I’m Stuck on a Remote Island With the Male Leads - Chapter 241
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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 26
* * *
My marriage preparations fell entirely to Innis, Rosemary, and Yuanna Lucy.
Of course, my Mother was working tirelessly across all fronts, so I won’t bother mentioning her.
In any case, it was a gathering of women. Perhaps because of that, Yuanna Lucy was particularly delighted.
“I’ve always wanted to do something like this.”
Yuanna Lucy spoke with an excited voice.
We were sprawled across Innis’s bed and sofa in our pajamas, applying face masks made of egg whites mixed with honey to our faces.
“I never thought I’d be doing this in pajamas with the Saint.”
Rosemary voiced her bewildered impressions. At that, we all burst into laughter.
“Should we go shopping tomorrow? Let’s have brunch together too. I heard a Brunch Cafe opened recently on the west side of the Plaza.”
“But Margaret, you know what happens if you go outside right now.”
“Let’s disguise ourselves. I learned some disguise techniques from Prince of Asdal.”
At my suggestion, all three women clapped and cheered. Besides, the Dress and other accessories were custom-made, so professional tailors and designers had visited the Manor.
So this shopping trip was purely for the sake of bonding among us women.
And so, the next day.
We really did go shopping together. Yuanna Lucy wore a Rogue Mage outfit, Innis wore a modest neighborhood bakery part-timer’s clothes, and Rosemary borrowed an upper-class uniform from the Imperial Academy.
We had all chosen roles that seemed completely unsuited to us, entirely opposite to our true natures.
I chose a very ordinary bard’s outfit.
“You stand out the most.”
Innis, dressed as a neighborhood bakery part-timer, reproached me.
“For a Rogue Mage like me to look ordinary—that’s quite impressive, Meg.”
I couldn’t tell if that was a compliment or not.
“It looked good when Prince of Asdal wore it.”
“That’s because he’s handsome, so of course it looked good on him. The real problem was how incredibly conspicuous he was—the disguise was practically useless.”
I had nothing to say to Yuanna Lucy’s response.
So we ultimately gave up on shopping and visited the Brunch Cafe while avoiding people’s eyes as much as possible.
And there, we encountered an unexpected person.
“Oh my! Lady Flone…?”
A girl with brown hair braided into two pigtails looked at me in surprise, then approached and greeted me in hushed tones.
“I wanted to meet you. My name is Hint.”
I never expected someone to recognize me so immediately, even with the disguise.
“Ah, it’s nice to meet you, Hint.”
Rosemary, who had been murmuring the name Hint, clapped in response.
“Oh? Hint—could you be the noblewoman writer who debuted last year…? Oh my, I’m sorry.”
Realizing her words were impolite, Rosemary quickly apologized.
“It’s fine.”
Hint smiled awkwardly, but Innis, sensing something was bothering her, offered her a seat.
“It seems you have something to discuss. Would you like to sit and talk? If the Saint doesn’t mind, of course.”
At Innis’s question, Hint looked startled and glanced at Yuanna Lucy, who was dressed as a Rogue Mage.
“Y-Your Highness, the Saint…?!”
“Shh.”
Yuanna Lucy brought her index finger to her lips, and Hint nodded, her gaze sweeping across the surroundings.
Fortunately, the Brunch Cafe wasn’t crowded at this early hour.
Most noble ladies who would visit the Brunch Cafe didn’t arrive until late afternoon.
In any case, Hint sat across from me, her eyes gleaming as she spoke.
“I had been planning to visit the Flone Estate soon, but I’m so grateful we’ve met by this fortunate coincidence.”
“What brings you to seek me out?”
“I wish to adapt Lady Flone’s story into a novel, and I wanted to ask for her permission.”
“Good heavens. Margaret would become the protagonist of a novel written by Hint?”
Rosemary reacted with fervor, and Hint’s shoulders shrank slightly, her expression growing timid.
“If… if it displeases you, I can withdraw my request…”
“No, that’s not it—Margaret would be honored!”
Rosemary exclaimed excitedly. When everyone looked at her with puzzlement, she explained about Hint.
“I still don’t understand why a noblewoman’s literary debut became so controversial. She simply writes extraordinarily well!”
Hint stared at Rosemary with wide, bewildered eyes.
“I… I love your writing. You debuted with ‘The Ant Who Labors in Summer Dies Young,’ and it was truly entertaining.”
From the title alone, I couldn’t fathom what the story was actually about.
