For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 153

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Side Story Episode 6

“Cough. Max, how is it?”
The Disciples were perched atop the domed roof of the Grand Temple.
“Good. Everything’s connected without issue. We just need to channel mana into it.”
Max answered Jo’s question, her eyes tracing the flow of the intricate magical formations she had drawn across the roof.
“What about Ban?”
“Still at it.”
Din pointed to one corner of the roof with an exasperated expression. Thanks to the Silence spell Stale had cast, no sound reached them, but the beast-form figure was roaring nonetheless.
Din read her brother’s lip movements and relayed the message.
“He’s objecting to the marriage.”
“But it started ages ago. What’s there to object to?”
“He’s just in denial. Does the tiger beastman Harp have a prolonged adolescence or something?”
“No, he doesn’t.”
At Quade’s words, Din furrowed her brow and sat down. The Disciples, their work finished, were peering through a small window at the edge of the temple roof to catch glimpses of the wedding ceremony.
“Wow… Master looks absolutely beautiful.”
Rose murmured, her eyes transfixed on Raina Hart. The Disciples huddled together nodded in agreement.
“It’s a shame we can’t see her up close.”
“Cough, we were pressed for time drawing the magical formations…”
“We commissioned the Director of the Daisy Detective Agency to record it anyway. At least we have that.”
“Sister Jasmine, we got overcharged for that. Other detective agencies charge half the price. Marquis Maverick’s head is going to shine like a bowl from all the stress.”
“We should have gone to the waiting room. It’s only once in a lifetime.”
“We’ll see if it’s really only once. There’s no such thing as eternal love in this world. Our youngest wouldn’t understand such things yet, but—”
“Annoying. Move your arm, Ren.”
“Ah, the priests are preparing the rings and crown.”
Liam, who had been watching the priests conducting the ceremony, informed the other Disciples. It meant the High Priest’s officiation would soon end and the ring exchange would begin.
“It’s almost time.”
At those words, all the Disciples except Liam instantly teleported. They reappeared on the outer edge of the domed roof, spacing themselves at regular intervals around its circumference.
Liam raised one arm to give the signal, his gaze fixed on the silhouettes of the High Priest conducting the ceremony and the two figures standing before him, visible through the window.

***

“…and thus, on this glorious and joyous day….”
The High Priest’s ceremonial address dragged on interminably. Strip away the flowery language and unnecessary remarks, and the content should have taken ten minutes at most—yet nearly an hour had already elapsed. I could now count every wrinkle on the High Priest’s forehead with perfect accuracy.
‘When will this end.’
Whenever our eyes met, I fixed him with a steady gaze meant to convey my desire for haste, but the High Priest merely responded with a pleased smile, as though he understood perfectly the emotions of she who would become the mother of the Empire.
I added the High Priest to my mental list of people to be cautious of after my ascension as Empress. Reason: communication seems impossible.
‘I wish this would end soon. The clothes are so heavy.’
The garments I’d been instructed to wear, the ornaments placed upon me one after another—at first they’d seemed merely somewhat weighty, but standing motionless as time crawled by, their burden became decidedly oppressive.
I was certain the heels of my shoes were leaving indentations in the floor.
‘But I endure.’
Refraining from using weight-reduction magic was a form of training. If I couldn’t bear this much, how could I possibly manage the life of an Empress.
It was just as I concentrated my awareness on the candelabra before me, trying to forget the heaviness, that it happened.
‘Hmm?’
In an instant, my body felt weightless.
Someone had cast a weight-reduction spell on my clothes and ornaments alone. While weight-reduction magic was a third-circle spell, reducing only the weight of specific items worn by someone—excluding the wearer themselves—required one skilled in manipulating mana.
Someone like, for instance, Kevenriak standing beside me.
‘How did he know I wasn’t using magic.’
I preferred comfort. Anyone who knew me would naturally assume I was maintaining pleasant conditions through magic during the ceremony. I hadn’t shown any signs of strain, either.
Had Kevenriak been watching me closely enough to notice such a subtle change.
“….”
I glanced sideways at Kevenriak standing beside me.
His profile, with black hair swept back and secured beneath the imperial crown, possessed features so distinct that their form was recognizable even without direct observation. Dressed in the black imperial robes adorned with golden cords and draped in a pristine, thick cape, he—as was only natural—shone with beauty several times greater than usual.
“….”
At that very moment, Kevenriak also glanced toward me. When our gazes met directly, he crinkled the corners of his eyes in a smile before hastily turning his attention forward.
Thump, thump.
I felt the thunderous beating of Kevenriak’s heart and let out a small, quiet cough.
From the moment I’d entered the ceremony hall about an hour ago, his heart had been racing like this.

