After-Story Chapter 14: The Happy Wedding Planner (Part 2)

Now then, you two. You wish to have your wedding ceremony abroad, and our agency highly recommends the ‘Island Bride Plan.’ This is a ceremony held in the traditional style of the Nine-Headed Dragon Kingdom at a seaside venue there. A friend of ours recently had her wedding in the Nine-Headed Dragon Kingdom, and it was absolutely magnificent.

—On a certain day.

This was the parlor run by the Evans Merchant Guild, Lucy’s family business. Tomoe and Ichiha were sitting across from each other at a window seat. A parfait and black tea were placed in front of Tomoe, while only the Garulan Spirit Kingdom’s coffee was in front of Ichiha. Ichiha was hunched over the table, holding his head.

“Ugh… my head hurts…”

“Are you alright, Ichiha-kun?” Tomoe asked worriedly.

Ichiha lifted his face and smiled weakly. “Ah… yes. No… it’s rough, but I hope it heals soon…”

“Honestly. That’s what you get for drinking so much just because it was a celebration.”

“I am utterly disgraced…”

The reason for Ichiha’s headache was entirely a hangover. Yesterday, Ichiha had formally succeeded Hakuya and was inaugurated as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Friedonia. Hakuya had been waiting for Ichiha to mature so he could dedicate himself to his role as Queen Jeanne’s consort in the Kingdom of Euphoria, and that wish had finally been fulfilled.

The night of the inauguration, a celebratory banquet was held, attended by his fiancée Tomoe, the usual crowd—Yuriga, Velza, and Lucy—along with Souma and his consorts, and his research colleagues, including the former president of the Monster Research Society, who had married into a noble family.

Ichiha, who was ‘yesterday’s star’ (not ‘today’s’), was heavily plied with alcohol as a congratulatory toast from everyone (though Tomoe put a stop to it with an imposing smile once he was clearly tipsy, preventing him from drinking any more). Now, he was suffering from a hangover this morning.

The only saving grace was that he had predicted this and taken the day off. Tomoe had also taken the day off, so the two of them were in the castle town today. If Ichiha were well, they could have enjoyed a date. Tomoe sighed, watching the suffering Ichiha.

“…Maybe I should have stopped them sooner. Yuriga-chan and Luu-chan got carried away and kept giving him drinks. Or rather, Ichiha-kun, you shouldn’t have accepted them.”

“U… b-but, I couldn’t reject those who were celebrating me.”

“I understand that maintaining relationships is important, but if you ruin your health because of it, then it defeats the whole purpose… Oh, I just sounded like my sister.”

“Ahahaha…”

Tomoe’s sister was Liscia, and she often scolded Souma in just that manner. However, she did it out of concern for Souma, and Souma, understanding this, humbly accepts the scolding and lectures. If the scolding comes from the person you love and you know it’s out of concern, you can listen to it even if it hurts your ears. I see, so this is how His Majesty feels… Ichiha thought.

“Oh, that reminds me of my sister.” Tomoe clapped her hands. “There was something important I needed to ask you, Ichiha-kun.”

“Something important?”

Ichiha was sipping his coffee, wondering what she meant, when Tomoe nodded. “Yes. Say, Ichiha-kun.”

“Yes?”

“Do you want me to become Tomoe Chima? Or will you become Ichiha Chima Elfrieden?”

“Buh-ho! …Cough, cough!”

The sudden bombshell made Ichiha choke on his coffee. Tomoe looked at him with wide eyes.

“A-Are you alright?”

“Cough… W-Why would you bring that up so suddenly!?”

“Well, we are engaged, aren’t we? We’re dating with marriage in mind, right?”

“Of course, that’s true, but…”

“Since Ichiha-kun has officially become Prime Minister, my brother-in-law and others have been asking if we should get married soon. I thought it would be good to think about it.” Tomoe said this calmly, in contrast to the flustered Ichiha.

“You see, I came to this country as a refugee, and my status was ambiguous, so my family name was never clear. My brother-in-law adopted me into the former Lord Albert and Lady Elisha’s family to protect me in the castle since I could communicate with the Sirens, who were thought to be demons, but since my real mother also works at the castle, I was never really called or referred to as Tomoe Elfrieden.”

