Saintess. I can see why Prince Chris insisted so stubbornly on this marriage. I feel like I could get along with the Prince a little better now, but… no, that won’t do. The Prince only has eyes for you, and I feel the same about my Ortega.”

Vanessa, declaring she had no interest in anyone but Ortega, looked truly happy. Just then, a voice rang out.

“…What business do you have here before the ceremony, Vanessa? Ortega is waiting outside. Shouldn’t you be going?”

“Chris!”

Entering the room with an irritated tone was Chris, dressed in formal attire. Clad in pure white, Chris turned his gaze toward Reina and his expression melted into a doting smile.

“Reina. Ah… dressed up for me, you are so beautiful…”

“Th-thank you.”

Reina’s dress was laden with lace and ruffles, featuring a long, sweeping train. Tiny jewels were stitched lavishly into the cuffs and collar, and the heavy embroidery was breathtaking. The skirt was designed to be weighted, giving it a grand, voluminous presence. Her hair was left down rather than put in an updo to emphasize her status as the Saintess. A silver tiara sat atop her black hair, looking strangely perfect. Delicate lace gloves highlighted her feminine softness.

It was a heavy dress, but Reina was secretly using magic to make it light, so she didn’t feel the weight at all.

“Is Ortega here? Oh, and I told him to wait.”

Vanessa clapped her hands and turned her back to the couple with a smile.

“Well then, the intruder shall take her leave. Congratulations, Your Highness. I don’t think you’ll ever be quite as happy as we are, but as your former fiancée, I hope you’ll be at least somewhat close to our level of bliss.”

“You don’t need to tell me that. Now shoo.”

Chris made a shooing motion, but Vanessa didn’t seem to mind. She smiled at Reina, saying, “See you later. Excuse me,” and left with a light step.

Just before the door closed, they heard her cry out, “Ortega! You waited for me!” followed by Ortega’s flustered voice: “I-I was just worried you’d say something unnecessary to the little lady!”

Reina and Chris looked at each other.

“…Are those two actually a good match?”

“It seems Vanessa has been chasing Ortega for a long time. Within days of returning from the journey, they both applied for an audience to request marriage permission. I was there, and it was quite a sight. Ortega kept a sour face the whole time, so I imagine Vanessa was quite forceful in getting him to agree.”

“…Ortega… you really can’t judge a book by its cover.”

To Reina, Ortega had always seemed like the type of mature man who would effortlessly charm women. She never imagined he’d be the one being led around by the nose by a girl nearly Reina’s own age.

“Well, they seem happy, so I guess it’s fine?”

“Probably. Though, I hope they’re only the second happiest couple, after us.”

“…”

He was saying the exact same thing as Vanessa, only worse. As Reina suppressed a giggle at his consistency, there was another knock.

With Chris’s permission, the High Priest and three attendants entered quietly. They weren’t in their usual robes, but in formal ceremonial attire. Their silver-embroidered vestments felt long and mysterious, reinforcing the sense that they were servants of the Goddess.

The four bowed respectfully. The High Priest, wearing a white crown-like headpiece, spoke slowly.

“Prince Chris, Saintess, we offer our heartiest congratulations on this sacred day. Having confirmed the ‘Proof of Defloration’ submitted by Prince Chris, the Temple formally recognizes the marriage between you two.”

(Eh? Proof of what? Wait, what is that? I haven’t heard about this!)

Reina was stunned by this unannounced event but kept her mouth shut. The atmosphere was too solemn to interrupt, and she assumed it was just some traditional ritual. Chris, beside her, was nodding regally as if he knew everything. Reina decided she’d demand an explanation later and remained silent.

Two of the priests stepped forward, holding a white cloth between them. When they spread it out before Chris and Reina, she nearly fainted.

“The Proof of Defloration of the Saintess, submitted by Prince Chris. Your Highness, do you swear that the one you lay with was indeed your bride-to-be, the Saintess?”

“Of course.”

Chris answered lightly. The High Priest nodded gravely and then turned his gaze toward Reina.

“Saintess, do you swear that the one to whom you gave your virtue was your husband-to-be, Prince Chris?”

Reina felt like she could die of embarrassment right then and there.

The item the priests were holding so reverently was a linen sheet. On it were distinct bloodstains. Naturally, Reina remembered it all too well. It was from the first night she and Chris had been together. Because Chris had been asleep afterward, she hadn’t been able to deal with the sheets… so that was it.

“…”

Stunned into silence, Reina felt Chris nudge her arm.

“Come on, Reina. Answer him.”

