Chapter 21 (1/2)
Sorry for the long wait The next chapter will be the final update for the entire series
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Chapter 21: The Wedding
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About an hour’s drive froreat plain surrounded by fields
The plain was part of the village of Parukho, a town in the Republic of Daurade—one of the Confederation member states situated to the north of the capital
The village was tiny, its industry focused largely on agriculture But it was famous for a different reason—Parukho was ho venue A rich local had coo, supposedly instructed in his dreams by the Gods
The stone-paved plaza was the size of a baseball diae and a humble chapel
The plaza was surrounded on all sides by fields of barley that stretched all the way to the horizon The only way there was a single road that led through the fields
The rich man who commissioned the plaza and the chapel eventually went bankrupt and disappeared froe pooled their funds together tostones and fixed up the building when it was struck by lightning
For over a century, the building had only been used for so
A famous actor was married at the chapel
Parukho was close to the Capital District, and completely isolated at the sa eyes It was the perfect location to avoid reporters on the lookout for gossip
“It was the perfect place,” the actor went on to say “If I ever get e”
The actor went on to an to dreas there, just like the actor
The village capitalized on the opportunity and began tovenue
Anyone could hold a wedding there, regardless of religious belief or denomination
The venue was booked for the 9th of the sixth month by Euphemia Epstein, the president of a famous apparel company She had paid a handsome fee to rent out the chapel all day
“It’s going to be a spectacular one” “With lots of guests, too About 500 or so, you think? More? Are they going to set a new record?” “The street’s going to turn into a parking lot of black cars” The villagers theorized But on the day of the ceremony, they were all floored
Fewer than 50 guests showed up
The 9th of the sixth month
The sun was blazing that day, announcing the arrival of summer The sky was clear
And contrary to the villagers’ expectations, the road leading to the chapel was not lined with cars
Earlyinto the parking lot in the plaza, one car every 10 minutes or so
The first vehicle to arrive was aproduce, equipped with a freezer in the back It joined a van painted with the words ‘Parukho Village’ in the lot, parking at the very edge to keep out of the way
Ablack suits and hats labeled ‘Parukho Village Chapel Managereet the truck
Froed couple dressed impeccably in black formalwear
They were the Ikstovan royal guards who had sent Treize his sniper rifle and neatly disposed of the bodies of two hitmen
After exchanging greetings, the group of four began to discuss the proceedings for the day
The next guests arrived at 9:30 in a small car
The car was a common o was splashed on the side of the car
In the driver’s seat was a woe She was slender and tall witha navy jacket and skirt
“We’re here! All right, you now have permission to unbuckle yourself and step out of the car!” the woer door
“Ugh, finally I was getting so cramped in there”
A girl stepped out of the car
She had red hair that she irl was about old enough to be finishi+ng primary school, and had sharp eyes and boyish features
“I hate this outfit Why’s it gotta be all floofy?”
She talked like a boy as well, but the girl earing a light pink dress thatfrom the sleeves and hem However, she wore brown canvas shoes that were easy to walk in
“No corateful that I decided to let you wearin for up in whatever you woke up in is barbaric This is all training for growing into a proper adult!” the woman shot back, just as callous as her ward
“Sure, sure Where is everybody, anyway? This place is totally erown-up you are”
“The way here was too easy to get lost Although maybe I didn’t really think too et here”
“What the heck? Then as all that rushi+ng in thefor? I wanted to play around irl complained, arms in the air But the woman was unfazed
“We don’t have the money to play around here”
Soon, the wouards came up to them “Welcome Your invitations, please?”
“Here you are,” said Miss Angela “This here is Ca- er, Carlo, with an invitation fro out an envelope frouard did not seem to be concerned that Carlo was a boy’s name
“Hi there,” Carlo said energetically, punching the air Her attitude clashed with her frilly dress
Lillia and Treize had gone on vacation to the city of Lartika the previous summer, where they ran into the orphaned Carlo Afterwards, they were embroiled in an incident with a seaplane, where Lillia and Treize saved the lives of Carlo and many other children
“And I’ela, a primary school teacher I’ here so early—it wasn’t easy to precisely tiht train and car,” Miss Angela said, sounding more ladylike than before
The guards ushered the first tedding guests to the tables They suggested that Carlo and Miss Angela have some tea and juice with cookies while they waited
Five round tables, each big enough to seat 10, had been set up in front of the stage
Carlo and Miss Angela took the furthest table to the left, froe’s perspective
“Hey lady! Cookies are good and all, but are there any of those really strong-s crisps here they only sell in the Capital District?” Carlo asked, eyes sparkling
“Of course,” the guard replied “It wouldn’t be proper to invite guests from other states otherwise We have crisps by the boxload!”