“Raina, I’m afraid of tomorrow.”
“The wedding? …Why?”
“What if my heart stops from being too happy? I’ve heard people die that way. …I’ll do my best to endure it.”

So Kevenriak’s serious concerns from last night weren’t a jest—they were genuine.
Fortunately, my heart, which had been racing wildly, finally steadied during the High Priest’s lengthy ceremonial address. But whenever I looked at Raina now, it would surge again.
So intensely that even Raina, feeling the pounding against her, couldn’t help but blush.
Of course, Raina herself had been overwhelmed when entering the ceremony hall. When she took Kevenriak’s hand after stepping forward, her fingers trembled with nervousness.
Marriage to Kevenriak. How could she not be overjoyed?
The excitement continued throughout the ceremony. The High Priest’s address even delved into the history of the Betuzhenia Empire, mentioning every single emperor by name without exception. Once the imperial line changed, all the emperors were Heterovenians.
This Heteroven, that Heteroven, …, Cheinols Heteroven.
‘Those damned bastards.’
At the mention of the late Emperor’s name, the Heteroven Imperial Family reflexively came to mind. Raina cursed them inwardly before catching herself. The position they had fought so desperately to protect—wasn’t it now mine and Kevenriak’s?
Let them watch from whatever hellish place they inhabit, burning with envy. I’ll show them how blissfully we live.
‘The disciples…’
Raina shifted her gaze to the right. She had arranged separate seating in front specifically to prevent any nobles from using their status to cause trouble for her disciples.
Two long rows of chairs remained empty.
Raina pondered the reason for their absence.
‘…Perhaps they drank too much.’
It couldn’t be helped. Besides, they had already congratulated me plenty yesterday.
Raina tried to console herself, but a sense of disappointment was unavoidable.
“With this, I declare these two to be husband and wife.”
At last, the High Priest’s address concluded.
The rings the priest brought were transferred to Kevenriak’s hands. His tense lips pressed into a rigid line.
“I will cherish you for all our lives, Raina.”
Kevenriak’s eyes as he spoke were so earnest. As if pampering Raina was his sacred duty.
It was as Raina smiled in response.
“Look, look there! The, the sky!”
Someone in the audience cried out.
The domed ceiling of the Grand Temple was transforming into a brilliant blue sky.
The massive chandeliers hanging from the ceiling appeared like ornaments of the heavens themselves. Crystals refracted sunlight endlessly, casting sparkles in every direction. It was as though the entire temple had entered a transparent Milky Way. The wondrous display didn’t end there. Colorful flower petals began drifting down from the sky like snow.
“What, what is this?”
“It’s beautiful…. I’ve never seen such a sight.”
“Is the Reptilian God blessing this marriage?”
The people stared upward with dumbfounded expressions.
Only two people understood what was happening.
The flower petals touching Raina and Kevenriak’s bodies scattered into mana, whispering directly into their minds.

[Because you’re the Emperor, I’ll let it slide.]
[Master, congratulations on your marriage!]
[Be happy, both of you. Very happy.]
[Your Majesty the Empress, do you need the Direct Mage Unit? We’re really good at what we do!]
[Haha~ our eldest is getting married~!]

They were all voices of the Disciples. Perhaps it was the contrast between the bright tone of the messages and the disappointment I had felt just moments before. Raina watched the mana scatter from her palm, feeling her nose tighten with emotion.
“I thought you were sleeping in…”
“It seems they prepared this without Raina knowing.”
“…You knew?”
Kevenriak smiled without words. Last night, when Raina went to Kin’s Tomb, he had overheard the Disciples plotting by chance.
“If I had known, wouldn’t Raina feel disappointed?”
“No.”
Raina gazed up at the sky created by magic and smiled.
“It’s the greatest wedding gift.”

***

“Romance really is best with a happy ending…”
Vivian’s eyes glistened with tears as she watched Raina’s coronation ceremony unfold amid falling petals. The Empress’s crown, held in the Emperor’s hands, was being placed upon Raina’s head.
A handkerchief suddenly appeared before her eyes.
Following the large hand to its owner, she found a man resembling a snowy mountain. It was Tiernan Fargan, seated beside Vivian.
“We too.”
“Huh?”
“Will have a happy ending.”
Vivian’s eyes widened. Though Tiernan’s expression betrayed nothing, his ears had turned a brilliant crimson.
“Are you right now—”
Proposing?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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