“Ahm…” The High Priest’s morning cough commenced the unexpected wedding. “...The year is 1023 of the 2nd Era... Yukina of house Kararift, Baron of Sylvik castle, Governor of Sylvik city, and Queen of Silfonia… is hereby initiating an immediate marriage to ‘Yugo of… Yappon?’ Let us congratulate her majesty, and Yugo, for their ‘eternal’ partnership!”

  A courtroom of about a hundred unamused individuals applauded apathetically while glaring straight at Yugo. While he stood awkwardly sweating buckets, sharp daggers were casually tilted towards him.

  Meanwhile, immediately after the High Priest confirmed her marriage to Yugo, Yukina arose from her cushioned throne and walked past her husband. Eventually, the glaring courtiers redirected their loyal attention to their monarch and bowed.

  “I have finally fulfilled my duty as queen to get married. Now, everyone, please stop bugging me about it. Thank you, that is all.”

  Like a graceless fashion model, Yukina simply twirled and strutted away back to her throne.

  Oi, aren’t you supposed to be the queen? Act more majestic!

  In less than five minutes the wedding had ended and Yugo didn't even need to do any paperwork for it. And although he technically achieved one of his life’s goals in a breeze, it felt neither awesome or joyous. After all, he basically got married against his will.

  One moment he was eating a convenience store bento box in his apartment, the next he was inside a freezing castle full of hostile strangers. Except for Yukina, her maids, and the High Priest, the castle’s denizens clearly hated him.

  What a cold wedding…

  Yugo didn’t know what he did to deserve being sent to another world, nor did he have the time to think about it. Instead, all he could do was imagine his forboding future.

  ---Yugo of Yappon married the Queen of Silfonnia in 1023. But his marriage lasted for less than a day because he was immediately assassinated after the wedding ceremony---

  Yeah, let's try to avoid having that as my Wikipedia entry...

  Suddenly, an armored young man rushed forward while Yugo was busy staring at the wooden ceiling.

  He wore a surcoat over his light mail, which depicted the royal colors of House Kararift. A gray linen base with light blue trimmings.

  "Queen Yukina! Please pardon my insolence, but may I speak my mind?"

  "Yes Sir Alric?"

  Ooh he's a 'Sir,' how fancy...

  "With my name on the line, I say this with utmost loyalty to you... My queen, have you perchance been bewitched?!"

  All the courtiers gazed in serious interest. After all, everyone was thinking the same thing. Who the hell was this handsome guy marrying our precious queen?

  "No, I am not."

  Yukina responded without hesitation

  "Then, who is this Yugo? Why are you marrying him?!"

  Thank you! Someone’s finally asking this!

  "How about I turn it around. Who should I have married instead?"

  In a monotonous tone, Yukina directed her question to not just Alric, but to her entire court as well.

  Filled with administrators, guardsmen, petty maids, and local nobles, the court soon erupted into chatter for a few minutes before naturally quieting down. By now, it was obvious to Yugo that this wasn’t the first time that these people had thought about Yukina’s future husband. And even though he didn’t ask for this marriage, he couldn’t help but feel a bit offended as the queen’s newlywed spouse when he had heard the courtiers speak so brazenly about other candidates.

  A noblewoman in a velvet robe shouted out "Holorik! Count of Norfeld"

  A pale man with pointy ears exclaimed "Remocha! Duke of Benavak"

  "You silly dolt, Holorik is the vassal of an enemy king!"

  "And your ridiculous Remocha is a puppet of another king!"

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  Suddenly, a dainty short lady hopped in between the two debaters and proceeded to play a cheerful tune with her lute before singing out “Prince Leif of Denland already adores our sweet majesty!”

  But the crowd merely laughed at her proposition.

  Just when the room was about to return to chatter, another man wearing surcoat over his mail armor stepped forward. His hair was gray, but his mustache was firm.

  "Your majesty... As you know, I have always believed our own Margrave of Stanigor, Arasen, would suit our kingdom nicely as a co-ruler."

  Yet, Yukina remained indifferent to all of the suggestions. And for the first time in a while, she looked directly at Yugo who stood slightly far from her throne.

  "Husband, hither here and lend me thy ear."

  Yugo naturally hesitated before stiffly ambling to the queen. He was aware of all the hawkish eyes that were watching him. But to make matters worse, once he leaned over to the enthroned lady, he received an unexpected peck on the cheek. A few in fact.

  As the young man recoiled backwards, he touched his lightly wet cheek to confirm that what happened really did happen. Meanwhile, the courtiers gasped as their stares had turned to glares.

