Demon Bookshop 13

The short spring had passed, and summer was fast approaching with the noisy cries of cicadas. Due to the sudden heat, both Paul and the boss were wearing thin short-sleeved shirts with an apron.

"Are you okay, boss?" Paul, who was organizing books, asked. His smooth white legs were exposed thanks to his knee-length shorts.

"What?"

"I thought it would be hot if you wore such long pants in this weather."

"Not really."

"You seem to be unaffected by the heat. I was born in the summer, but I still get hot easily." Paul looked at the boss with wide eyes, amazed. 

The boss was looking through the newly arrived letters. He raised a piece of paper written in demon language and spoke, "More importantly, Paul, tell Pablo you can't go exercise for the next two weeks."

"Why? Don't tell me we're going hiking again. No way…? That can't be…" Paul looked at the boss. He didn't know whether it was fortunate or unfortunate to hear the words that followed.

"We're going to Banan."

"Banan? Are you talking about the big city in the south?"

"Yes. It is an important matter, so you'll have to accompany me."

"Are you going to bring a bunch of books again?"

"Something like that."

Paul hurriedly recalled what he had learned in school. He recollected that the city of Banan, located in the country's extreme south, wasn't just home to a mix of banks, libraries, and guild offices, but also the royal palace at its heart.  In other words, it was the capital of the human world, and the demons were using the buildings and facilities created by humans.

"Boss, is there still a library in Banan? I had heard in my world that Banan's library is huge."

"It's even bigger now. They're using the former royal palace as the library."

"The former royal palace…?"

"That's right. Anyway, let's stop by the library to find your book."

"Oh, great! It must have <Prelude to the Battlefield>, right? Then I'll tell Pablo-nim I can't go," Paul replied hastily before asking in a puzzled tone. "But why two weeks? Are we going to Banan for two weeks straight?"

The boss, who was looking at another letter, slightly raised the corner of his mouth and added, "No, we're having a wedding at our bookshop this weekend."

"Oh, I see… we're having a wedding… What did you say?!"

"A wedding."

"Pardon?"

"A wedding, I said."

"A real wedding?! Why are you having it at the bookshop? Is it even possible?"  Paul repeatedly asked about the uncommon combination of these two terms. 

The boss then read him the letter he was holding. "Greetings. I am writing this letter to inquire about the possibility of renting out Kshatrit Bookshop. My partner and I met for the first time at a bookshop and fell in love. Therefore, we promised to hold our wedding in a bookshop in the future. We recently asked other bookshops for this, but only received rejections. We hope that Kshatrit will bless our future with a positive reply."

"But isn't this weekend too rushed? Wait, boss, that expression… Don't tell me you've already approved it?" Paul asked anxiously when he saw the boss's expression.

"You've become quick-witted. I actually got this letter beforehand."

"What??"

"I found it interesting so I approved it immediately."

"Boss! You should've told me first since it's such an important matter…"

'Ding-dong'

As Paul was about to nag at the boss, the door opened and two elegant young demons walked in. One was a tall demon with short black hair, and the other was a demon with similar height and a blond mustache. Somehow, they exuded a similar air.

"Fomor-nim! We don't know how to thank you enough."

"Thank you very much."

The demon with a blond mustache first bowed his head in gratitude. Then, the black-haired demon next to him also expressed his thanks.

"Is it you who wrote this letter?"

"Yes. I'm Morris, the one who wrote the letter." The mustached demon introduced himself. 

After that, as the boss's gaze moved to the black-haired demon standing next to him, the demon quickly spoke. "Oh, I'm Alec. The groom's friend."

"We're best friends," Morris added with a smile.

"You're just in time. Paul, stop sulking and go get some drinks."

Paul brought refreshments from the kitchen with a sullen look upon the boss's words. The two demons were sitting and chatting amicably with the boss. 

Paul naturally sat next to him. "Boss, but I haven't been there yet, so I might not know…"

"Where haven't you been?"

"Boss hasn't gotten married either. Anyway, don't you think our bookshop is a little far from the typical image that comes to mind when you think of a wedding venue? It's a bit dim."

T/N: 장가를 가다 (lit. to go to a marriage) means to get married. Paul said he hasn't been there (married) yet and the boss thought he meant a place.

Hearing Paul's worried voice, the boss asked the same question to the two demons. Morris then replied with a smile. "It's alright since we really wanted to have the ceremony in a place with the essence of a bookshop."

"Then wouldn't it be easier to just make some bookshelves at a wedding hall?" Paul didn't give up and asked again. 

