ASDM 49

Chapter 49

“Wouldn’t it be harder to find clothes that don’t suit me?”

At my playful remark, Betty and Angie both nodded their heads enthusiastically in agreement.

Hmm-hmm. I couldn’t help but hum in satisfaction.

The wedding dress was beautiful, my carefully styled hair looked neat today, and in the end, we had decided to hold the wedding before summer vacation ended.

Honestly, I was the one who had stubbornly pushed for it.

‘We went through the trouble of making a beautiful wedding dress, so I should wear it before it gets too small.’
‘We can always make another dress.’
‘But I like this one.’
‘……There are plenty of excellent wedding halls in the capital.’

Maybe because Wolfgang’s earlier scolding still lingered in my mind, Levi tried to stop me with all sorts of excuses. He seemed to want us to have a grander wedding at a better time and place.

But in my situation, I really didn’t need a lavish ceremony.

Of course, if someone arranged it for me, I’d happily enjoy it, but rather than some formal spectacle, I preferred a fast and definite marriage registration.

And more than anything—

‘I want to get married here, in Bastion. It’s where I’ll live from now on.’
‘……’
‘And besides, I want to say the line, “I’m also Bastion,” as soon as possible.’

I might not be someone who suits that role yet, but sometimes fate follows the name you take on.

Once I bore that name, once I carried its weight, I felt like something inside me would change.

So when I declared, “I’ll have my wedding right now, at Bastion’s one and only hall!” most people simply accepted it.

We were going to marry anyway, they needed a lady of the house, and once Levi was officially acknowledged as heir, the family would be more stable. They all seemed to think of it positively.

Even Wolfgang, for some reason, didn’t act petty or oppose it……

“Brother, this is your last chance. Run away.”
“I won’t.”
“I’ll stop her no matter what.”
“Don’t stop me.”

And yet, while even my father-in-law didn’t oppose the marriage, my brother-in-law did.

Seeing his endless complaints and futile resistance up to this very day, I couldn’t help but laugh dryly.

I rushed full speed toward the hazy figures beyond my veil.

“Father! Husband! Brother-in-law!”

The Bastion men gathered at the entrance all turned toward me at once.

All so fine-looking. Truly, I was marrying into a dazzling family.

Dressed up for the wedding, they shone even more brightly than usual. Especially Levi—maybe it was just my bias, but he looked the most beautiful of all.

‘Well, what about me then?’ I thought as I twirled around in front of them.

“Tada!”

But all three of them stayed silent.

What?

I sulked, lifted my veil slightly, and said in mock irritation:

“No manners at all. When a bride enters, you’re supposed to sing praises like, ‘You’re beautiful, you’re radiant,’ at the very least!”

“…You’d probably be prettier if you just kept your mouth shut.”

At Wolfgang’s words, I quickly closed my mouth. Yet Levi and Franz still remained silent.

It was lucky Franz wasn’t making snide remarks, but Levi, what’s your excuse?

Fine. Just you wait. Once we’re married, I’ll start nagging you in earnest.

While I puffed out my cheeks, the ceremony began almost without me noticing.

Franz went into the hall first to take his seat, then Levi entered.

Through the opening and closing doors, I caught the last glimpse of him disappearing inside.

Now it was just Wolfgang and me left.

Wolfgang held out his hand and said:

“Bouquet.”
“Huh?”
“Too bad it isn’t peonies.”
“Oh, but I held those at the engagement ceremony, so it’s fine.”

And honestly, where would we find fresh flowers in Bastion anyway?

I was holding a bouquet made of fabric and semi-precious stones, the kind brides here often used.

It was still pretty—shaped like golden roses.

“Mm. Fresh flowers would’ve been prettier, sure, but I’m satisfied.”

I said this while taking his hand.

I had no idea what kind of waves those words would cause later.

Anyway, this was it—the real wedding.

Standing at the doors with Wolfgang, memories of my turbulent journey replayed in reverse:

From this very moment back to the day I’d first woken up on that creaky temple bed……

‘I wonder, where did the real Asha go?’

For a fleeting moment, the question I had buried under a sandcastle surfaced.

Back then, I had no time to worry about a vanished soul when my own survival was at stake.

Whenever I felt myself about to wonder about her fate, I shoved the sand back over the thought, burying it.

The guilt or unease that came with thoughts like “What if her soul is wandering somewhere?”—I buried those too.

‘I’m sorry, but the truth is, my survival will always matter most to me.’

Still, keeping her name alive in this world was the last bit of conscience I had. If all traces of her disappeared, it would’ve been too sad.

Though in truth, even that was just a shallow gesture to ease my own heart.

Sometimes, for my own sanity, I thought cruelly: “If her soul hadn’t switched, she wouldn’t have lived long anyway.”

As I was stacking another shaky sandcastle in my mind, I felt Wolfgang’s gaze on me.

Afraid he might read my thoughts, I quickly forced a bright smile and said:

“So, Father, do you have any words of wisdom for me?”
“…Live well?”

Why was that a question? Drop the question mark.

