Chapter 51
#51. A Bride's Romantic Fantasy Is Profitable
"G-Grand Duke…… You caused a commotion at the hot springs. Is it really all right to do something like this?"
In a secluded forest near Winterwald Hot-Spring Resort.
A man clad in black full-body armor covered in sharp spikes from head to toe stood there.
It was Sez, vice commander of the First Knight Order.
Unable to properly control his body because of the uncomfortable armor, Sez creaked as he nervously watched Kylan.
"Ho ho. Of course it isn't, my good man. This matter must be kept completely secret. That's why I called you, the most tight-lipped and loyal man in our knight order, is it not?"
When Kylan patted his shoulder with a benevolent smile, Sez wore a deeply moved expression.
"Th-Thank you for trusting me, Your Highness! Even if it costs me broken bones, I shall carry out your orders!"
Loyal knights were truly so easy to handle.
In truth, there was a deep purpose behind the bizarre armor Kylan had put Sez in.
A Northern legend tells of a legendary monster that once ruled the Northern mountain range—a Black Dragon that polymorphed into a human, descended upon the land, and demanded tribute.
This armor was a specially made prop modeled after the Black Dragon from that legend.
'If I want to make the mascot Yongyongi known across the entire continent, I need a suitably dramatic backstory.'
Every star needed a villain.
The Black Dragon had already been killed by the Demon King and turned into a bone axe, but what did such a minor setting error matter!
The public had no way of knowing whether the Black Dragon had secretly left behind a hatchling or whether one of its relatives was still alive.
All he had to do was stage a scene in which the adorable and magnificent guardian deity Yongyongi triumphantly defeated the evil Black Dragon threatening the hot-spring town.
Merchandise with a heroic story attached would sell like hotcakes even at twice the price.
"Now then, recite your lines as we practiced."
Sez cleared his throat and pulled out a crumpled script from inside his coat.
His voice reverberated dully because he was wearing a helmet.
"Ahem! I-I am the great Black Dragon! If you want this hot-spring town to remain safe, offer me all of Winterwald's banana milk at once……! I-Is this how it's done?"
"……."
It was an awkward reading straight out of a textbook.
Kylan swallowed a sigh inwardly and pressed a hand to his forehead.
"Do you really think people will get scared enough to offer banana milk when you do it like that? Immerse yourself a little more, as if you really were a dragon."
"I-I beg your pardon, Your Highness! I shall try once more!"
Just as Kylan was enthusiastically expounding his theory of acting—
- Kieeeeeeeeeek!!
A monster's scream suddenly tore through the air from the direction of the hot-spring resort.
A wyvern.
And a fairly large one at that.
"A-A wyvern!? Your Highness!! It's a wyvern attack! I'll call the knight order at once……!"
Startled, Sez tried to rush out, his armor clattering.
"Stay."
Kylan, who had looked beyond the forest ridge to assess the situation, grabbed Sez by the shoulder.
His blue eyes took in the astonishing scene unfolding in the hot-spring resort's courtyard.
An adventurer wearing nothing but a towel was rolling around on the ground, while a gigantic wyvern lay flat on the ground with its tail tucked between its legs.
And standing before them, the Water Dragon Yongyongi, whose body had grown enormous, was roaring as it majestically exhaled mist.
[Gwooooooooooh!!]
"The Great One has subdued the wyvern that invaded the hot-spring resort!!"
"Woooooah! The guardian deity of the hot-spring town!"
"Long live Yongyongiiii!!"
The people's cheers shook the hot-spring resort.
It was precisely the moment Kylan had wanted—the birth of a hero.
A smile spread across Kylan's lips.
The god of capitalism seemed to be on his side today as well.
'Yongyongi made a magnificent debut as the hot springs' true guardian. There's no need for me to interfere and turn it into a fake guardian deity.'
This real incident, in which a Mithril-rank adventurer from the South and his wyvern had been brought to their knees, would make far more stimulating gossip for the continent's merchants than some crude play.
[See? This great one is truly magnificent!]
As the people praised him, Yongyongi let half his Water Dragon dignity fall away and smiled happily.
"Y-Your Highness. What should I do……?"
When Sez asked with an embarrassed expression, Kylan gave him a light pat on the back.
"What else, my good man? If you've come to the hot springs, you should relax properly. You were given three days of special leave starting today, weren't you? Hurry up, take off that armor, get in the bath, and scrub yourself clean."
"Pardon……? I-I understand, Your Highness……."
Leaving the bewildered Sez behind, Kylan descended the mountain with satisfied steps.
Everything was perfect.
***
A glittering chandelier. A floor laid with the finest marble. And gorgeous dresses surrounding them on every side.
They were inside an upscale formalwear shop newly opened in the center of Winterwald New City.
"Your Highness! Have you received the report? The tale of Yongyongi driving off a wyvern has already spread across the entire continent."
Eleanor's voice came from beyond the velvet curtain, accompanied by the sounds of her changing clothes.
"Inquiries from major merchant guilds wanting to receive Yongyongi merchandise have been pouring into the North every day! I think we may need to double the staff at the tailoring workshop."
Kylan sat on the soft sofa, crossed his legs, and chuckled.
What a wife—she kept briefing him on business even while trying on wedding dresses.
"Ho ho. Eleanor, on a day like today, why don't you set business matters aside for a while? Winterwald's finances are in good shape, are they not?"
No sooner had Kylan finished speaking than the velvet curtain opened wide to both sides.
"How do I look, Your Highness?"
"……."
Kylan stared at her, forgetting even to breathe.