This time, Alec answered hesitantly. "In fact, we don't have much budget prepared. No, to be honest, we have almost nothing. That's why we couldn't afford to rent a wedding hall."

"Oh… So, boss, please ask how many guests there are. Can our bookshop handle that many people?"

Upon the boss's translation, Morris let out a brief sigh and told them honestly.

"No guests are expected to come. We want to hold the wedding secretly… There are some circumstances that we can't possibly disclose…"

Then, the boss who was watching them boldly asked, "It seems like there is a story behind it."

"Yes… I'm sorry. We will humbly accept it if Fomor-nim opposes it now."

"No, I don't mean to oppose it."  Instead, the boss seemed rather pleased.

"A wedding with an untold story held at a bookshop. How interesting. I don't spare money for interesting things, so I'll take care of the rental and budget problems as well."

"Are you sure? Fomor-nim, really… Thank you very much!" Morris hugged Alec while yelling with joy. Alec, who was in his arms, also smiled brightly.

Seeing their happy faces, Paul also smiled and shook his head. 'Boss is really… If he says so, I can't oppose it anymore.'

After that day, it was decided that Kshatrit would be closed for the time being to solely focus on the full-scale wedding preparation. Thanks to the large amount of gold the boss had spent, a red carpet was laid out from the entrance to the inside, with newly installed bright lights illuminating the path. Numerous roses decorated the stage, and tables and chairs decorated with ribbons were placed on either side of the path. The atmosphere of the bookshop was transformed impressively.

"Boss, please install a high-end air conditioner while you're at it."

"It's not just because you're feeling hot, is it?"

"It's all for the bride and groom of course."

Thanks to the boss's willingness to comply with Paul's request, a large air conditioning unit was now installed in the bookshop.

"Also, the flowers you ordered are here. I didn't know roses come in so many different colors. Look, aren't they pretty?"

"Pretty." The boss replied as he faced Paul, who was holding a variety of colored rose bouquets. Although Paul knew he was talking about the flowers, it sounded like the boss was talking to him, so he couldn't help but smile.

"I still prefer sunflowers to roses. Is it because it's my birth flower? Oh, come to think of it, what should we do with the bouquet? Shouldn't we order that in advance, too? Boss, please ask when the bride will arrive."

Morris hesitated for a moment and replied while avoiding his gaze. "That… My bride is busy with work. Alec and I will help with all the preparations for the time being."

'She's not even looking around at her own wedding? Is this the hidden circumstance mentioned earlier?' 

"Then, we will do our best to reflect the atmosphere that the bride wants if you can convey it to us…"

At that moment, Alec, who was standing next to Morris, began to tremble strangely. It was as if he was drunk and couldn't control his body.

"Alec!" Morris shouted in surprise. Alec, who was shaking all over and having a seizure, finally passed out and collapsed to the floor. 

Morris checked Alec's condition with familiar hand movements, and soon breathed a short sigh of relief. "Alec is fine. You don't have to become worried."

"What's going on?"

"He has narcolepsy. He often falls unconscious with seizures like this when he's stressed."

"Isn't that serious?"

"I guess helping with the wedding preparations was a bit overwhelming for him. I'm sorry, but is there a place in the bookshop where we can lay my friend down?"

"Should we take him to my room? Oh… right, there are now a lot of books piled up."

Paul's basement room contained a lot of temporary shelves and piles of books. As a result, Paul decided to sleep on the boss's sofa for the time being.

"Let's move him to my room." The boss carefully lifted Alec with his magic, took him to his bedroom on the second floor and laid him down.

"He'll wake up and be fine after a short nap."

"Even so, you'd better keep an eye on him just in case."

"I understand. Thank you for your kindness once again, Fomor-nim." Morris politely thanked him. Paul and the boss came down to the bookshop again. Time flew by in a flash as the boss ordered Paul things to do.

'He must have woken up by now, right? There's still a load of work to be done.'

Paul took a drink and headed back to the second floor where they were. He carefully opened the boss's door without making any noise, afraid that he might startle the patient.

However, it was Paul himself who was surprised by the view in front of him. He watched silently as Morris held Alec's hand. Alec then slipped his fingers between each of Morris’s fingers. They looked at each other with infinite tenderness.

'Can you hold hands with your friends like that, no matter how close you are?'

"Hello, I brought what you ordered."

'I held hands with the boss, too, but we didn't interlock our fingers like that…'

"Teeter-nim?"

'Okay, let's say you can even interlock fingers. But isn't it a little weird to look at each other with such affectionate eyes…?'

"Teeter-nim!"

