Manuel understood and quickly agreed, secretly setting a time and place with Constantine.
About forty-five minutes before the wedding officially began, Manuel, who had finished welcoming the guests, greeted Barbara and his family before heading to the second floor.
The venue for Manuel and Barbara's wedding was the Cathedral of Cherson Diocese in Mangup, which is the seat of the orthodox Archbishop.
The church was a classic Byzantine-style building, grand in scale, and divided into two floors.
The first floor was generally used for religious affairs such as prayers and confessions, and was often used for ceremonies, such as the people attending the wedding now all being on the first floor.
The second floor was not often used, as it primarily served as an office and resting area for clergy.
However, for this grand wedding, the second floor was also put into use, with the officiating Patriarch, or Archbishop and other clergy, waiting on the second floor, ready to bestow God's blessings upon the newlyweds.
Upon seeing Manuel and Constantine ascend to the second-floor balcony, the nearby clergy discreetly moved away to avoid disturbing the two esteemed guests' conversation.
Seeing that only the two of them remained, Constantine began to chat with him, "Holy Mother above, thank you for your care of my sister Ma... Barbara during this time.
She has been quite willful since childhood, and her time with you must have caused you, and even Theodoro, a lot of trouble.
Please allow me to apologize to you on her behalf."
Barbara, do you often cause such outrageous trouble in Constantinople?
Recalling his wife's various actions made him wonder if Barbara had a notorious past when she was still in Constantinople.
However, he did not voice these thoughts, but smiled and said, "It's alright, at least to me, she is a very gentle, lovely, and devout girl.
Speaking of which, Constantine, given our current relationship, shouldn't we be less formal?"
"Hahaha, indeed, then from now on I should call you Brother-in-law," Constantine laughed heartily, inadvertently switching from "you" (formal) to "you" (informal) when addressing Manuel, then whispered with a hint of melancholy, "Is that child really so well-behaved here?
Why was she like that in Constantinople?"
Wait, what kind of sister-complex statement is this?
After hearing his melancholic voice, Manuel suddenly had a preposterous guess.
However, he did not show it on his face, but instead, with his usual expression, he probed, "Then I should call you Brother-in-law from now on?"
"Naturally," Constantine smiled gently, and then began to talk with Manuel about Barbara's various childhood stories, from being spoiled and arrogant to constantly getting into trouble, which left Manuel quite astonished internally.
"I've found more material to tease her with," Manuel thought, his eyes sparkling.
As they spoke, Constantine brought up the recent siege of Thessaloniki, "Should I say it was bound to happen?
The fall of Thessaloniki."
Constantine became a little sad when he mentioned this.
"An isolated city, the Roman Empire lacked the national strength to maintain it, and Venice was unwilling to fight for it.
Given this, the fall of Thessaloniki was arguably inevitable," Manuel pointed this out clearly and calmly.
"Indeed.
But ever since I knew, or rather, from before, I've always thought about one thing: from the past, our cities have been continuously encroached upon and annexed by infidels, and countless Roman cities have been changed to Turkic pronunciations.
Sometimes I wonder, is this fate?
Does the Holy Father truly stand with us?"
Constantine became somewhat melancholic as he spoke of this.
"Then, Brother-in-law, if this is fate, will you submit?" Manuel also grew a little sad, then asked.
"Of course not, even if the Empire is left with only Constantinople, I will defend her with my body, no matter what destiny holds!"
As he spoke of this, Constantine firmly clasped his hands, his eyes gazing into the distance.
Manuel felt that the tragic monarch from his past life's impression was merging with the image of this resolute young man, slightly older than him, standing before him, giving him a feeling of tears welling up.
"Indeed, no matter the timeline, Constantine XI is the kind of existence that inspires heartfelt admiration.
If I had been reincarnated in Constantinople, I would probably have willingly become his subject.
It's a pity, the place of my reincarnation is the Crimean Peninsula."
Just as Manuel, citing the wind and sand, wiped his eyes, Constantine retorted, "Then, Brother-in-law, what will you do?"
"Me?" Manuel laughed in spite of himself, "No matter who the Holy Father favors, or what destiny He decrees, I will do everything in my power to defend all of this 'Rome' on the Black Sea.
If a tragic end is the ultimate destiny, then I do not accept such a destiny."
No sooner had he spoken than he regretted it, "Oh no, I think I got carried away just now.
Such a chuunibyou statement will be ridiculed, won't it?"
But to his surprise, Constantine listened to his statement, first stunned, then smiled in agreement, "Yes, that's how it should be.
But I thought no one in this Tauris region would still consider themselves Romans."
"The Province of Tauris, or rather, the Cherson military district, will always be Roman land," Manuel replied.
They then talked about many other things freely.
At the end of their conversation, Constantine smiled, "Well, it's getting late.
The wedding will be in half an hour, let's go back."
He paused as he said this, "Oh, and one more thing.
I will always bless your marriage with my sister."
"Thank you for your blessing, Brother-in-law."
Half an hour after returning to the wedding venue, it was time for Manuel and Barbara's official wedding ceremony.
At this moment, the monastery's hour hand pointed to twelve o'clock, and the bells chimed, ringing exactly seven times.
At this moment, Manuel looked at his wife.
For this grand wedding, she had specially changed into a pure white pallium woven from silk, her belt adorned with exquisite jewels, and a thin layer of white powder made from rice flour delicately applied to her face, making her already fair complexion appear even whiter under the warm light.
Manuel's gaze was completely unable to leave her face.
Noticing Manuel's gaze, Barbara couldn't help but feel a little shy.
And the entire church was filled with an atmosphere of happiness.
"Manuel Gavras, in the presence of the Holy Father, do you take Barbara Palaiologina as your wife?
From this day forward, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love her, protect her, and cherish her with all your heart and unwavering loyalty, do you?" the Archbishop of Cherson asked.
Manuel smiled gently, "I do!"
"Barbara Palaiologina, in the presence of the Holy Father, do you take Manuel Gavras as your husband?
From this day forward, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to be loyal to him, care for him, and follow him with all your heart and unwavering loyalty, do you?"
Barbara, filled with anticipation, smiled gently, "I do!"
After the wedding ceremony concluded, and after receiving and seeing off the guests, the newlywed couple finally entered their bridal chamber in the evening.
Once inside, the two were momentarily unsure of what to do.
After a while, Manuel, making small talk, told Barbara, "Your brother told me stories about your childhood."
"Ah?" Barbara immediately blushed, "It's all your fault."
"Ah?"
"Because, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have become like this."
Then, overcome with emotion, her face flushed, she tearfully confessed everything she had secretly done before, one by one.
"This, this, 0721?
I've encountered it in reality?" Manuel exclaimed inwardly.
"I feel even more excited!"
But seeing his distressed wife, he quickly comforted her:
"It's alright," Manuel gently stroked her head, "No matter what kind of Barbara you are, I like you very much.
No matter what you are like, I won't dislike you."
"I might be a terrible scumbag.
But if it's for you, I'm willing, no, from now on, I will be the good husband you can always rely on throughout your life."
"Mm, really?"
"Really."
"Then, tonight..."
The moonlight was bright, and the starlit sky was brilliant.