Intermission 1

“Finally, you drink a sip of the water, change cups, then take another sip from your spouse's cup, and then you empty the rest into the pot with the seed and the earth. If even a drop of water wets your clothing, it's a sign of a bad first year. Now that you... Kenta? Are you sleeping?”

“...I wish.” I'm merely facepalming so much that it looks like I've fallen asleep with my head in my hands. The reason is that I asked Rine to tell me 'everything' about marriage. I'm two hours in, and she has used that time to explain really every little detail, like how to propose, how to organize the ceremony, every little superstition, plus every step for the actual ceremony.

Now I even know the dress-code, like that necklaces, ties, ribbons or other neckwear are not allowed, that wearing boots as footwear is not tolerated, and that the wedding garments will be worn for three days after the ceremony.

Often Rine doesn't know the reasons, but she sure knows all the stuff that's necessary, optional, and favored. While most of it is boring as hell, I don't want her to stop, as any little detail may give me a better idea what to expect.

There are also some variations depending on culture and status, but most basics are the same according to Rine. The customs she knows best is the royal ceremony of Feuerberg, and she spares no effort to give me an idea, that I had better learn everything.

Or that this is the ceremony she wants for herself, giving me glances at times while making her full lips giving a pleading expression.

Ara-san stopped paying attention after the first ten minutes and is currently cross-referencing the results of our experiments with her data on the alfr-heroes again.

Kyou-san is still listening, quite interested, sometimes even asking questions in-between. Like this one: “Isn't there an exchange of gifts between spouses there?”

“No, why?”

“Then how can you tell, if someone is married?”

“In Feuerberg, there is no such custom, as marriage should not be bound by a physical object. In Déjuma, married people are the only ones, that wear something blue, but they also don't exchange objects during the ceremony. Deep in the south, they have something like wedding-earrings.” For some reason, Rine's showing a grimace.

“Keep going.” Kyou-san ignores Rine's face, maybe she already knows the reason for why the far south is a sour spot for her, or she tries to not change the topic altogether.

“Where was I?”

“Water on the clothes. Why do you exchange cups before and don't drink from the same cup in the first place?” This would be the Japanese custom.

“To show that you don't just share, but also bring your own resources into the marriage, that your spouse can now also access.”

“Afterward you plant the seed into the earth?”

“Exactly, to pronounce your marriage to the world. The same reason, why you wear your wedding clothes for three days.”

By the way, deciding which plant to use is a vital part according to Rine, as each tree, bush, or flower stands for something different, like how pinatree stands for a passionate marriage.

There is something that's nagging me: “Rine, while I appreciate the amount of details you're giving us,” - in some way - “how much longer will it take?”

“Hn?” Rine cocks her blond-haired head, as she tries to make an estimation: “A few hours. Why do you ask?”

“...because we're still on a break, even though we should be on our way since long ago. We'll continue it on the way.”

“Ah! How could I forget, it's my and Kyou's turn holding hands with you now!”

Both of them at the same time... How can I endure this onslaught of useless knowledge without a hand free to facepalm!?