At least at this moment, the tears she shed were undoubtedly tears of joy. They had absolutely nothing to do with negative emotions like sadness.
The two boys, who were once young and had a sense of self, had now grown to this age. They had their own loved ones, their own families, and had become complete.
As her thoughts spread to this point, Couronne's tears suddenly became unstoppable. She was forcefully wiping away the tears that were seeping out with her sleeve, and she kept apologizing in her mouth.
However, neither Riku nor Su'er had any intention of blaming her.
"...Didn't we already agree? On such an important day in our lives, we have to be happy, right?" Riku and Su'er exchanged glances, and Su'er turned his head and said with a smile. "Alright, alright, let's start. I'm getting a little impatient now."
"Ah, okay," Couronne sniffled loudly and said with a forced smile. "Then Su'er, do you take Think to be your wife, and do you swear to walk with her, support her, love her, and live with her?"
"I do," The moment Couronne's words fell, Su'er answered without hesitation. This was a sentence he had rehearsed countless times in his mind, and it was also his most truthful wish in countless scenarios like this one.
"I will walk with Think, whether in life or after death, no matter what world it is—I love her."
It was not a passionate shout. Su'er said it calmly and firmly, as if he was stating the truth of the world.
"I'm about to get embarrassed," Couronne said, with her tears not yet dry, and she looked at Think again. She continued, "Think, do you take Su'er to be your husband, and do you swear to walk with him, support him, love him, and live with him—"
"That's a matter that is beyond a doubt," Without waiting for Couronne to finish, Think interrupted her. It was only at a time like this that one could see that familiar Elf, that kind of confidence that almost permeated her entire being. "We will achieve an epic that no one has ever achieved, win the final victory, and we will also be together forever, until the end of the world."
Couronne nodded forcefully. She could no longer say too many words.
"...Then, Riku, do you take Schwi to be your wife, and do you swear to walk with her, support her, love her, and live with her?" She looked at Riku, who was standing next to Su'er, and repeated the same question from before.
"I do," He answered without hesitation, just like Su'er. Or rather, this man had already been looking forward to this day, this sacred ritual.
"And Schwi, do you take Riku to be your husband, and do you swear to walk with him, support him, love him, and live with him until the end of your lives?"
"...I swear to Riku, who gave Schwi a heart, existence, birth, and the meaning of life, that I will absolutely not let Riku die... Until the very end... we will be together..."
Even her timid tone was filled with a strength that was harder than steel, and the power that Schwi's words brought was also the most direct.
At least, after knowing each other and living and growing together for so many years, this was the first time that Su'er and Couronne had seen such an expression on Riku's face—he was so red in the face with embarrassment. No one could connect this shy young man who couldn't control himself with the usual cold and handsome man.
"If that's the case, then I hereby announce—Su'er, Think, Riku, and Schwi—that you are officially married. You will share a common destiny, and you will be together until the end of your lives, truly becoming one."
"But before that~, there's something that has to be done~" Couronne's tone suddenly shifted from solemn and serious to playful. She smiled and winked, revealing the thing that she had been holding tightly in her hand in front of everyone.
In the palm of the girl's hand was a round gem. It was not very noticeable compared to those gems that had been carved. In fact, it was a bit ordinary.
"This is a gem that I inherited from my grandfather. If we engrave all five of our names on it and add some decorations, then you will be a real couple~. Oh, and not only that. In that case, the four of you will be husband and wife, and then you will be my real younger brothers and sisters!"
"...Or my older sister," After looking at Think's expression, Couronne quickly added.
The name that was already engraved on the stone in her hand was—Couronne Dora.
That was Couronne's full name. The name "Couronne" was just a short form that was convenient and affectionate to use. In this world where Imanity survived by huddling together, Couronne's parents and grandparents were the leaders who had led Imanity for several generations. This was also the reason why she was one of the few people who had a family name.
Neither Su'er, Riku, nor Schwi had a family name.
"Is that... okay?" She asked a little cautiously.
There was no answer. Su'er and Riku just looked at each other. After a long time, they suddenly started to laugh.
"Okay, older sister," Riku called Couronne by that name for the first time and took the gem from her hand with a smile.
Putting aside Couronne, who was already so emotional from the two of them calling her that she was covering her mouth and nose and could barely breathe, after she had been calling herself their older sister for so many years, this tacit relationship was finally officially recognized at this moment. They were a real family.
Couronne was crying tears of joy because of this, as if she was going to shed all her tears from the past to the future today. She was looking at the four people who were already discussing with each other.
"But if we're going to write all five names, the letters will have to be a little smaller. Think's name is a bit long," Su'er also said with a smile.
"Then I'll engrave it," Think took the gem from Riku's hand with an attitude that did not allow for refusal. The magical light appeared on her fingertips, and she slightly tilted her head, waiting for Su'er's opinion.
Under Su'er's guidance, Think's slender and beautiful fingers moved slightly, engraving four names on the surface of the gem.
[Couronne Dora]
[Su'er Dora Nilvalen]
[Think Dora Nilvalen]
[Riku Dora]
[Schwi Dora]
The new engravings had not yet experienced the wear and tear of time, but Su'er still hoped that they could be passed down forever.
With a more touched expression than anyone else, Couronne looked at the gem with the names engraved on it in her hand. She carefully kept it at her waist and solemnly put it away.
Couronne wanted to stop Su'er's plan, which had made himself look like this and had also made the entire Imanity settlement act and make sacrifices, but she couldn't. Having understood this, she forced herself to smile—even so, she still had something she wanted to say.