“Ah…”

“You just have to say it was me. Come on, hurry.”

“Y… Yes.”

Unable to think straight, Reina simply nodded in a daze.

Why? Why is THAT here? And why are they holding it up like it’s some holy relic? While Reina was spiraling, the ritual continued.

The third priest presented two wooden plates. The High Priest spoke.

“The verification, if you please.”

Chris nodded and explained to the still-confused Reina.

“Can you drop a bit of your blood or saliva into this plate? Sorry, this is one of the marriage rituals. I’d appreciate your cooperation.”

Taking a plate, Chris bit his finger and let a drop of blood fall into it.

Handed the empty plate, Reina had no choice but to turn away and let a drop of saliva fall into it.

“…Here.”

“We thank you for your cooperation. Let the ritual begin.”

As the High Priest spoke, the blood, the saliva, and the stains on the linen began to glow. They all turned the same shade of gold. The brilliant light faded quickly, leaving only silence.

The priests folded the linen and stepped back. The High Priest smiled and bowed to the couple.

“The proof left upon the linen has been confirmed as belonging to the two of you. Congratulations. In the name of Selene, the Goddess of the Moon, the Temple recognizes your union. We shall perform the public ceremony before the guests shortly. Please wait a little longer.”

“Understood.”

Chris nodded, and the four men exited quietly. Once the door clicked shut, Reina rounded on Chris.

“W-W-Wait a minute! What was that incredibly embarrassing ritual?! I never heard a word about this! And that linen! Why on earth did the priests have it?!”

“Well, I sent it to the palace, and Father submitted it to the Temple.”

“That’s not what I mean! Why would you do that?!”

Reina glared at him with everything she had. Chris sat her down in a nearby chair to calm her and began to speak in a soothing tone. “Actually—”

“I mentioned before that I hold the rank of a priest, right?”

“Y-yeah. What does that have to do with this… event?”

“It has everything to do with it, so listen to the end. There are many restrictions on those who hold the rank of a priest. One of them is the requirement to remain pure throughout one’s life.”

“Huh? But… you…”

“Purity. In other words, I was a virgin.” Even Reina could understand that much.

But if that was the case, then Chris— Just as the thought crossed her mind, he continued.

“I told you to listen to the end. Purity—or rather, chastity—is a requirement for a priest. But the priesthood isn’t a profession just anyone can join simply because they want to. You must be able to use magic unique to priests. It’s not something you can acquire; it’s entirely innate.”

“…”

Since she had been told to stay quiet, Reina remained silent and watched him.

“We are severely lacking in numbers. Therefore, the law dictates that everyone with the aptitude must become a priest. It doesn’t matter even if you are the Crown Prince. That’s why I hold the rank of priest as well. But logically speaking, a Crown Prince remaining single would be a bit of a problem, wouldn’t it?”

“U-huh…”

Without an heir, the future of the country would be at stake. When Reina nodded, Chris said, “That’s why.”

“As an exception, only Princes or those recognized as absolutely needing to leave descendants are permitted to marry. However, a magical covenant is imposed upon us: we may only ever be intimate with one person for the rest of our lives. Furthermore, restrictions are set so that neither divorce nor remarriage is allowed. Since the same covenant is imposed on the partner at the time of marriage, they are required to be entering their first marriage as well.”

“…What?”

Reina was left speechless by this outrageous revelation.

‘Only one person for life? A magical covenant? And it applies to the partner too?’

As the weight of those words sank in, Reina cried out.

“W-wait a minute! Then, does that mean that night was…!”

Chris smiled, looking satisfied that Reina had reached the answer.

“Correct. Pure and simple, you are my first and my last, Reina. That night was a first for me, too. Because of that, I can now only hold you due to the covenant. If I were to break it, I would be betraying the Goddess of the Moon, and an appropriate punishment would be dealt instantly. At worst, I would die. For me, no other path remains but to marry you and have you bear my children.”

“No way…”

Reina was stunned into silence by the sheer scale of his scheme.

In other words, Chris had used himself as bait to tether Reina, who had been so intent on returning to Japan. As a priest, Chris could only be with one woman because of the covenant. If that woman were to leave him, Chris could never marry anyone else, and the kingdom’s future would vanish.

“W-what were you planning to do if I had really gone home…?”

“I never had any intention of letting you go home from the start. My father and the others were overjoyed that I was marrying you, but it would have been a disaster if you happened to change your mind. I figured that if I established a relationship with you beforehand, my father would have no choice but to support me. I gambled on the fact that the entire country would cooperate to ensure you never escaped.”

