EXTRA CHAPTER 2: URSURA TRIES OUT A WEDDING DRESS

***The Saint’s Cathedral, in the middle of the Holy Palatial Gardens***

“Do you take this woman as your wife, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer?”

“I do.”

“And do you take this man as your husband, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer?”

“Yes, Mother Templar, I do.”

“Then I pronounce you starting this moment as husband and wife. Seal your promises to each other with a kiss…”

And with that, the couple’s lips slowly drew near each other, as if savoring the beautiful moment that they were now together. The other templars accompanied them with a lovely wedding music, while the onlookers cheered and clapped for them.

“…”

Meanwhile, watching from the pews of the Saint’s Cathedral was the Queen of Cherwind, Ursura. Her eyes never moved away, as the newly-wedded human couple happily waved at their visitors and well-wishers. The Grand Mother Templar Superior, moved by the event, chanted a magic spell that produced petal confetti, and it was a pleasant sight.

“Such a beautiful scenery…” it was the dog-girl, Rumia, who commented. She sat beside Ursura, staring at the human ceremony with poignant eyes. “Back then, my mother would always tell stories about human weddings. She says that this ritual is meant to tie two human souls together, so that they will be with each other till their last days.”

“Really…”

Rumia nodded, “Human weddings are meant to show to everyone else that the two lovers’ souls who were married would remain in union, even if they are far apart.”

The bear-woman was silent. Deep inside, she was thinking of Kuro’s devotion to the Human Saint, Madelaine Rubinforth. She couldn’t help but think, ‘Did those two already done that wedding ritual?’

“Honestly, I wish to get married like a human…” the dog-girl admitted. “We got nothing like that in Cherwind.”

“Well, for us Beastmen, it’s something that is foreign,” Ursura told her companion. “However, if you wanted to, I guess you can partake in that human ritual.”

“Really, huh?” Rumia then heaved a sigh, “But, it’s too late for me. I wish Sir Loin wedded me before he left…”

“It’s fine, dog-girl,” the Beastman Queen tried to console her, knowing full-well that her companion was still yet to recover from her heartbreak. “Maybe there’s someone else meant for you…”

Rumia shook her head, “I don’t know Big Sis Ursura. Sir Loin…he’s the only one for me. With him gone, he brought my heart with him…”

The Beastman Queen then gave her a head pat as tears fell from her eyes. It’s not that she couldn’t understand the dog-girl’s pain; Ursura loved Kuro, but she was aware that above everyone else, that black-haired human loved the Human Saint.

“…”

“Big Sis Ursura?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I have a request?”

“Sure thing, Rumia. What is it?”

“My love ended tragically…” the dog-girl began. “However, thinking about it these past few days made me realize something.”

“Hm?”

“Well…I don’t want anyone else to go through what I experienced. It was painful, and honestly…if only I told him that I love him, I—”

“Rumia, dear, you can’t do anything about something that has passed,” the bear-woman played with her hair. “But you can always learn a lesson from them, just like what Kuro says.”

“Right…thanks for the reminder, Big Sis,” Rumia then took a deep breath, wiped her tears, and continued. “As I was saying, I don’t want my loved ones to go through what happened to me, so, Big Sis Ursura…if you can please marry the Chief, I’d support you right away!”

“Wha-What are you saying?!” the Beastman Queen nearly jumped from her seat. “It’s not that easy, you know?”

“But the Chief knew you love him, right?”

“And Kuro loves the Human Saint!”

“Huh? However, I think Lady Maddie is fine with you! I know humans can marry up to five times in Chersea!”

“I-It’s impossible! Her Holiness the Lady Rubinforth is the first wife, Her Highness the Princess Lilyhaven is the second, Lady Eris of Braunhauer is the third, Queen Jessica of the Kingdom of Amaranth is the fourth, and I think, the Lady Henristone is the fifth! I can’t possibly squeeze in!”

“Wow…I didn’t think that the Human Chief is that busy with his wives…”

“It’s hopeless, Rumia…”

“Well, I guess I’d take comfort in the fact that we Beastmen didn’t need to get married to love our partners,” the dog-girl shrugged. “But really, Big Sis, you should try at least the wedding ritual, just for me…”

The Beastman Queen was about to air her determined refusal. However, when she saw Rumia was serious in her suggestion, Ursura’s heart melted. After all, the dog-girl was doing her best to support the bear-woman’s feelings for Kuro.

“A-Alright…but expect little from it!”

A big, yet sad, smile then formed on Rumia’s lips. Ursura was relieved to see her reaction, and was silently excited to tell to Kuro about it. After all, everyone was worried about the Rumia when Sir Loin disappeared. However, in her mind was the agreement with the dog-girl. How can she even tell Kuro about the wedding?

“…”

But well, it didn’t look so bad. In any case, she’s slowly getting convinced to try that wedding ritual.

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“Huh?! Big Sis Ursura will marry the Human Chief?” Luka blurted out when Rumia revealed her plans to the Orphans. “That human love ritual? And this brute of a bear-woma—ow!”

The dog-boy was interrupted by a flying shoe that hit his head, courtesy of his sister. “Luka, if you got nothing good to say, you better stay quiet!” she told him.

“But, sis! Her Majesty the Queen…” Luka stared at Ursura as he defended himself, “…if you ask the other boys, we think she acts more like a beastman than a beastwoman! We don’t think she’d look good in a human wedding dress. It’ll be awkward!”

“Awkward?” Rumia was indignant, “How is Her Majesty awkward?”

“Don’t you know?” her brother hit back, “Sir Loin even secretly calls Her Majesty an ‘O-bear’!”

