If you run using the wind, the temple is nearby.

  The temple resembled buildings from the Greco-Roman era. The rectangular structure had several thick pillars and a large door at the front. The building itself wasn't huge, but the grounds were quite spacious and quiet on all sides. Even though there were fewer people due to the hunting festival, the noise from the streets was barely audible. It felt like entering a serene monastery.

  “This isn’t good. It’s not good. Ah, why did I think like that… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… But if we move apart like this, we might lose our magic… If my mind is overburdened… Ah, no… What should I do….”

  Tatiana muttered, confused and unsure of what she was imagining. While she was in disarray, a man who seemed to be a priest emerged inside the temple. The elderly priest looked slightly surprised to see me but soon smiled warmly.

  “Welcome. We are pleased to have you both here.”

  After speaking quietly, the priest approached and stood before us.

  “We would like to receive our marriage certificate.”

  At my words, the priest looked alternately at Tatiana and me, appearing somewhat flustered. Tatiana's expression didn’t seem like that of a bride about to marry. Perhaps she was concerned about the notorious barbarian, especially given his mother's infamous abduction marriage. The priest stared into Tatiana's eyes, as if seeking something.

  Tatiana said nothing. She simply lowered her eyelids as if in discomfort. It seemed she had no intention of making me a criminal in front of others. Perhaps she thought that even if there were circumstances, it wasn’t a forced abduction, as the priest spoke to me.

  “To issue a marriage certificate, witnesses are required.”

  “The guild provided documents. Jenny said this could be used as a substitute.”

  “Jenny…”

  The priest's expression softened. In this city, which has many adventurers and external merchants, guild staff seem to act as guarantors. After looking at the papers, the priest nodded.

  “Please come in. Our temple will bestow a simple blessing and then issue a marriage certificate.”

  Tatiana fidgeted and asked to be let down, but the priest pretended not to hear. It would be problematic if she tried to run away. He would never let go until the marriage certificate was made and I was perfectly her husband. Of course, after that, he would truly let go.

  Although it sounds a bit amusing that in a world where good people are deceived and exploited,

  Therefore, Tatiana, from now on, you should not easily trust people or show kindness.

  The world is full of enemies and evil.

  ‘But it’s okay. From now on, I will protect you.’

  I will never let anyone hurt you. Just as my mother diligently and lovingly protected my father, I too will be steadfast once I decide. Perhaps. I’m not very familiar with marriage, having never been married, but that's how I feel.

  As we entered the temple, the priest led us to a small room. In the room, there was an altar covered with a white cloth and some flowers. When the priest stood before the altar, a young priest, still appearing like a boy, lit the candles placed on the altar. He sprinkled holy water from a silver cup onto me and Tatiana's fingers. Seeing him mumble something, it seemed he was performing a blessing or a consecration.

  After sprinkling all the water, the young priest put down the silver cup and extended two flowers from the altar.

  “After the blessing is complete, please give these flowers to each other as per the priest’s instructions.”

  The young priest spoke solemnly, blushing slightly as if embarrassed. Receiving those flowers made me regret it. To get married, I should have at least prepared rings, but I only planned to confess and didn’t have anything. What should I do?

  A wedding is something that happens only once in a woman’s lifetime. But things were flowing in a direction I hadn’t even thought of, completely ruining this rare grand event. If this were Earth, I would be resented for life. No, it might be the same here.

  Looking at Tatiana suddenly, she was holding the flowers and mumbling incoherent words.

  “….”

  I shouldn’t give her time to think. This is the time to push forward. If she regains her senses, she might run away and get scared.

  ‘First, let’s get the certificate and immediately go buy rings. There should be places that sell rings here, right?’

  As I was looking at Tatiana, the priest cleared his throat and asked.

  “Our temple worships the Earth Goddess, but for marriage, we bestow the blessing of the spirits. It is believed that the spirits’ blessing is better for the couple. If you prefer the Goddess’s blessing, we can do that instead. What would you like to do?”

  According to my grandfather, I am a spirit, so receiving the spirits’ blessing feels a bit strange. But since it's the Earth Goddess, the blessing of a god I don’t believe in is meaningless anyway. Since Tatiana is a witch, the spirits’ blessing would be more helpful.

  “We would like the blessing of the spirits.”

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  At my words, the priest smiled warmly.

  “Alright. I personally recommend the blessing of the spirits. Now, please stand side by side and face forward.”

  Now that I think of it, I was still holding Tatiana. Perhaps that’s why the young priest blushed earlier. As I put her down, the priest composed his voice.

  “Mischievous spirits of this world, gracious spirits, the two of you standing here today are beginning a new life together. Please, ensure there is no ill omen in your future, and grant you loving eyes free of malice. May the blessings of your spirits accompany you on your life's journey.”

  At the moment he finished speaking, the air in the small room suddenly began to stir. The air crackled like static electricity. The elderly priest's eyes widened like plates.

  “Hii, hiii!”

  The young priest screamed an odd scream in fear and sat down on the spot.

  “….”

  “Sorry for scaring you.”

  This is a spirit. Probably mine. I’m not sure, but it seems my spirits are happy. Or maybe they are blessing us. Tatiana also seemed surprised. Looking around suddenly, she mumbled very softly.

  “… This… is a witch’s blessing…”

  Perhaps only I, standing next to her, could hear it. Tatiana slowly looked around the air and finally looked at me.

  ‘…A witch….’

  She only moved her lips to mumble. Maybe she thought I was a witch too. Tears began to gather in Tatiana’s eyes. She seemed somehow relieved.

  Good, now let’s continue the wedding.

  “Priest.”

