The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

"U-Um... Is it really okay for me to be standing here...?"

"Relax. No one’s going to say anything just because you’re here. Honestly, most people will probably assume you’re a high-ranking noble yourself."

"B-But wouldn’t that be... deceiving people about my status—"

"If someone jumps to the wrong conclusion just because you were standing nearby, that’s their fault, not yours."

I said a few words to Lily Baker, who looked uneasy hovering around us. Of course, someone else could’ve reassured her—but there weren’t many people who could speak to Lily this casually.

Technically, I was still the Empire’s second-in-command—the Imperial Princess—and Lily was a relatively well-off commoner. But since I’d started getting involved in outside ventures around my fourth year at the Academy, including business matters, I’d ended up meeting Lily’s father a few times. Mostly on weapons deals. He lit up every time he saw me, probably thinking he’d secured a strong connection to the Imperial Family.

And who could blame him? I’d recently been planning mass production of an improved version of the reinforced suit I used to wear.

Back then, it was purely for combat use, but with just a bit of imagination, the applications were limitless. Maybe because of rumors that had spread through me, but we were already getting inquiries from noble houses. There were even cases in noble families where inbreeding led to physical impairments, and some had started asking if the suit could be used as a physical aid.

We’d also gotten inquiries from factories and construction sites.

Browning, the developer, was beyond excited. The licensing deal had gone smoothly, the Imperial Army was first in line for supplies, and as the central figure in all this, I was naturally the source of his delight.

"And all your friends are around here too, aren’t they?"

"I think they gathered here just because I happened to be standing nearby..."

Naturally, Lily wasn’t the only student from the commoner class who’d shown up.

Some students had made it all the way through four years of the Academy and still refused to talk to Lottie because of their racist attitudes—but at least half the class had gotten along with her reasonably well.

That was likely due to two things: my visible friendship with Lottie, and the fact that her fiancé was the heir to House Lindburrow. Those two factors more than canceled out any perceived "negatives" her skin color might have represented and instead turned into overwhelming positives.

Of course, Lottie wasn’t foolish enough to mistake status-based friendliness for genuine affection. She knew how to tell the difference between people who approached her just because of her social standing and those who genuinely wanted to be her friend. Only the latter had been invited to the wedding.

As for why the other commoner-class students had gathered near us—it was simply because most of them had arrived at the venue after Lily.

No matter how wealthy their families were, they were still commoners. Spending time smack in the middle of a crowd of nobles must’ve been absolute hell. That’s why many of them had timed their arrival to come as late as possible—yet still before the ceremony began—and ended up drifting toward Lily, who had gotten here first and had at least some familiar faces nearby.

At first, they rushed over upon recognizing Lily—only to freeze up when they saw who was standing next to her. Namely, the newly crowned Emperor and his second-in-command, less than two weeks into the job.

They turned pale on the spot.

Still, none of them actually left.

Some of the nobility-class students had come by as well, exchanging polite greetings. Even a few high-ranking nobles stopped to say hello. Every time that happened, the commoner students looked like they were about to pass out.

"Everyone’s way too tense," I murmured.

"I mean... I think that’s perfectly reasonable," Leo said, cutting in.

"Ah, it’s almost time. Should we head to our seats?" Claire asked after glancing at her wristwatch.

"Yeah, let’s do that."

When I turned to the group and said that, everyone nodded. The commoner-class students visibly relaxed, and I nearly laughed at the sudden relief on their faces—but I managed to hold it in.

*

The wedding was grand.

Lottie, for her part, had clearly hoped for something more modest. She wasn’t the type who enjoyed being the center of attention to begin with.

And truthfully, even if guests were to be invited, most of them would be Jake’s. Almost all of Lottie’s mother’s relatives had passed away when she was young, and she had lost contact with the few remaining ones. Her hometown was too far away, and she couldn’t even remember exactly where it was, so there was no real way to find them.

Even a commoner has pride. Anyone would feel hurt if there were no guests on their side at their own wedding.

But House Lindburrow saw things differently.

If Jake and Lottie’s wedding were held quietly, the other nobles would certainly grow suspicious of Lottie’s presence.

In the worst case, they might even assume that House Lindburrow was ashamed of the marriage.

And that was something Duke Lindburrow absolutely could not allow.

Lottie was a knight with ties to the Imperial Family. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

For someone like her to marry his son was not something to be hidden. In fact, House Lindburrow needed to make it clear to the world that they held Lottie’s status in high regard, and that they were proud to have her marrying the heir to their house.

That message had to be spread even to the colonies.

Jake had apparently wanted to respect Lottie’s wishes as much as possible—but in the end, he hadn’t been able to go against his father.

That was why all of us were in attendance at the wedding. Even Charlotte, who was in intense training to become the next monarch, had arrived before me ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) and was already waiting. Lena had shown up just before the ceremony began.

We were all counted among the bride’s guests. Jake had thanked us when he heard, and even House Lindburrow considered it a wise decision.

“Wow...”

Watching the couple walk down the distant aisle, Lena let out a small gasp. Her eyes sparkled—it seemed she really liked Lottie’s dress.

Actually, now that I looked again, every woman seated nearby was staring at Lottie in awe, letting out quiet gasps of admiration.

Well, when the one wearing the dress is that beautiful, it’s no surprise.

Maybe I even gasped myself without realizing it.

Whether it was because the game’s setting was made by a Japanese studio or simply due to the era this world reflected, the music wasn’t the typical wedding march I was used to. Instead, a warm and lush harmony of string instruments filled the hall, and it felt refreshingly elegant.

I lifted my hand and clapped softly.

Lottie’s gaze turned in our direction. Her eyes moved here and there, as if looking for someone, and then stopped—right on her mother, seated between Alice and me.

Her face, which had been tense and stiff with nerves, slowly blossomed into a radiant smile.

Jake, walking beside her, followed the bride’s gaze and smiled gently as well. I gave them both a small wave.

Petals scattered by the flower children lined the aisle, and the two soon-to-be newlyweds walked forward slowly.

Between the two of them, there was no longer any hint of “forbidden.”

There was only a happy couple, ready to walk together for the rest of their lives, just as they had until now.

*

“My nose is stinging.”

Alice pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose.

“Looks like you were trying really hard not to cry.”

“Shut it.”

She shot me a glare as I teased her.

“Well, now that we’re all gathered like this, how about we sit and chat for a bit? I have a feeling it’s going to be a while before Lottie and Jake get here.”

The wedding had been held in Lindburrow’s northern estate—on the northern continent, not their main lands in the south.

Rooms had been prepared for the guests who’d traveled from afar. Though technically it was only for those the Lindburrow family needed to show special care to... but of course, we were all among those special guests.

The commoner-class students, it seemed, were staying in accommodations Lottie had arranged in advance. Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—the class system was still so firmly entrenched that none of them took offense to the arrangement. On the contrary, they seemed grateful.

And to be fair, the place they were staying was quite nice.

“...I won’t be drinking today,” Sophia said, shivering a little, likely remembering the disaster that was the first-year culture festival.

“Everyone here went through that day. I doubt anyone’s going to suggest drinking,” said Alice—now the Emperor.

Everyone, myself included, nodded firmly.

At the very least, none of us were ever again going to mix equal parts black tea and alcohol.

—Or so we thought.

Right up until Jake walked into the room, arms full of bottles.