“A what?”

“O-bear, combination of ogre and bear, so O-bear!”

“I think I’m going to hunt and kill some wavy-haired human being with a weird weapon…” Ursura uttered.

“Big bro Luka,” it was Colheen, “have you heard that your jokes are stale?”

“It’s not me; it’s Sir Loin!”

“Luka, that’s way too harsh!” Yufa retorted. “I mean, Big Sis Ursura is a beauty, too, you know?”

“There’s no question about that, butterfly-girl,” it was Taro. “But yeah, I agree with Luka; Her Majesty in a human wedding dress? I think I’m getting the shivers.”

“Got a problem with that, rabbit-brat?” Ursura snapped at him.

Taro scurried off to hide behind Luka, as he was the biggest among the Orphan boys. Colheen and Gero were snickering from a distance as well. Annoyed, the bear-woman was about to hit them, but the mantis-girl was quick to stop her.

“Big Sis Ursura, I think Taro and the others are taking issue of how you conduct yourself,” Rishnu said. “I mean, we have no problems with your behavior, that is, when we’re in battles. However, if you’re aiming to make someone fall in love with you, beating them blue and unconscious isn’t the way to do it.”

“Gah!” the Beastman Queen was taken aback, and then, she sheepishly admitted, “Y-Yeah…I guess yo-you’re right, mantis-girl.

“Take a look at Lady Salis,” Yufa pointed out. “The Chief likes her because she doesn’t beat him.”

“As if I hit Kuro before…”

“Well, your manners are rough, that I can say,” Minahaba admitted. “Maybe you should tone down on those boyish acts, bear-woman.”

“Uuu…” Ursura could only sigh and whimper. What they say about her is true…

“Well, if that’s the case,” it was Senna, “then we need to help Big Sis Ursura in making the Human Chief fall in-love to her!”

“Whoa! Wait, I thought the goal is to marry?”

“Your Majesty, you can’t marry someone you don’t love!” Minahaba corrected her. “Don’t worry, we’ll make the Human Chief fall for you all over again, just like the last time!”

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**Kuro**

I bet these Orphans were planning something again, just like the last time.

“…”

I mean, it’s been a while that they’ve begun acting suspiciously. For example, Yufa and Rishnu would scurry off whenever I’d try to talk to them. Or Taro and Yufos would avoid me once I approached them to ask what they were whispering about.

“…”

And speaking of Ursura, I didn’t see her in a while. What the heck is happening here?

“Well, if you ask me, I won’t say anything,” Maddie chuckled as I turned my eyes on her. She could read minds, but for some reason, she decided not to help me.

“Master, you really need to man up,” Ruro added that comment while we’re taking a break.

“What’s that for?”

“Hmm…I think you’ll see soon,” Lily, who was attending to her friend, answered. “All that I can say is that, please accept our feelings for you.”

“Huh?”

“Sir Kuro, you’re so dense…” Eris chuckled, “…but in any case, I guess it’s time for the main surprise…”

The young maidservant then pointed towards the doors of the Saint’s Chamber palace, where—much to my surprise—Ursura stood, dressed in a beautiful white wedding gown. On her side were the happy Orphans, with Senna and Teviki holding the skirt trail up.

“H-Huh? Ursura’s getting married? To whom?”

Maddie and the others laughed, “Well, to you, of course! How dense can you be?”

“Wha—”,

“It’s only a ‘play wedding’,” the Beastman Saint whispered to me. “Maddie would kill anyone who marries you ahead of her.”

“I heard that, Ruro…” the Human Saint called out to her.

In any case, Yufa and Rishnu hurried to my spot and pulled me towards Ursura. Well, it’s not that I didn’t want to go, but at the same time, I’m kind of embarrassed—as well as surprised—by what’s happening. Honestly though, I enjoy these small events somehow; it reminded me that my world was peaceful, and I could take it easy.

“…”

Well, what can I say? My breath was taken away by Ursura’s appearance. The wedding gown she wore fit perfectly around her beautiful body, though the part around her chest was a bit tight. But then again, I guess it complimented her well. On her head was a silver tiara, studded with diamonds and other precious gems. Her cheeks were also a bit red, and her eyes…damn, they’re lovely. Did someone put a make-up on her?

“I did that one,” I heard Maddie say.

“Err…I’m sorry for taking your time, Y-Your Holiness…” Ursura said to her.

“No worries; I wanted you to have your time with Kuro,” the Human Saint replied.

Ahem. I guess this is the part where I should ‘man up’ then…

“Hey,” I tried to remove the awkward tension between Ursura and I. “Nice dress, you know.”

“T-Thanks…err…R-Rumia says, uhm, she wanted me to try a wedding with you…”

“Oh, alright.”

“Do you…l-like it?” the bashful Beastman Queen asked.

I sheepishly nodded. Honestly, my heart was beating wildly; this was the first time I saw Ursura that way. She’s so demure and ‘girlish’ now, that somehow, I felt different whenever I looked at her. However…

“But well, you know, I loved the other you better,” I admitted. “That’s the real you, after all.”

“Tch. And Rumia even put an effort to dress me like this…”

“No, it’s fine. I’d marry you anytime, if you want to give this stupid bloke a chance.”

The bear-woman then smiled, and she took my hand, “Well, you don’t have to ask. You’re a stupid bloke, alright, but I also love that side of you…like how you accepted my true self.”

And with that, Maddie presided over our ‘play wedding’, standing in as the templar. We concluded that ‘human love ritual’ with a kiss, a pair of rings, a vow, rinse and repeat…until all the ladies (who had feelings for me) ended up ‘marrying’ me.