“Yessss!” Carlo cheered, leaping into the air She finally landed with her dress aflutter “You’re pretty good, lady!”
The royal guard, skilled at everything fro to corpse disposal, smiled “It’s an honor”
“This is so good!”
“Don’t stuff yourself They’ve probably got a fancy lunch buffet waiting after the ceremony”
“Aw, c’ela”
“Maybe just a taste …Hey, this is good! Pass me some more”
“Whoa! Kids get first dibs on this stuff!”
“Your brain’s gonna shrivel if you eat too much”
“That’s what you grown-ups always say So you think it’s okay for your brain to shrivel up?”
“We’re all finished growing, so our brains are fine no matter how much we eat”
“Liar!”
“You’ll understand once you’re an adult”
“Nuh-uh!”
“You will!”
As Carlo and Miss Angela argued over crisps at their table, the next car arrived
It was a Jones Motors limousine
“Wow, that’s one heck of a long car!” Carlo exclaimed
“Whoever’s in thereto do with poor people like us,” Miss Angela re lot
Two bodyguards and six secondary school students stepped out of the limo Kurtz and Litner, and the members of the 4th Capital Secondary School’s newspaper club
The two adults were in their usual suits The suits were lighter than the previous uards were mandated to wear their jackets because they had to carry around their guns
The newspaper club members were in student formalwear—in other words, their school uniforms
They had switched to their su of the month—short-sleeved shi+rts with the school crest e tie The uniforan, and jacket for cooler weather
“Welco the newest group of guests
“Yes! Here is otten from Lillia
“Well, you know Nothing could possibly surprise uys have to catch me, okay? Hah hah hah hah…”
To Meg’s great concern, Lillia’s face had been stiff as she handed her the invitation at school
“We still have some time left before the cere”
The party took a seat around a table not too close to the stage, leaving roouests who knew the happy couple better They did not sit too close to Carlo and Miss Angela either, as they did not know one another
Kurtz and Litner, being bodyguards and not guests, returned to the limousine to remain on standby
The royal guards took the newspaper club’s orders Everyone asked for tea
And soon enough, a pile of crisps was placed at their table
“Bling!” Natalia cried, eyes glinting
“What was that supposed to be, Lia?”
“The sound of ood scenery, and delicious crisps! It’s like a textbook wedding!”
“How does that ? And by the way, leave some crisps for the rest of us,” Larry said Natalia was already digging in, and his coh to stop her In the blink of an eye she emptied an entire plate and asked for seconds
“It’s so good to see you’ve got a healthy appetite,” said the royal guard “It was certainly worth getting all these crisps for today,” she chuckled, serving them more
Nick sipped his tea elegantly, looking around at the fields “It certainly is a lovely venue” He had already given the others a perfect lecture on the history of the village during the hour-long drive to the chapel
“H on the crisps with composure
“I’to be a good wedding guest, huh?”
“Yeah, no”
“Figures So what’s that mean?”
“If I spot any interesting guests, I’ to snap photos like nobody’s business Until then, I’ht times already—I’m sick of the scenery”
“I see”
And as for the two ht be able to use the cere—
“This place ht not be so bad We could coether” “That sounds perfect, Honey” “Heh, it’s kind of early to start calling ” “I don’t mind at all, Honey” “Hah hah, you’re such a tease”
—This was not the conversation they were having
“You don’t knoho Schultz’s ?”
“No, she did not tell me She toldceremonies”
Their conversation was as dry as it could be
“The invitations didn’t give his nah I suppose if Schultz herself told you not to worry, there’s nothing to be concerned about”
“That is true”
“Us worrying for the …Let’s eat”
“I will eat as well”
They beganon some crisps
The third car to arrive was a large luxury limousine
It was a est rival
“Whoa! Look at that, Jenfie!”
“It’s got nothing to do with me”
“But it’s from your family’s rival company!”
“Then take a good look at it while you still can”
“Huh?”
As Larry and Jenny bantered, the li lot
“It’s just one team of rich folks after another Who the heck is Schultz’s ?” Natalia wondered
“I look forward to exchanging greetings,” Nick remarked
“With who? The bride and groouests?”
“Both, naturally”
“Good to see you’re honest as ever”
“We’re finally here! This place is great!”