In any case, Rosemary’s persistent urging led me to eventually grant Hint permission to transform my story into a novel—on the condition that we review the manuscript drafts together.
Though Rosemary’s intentions seemed somewhat personal, it posed no harm to me, so I let it pass.
And though this came later, thanks to Hint’s masterful crafting of the story as a romantic thriller, the novel became a tremendous bestseller.
As a result, most of the women in society who had harbored doubts about me began to support me—which says everything.
It seemed to help me continue growing into someone worthy of Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid amid this era of great transformation, and I was deeply grateful for it.
In any case, as we spent time together enjoying ourselves, the wedding ceremony drew rapidly near.
* * *
A week after Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid’s coronation, the Empire’s state wedding was held immediately.
On the morning of the wedding day, Archbishop Luzef visited the Magic Tower where Kaiden lay sealed, alone.
The Eagle Statue of Jenas that had been in the lobby was nowhere to be seen.
Though the Magic Tower was empty, it somehow held a warmth in its air.
Margaret maintained the Magic Tower regularly, and others visited it often as well.
It was a space devoid of people yet filled with love for someone.
He climbed the Stairs of the Magic Tower and stood before the Magic Tower Master’s Room where Kaiden lay sealed. A sofa where Margaret occasionally sat rested there.
He sat quietly upon it, gazing at the firmly closed Door. Then he spoke softly.
“Are you not cold?”
Had Kaiden heard these words, he would have scoffed, asking why a mere lackey concerned himself with another’s comfort.
“You would mock me, but I am content. Having devoted myself to the Church, I shall walk with God for all my days.”
He clasped his hands together, fidgeting as he gazed down at them. Then he continued.
“So I shall visit often. You won’t be lonely. Though you might call it pathetic and tell me to stop.”
He didn’t think his actions were pathetic. After all, as a Cleric, he was destined to walk alone his entire life—it was only natural.
Until recently, he had thought of it only in those terms, but after visiting the Magic Tower with the Prince of Asdal not long ago, his perspective had changed.
Isn’t there someone sleeping here who will continually need his help?
“When he awakens from the Seal, he will surely say that I was of use.”
Kaiden had once retracted that statement, but Archbishop Luzef still spoke of it in jest.
“So please, do awaken. As long as I draw breath, I shall remain here.”
Margaret had once suggested that they write letters to Kaiden each season.
Even if they all passed away and Kaiden awakened from the Seal long after, they would share their time with him. That way, he too could share in their moments, could he not?
Archbishop Luzef wondered if that might be crueler still. Would it not deepen his attachment all the more?
He also thought—would he not cling forever to those he longed for, unable to let them go?
Yet they could not judge how Kaiden would truly feel about it. So they all agreed to leave the letters.
“You are so deeply loved by everyone.”
Archbishop Luzef’s voice caught mid-sentence, and he paused briefly. After clearing his throat, he delivered his final words.
“So I truly hope you return while we are all still alive.”
Twenty years from now? Thirty? No—he hoped it would be within ten years at least. Perhaps it was selfish of him.
With that, he departed the Magic Tower.
Now it was time to go to Enoch and Margaret, who would be waiting for him.
Archbishop Luzef, as Pope, would preside over the marriage ceremony of Enoch and Margaret.
The ceremony was conducted neither grandly nor modestly.
The Fireworks Festival was for the people of the Empire, so the more splendid the better—but their own marriage was different, so they decided to simply adhere to proper etiquette.
Yet even that drew such praise from the newspapers about their exemplary character befitting a new era that even Archbishop Luzef shook his head in amazement.
After an age of darkness that had passed without anyone realizing it was darkness, there came yet another trial.
In the midst of the current chaos, two souls beloved by all stood beneath the altar, clasping each other’s hands.
Archbishop Luzef, who had endured even a portion of the suffering and tribulation these two had undergone to earn such affection from all, understood it well.
That is why he wished to protect the smiles of these two people. Surely all his companions felt the same.
Fortunately, their story ended in happiness. And knowing that he had a part in that happiness filled him with boundless joy.
“Do you both have the confidence to cherish and love each other eternally?”
Enoch and Margaret gazed at each other’s faces once, then smiled—a smile brimming with trust, affection, and love.
“Yes.”
Soon after, the two answered in unison.
Archbishop Luzef sensed it: their love would grow ever more steadfast, ever more unshakeable, and ever more joyful.
So he spoke.
“You are now formally husband and wife. May the grace of God forever accompany this happy couple.”
Archbishop Luzef himself would always pray for them, and for his companions.
May all be happy.
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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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