The next morning, the two dressed in formal attire and headed to the royal castle. Dagan wore a knight’s ceremonial outfit of black fabric with silver-blue embroidery, while Lunarsion wore a formal white fabric with golden embroidery. The embroidery reflected their eye colors, signifying their marriage.
First was the postponed award ceremony. The party of heroes, including Dagan, lined up below the podium just like before to receive their rewards. Though Dagan, now married to Lunarsion, had the right to ascend the podium, he disliked the idea of neglecting his comrades.
In the end, Hero Dagan received the title of Duke and the hand of the third prince, Lunarsion. Additionally, as long as he continued to be involved in national defense as a duke, he would receive a substantial pension. The Saint, the Magician, the Swordmaster, and the Martial Artist were all granted rewards fitting their achievements.
The magician Zareed received the title of Count along with a large sum of money for research purposes. His fate with Stella Lilis would depend on their own efforts. In fact, it seemed that the young ones had made various plans behind the scenes, and the one who had ruined them—Baldred—was severely scolded afterward and even physically burned and sent flying. This slightly delayed both the award ceremony and Dagan’s honeymoon, but that digresses from the main story.
There were others besides the heroes who received rewards—those who supported their journey, as well as individuals with great achievements in subjugating magical beasts and demons. Since the demon king’s resurrection, the frequency and severity of magical beast and demon attacks had significantly increased in the Roselant Kingdom.
Among those rewarded was the third prince, Lunarsion, who had dedicated himself to translating various ancient and foreign magical texts, contributing to the discovery of numerous ancient magic and relics. He officially inherited the royal domain he had already managed and, through marriage, united with Dagan, though his status as a prince remained unchanged. There was not a single voice of opposition. Five years ago, many had dismissed Lunarsion due to his lack of martial and magical prowess. Through his intelligence and maneuvering, he had solidified his current position.
Dagan felt a sense of pride and joy as if it were his own accomplishment. Even during the break before the banquet began, he continued gazing at Lunarsion on the podium. Lunarsion, in turn, occasionally cast gentle glances toward him.
As Dagan basked in his happiness, Thunder Sonia, one of the hero’s companions, approached him.
“You really love that prince, huh?”
“Ah! Wha—! Did it show on my face? Damn it…”
Dagan was flustered. Sonia let out a hearty laugh and clapped him firmly on the back. Though she was much shorter than Dagan, her strength rivaled his. The force of her slap felt more like an attack.
“When you two got married in such a ridiculous fashion, I wondered how things would turn out, but now I feel reassured! I’m heading home, but stay well!”
“Ah, yeah. Say hi to your husband and kids for me.”
Today marked the farewell of the comrades who had spent five years together. Some would return home to help with rebuilding, others would resume their previous lives, and some would embark on new endeavors. There was a chance they might never meet again. Dagan grew sentimental, but Saint Gloriosa smiled reassuringly.
“I shall travel once more, bringing salvation as I did before. I will visit you all as well.”
“I too will return to my hometown, but once the reconstruction is complete, I shall rush to your side whenever needed—be it for battle or a drinking party, feel free to invite me anytime!”
“Um… Forrata-san, alcohol is a no-go. No, even if you threaten me with a sword, it’s no use. You need to quit drinking, you reckless, alcoholic swordsman!”
“Hahaha! Even little Zareed the magician has grown bold!”
“Stop calling me little! You pig-headed martial artist! Oh, and Dagan, at the very least, we’ll be seeing each other in six months.”
“Hmm? Why? Did something happen?”
“Huh? You haven’t heard? Your and Prince Lunarsion’s wedding banquet is scheduled to take place then!”
Dagan hadn’t heard anything about this at all. Baldred must have made the arrangements without consulting him—far too careless for dealing with both his best friend and son.
“You two were too busy being lovey-dovey and didn’t pay attention, huh? It’s a romantic marriage, so I guess it’s expected.”
“True. Dagan does tend to get lost in his own thoughts.”
Not being able to deny that, Dagan gave up on punching Baldred before confirming it. Instead, he decided to verify the details first—then punch him.
At the banquet, Sonia and Forrata entertained everyone with humorous stories from their journey, Zareed danced with Stella Lilis, and Gloriosa sang “Holy Love Song: Ender Year.” This unexpectedly led to multiple cases of adultery being exposed, assassination attempts thwarted, and unfair betrothals canceled. The hall grew momentarily chaotic. Such things were common when Gloriosa was around. Dagan chose to ignore the commotion and spent time introducing Lunarsion to his old knight comrades.
“Lady Gloriosa, I am deeply grateful. I am truly happy to have married Dagan.”
“It was the true love between you two that made it happen. I merely lent a hand. No need for thanks.”
“It was wonderful to receive recognition from the Saint, but being accepted by one of Dagan’s trusted friends made me even happier.”
“Well… hehehe. I didn’t realize that His Highness Lunarsion’s heart was so pure. No wonder Dagan-san has been completely smitten with you.. Then, I shall also present a gift to my dear friend’s beloved.”
Gloriosa signaled to a nearby priest, who promptly handed over a pre-prepared item—a silk-covered pedestal on which lay a necklace adorned with deep golden gemstones. Its design was simple, and the gemstones were small, but the radiance they emitted was divine, carrying both gold and pink hues.