The limousine door opened, and the first person to step out was a rey suit and a red tie— Matthew Silas Epstein His hair was cut clean and slicked back, perhaps thanks to a visit to a hairdresser His one as well
He was followed by a beautiful wo brown hair She was in her early thirties, wearing a lavender dress that was neither too extravagant nor humble Summer flowers decorated her perfectly-styled hair
“Hm? Are we early?”
“Better early than late, Eumie”
It was Silas’s sister, Euphemia Epstein
She was the new president of the Epstein apparel coirl as turned down by Wil and kicked her brother into a lake in retaliation, Eupherown into a beautiful woy
Euphemia was the one who rented the venue for the cere party to use her name She was now married, but her husband stayed home because he did not know the circumstances
The siblings were followed by a couple in their sixties—the former president and her husband Both were now retired, supporting their daughter fro
“Who knew after all these years that ould see Wil again? It really is worth living into old age,” said the fored
“C’mon, Mother You’re not that old”
“I suppose not But it really is fantastic to see hiain And…”
“And?” Silas repeated
“And it will be wonderful to ain, too”
The royal guards thanked Eu them to use her name to book the venue Then they led the Epsteins inside
Because the other guests had to be kept in the dark about Wil for the ti, the Epsteins sat far apart from them
“So who’re those people, Nick? You know -naht?” asked Larry
“I cannot be certain,” Nick replied “But I believe the tomen are the former and current presidents of Epstein The coh the female line”
Natalia, as consu about 60 percent of the crisps on the table, chimed in “That’s where SC Arthur’s sister works, ain’t it?”
“It is indeed, Nat Impressive memory”
“I beco”
“Then I shall How shall we eradicate world poverty?” Nick asked Natalia answered without a moment’s hesitation
“Everyone walks off a cliff”
The next vehicle to arrive was not a car, but a motorcycle
It was painted black and off white—an off-road ine, with both rear wheels powered Treize was on the les a pilota cotton jacket She also wore a helles Both wore their school uniforms
Seron recognized them first “Oh, it’s Treize”
Meg, who had seen the motorcycle the previous sunized theht It is Lillia sitting beside”
“So that’s Treize’s bike, huh?” Larry remarked enviously “Nice That’s a civilian version of a military motorcycle It’s not cheap, let me tell you”
“The plot thickens Perhaps it is not too late to resuested
“Still at it? You should just go up to the guy and ask,” said Natalia
“That’ll definitely reed
Soon, the e of the parking lot
Treize and Lillia disembarked They took off their jackets and helmets and put them on the seat of the sidecar
Seron raised an eyebrow “So with her mother and stepfather?”
“You’re right,” Jenny said with a nod It was very unusual in Roxche for so separately from the family
Seron noticed Meg’s stiff expression “They must have their reasons,” he said to reassure her “I’m sure they’ll tell us later”
Ending the conversation there, he watched carefully and noted that the ed usher did not ask Treize to show his invitation
Lillia and Treizeand Seron’s table
“Hey there, newspaper club Thanks for coreat and—ow!”
Lillia bit her tongue before she could even finish her halfhearted greeting
“A-are you okay, Lillia?” Meg asked, expression darkening with concern
Lillia did not seeht troubled, completely contrary to the beautiful weather
“Yeah, I’m fine Anyway…”
Without taking a seat, Lillia introduced herself and Treize to the club
“Hey guys I don’t think I’ve really met some of you before, but anyway I’ toThis here is Treize Bain—an old friend ofHe’s from Ikstova”
“Hey guys Like Lillia said, I’ me out a lot back at the dorms He’s told me a bit about you, too Nice to meet you”
The newspaper clubwho should speak first
“You’re up, Chief” Natalia said Jenny stood She offered seats to Lillia and Treize and began introducing the club from one end to the other
“It’s nice to meet you I’m Jenny, the president of the newspaper club Four-eyes here is Natalia the bottouy, FYI Larry here’s a , the Westerner”
Having introduced everyone but Seron, Jenny got ready to have tea—
“Pardon me!” Nick interjected “I actually have a few questions for you, Treize Bain!”
‘You’re really gonna ask?!’ Larry thought, ale, but he did not say anything
“Huh? About what? Er…I guess I could answer a few questions about Ikstova,” Treize replied hesitantly, warned by Seron ahead of time about Nick’s endless curiosity
That hen they were interrupted
“Hah!”
A tiny figure ca into the table
“Big sis!”
“Huh?”
Lillia turned To her right was a little girl in a frilly dress
“It’s been a while!”