  "Everyone, this is my answer. Yugo and I are in love."

  A deafening silence ensued.

  T-this must be some common thing those weird European countries do. Y-y’know… kissing another person on a cheek. It’s a friendly gesture, right? Right?!

  Unfortunately, a horde courtiers soon charged ferociously at Yugo with their daggers drawn in the air. For all they cared, Yugo had just stolen their queens’ precious kiss. Unforgivable!

  Oh, they really do want to kill me… Shit!

  Yugo turned to Yukina and the High Priest for help, but their indifferent expressions proved useless. And so, in a panic, Yugo’s basic survival instincts kicked in as he kicked off into the castle’s labyrinthine hallways.

  As the young man sprinted through corridors and drifted past corners, he felt like a stupid rat trapped in a maze.

  I still haven’t dated a real girlfriend, I forgot to pay rent for my shitty apartment, no decent university wants me, and I can’t seem to ever get a good job… And now I’m literally running for my life? This is bullshit!

  The farther Yugo ran into the depths of the castle, the faster he began to lose his moment. With no windows and only a few torches, the dim corridors were spooky and damp. Moreover, while he was drained of stamina, the stampede of angered courtiers was watching up to him.

  "This whole situation is BULLSHI-"

  But just before Yugo could scream out his frustrations, he was suddenly pulled into the shadows by a ghastly arm. Like in a pool of water, Yugo’s disoriented body swam across a barrier to the other side before splashing onto another person.

  When he opened his eyes, he saw the fact of a grinning girl looking down at him. His head was on her lap.

  "Heyo! My name is Fura Feygan, nice to meet you King Yugo!"

  As the two stood up, the cheerful girl proceeded to inspect and analyze Yugo from all angles. Confused, Yugo simply let her take a few notes as he watched her incredibly long ponytail bounce around behind her.

  "You know my name?"

  "Indeed! Word spreads fast in this castle. Once you're inside the walls, there are barely any barriers left. Be it physical, or metaphorical!"

  "Since you seem nice, I'm guessing you're not planning on killing me as well?"

  "Nah, no way I would do that! Killing the king is punishable by death, don’t ya know?"

  "Wait, do you really consider me a king? Cause I don’t."

  Fura giggled while hugging her stomach

  "Of course I do. Her majesty marked you with three pecks on the cheek, did she not?"

  "You were there!?"

  "Nope."

  "Then how did you-"

  "Oooh! Haha! I love this part. How did I see the queen's lips on your cheeks when I was hauled up in this stuffy room? It's because of these bad-boys!"

  Funa leapt to the side with her arms out, presenting three crystal orbs on her busy desk.

  “They look like those fake things fortune tellers use to see the future with…”

  "See the future? Bah, don’t be ridiculous. Where did you hear that from, a wizard? If that’s the case, I’d LOVE to have a good debate with them!”

  "Wizard?"

  "Of course, WIZARD. Haven't you guessed by now...? Oh dear..."

  "Just get to the point!"

  "Ah! Now you’re speaking like a true monarch!" Fura cleared her throat before proceeding. "As I've said, my name is Fura Feygan. I am a wizard by trade, a great one if I say so myself. And I basically specialize in leyline magic, which allows me to use these orbs to monitor the castle. But to be honest, it’s work-in-progress technology since I can only observe a few places.”

  "How is this technology? Isn't it... magic?"

  "Duh, of course it’s magic. But, how isn’t it also technology?"

  “I don’t know. But anyways, I need-”

  “How does it work? I’m glad you asked!”

  “No, I didn’t ask-”

  “Basically, you use enchantment spells on alterational techniques. Afterwards you can amplify those techniques using illusionary magic. Then you can imagine yourself extending hundreds of mirrors into the distance. By doing this, you end up relaying magical particles from one point to another. And thus, you may end up seeing faraway without needing to move an inch! Isn’t it amazing?!”

  Nobody asked!

  Yugo sighed. “Fura. Could you just lead me to Yukina? I’d like to have a word with her…”

  “Wait, aren’t you interested in hearing more about the orbs?! Or how I pulled you through an illusionary barrier?! Or what about-”

  “Thanks for rescuing me, but no thanks about the other stuff!”

  Fura pouted before begrudgingly lighting up one of her orbs. She whirled her hand above it in the air until a clear image gradually appeared.

  “Fine, fine. I get it, nobody cares about my research…. Now, let’s see where her highness is…”