"Mom!" Paul was startled by a touch on his back. When he looked up, Pablo stood there with his large silver tail wagging.

"Oh! It's Pablo-nim. When did you come?"

"I came a little while ago. What are you thinking so deeply about?"

"Oh… it's nothing. More importantly, has our order finally arrived?"

"Yes, it has. The box has a special device equipped, so it won't be a problem to store it like this for a few days," Pablo said, pointing to a large box on the table.

"Thank you for your hard work. Please ask the boss for the payment."

"I'll do that. Where is he?"

"He went to the store for something he needed. He'll be back soon, so please wait a little longer."

"I see. By the way, is everything alright, Teeter-nim?"

"Well, there is something… um…" Paul pondered for a moment and told Pablo honestly.

"You see… Does Pablo-nim think same-sex friends can hold hands and interlock fingers? Between two guys."

Pablo shook his head at Paul's unexpected question.

"It's impossible. I think even the slightest touch would make me feel uncomfortable."

"Right? Imagine if I were to hold Pablo-nim's hand and interlock my fingers with yours." Pablo's eyes widened.

"We don't have time to go back, so keep going straight no matter what!"

Pablo, who internalized Ia's words in his heart, hurriedly said, "But wouldn't it be possible if they were really close? Like me and Mr. Teeter."

"Is that so…?"

"Why don't we check it out once?"

"Okay."

Paul extended his little hand to Pablo's large hand, then he inserted his fingers between Pablo's.

'It's not as bad as I thought it would be. But I should ask the boss later just in case.' Paul thought.

Meanwhile, Pablo's heart was pounding like crazy. He never wanted to let go of the hand he was holding even if the world fell apart. But he had to let go despite his feelings.

"I'm sorry. My hands sweat easily. And I guess it's the weather too… Haha…"

Pablo's hand began to sweat because he was nervous, and Paul's palm became a little slippery.

"It's okay. By the way, what are you doing this Sunday afternoon, Pablo-nim?" Paul asked while casually wiping his palm on his apron.

"I have a family gathering scheduled for this week."

"Oh… you have a prior engagement. I was actually going to invite Pablo-nim to the wedding. Well, it can't be helped."

"I'm sorry." Pablo's tail drooped weakly. He wanted to break his prior engagement immediately for Paul, but he just couldn't. He had learned from an early age that promises had to be kept like a sharp knife.

"Then how about we go to a lamb skewer restaurant next time instead? Mimi! I'll buy them then."

"I'm always welcome. But, do you have gold, Teeter-nim?"

"…I'll beg the boss for some pocket money. Or, Pablo-nim, do you ever trade secondhand books…?" Paul jokingly asked even though he had no money. Pablo couldn't resist smiling at how cute Paul was.

'But still, something feels off. I feel like I'm seeing a customer who's drooling over a book that they don't even intend to buy.'

After Pablo left for a while, Paul still felt uncomfortable. He glanced at Morris and Alec a few more times, so often that the two demons started to feel that their backs were stinging.

"Alec, are you sure Anne is coming today?"

"Of course. Even if she doesn't listen to me, she listens to you."

"When the hell is she coming? That human keeps looking at us with strange eyes."

Just as the two young men whispered quietly, a demon came into the wide-open bookshop door.

"Guys~ I'm here!"

She was a beautiful female demon with her black hair tied up. She ran straight to Morris and hugged him. Morris introduced her to Paul and the boss after taking her to them.

"This is Anne, my prospective bride and Alec's sister. Anne, say hello. This is Fomor-nim and Paul-ssi."

"Hello. I'm late because something urgent happened. It's even my wedding…"

She lifted her vibrant green dress slightly and smiled. Paul nodded as he looked at her hair color and features. If Alec were a woman, he would definitely look like her.

"Anne, how about throwing a book instead of a bouquet since we're having a ceremony at the bookshop?"

"I'm fine with that! It may hurt if something goes wrong, but it's my brother's responsibility, right?"

"Don't worry. I've already got the hang of catching things you throw."

Anne and Alec responded to Morris's words with smiles. It seemed I was being too sensitive. Looking at Morris and Anne now, they couldn't be anything but a well-matched couple. Paul decided to focus on work and stop thinking about her appearance.

"Boss, since the bride is here, can you ask them about an event that I'm planning?"

"What kind of event?"

"I was wondering if we could recreate the first meeting. As you know, the two met at the bookshop and fell in love, right? Let's try that scene again at our bookshop."

"That's a good idea."

In response to Paul's words, the boss beckoned the bride to come closer. She nodded in agreement upon hearing the boss. Paul continued to ask through the boss.