“Er…who are you?” uttered a confused Lillia Carlo clenched her fists
“YES! I WIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!” she declared
“Huh? Who…hm…wait a sec…C-Carlo?!”
“You got it! It’s been so long, big sis! How’ve you been? I’m totally fine!”
Lillia’s jaw dropped Froht wave
“Hey there, Carlo! Good to see you doing all right By the way, that dress looks great on you”
“You look good in your unifor bro! Like a real prince!”
Carlo wasan inside joke, but Lillia was completely out of the loop
“Ah! I get it now!” she cried, ju to her feet “I’m in a bizarro-world!” Her chair fell backwards The newspaper club members flinched
Lillia spread her arht blue sky
“This irl, and she knows everything! And the dead are co back to life! Yes, this is definitely a dream! So wake up, Lillia!”
Jenny did not raph the moment
Lillia’s cry also reached the Epsteins’ table
“Oh hter?” wondered the former president
“I think so She fits the description perfectly,” replied Euphemia
“She’s going to be so surprised” “She’s going to be so surprised”
“What has Carlo gone and said this ti into a crisp
“Cal around behind her to set the chair back on its feet She sat Lillia down
“Yeah, big sis! Sorry I scared you!” Carlo said, the calmest person at the entire table
Lillia was still staring like she had seen a ghost
“Big sis, I’irl! Always been one! I just didn’t tell you last year!”
Carlo finally got through to the dazed Lillia, who blinked several times
“Huh? Really? So…that’s what you actually look like?”
“Yeah, you gotta believe irl! You want proof? I can take offunder her dress But she was quickly stopped
“That’s enough, Carlo I can vouch for you,” said Treize
“What?!” Lillia gasped, falling victi “Treize…you mean…”
Treize noticed immediately “N-no! No! She just told me, back on the Kurz Sea!”
‘They’re practically a co
Completely oblivious, Carlo joined the conversation
“Big bro found out aboutbye at the end But I asked him not to tell you so I could surprise you later”
“O-oh Oh Okay…okay” Lillia sighed, her shoulders finally drooping
“Guess that was a big surprise, huh? I irl, so is it really that shocking?” Carlo wondered to herself, then turned to the newspaper club “Hey everyone! The na her hand
Jenny took another photo
“Anyway, this here is Carlo She’s from Tolcasia,” Lillia explained “But what’s your real name, Carlo?”
“Who cares? Just call me Carlo, everyone!”
“So she says”
Carlo scanned the table, looking at the uys all rich? What do rich people in the capital eat?” she asked
“This!” Natalia grinned and grabbed a crisp
“Cool!” Carlo grinned back, and grabbed a crisp as well
“Can’t call yourself rich around here unless you down a thousand of these every day!”
“A thousand! Darn it! Darn you rich people!”
“Even two thousand is nothing for a glasses beauty like me”
“What’s glasses got to do with anything?”
“Nothing at all, kiddo!”
“Cool!”
Carlo and Natalia had becolanced in their direction and breathed a sigh of relief at the fact that Nick was now too distracted to question him
Meg went over to Lillia Treize quickly gave her his seat
“Thank you, Treize,” she said, taking the seat without declining Then she turned to Lillia and switched to Bezelese “Don’t worry, Lillia Your life isn’t going to change so easily Calm down, okay?”
“Ohhh…Meg…” Lillia whientle pat on the head
“There, there It’s okay, Lillia I’ll be your big sister for today and take care of you! I’ll be your shi+eld, no oing to have to go through me!”
“Thank you, Meg I’lad you’re here for me!”
“Oh, Lillia!”
Meg and Lillia embraced Jenny took another photo
Natalia and Carlo continued to feast away
“See, Carlo? Girls’ friendshi+ps ain’t a myth!”
“Huh What’re they talking about? What’re they saying?”
“Dunno!”
Meanwhile, Treize took a seat next to Seron
“Sorry Looks like Lillia’s going to be borrowing Strauski for a bit”
“I don’t ize”
“Still, we’re kind of interrupting you guys Anyway, I’ Lillia needed a bit of that energy”
Larry, who had nothing in particular to do, zoned out
And he was the first to spot the next set of arrivals in the distant fields
This time, it was a convoy of three expensive black cars The two at the front and back were ordinary sedans, and the one in the middle was a limousine
Soon the cars pulled into the parking lot and stopped in a line, taking up a great deal of space
Out of the first and last cars came four men All were clad in suits and wore earpieces and microphones They scanned the area with practiced expertise