Chapter 220 (2/2)

Hikaru left the guild together with Lavia. He also shared other information he got with her.

「What? The ma.s.s wedding has gotten that big?!」

According to the receptionist, over a thousand couples had already applied. Even she was ecstatic.

「Ah… A couple destined to never be together overcome all the hards.h.i.+p and will finally pledge their love to each other. So romantic…」the receptionist said.

Who knew how much people embellished Claude and Luka's story? But the more they exaggerated it, the more couples whose destiny would be changed. If it was too realistic, they wouldn't care about their story.

「There are already plays about in every place. It's apparently slowly becoming standard.」

Everyone knew about Kirihal and Ludancia's relations.h.i.+p. Defying the odds, a ma.s.s wedding was approved by various nations. Not everyone agreed, of course. Ludancia severely opposed the idea and Luka's mother even tried to kill her daughter. But even the audience loved this part. The play was also performed in Ludancia, with some modifications.

The Allied Nations of Forestia had an unprecedented marriage boom in their hands. If a child was born between Claude and Luka, next would be a baby boom.

「A wedding, huh…」Lavia muttered.「Where will it be held? Can we go watch?」

「The plan is to do it in Forestzard. Let's go watch if nothing important comes up.」

「Yay!」

Hikaru heard girls usually loved weddings and dreamed of being brides, and Lavia was no exception. Seeing it firsthand made him realize it was true.

A marriage between me and Lavia… No, we're too young. Only 16 and 15. Ah, but wait. I guess marriage during teenage years is common in this world?

Hikaru's face turned beet red. Lavia watched him dubiously.

「Uhm, Lavia. I forgot to ask before, but when's your birthday?」

「My birthday? The 14th of February.」

「What?! It's close!」

And that's Valentine's Day! Oh, wait. I doubt they celebrate that here.

「Yeah, I know. What about it?」

「Do people not celebrate birthdays here?」

「I think they just indulge themselves a bit, but that's it.」

Lavia looked just a bit sad. She lived most of her life like a bird in a cage, so she might not have celebrated her birthday even once. Since she never really mentioned it herself, Hikaru refrained from asking as well. She was over her past.

「What about Paula I wonder.」

「Her birthday's on the 1st of April.」

「When did you even tell each other…?」

Hikaru felt dejected from being left out.

April Fools' huh… Fits her somehow. How it fit her exactly, he didn't know.

「What about yours?」Lavia asked.

「This body's? Or…」

「The real you, of course.」

Lavia gave a wry smile as she held Hikaru's hand.

「6th of March.」

「Oh, one birthday every month.」

It might just be a coincidence, but Hikaru felt some sort of a connection.

「So about Paula… She's thinking of staying at some inn again, right?」Hikaru said. 「She only stayed with us yesterday because we just arrived.」

「Yes, I think she still plans on doing that.」

「Hmm…」

「Should we ask her to stay with us?」

「I'm not sure. Paula might want some distance. She formed a party with us after leaving her best friends Pia and Priscilla. She might not want to get too close right away out of consideration for them.」

「Do you want me to ask her?」

「That would be great. Well actually…」Hikaru turned away, not looking at Lavia.「I'm glad we have some alone time together.」

Lavia didn't say a word. Hikaru glanced at her, wondering if his over selfishness appalled her, only to find her face flushed all the way to her ears.

「You dummy. I… feel the same way too.」

Faces red, they walked silently. It was winter in Scholarzard, but a warm wind blew by them as though spring had already come.

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