I glared at him, then sniffed and replied primly:

“I always live well, wherever I go.”
“…You do seem that way.”
“But here in Bastion, I think I’ll live even better.”

In many ways, really.

I smiled up at Wolfgang, and he gave me a faint smile in return.

Creeeak.

The doors to the hall opened.

“Bride, enter!” The proclamation came a beat later, echoing through the enormous hall.

The place was so big, it took ages for sound to travel from one end to the other.

Betty and Angie had grumbled about the hall being unappealing, but to me, it was perfect.

Yes, it was old, but that gave it a weight of history. It wasn’t flashy, but it was graceful.

I couldn’t exactly say it was cute and childlike, but…

‘It suits Bastion.’

Because of the rushed schedule, there were almost no guests. We hadn’t even brought in a priest for the ceremony!

And honestly, that made it all the more to my liking.

Walking down the red carpet to organ music and applause alongside Wolfgang, I realized how enchanting those sounds could be.

The vast hall was sparsely filled.

Only branch relatives and vassals had rushed all the way here to this dreadful Bastion land.

‘That’s another good thing. It means only the ones who truly care are here.’

I glanced around at the people I’d meet properly afterward, then focused on walking.

The layers of sheer fabric on my long white dress threatened to trip me with every step.

‘Tripping at my wedding would be unforgivable. Wolfgang and Franz would tease me forever.’

So I tightened my grip on Wolfgang’s hand and stared hard at the floor.

Thud.

Suddenly, Levi’s shoes appeared in my vision.

Relieved he’d made it safely, I sighed—only for him to suddenly snatch out his hand. My own hand jerked up as if fleeing, leaving me dangling awkwardly between him and Wolfgang.

“……Uh.”

And then began a tug-of-war over my hand, Wolfgang and Levi each yanking fiercely.

I was the one being swung around like a rag doll between them.

I was dizzy! Why were they both acting like this?!

“Hey, cut it out!”

Cut it out! Cut it out!

My roar echoed through the solemn hall, overpowering the organ music.

Ugh, so much for trying to act elegant.

The organ and applause faded. In the awkward silence that followed, I shouted again:

“Let go! You too, move aside!”

Wolfgang immediately released my hand, and Levi stepped back.

I hiked up my cumbersome dress and strode forward firmly.

As I passed the wide-eyed guests and Benjamin hiding a laugh, I realized—no one was following me.

Seriously? I said move aside, not stay behind! He should’ve had the sense to catch up!

I spun around to glare at my clueless little groom.

“Why aren’t you—!”

Sway.

The hem of my dress snagged under my shoe, and I tilted sideways.

Damn it, I really was going to make a grand blunder at my wedding.

I braced for pain, but instead felt warmth.

“You’re really beautiful today.”
“……”
“Sorry for saying it so late.”

Your apologies always take on new colors.

What was once cold and colorless now carried a faint peach glow.

Holding me steady, Levi crouched down and carefully straightened the tangled hem of my dress.

Looking down at his dark head, I couldn’t help but think—

Yes, I had colored him.

‘But… was that really the right thing to do?’

Had I taken too much from him, too young and too soon, under the excuse of protecting myself and him?

A heavy weight pressed against my heart.

Now? Now I was wondering this?

Too late. Much too late for regrets.

So all I could do was say:

“I’ll make you happy.”
“……”
“I’ll really give it my best.”

So you’ll never regret choosing to walk with me.

Levi slowly lifted his head, eyes narrowing like he was looking at rippling water, lips parting. I offered him my hand.

“I’m confident. You have to trust me, okay?”

I was confident I could make him the happiest man alive.

Levi took my hand and nodded, as if to say he already trusted me.

We held hands tighter than ever and stood before the officiant. A plump old grandmother began to read the short vows slowly.

With no priest available, they had asked the eldest of the branch family to preside……

‘If the men of this family live even half as long as she has, I’ll have no complaints. And me too, hopefully.’

She looked well past eighty.

I stared at her enviously, until suddenly—“Huh?”—I noticed something.

She barely had any of Bastion’s signature aura, its magic.

I had thought Franz’s mana was weak compared to Levi and Wolfgang, but compared to her, he was still strong.

The difference between direct and branch family blood was staggering……

Suddenly, Levi’s back blocked my view.

What was he doing now? I glared at him, and he whispered:

“You okay?”
“…What?”
“You don’t like it, do you?”

Before I could ask what he meant, the grandmother spoke to him:

“Now then, groom, do you swear to be with your bride in joy and sorrow, until death parts you?”
“I swear.”

At least listen to the whole thing before answering! So impatient.

I clicked my tongue as the grandmother turned to me.

“And the bride, do you swear to be with your groom in joy and sorrow, until death parts you?”

“Hey, move aside. Just a sec—!”

Leaning around his unmoving head, I peeked over Levi’s shoulder and even raised my bouquet hand high.

Sorry, but sorry is a word I’ve long abandoned. After all, you’re bound to spend a lifetime with me.

Selfish, shameless, arrogant?

Maybe. But that’s fine. Because now……

“I totally swear!”

Because I too am, in my own way, Bastion.