# 25
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After that, the priest who was conducting the ceremony handed over the marriage certificate.
Everything happened very quickly.
“Please take good care of it, priest.”
Edwin said smiling as he addressed the priest.
“N-Yes...understood.”
The priest felt a strange shiver as he received the document, then quickly withdrew.
He instinctively felt that this was one of the things that needed to be done as quickly as possible.
High Priest Lohas looked at him enviously, then cleared his throat slightly.
“Hmm, I congratulate you on your marriage from the bottom of my heart.”
"Thank you very much."
“We thank you, President.”
Dana and Edwin looked at each other with satisfied smiles.
'Poor thing...'
Lohas muttered to himf, sighing secretly as he looked at Dana.
But in the end, he had to put his personal safety before everything else.
Then he said kindly to Edwin.
“Since the marriage has been officially concluded, you can now leave.”
'Please, go...'
But his plea did not reach Edwin's ears.
Edwin said softly, turning to Dana.
“Senpai, I heard that the entire temple is affected by holy power.”
“Oh, really?”
“It is said that there are flowers in the garden that never wither, and whose petals sparkle with gold.”
"truly?"
Edwin remembered that Dana loved nature very much.
He looked at Lohas.
“Can we take a look?”
“Huh?”
“The temple is an open and equal place for everyone, right?”
“…yeah, right. Have a good time.”
If he refused now, his hair would catch fire after his beard this time.
Lohas sent the two of them with an exhausted look, then pointed to one of the priests.
“Priest Bill, escort them to Priest Ian.”
“Your command.”
Reverend Bill led the two of them, not forgetting to glance back carefully all the way, lest Edwin do something rash.
But contrary to his fears, the Third Prince walked smiling all the time.
“Senpai, we are a real couple now.”
"correct."
Dana smiled shyly.
When Edwin saw her, he unconsciously scratched the back of his neck nervously.
Her cheeks were becoming more and more flushed, until he was almost mad with the desire to kiss her.
'He'll eat her up with his looks...'
The priest said to himf, shaking his head after seeing Edwin's burning eyes.
He decided not to pay attention to them anymore, as they appeared to be drowning in a world that belonged to them alone.
The three walked down a hallway supported by white pillars for a long time, until the scent of fresh herbs began to fill the air.
The birds' chirps were in harmony with her.
Finally, as they passed the archway, the rays of the rising sun fell upon them.
Dana murmured slightly as she closed her eyes from the glow of light, then quickly got used to it, and began to contemplate the place around her.
“Wow...”
She let out an unconscious sigh of admiration.
The Imperial Palace Temple Garden was extremely beautiful.
Bright plants surround the pond in the middle, sparkling with stunning colours.
As Edwin said, the flowers affected by the sacred power were more open than usual, elegantly emitting their powerful fragrance.
Everything the Holy Power touched shimmered with light gold.
The trees and flowers shimmered like golden dust whenever the breeze blew over them.
As for the pond, it reflected traces of light on its shiny surface.
“It's really beautiful…”
Edwin smiled happily as he saw how much Dana liked the place more than he expected.
As long as it makes her happy, he's completely satisfied.
At that moment, Priest Bill called out to someone.
"Priest Ian! We have visitors!"
A man with bright silver hair, who was tending the trees there, approached.
“What's wrong?”
He was different from the other priests of the imperial palace; He had calm features that made Dana feel comfortable.
Bill introduced the couple to him.
“This couple has just received the High Priest’s blessing. They would like to take a stroll in the garden.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly withdrew.
He looked confused for a moment, then Ian smiled at Dana and Edwin.
“I congratulate you on your marriage. I am Priest Ian, in charge of the general care of the temple garden.”
Dana replied with a polite smile.
“Thank you for the congratulations. Don’t worry, we’ll walk around on our own.”
“Are you two sure? I was just in the middle of pruning trees...”
At that moment, a small bird flew towards them.
It was a parrot with a body covered in light green feathers and a bright yellow face.
The bird landed on Ian's finger, then opened its beak saying.
“God loves everyone~! God loves everyone~!”
“How cute!”
Dana said with sincere admiration, and the parrot began to sway left and right happily.
“I give you my blessing~!”
Ian smiled proudly as he looked at the bird.
“This little guy is a very fast learner. After living in the temple, he started repeating these phrases.”
“He must be very smart.”
“He never forgets what he hears, and repeats sentences he likes for years.”
Just then, the parrot flew up and jumped on Dana's shoulder.
Ian panicked and tried to stop him.
“Come here, it's not right for you to behave like this with guests.”
“It's okay, he can walk around with us.”
In the end, the three of them decide to walk around the park together — Dana, Edwin, and the little parrot.
As for Ian, he returned to continue his work trimming trees.
“Edwin, look! The color of the flower petals changes depending on the angle of view!”
"correct."
Dana was very happy while walking in the park.
Her liveliness seemed to reflect on Edwin's mood, who felt very light and happy.
'Maybe I should build her a conservatory...'
He hoped to give her a place full of flowers that bloomed throughout the four seasons.
At that moment, another bird circled around Dana.
“Senpai, you seem to be very popular with birds, right?”
Dana smiled upon hearing his words.
“I've been like this since I was young. Birds always approached me easily.”
“You look like a forest fairy.”
“You always say things like that...”
“But I'm serious.”
Dana seemed embarrassed by his words, which made her even more attractive in his eyes.
He continued jokingly.
“Senpai, you really are as beautiful as a forest fairy.”
“Oh, enough...!”
Her face grew redder, and Edwin burst out laughing.
They continued walking for a long time, until suddenly their hands touched.
Edwin's fingers slowly crept over her hand.
Dana's steps slowed a little.
"…Yes."
“This is what a real couple is like.”
“Then, that means I will be saddened by your sadness.”
Dana nodded, her blue eyes arching into crescent shapes.
Then she opened her arms.
Edwin was not the type to hesitate.
Add her to him immediately.
Her warm little body enveloped him, and he felt love overwhelming his chest.
He ran his hand gently through the back of her hair, and smiled as he thought.
'Those who made her cry… I won't leave any of them alive.'
***
After the two guests left, the parrot returned to sit on Priest Ian's shoulder.
“Did you have a good time?”
Ian said, gently patting the bird on the head.
The parrot replied in a cheerful voice.
“We're a real couple~!”
“Huh?”
Ian tilted his head in surprise at the sudden statement.
“You look like a forest fairy~!”
"What are you saying? This is terrible flirting!"
But the parrot did not stop, but gave Ian a deep look and said.
“Pretty like a forest fairy~!”
"parrot!!"
Ian's face was red with embarrassment, and he looked like he was the one being flirted with this time.