Side story: Wedding (Part two)

"Oh dear, Erwin, this isn't a good mindset of yours. Why are you trying to retire so abruptly? I will never agree to it. I've finally found hope for retirement, and I can't let you off the hook. The appointment as Deputy Prime Minister will be issued soon. You'd better adapt to it quickly, and it would be best if you could adapt to the job of Prime Minister as well. My retirement life depends on you!" Prime Minister Pyxis patted Erwin's shoulder earnestly.

The latter wanted to say something, but Pyxis acted like a spoiled child and slipped away. Erwin could only turn to Hange beside him. Hange seemed to sense the danger and quickly shouted, "Don't try anything with me! The Parliament has approved my appointment, and I'm going to set up the Research Department immediately! It's a matter of great importance!"

El wanted to say something more, but Hange also slipped away.

As he ran past a table, the tall, imposing Floch was lecturing a young member of the Restoration Army, "So young and impetuous, aren't you ashamed? How old are you? Can't you be more mature and stable? The Restoration Army's reputation is ruined by kids like you."

Alex was being held captive, didn't dare to argue. Everyone in the Restoration Army knew about the cold-faced Instructors, Floch; who would dare to talk back?

At the very front of the venue, Lucia and Carla, both dressed in formal attire, simultaneously wiped away tears with tissues. Don't misunderstand, they weren't sad; it was simply a feeling of being moved by their children growing up and getting married.

Mr. Leonhardt, who had difficulty walking, sat upright in a chair, his suit impeccably pressed. Compared to Lucia's joy at her son's marriage, Mr. Leonhardt, Annie's father, felt a bittersweet joy. Although Yago was a good boy, he had ultimately taken away his own little cabbage.

As time passed, the Wedding venue became increasingly lively. Finally, at noon, the most exciting moment arrived.

Hundreds of guests fell silent, their eyes fixed on the two tall and handsome grooms on the stage.

As the most respected Godfather of the church (a reformer from the Wallist Church) announced that the Wedding was about to begin, both Yago and Eren's hearts pounded with anxiety.

Lucia and Carla stood behind their respective children, their eyes filled with joy and relief. When the emcee announced the bride's entrance, all the guests turned their gazes to the back.

Two graceful brides in wedding dresses and veils appeared at the end of the red carpet. Mr. Leonhardt solemnly held his daughter's hand, while Zeke held Mikasa's hand, and the group slowly walked towards the stage.

Despite Mr. Leonhardt's somewhat unsteady gait, no one present would underestimate this father.

As the two brides came onto the stage, Mr. Leonhardt gently placed his daughter's hand in Yago's and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Take good care of my daughter, or I'll give you my cane!" The implication was clear: if you don't take good care of Annie, I'll break your leg!

Yago paused for a moment, then smiled confidently and said, "Don't worry, Father-in-law."

Soon it was time to take the oath.

The host loudly asked Yago and Eren, "Mr. Yago Norman / Eren Yeager, do you take Annie Leonhardt / Mikasa Ackerman to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"

Both Yago and Eren answered with unwavering determination, "I do!/I do!"

"Miss Annie Leonhardt / Mikasa Ackerman, do you take Mr. Yago Norman / Eren Yeager to be your spouse, to have and to hold from this day forward, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"

Looking at Yago's gentle face, Annie smiled involuntarily, and sweetly answered loudly from her heart, "I do!"

Mikasa also shouted out the words she had always longed to say, "I do!"

Lucia's eyes welled up with tears; she had finally seen this day come, and she was overjoyed.

"I hereby declare you officially husband and wife, you two grooms! You may now kiss your brides!"

Yago's ears were instantly drowned out by the huge cheers from the crowd. He couldn't hear anything. At that moment, all he could see was Annie in her pure white wedding dress.

Without any hesitation, Yago lifted Annie's veil. Gazing at the girl's blushing face and earlobes, Yago could no longer resist and kissed her deeply. Annie closed her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering, responding to Yago with the same fervent passion.

After a long while, their lips parted. Yago looked at the girl who was almost falling into his arms, and he couldn't find any other words to describe his feelings except joy and excitement.

"Annie, from this moment on, you are my only one, so shouldn't you call me... husband now?"

Annie's face flushed, her large, watery blue eyes gazing at Yago, and finally she softly called out, "Husband..."

"My Annie wife!!"

Within the Paths —no, it should be said, within the New Paths — Great-Grandmother Ymir had somehow changed into a brand-new, smooth white robe. Her grey eyes were filled with inquiry and relief. Before her lay the scene of Yago and Annie's, Mikasa and Eren's Wedding. So, this is love?

Behind the Great-Grandmother, two illusory figures also watched this scene. A tall man with a face similar to Yago held his wife Pei Xi in his arms, looking at the scene with a mixture of relief and regret. Pei Xi, too, watched her child kiss the bride with tears in her eyes.

"Yago is an excellent boy, we can rest assured," Norman said with relief.

"I'm so proud of him," Pei Xi said, her voice choked with emotion.

The two figures gradually faded, eventually transforming into a ray of light within the New Paths.

Meanwhile, outside, Yago seemed to sense something, looked up at the sky, and nodded with a smile.