  When I called, the priest stiffened for a moment and looked at his hands. The air on that side crackled unusually. But sensing something, the priest did not stop the wedding. Perhaps those who become priests have the ability to sense the will of gods or spirits.

  The priest swallowed nervously and dipped his fingers into the silver cup on the altar. Then he lightly moistened the petals I held with the water.

  “Rafa, do you accept this woman, Tatiana, to protect and cherish her for your entire life, and to strive for a family without hunger?”

  Initially, the priest's voice trembled like a willow tree, but it steadied in the latter part. However, his complexion was pale as if he were dead.

  I answered vigorously.

  “Yes! I swear.”

  Ah, it wasn’t a vow, but an effort. The priest, as if pushed back by my vigor, staggered a step and then dipped his finger in the silver cup again. He then moistened Tatiana’s flower petals in the same way.

  “….”

  Tatiana did not respond. Feeling nervous and my heart pounding, I looked at Tatiana, and the priest seemed the same.

  “Tatiana, do you accept this man, Rafa, to follow and cherish him for your entire life, and to strive for the family’s well-being?”

  As the priest anxiously asked again, the air around us crackled more intensely. As if urging us to answer. Tatiana, with tears welling in her eyes, looked quietly into the air and bowed her head.

  “… Yes.”

  As her very small voice barely escaped, as if she had been waiting for this, the air in the room began to whirl. Dozens of small vortices formed, filling the entire room with swirling air.

  “Heeek!”

  The priest, who had been pretending to remain calm until now, fell to the floor in a panic. Still, his sense of duty seemed strong.

  “Now, please exchange your flowers with each other.”

  Following his instructions, Tatiana and I exchanged flowers. The priest trembled and spoke.

  “Now, you two are bound by the power of the spirits.”

  Good. Now, we are husband and wife. After over fifty years of past lives and this life together, we are finally ending our loneliness. Not yet, but in the near future, it will certainly end tonight.

  I clasped Tatiana's small hand with both of mine.

  “Tatiana, I will cherish you for life. I will never let you cry.”

  “….”

  Tears continued to stream down Tatiana's face. I couldn’t tell if she was crying out of happiness or because the future was bleak, but let's assume the former.

  The young priest had fainted by then. The elderly priest, wanting to quickly dismiss us, wrote the marriage certificate at lightning speed and handed it to me. If I come to this temple again, I think I might be rejected. Perhaps, though.

  “….”

  If rumors spread that I am a witch, it would be troublesome, so I better say something. I bowed respectfully to the priest.

  “Thank you very much. And just now was my wind magic. As you saw, the air was moving due to wind magic. I was so happy about the marriage that I couldn’t control it.”

  “I-Is that so.”

  Perhaps she thought it wasn’t entirely so, but since she saw the air swirling in the room, my claim of wind magic would hold. If it doesn’t hold, it would be problematic. I need it to hold.

  The priest looked around the now quiet room and kept nodding. It’s not my job, but I wonder if the priest role suits someone as timid as him. Tatiana and I took the marriage certificate and left the temple. The amount paid to issue the marriage certificate was 15 li. Now, I am a married man.

  “….”

  I’m so happy. Alright, now let’s go buy rings.

  ***

  This is it!

  This is it!

  This is it!

  Marriage!

  Is it marriage!

  Is it not marriage!

  I was so excited that I cried out three times on my own. Silently. Clenching my fists and silently crying out, I suddenly composed myself and straightened my posture. There was no one around, but I am a clerk of the Duke's house. I must always maintain a proper posture. I must not disgrace the Duke's house.

  ‘But isn’t this a really significant event?’

  I don’t know if Lord Klaus will become the next Duke, or if Rafa will skip a generation and inherit the dukedom directly, but it is a marriage of the person who will someday become our master. Moreover, the gentleman’s partner is presumed to be a princess from the Kingdom of Saramoons. Even if he is usually calm and composed, it is understandable that he would be excited.

  ‘Phew… Stay calm.’

  Seeing the clerk head towards the street where the young master’s shop is located, the clerk nodded to the subordinate nearby.

  “We must not let the young master know that we are surrounding him.”

  Of course, it’s not something that must be kept absolutely secret, and we are not like those agents but just ordinary clerks. However, our mission is to naturally support him and attend to him to prevent him from falling into crisis. We should act like the air, even if we have a presence, but like trees. To achieve that, we decided each have our own area and pass on roles to each other as the young master moves around the city. Unfortunately, his area includes the lodgings and the central square, while other places belong to another clerk.

  If only I could keep watching, but air and trees do not move. We have to stay quietly where we are. If I make a mistake and the young master notices our gaze and feels uncomfortable, it would be truly regrettable.

  After confirming that the subordinate was taking over the surveillance role, the clerk headed to the inn across from the young master’s lodging. At that place, the young master’s movements are clearly visible. From early dawn until late at night, we can watch over him.

  The clerk took a deep breath.

  ‘I need to submit the report to the Duke, but I’m so unsettled right now.’

  I must calm my mind. Originally, I write reports at night and send them in early morning, but today, I need to send this news as an express.

  The clerk sat at a small desk in the inn and dipped a pen into the ink.

  [Respected Duke, I would like to inform you of a significant matter by submitting this regular report earlier than usual….]

  Tears like chicken droppings fell from the clerk’s eyes as he moved the pen. Fifty years of life. It was my dream to see the person who will become the Duke’s grandson before I die.

  ‘Now that’s achieved, I thought I had no regrets and wouldn’t mind dying at any time… Haha… Now I have another dream.’

  I want to see the young master give birth to the next generation of dukes. If only that happens, I think I’d have no regrets. The clerk hid his tears and kept moving the pen.

  I’m glad to be alive. At 50, being an active clerk, I’m really happy.