My next life as the Winter Fox? I just want a carefree life

The time was one hour past noon──

 

It was the plaza in front of the large tree. Decoration strings of various colors hung from up in the trees. Maybe there were glass beads tied to them as they sparkled and shined.

 

Flowers bloomed as if encircling the area. They weren’t lined up in flowerpots, but bloomed from the ground as if from flower beds. However, this was a wedding ceremony that was decided on yesterday. Since there is no way they bloomed with great timing, they were probably transplanted.

 

Benches were lined up, and were covered in velvety cloth. Those with noble positions even among the Elves took those seats. The others stood as if to surround the venue and watched. A great number of Elves, enough to make one feel amazed that there were this many of them within the forest, had gathered. 

 

A majority of the people that were in Duskwood had probably come here. Since the enthronement of a king concerned the forest’s continuance, it was only natural that their interest would be high, and that they would think that they want to see the celebration.

 

A carpet stretched out at the center of the place of ceremony. It seemed to be a carpet that used golden thread. Although it preserved harmony with nature, an important point was that it also adopted a design that made one feel its extravagance. It was something quite splendid.

 

Sasha and Stella sat down at the end of the front row as guests.

Next to them, Lecia was there with an open seat in between them.

She was restless.

 

"……Shishou, it looks like she hasn’t come yet, doesn’t it?" (Sasha)

 

"I haven't seen Edelweiss-sama since yesterday." (Lecia)

 

The ceremony was going to start soon.

 

*Loud trumpets ringing* 

 

The orchestra that was at the edge of the venue started a musical performance. From a quiet sound that seemed like the warble of a songbird, the instruments steadily increased, and it changed into a magnificent composition.

 

Maybe due to doing nothing but that sort of thing all year long, the Elves’ musical performance was done with superb competency. The composition completed its first stage.

 

The master of ceremonies announced the start of the marriage ceremony.

 

"Ooh, Gods in heaven, Your Majesty, Queen, everyone in attendance, citizens of the Duskwood Kingdom, give your blessings to the wonderful day known as today!"

 

It was a clear tone that seemed like he was singing at the top of his voice.

 

And then next, Galan the bridegroom appeared from the right. They say that the clothes make the man, but even if a pig-faced man wears a pure white dress suit, the ambiance is……

 

"……As I thought, it’s questionable. I envy you that you can't see him, sis." (Sasha)

 

"I feel the same way." (Lecia)

 

Galan exchanged bows with the priest that stood on the altar. And then, he also lowered his head to the Queen who was at the front row of the attendees.

The master of ceremonies raised his voice without any hesitation.

 

"The bride enters!"

 

Everyone turned around. A figure appeared──It was Harmonia. She was a princess dressed in a white dress. For an instance──Even the musical performance stopped, even the wind disappeared, and even the voices of the birds vanished. The venue was enveloped by a painful silence.

 

There was no doubt that she was beautiful and had a certain innocence. Before long, a stir was spread amongst the guest seating.

 

Lecia's hands were trembling. With each step Harmonia took, she felt the pain in her chest grow bigger.

 

"This is a mistake. I have to…"

 

As if to drown out Lecia’s sorrowful voice, the sound of the musical performance grew louder. As if to say that voices that would interrupt the ceremony that had started wouldn’t be allowed, countless instruments shook the air.

Maybe because Lecia had stood up, an elven soldier that hung a long sword on his waist came rushing over to her.

 

"Milady, are you feeling sick?"

 

"That’s not……"

 

"Come this way, milady. It is the middle of the ceremony right now. Either leave your seat, or please sit down."

 

The life or death of the Duskwood Kingdom was hung on the balance in this ceremony. He was a guard that protected the ceremony. Lecia sat down. Right now, leaving the place of ceremony was the same as running away.

 

Although he left a vigilant gaze on her, the elven guard returned to his original position.

 

“I, am foolish, and powerless.”

 

Harmonia, who had slowly advanced forward, stopped her feet.

She was already in front of the altar. The priest raised his voice.

 

"Do you, bridegroom Galan……take the princess as your lifelong spouse, in both sickness and in health, in both joy and in sorrow, when there are blessings and when there are losses, to love her, to respect her, to comfort her, to help her, as long as you live, do you vow to devote your true heart to her?"

 

"Yes, I do."

 

"Do you, Harmonia R. Duskwood ……Take this man as your spouse?"

 

"………………"

 

With her mouth remaining open, Harmonia didn’t say anything.

The attendees made puzzled faces, and became a bit noisy.

The Queen, who sat in the frontmost seat, gave an instruction with her chin. The priest made a small nod.

 

"O bride, deep in modesty, answer with silence as an affirmation──Do you take him as your spouse?"

 

"…………u"

 

"Very well! I have ascertained both of your feelings. Now then, in front of God, make the oath kiss!"

 

Galan nodded.

He approached the bride. Galan grabbed Harmonia’s arm as she tried to step back.

 

"Prepare yourself. From today onwards, you will be mine."

 

Harmonia made a face that looked like she was going to cry.

 

At the same time both Sasha and Stella's tail suddenly went stiff. However they just started to giggle. When Lecia looked their way…

 

"Miss Lecia… it seems your feelings were accepted in the end." (Stella)

 

"Did you notice? The air is starting to get cold." (Sasha)

 

Before Lecia could answer… a barrage of large ice pillars fell from the sky, piercing the tree canopies and naturally, causing the earth itself to shake just like it was a natural earthquake.

 

The decorations were smashed, the flower beds were gouged out, and the trunk of the large tree were split. The attending guests raised screams. There were even figures of some that ran away among them. The master of ceremonies raised a hysteric voice and was the quickest one to run away from the altar.

 

Galan tried to pull Harmonia towards him. An ice bullet hit his shoulder.

 

"Guoh!?"

 

Just from that impact his posture broke and was pushed a few steps back.

 

From the tops of the trees, a figure descended and landed in between Harmonia and Galan. The entire forest was enveloped in a chill.

 

“Alright. This fucking joke has gone on for long enough. You, wannabe king… you’re nothing more than garbage. And there’s only one thing you do with garbage: you dispose of it.” (Edelweiss)