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Volume 4 Epilogue-1: The Wedding

Unusually, I found myself with spare time. I was alone in a room at the village chief’s house, waiting for my turn.

Lucy and Kuu were waiting in another room, Kurao was preparing at the venue and Yukino was finishing today’s dishes with a few of the fire foxes.

We had completed the preparations for the dishes the night before, but I entrusted the final touches to them to ensure the meals retained their just-cooked freshness. Yukino had been learning cooking from me whenever she had spare time since she came here, so I had no problem leaving it to her as long as she had the recipes.

「 Am I a good chief?」

I occasionally questioned myself. Erucy had become strong and prosperous, but whether I was a good leader was another matter. My ideal chief was my father.

My father once told me that the most crucial quality for being a good chief was the ability to inspire people with a vision. It meant that if everyone followed this person, they could believe in a happier tomorrow. He encouraged me to aspire to be a chief like that.

I had always aimed for that ideal, but at times, I felt anxious about whether everyone in Erucy truly believed that they would find happiness by following me.

And…

「 Can I be a good husband?」

I had two amazing brides. Was I a man worthy of them?

I loved Lucy and Kuu from the bottom of my heart. But no matter how I tried to justify it, the fact remained that I was involved with both of them.

If they were honest with themselves, they probably wished to be the sole recipients of my love. But I wanted both of them. I didn’t want to give them up to anyone else. I couldn’t bear the thought of another man touching them.

I didn’t regret my decision. So, I had to make them both happy with all my might and never betray them again. That was my duty.

「 Cyril-niisama, the wedding is starting. Please come .」

Yukino, the silver fire fox who was like a little sister to me, entered the room.

She was still wearing her usual maid outfit, but today she had added a stylish hair accessory just for the occasion. And her tail was tidier at the tips than when I saw her this morning. She must have brushed it.

「 Is the food ready?」

「 Yes, just as you taught me, Cyril-niisama .」

She said proudly, puffing out her still-small chest.

「 As expected of you, Yukino. You look even cuter today than usual. The hair accessory suits you well .」

「 Yukino really likes this hair accessory. Kuu-neesama gave it to me. It’s a keepsake from Yukino’s mother. Yukino only wears it on special occasions .」

The fact that she wore it today meant that she held my wedding with Lucy and Kuu in high regard.

「 What about Lucy and Kuu?」

「 Kemin and Kurone are going to get them. Yukino wanted to come get Cyril-niisama so they left you to me .」

「 I see. Thank you, Yukino. I’m also happier that you came to get me. It’s a secret between us, okay?」

I couldn’t help but favor Yukino among the three of them. We had spent a lot of time together, and I had grown attached to her.

No, that wasn’t it. Watching Yukino work so hard to learn cooking and housework, Nettle’s training, and Kuu’s practice made me want to support her more and more. I genuinely liked hardworking people like her.

「 Yukino will never tell Kemin and Kurone. It would make them sad. It’s a secret between Cyril-niisama and Yukino .」

When she said it was a secret between the two of us, Yukino’s tail wagged happily from behind. I found her occasional childlike moments endearing.

「 Shall we go? We shouldn’t keep everyone waiting too long .」

The elves and fire foxes at the venue were probably eagerly awaiting the start of the wedding.

I stood up and started walking. Then, Yukino hugged me from behind.

「 What’s wrong, Yukino? It’s hard to walk if you hug me like this .」

「 I’m sorry, Cyril-niisama. Yukino doesn’t know. Yukino couldn’t help it .」

Her hands around me trembled.

「 Yukino felt that Cyril-niisama would go away, Yukino felt lonely and sad and Yukino’s body moved on its own .」

「 I think, you might unconsciously worry that if I get married, you won’t get my attention anymore. But don’t worry, even after we’re married, I’ll still be here for you, just like before .」

「 No, Cyril-niisama, Yukino didn’t mean… No, it’s nothing. Yukino is sorry for stopping you .」

Yukino’s hands slowly let go. I couldn’t help but smile at her adorable selfishness.

「 Don’t worry about it. I’m happy that you’re so attached to me. But soon you’ll have to start behaving like an elder sister. It’s a secret but, we’re getting a new family member .」

I had been checking Kuu’s condition every week since hearing about her pregnancy. Last week, I finally confirmed it. She was about one month pregnant.

I had informed her, and at that time, Kuu had covered her mouth and cried tears of joy, repeatedly saying how happy she was.

「 A new family member?」

「 Don’t tell anyone yet. Kuu is carrying my child .」

「 That’s amazing! A child of Kuu-neesama! A new fire fox will be born!」