“This topaz is imbued with my prayer of protection. It will shield you from evil.”
“Such a precious item…!”
Gloriosa smiled sweetly. It was a genuine, heartfelt smile, not the reserved expression she always wore, befitting a Saint.
“Please accept it. I wish to be of help to the beloved of my dear friend.”
“……Thank you very much. I’ll wear it all the time. …It’s the color of Dagan’s eyes. I’m so happy.”
Lunarsion’s light blue eyes glistened with emotion. Dagan felt a mix of embarrassment and joy, until Sonia gave him another hearty slap on the back.
“From me, it’s my gift of spirit! Dagan! Stop dawdling and put the necklace on him!”
“Okay, okay! I get it! Just stop hitting me! Hey! Stop it!”
Laughter erupted around them. Even Lunarsion, rarely seen laughing openly, joined in.
Despite his rather intense friends, Lunarsion seemed to have fit in well. After fastening the necklace amid teasing remarks, the conversation flowed cheerfully.
Then, as Dagan stepped away to fetch a drink, something unexpected happened.
“Now that I think about it, he was always talking about His Highness! Smart, hardworking, and noble—I thought he was just saying things because of knightly loyalty, but turns out it was his first love. Whenever he looked at the moon, he sighed, wondering how His Highness was doing.”
“Aaaah! I’m so happy! Tell me more!”
“Well then, let me tell you something about Lord Dagan’s holy sword. It’s quite a passionate story, you see…”
“Stop! What nonsense are you talking about while I’m not here?!”
“Dagan, we were just getting to the good part. Lord Forrata, Lady Thunder Sonia, thank you for telling me. Please tell me more another time!”
Dagan grabbed the flustered Lunarsion and fled to the balcony.
Dagan was the guest of honor at the banquet, and Lunarsion was his partner. They couldn’t leave until the event concluded, but escaping to such a place signified, “We’re busy, don’t disturb us.” Of course, he made sure to activate a magic artifact to prevent others from eavesdropping.
At the edge of the balcony, there was a lounge chair for resting. Dagan sat down with Lunarsion still in his arms.
“Dagan, are you angry?”
“I’m not mad at you…”
Dagan was exasperated with his own sulking tone. He felt pathetic—an adult man, far too shaken by a late-blooming first love. As he grimaced in self-loathing, Lunarsion gently pulled his face closer, locking eyes with him.
“No, it’s my fault. I asked them how you were doing during the trip… and whether you thought of me. It was selfish of me. I’m pathetic.”
In those pale blue eyes, regret and self-deprecation mixed with an undeniable affection for Dagan. With that, any lingering frustration or self-disgust of Dagan’s evaporated.
“That’s not it. What upset me was that they were enjoying our reactions a little too much. But it’s not a big deal, so don’t worry.”
To reassure him, Dagan kissed his forehead. Lunarsion’s expression softened, and as if returning the gesture, he kissed Dagan’s neck. The touch of his platinum hair tickled Dagan’s chin.
“Not bad, but if you’re going to do it, do it this way.”
Adjusting their embrace to align their lips more easily, they exchanged light kisses for a moment. Now that he thought about it, this was the first time he had kissed Lunarsion while he was dressed in ceremonial attire. The formal wear enhanced his beauty and noble aura, making Dagan recall the days when Lunarsion felt unreachable.
Indeed, whenever he gazed at the moon during his travels, he thought of Lunarsion—not just because of his platinum hair. Perhaps he had always loved him, even before he realized it.
“Maybe it’s the ceremonial outfit, but it reminds me of when you were my knight… I didn’t realize it back then, but I’ve always loved you.”
“……Yeah, me too.”
Dagan muttered as if savoring happiness, bringing his lips close again, his fingers weaving through his beloved’s silken hair.
The banquet hall’s lights and the gentle moonlight illuminated their intimate moment, yet no one intruded.
As Dagan indulged in their affectionate embrace, a lingering thought resurfaced—something he needed to mention sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, it meant disrupting the perfect atmosphere. He reluctantly eased Lunarsion off his lap, settling him beside him, and spoke.
“Lunarsion. Have you heard about our wedding reception? Apparently, it’s already scheduled for six months from now, I’ve heard the announcement has already been made.”
Lunarsion’s face, which had been smiling happily until then, stiffened.
“What?! I didn’t know… Father…”
Lunarsion muttered in a daze during the first half and anger seeped through during the second half of his sentence. He straightened his appearance, rose from his seat, and turned toward the banquet hall, completely embodying the composed “Third Prince Lunarsion” once more. He strode to the entrance of the balcony and whispered something to a waiting attendant. The attendant quietly walked away without drawing attention.
“Dagan, I’ve arranged for us to speak with His Majesty immediately after the banquet. I want you to come with me. Understood?”
“Of course. This concerns both of us as a married couple.”
Dagan playfully exaggerated the words “married couple,” prompting Lunarsion to smile like a blossoming flower. No matter how beautiful he was in any expression, Dagan found him most enchanting when he smiled.
Although he knew that after tonight, or perhaps for quite a while, they wouldn’t have much time to relax, he allowed himself this small moment of escape from reality.
Author: Yohan O
A bit of this, a bit of that, a bit of everything except straight