Eleanor stood there in a pure-white dress, smiling shyly.
Silver embroidery flowed elegantly along the hem of the dress.
Exquisite lace embraced her delicate shoulders and décolletage.
Every single detail made her shine with incomparable elegance.
And with her flawless skin and sparkling platinum-blond hair complementing the pure-white dress as well……
She was truly an angel descended from heaven.
'How can a person look this beautiful in absolutely anything she wears?'
As though bewitched, Kylan slowly approached and carefully wrapped his arms around her slender waist.
It was a beauty that made him fall in love with her anew every time he saw her.
"You are so beautiful, my love. I have fallen for you all over again."
"Oh my…… Your Highness, really……."
At Kylan's serious voice, Eleanor's pale cheeks flushed.
"To welcome such a dazzling bride, I must truly be the most blessed man on the continent."
When Eleanor shyly lowered her head, Kylan gently took her delicate hand.
On her ring finger shone the modest diamond ring he had given her when he first confessed his feelings.
"But Eleanor. Isn't this ring a little plain? Wouldn't it be better to summon the finest jeweler from the Imperial Capital and have a new ring made?"
"No, Your Highness!"
Eleanor flinched and protectively held her ringed hand against her chest.
"You needn't be that surprised……."
"This ring…… is the one you put on me on the day you first acknowledged me, whom no one wanted, and gave me a place at your side. No matter what jewel from the continent you brought me, this ring would still be my most precious treasure."
At her words, Kylan felt a pang in one corner of his chest.
How could anyone not cherish such a lovable woman?
"Hmm…… If a ring won't do, perhaps a necklace……"
"Pardon? What did you just say, Your Highness?"
Eleanor asked again with round eyes, apparently having heard his mutter escape.
Kylan hurriedly cleared his throat.
"Ahem! Nothing at all. I must have been dazed by how beautiful you are."
What Kylan intended to do by calling a Mithril-rank adventurer.
Even Eleanor, his wife, did not know yet.
That afternoon.
Kylan and Eleanor stood before a cathedral built on the highest hill in the new city.
It was a ceremonial hall Kylan had specifically ordered built for his wedding.
The cathedral glittered silver-white in the sunlight.
"You prepared such a magnificent place…… just for me."
Eleanor's eyes grew moist.
"It was only natural."
Kylan put an arm around Eleanor's shoulders and whispered.
"On the day of our wedding, even the proud royals and nobles of the Central Continent will come to the North. We must properly display Winterwald's majesty so they dare not look down on my wife."
Eleanor held tightly to Kylan's arm as she looked around inside the cathedral.
Overcome with emotion, she could not say anything for a while.
"But Your Highness. Once our wedding is over…… what do you plan to use this beautiful cathedral for?"
"Well…… I haven't given it much thought yet."
To be honest, he had not had the time to think that far.
His head was already aching from all the businesses currently underway.
Perhaps it would be useful later if he took this opportunity to train some clergy in the North.
That was about as far as his thoughts went.
"A wedding is…… the most dazzling and special day of one's life, a day that happens only once."
Eleanor began speaking as she gazed at the blue-tinged stained-glass windows.
"That's right."
"Surely every bride would want to hold her ceremony in the most romantic and beautiful place on the continent on that special day when she gets to be the protagonist."
Kylan nodded.
As expected, his wife was kind-hearted as well. She must be imagining the people of Winterwald happily pledging their love in this beautiful place.
But then.
The eyes that had been glistening with emotion suddenly flashed.
"……The people of our Northern domain have grown quite wealthy by now, haven't they?"
'……Hmm?'
"A wedding happens only once in a lifetime. Not many people will be inclined to save money on such a special day. If it's the very cathedral where the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess held their own ceremony, even wealthy nobles from the Central Continent will line up for destination weddings."
"Th-Then, does that mean……?"
Eleanor slid her glasses up.
"Yes, Your Highness. I think we should begin preparing a wedding business."
"……!"
"We cannot use such a grand and beautiful place for only one day and then leave it empty, can we? The people get to hold the finest ceremony in the same place as the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, while the Grand Ducal Castle collects enormous venue rental fees. Everyone wins!"
Eleanor began pouring out business plans without even stopping to breathe.
Seriously.
She continued for quite some time without taking a breath.
"It doesn't stop at renting out the venue. What if we stock wedding dresses in various styles and rent them out at high prices? We can target the psychology of citizens who are reluctant to spend a fortune on a dress they'll only wear once. Add-on options for flower decorations, carriage escort services by orc guards, banquet hall catering, and more. If we divide them into packages by tier, profits will soar through the roof!"
Eleanor continued, waving both hands through the air.
What on earth could she be seeing before her eyes?
"It might also be a good idea to build a small ceremony hall for commoners with thinner wallets. The cathedral's premium value will shoot straight up thanks to the comparison effect!"
"……."
It was unbelievable.
Demonic package marketing that would make even modern wedding planners weep was flowing smoothly from the mouth of an otherworldly romance-fantasy heroine.
Kylan stared blankly down at his wife.
And he felt a joy so intense his heart seemed ready to burst.
'As expected, we…… are truly made for each other!'
The Monster Grand Duke beamed so broadly that the corners of his mouth reached his ears.
"It's a truly perfect plan, Eleanor! I'll have us set up a reservation desk starting tomorrow!"
"Hehe, I shall carry out your orders, Your Highness!"
Like husband, like wife, as they say.
The laughter of this capitalist couple, a perfect match in every way, rang out before the cathedral.