Remembering the kingdom’s intense cooperation when she had tried to run away, Reina’s gaze went distant. To them, it must have been a desperate situation—the Crown Prince’s only possible marriage partner was trying to flee.

…Not that she had known any of this.

“That’s why I wanted to at least become your lover before the journey ended, and if possible, be intimate with you. That would finalize you as my marriage partner. I was feeling quite rushed myself. Then came your invitation. Is it any wonder I took it?”

“…”

It seemed Reina’s actions were the equivalent of offering herself up to a predator that was already licking its chops. Realizing that Chris truly hadn’t been drunk that night, Reina let out a hollow laugh.

“I’m sorry for sending the linen to the palace without telling you, but it was absolutely necessary for the ritual. That cloth is stained with your blood and my seed. Isn’t that the most efficient way to prove that my partner was undeniably you? Since they use that magic to verify our identities, lies are impossible.”

Faced with Chris’s explanation about the ritual, Reina couldn’t help but ask a question.

“I-I suppose so, but what if the partner wasn’t a virgin? There wouldn’t be any blood, and there are plenty of people who aren’t virgins even for their first marriage…”

Reina thought it might be too much to demand a lifetime covenant from a partner under those circumstances, but Chris shook his head in disagreement.

“I don’t know how it was in the country you came from, but here, we generally only engage in such acts with the person we intend to marry. So, for a first marriage, there’s no issue. Isn’t it only natural to offer one’s chastity to the person you’ll spend your life with?”

“…Ah, yeah.”

Reina couldn’t argue with words spoken so naturally.

When she had first been with Chris, she remembered feeling a twinge of jealousy, wondering if he had been with other women before. She remembered thinking back then that it was her first time. While she knew people who preferred an experienced partner and didn’t judge them for it, at the time, she had felt a little frustrated.

Perhaps that was why Chris’s words settled so easily into her heart.

“The appraisal just now confirmed that my partner was indeed you. To be fair, that ritual is only performed for those with priestly rank. We need the Temple’s recognition. Being a priest is quite a hassle; you can’t marry unless the Temple approves, so you have to have a relationship before the wedding ceremony. It’s common to do it the day before the wedding, but the timing isn’t strictly emphasized. That’s not the important part.”

“H-huh… But I feel like I’ve been ambushed…”

Realizing at last that she had been boxed in so she couldn’t escape without her knowing, Reina sighed.

Chris tilted his head curiously. “Is that so?”

“In the first place, I believe you were the one who invited me.”

“T-that might be true, but… it’s unfair to do it knowing I didn’t understand the rules…”

Chris smiled and gently pulled Reina into an embrace.

“…Didn’t I tell you? We only have sex with the person we’ve decided to marry. The moment you said I could hold you, I felt as though you had accepted my marriage proposal. And besides.”

“What…?”

Still held in his arms, Reina looked up to find his eyes filled with a gentle light.

“I asked you many times that night, didn’t I? If I could hold you. I intended to respect your will, at least.”

“Ugh…”

When he put it that way, she had nothing left to say. Indeed, Chris had asked her over and over that night if it was truly alright.

And Reina was the one who had nodded. Chris pressed a kiss to her forehead as she fell silent, and he chuckled.

“By submitting the appraisal, my relationship with you became public knowledge. In that moment, our marriage became a certainty. I can no longer marry anyone but you.”

“…Won’t you regret it?”

“Never. In all my twenty-two years, you are the first thing I have ever truly, deeply wanted. It’s you who should be prepared, Reina. I have no intention of letting you go for the rest of my life.”

“Shall we?” Chris said, releasing her and holding out his hand.

It was time for the ceremony. Now, the two of them would stand before the altar of the temple and swear eternal love to Selene, the Goddess of the Moon. And in doing so, Reina would truly become a person of this world.

Reina stared at the hand offered to her, then slowly placed her own on top of it.

“…I am inexperienced and lacking, but I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you.”

“? What is that?”

“It’s a phrase from my world, I suppose? One that a woman says to her husband-to-be when they marry.”

“Hmm?”

Though he didn’t quite understand the nuance, Chris helped Reina to her feet.

As they walked toward the door together, Reina offered a silent message in her heart, this time directed to her parents.

(Thank you for raising me for eighteen years. I’m sorry I can’t come home or repay you for everything. But I promise you, I will be happy with this man.)

And so, Reina was no longer Reina Hinoue; she took the name Reina Hinoue Raidhaunsent, becoming the Queen Consort to Chris, who was crowned almost simultaneously with their marriage.