“I see…”

“But if I marry Ichiha-kun, I can’t keep things so vague, can I?” Tomoe sighed, resting her cheek on her hand.

The hint of sensuality that had begun to mix with that gesture was the fruit of her growth and the etiquette training she received from Juna.

“Lady Roroa has asked if we would let her organize our wedding, right? She wants to use it as an opportunity to promote overseas weddings, remember? I thought we should decide this.”

“Y-Yes, you’re right.” Ichiha nodded rapidly.

Roroa had been seeking couples getting married soon—including Tomoe and Ichiha, and one other pair—to promote the wedding planner business she was pushing through Lucy, particularly focusing on overseas ceremonies. Of course, Ichiha had no objection to marrying Tomoe, but it was natural for him to feel nervous about starting a family.

If anything, Tomoe was too composed. She clearly saw the marriage as a foregone conclusion and was focusing on the issue of their name after the marriage.

“Um…” Ichiha started, raising his hand for some reason. “What about the Inui family? That wasn’t an option.”

“Hm? Ro-sama is the heir to the Inui family, and since my father, Lord Inugami—whose family name is unknown—married into the family, it’s fine. What about you, Ichiha-kun? Haven’t there been talks about you succeeding the Chima family?”

“…There have been, indeed.”

The only direct descendants remaining in the Chima family are Ichika, Yomi, Sami, and Nike. Yomi is married into the Remus Royal Family, so she no longer bears the Chima name. Sami is also a woman, so she will eventually take her husband’s family name (there is also the possibility that moving away from the Chima name would be better for Sami, as it brings up painful memories).

That leaves Ichiha and Nike to succeed the name, and his brother Nike had sent a letter saying, ‘I want Ichiha to succeed the main family.’ Apparently, he felt that only Ichiha, who made a name for himself through his intellect, could succeed the Chima family, which was renowned for its strategy. Nike, who is smarter than Nata and Goshu, is still more of a martial person and wants the distinguished name to be succeeded by Ichiha, who is already famous as an authority on monster studies.

As for Ichiha himself, he had no aversion to succeeding the Chima family. Although the family relations were not good, excluding his sister Mutsumi, it was a family name that his father Matthew and brother Hashim had fought and died for with a certain pride, and it was also the family home of his kind sister Mutsumi. He couldn’t bear to see it disappear.

So, Ichiha looked at Tomoe, resolving himself. “I do want to succeed it and keep it alive.”

“I see.” Tomoe nodded at Ichiha’s answer. “Then, I’ll become Tomoe Chima.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Becoming Chima doesn’t cut my ties with my brother-in-law or sister, and I’ll still see everyone from the Inui family at the castle. In fact, since we’ll be the only two Chimas in the Kingdom for a while, the Inui family will probably feel like home to you, Ichiha-kun. So there’s no reason for me to insist on my family name.”

“That… that’s true.”

Then Tomoe giggled. “Besides, I really like that phrase the public uses for you, Ichiha-kun. ‘The eighth child of the Chima family. The youngest is the best,’ that one.”

“P-Please don’t bring that up.”

Ichiha, who was once called the failure of the Chima family, had reversed that low opinion around the time of the monster studies symposium, and now, as he assumes the role of Prime Minister, he is regarded as the most excellent person in the Chima family. Ichiha, who is still somewhat timid, feels the pressure of that high praise.

Watching the embarrassed Ichiha, Tomoe showed a mischievous, devilish smile. Then Ichiha countered.

“But… do you know that phrase has a continuation now?”

“Eh? A continuation?”

“Yes. It continues like this.” Ichiha smiled and told the puzzled Tomoe:

“‘The eighth child of the Chima family. The youngest is the best.’ ‘But his companion is even better.’“

“…”

In essence, the public not only held Ichiha in high regard but held the Wise Wolf Princess Tomoe, who had found and supported him, in even higher esteem. They were seen as such a perfect couple that she was spoken of as his ‘companion’ even before they were married.

“…” “…”

Tomoe’s face turned completely red upon hearing this, and Ichiha’s face also turned red, even though he was the one who said it. Both were left speechless, blushing furiously. It seems the romantic skirmish of the day ended in a mutually embarrassing draw.