"Should I prepare a bookcase? You said you bumped your hands trying to take the same book from the wall bookcase before, right?"

"Yes! That's right."

"Oh… I see. Just one more thing, boss. I think you said the two have nicknames to call each other. What were they?"

Anne touched the tip of her nose and responded to Paul's sudden question.

"Nicknames? There are so many that I don't know which one to tell you. But why do you ask about nicknames?"

Paul didn't answer her question but smiled awkwardly instead.

***

"Boss, do you think it's okay for same-sex friends to interlock their fingers?" Paul asked. He was sitting on the boss's sofa in his pyjamas, ready to go to sleep. The boss was playing with Lego with a fishing rod toy next to him. If he didn't play like this, Lego would cry at the bed while jumping around all night, making him unable to sleep.

"Why do you suddenly ask that?"

"I happened to see the groom and his friend holding hands."

"They were interlocking their fingers?"

"Yes, even if it's just holding hands, it can be awkward between same-sex individuals in the human world, but I was wondering if it was natural among demons. What do you think, boss?"

"Hand." The boss suddenly extended his palm toward Paul.

"Oh, boss~ I'm not even Lego and you're being like this to me? Even Lego will never give me a hand without snacks."

"Hand." The boss spoke to Lego proudly. Then, surprisingly, Lego lifted his cheese-colored front paw and placed it on the boss's hand. Paul's mouth opened wide.

"What? Lego does? You never do it for me!"

'Meow?' The cat responded back to Paul's words with a meow as if arguing back. The boss once again reached out to Paul, who glanced at Lego.

"Hand."

Paul put his chin onto the boss's large hand. He smiled brightly and looked up at him.

"…What are you doing?" The boss paused and raised his eyebrows when he saw Paul's face on his hand. Soon, a hit landed on Paul's forehead.

"Paul, you will arrange the books with your chin from now on. Just use your hands and I'll give you a hundred smacks."

"Ow… I'm sorry. Again, boss."

"Too late." The boss hid both hands behind his back with a mischievous look. Paul rubbed the bump on his forehead with disappointment.

"Anyway, boss, isn't this wedding really strange?"

"What's strange?"

"Last time, the groom clearly said that they were picking up the same book from the display shelf and their hands accidentally touched. But just to be sure, I asked the bride if it was from the wall bookcase."

"And she said it was correct."

"Yes. Could it be that she confused the display shelf with the wall bookcase?"

A wall bookcase literally meant a bookcase installed on the wall, whereas a display shelf referred to a flat display that came up to waist height.

"That could be possible."

"It could be if they don't know much about bookshops. But seeing her prepare, she seemed to know a lot about bookshops…"

Paul, who was briefly lost in thought, continued.

"And there's something else that was strange. Did you hear what the bride said earlier? They said they had too many nicknames between them."

"But the groom said they didn't have any nicknames and that he just called her by her name."

"That's right! It doesn't add up. Even you must think it's weird, right? But still… you're just going to watch it like this..?"

"Yes. We'll find out everything by tomorrow."

"That's… true…"

The boss gestured for the yawning Paul to go away.

"Paul, I said from the beginning that you could just sleep in the bed. Why are you being so stubborn?"

"No, I'm definitely going to sleep on the sofa today. Aren't you the one who told me not to switch places? Saying that you're stiff every morning… while staring at me… Sorry, but I'm sleepy… Talk to me later…"

Paul, who was being stubborn, eventually fell asleep on the sofa. The boss, who confirmed that he had fallen asleep, picked him up and moved him to his own bed. He covered him with a blanket, having a faint smile on his lips.

Time passed and it was finally Sunday, the day of the wedding.

No guests came to the wedding hall. The only ones present were Morris, dressed in a black tuxedo, Anne, dressed in a white wedding dress, and Alec, dressed in a black suit, standing by their side. Although Paul had expected it, he didn't feel at ease in the gloomy wedding hall.

At that moment, the boss came down from the second floor. He was dressed in his usual formal suit, but his well-defined and handsome features were even more prominent thanks to his forehead being exposed. When Paul saw him, he broke into a wide smile like a fool.

"Wow… anyone who sees you would think you are the main character today, boss! Even though you're born with it, isn't this causing people a lot of trouble?" The boss approached Paul as he spoke his mind unreservedly. 

Paul was wearing a neat beige shirt, brown suspenders, and a bow tie around his neck. He also tried combing his hair back as the boss did, but his curly hair was too stubborn, so he gave up.

"The officiant hasn't come yet?" the boss asked while fixing Paul's bow tie.

"Yes. What do we do if they suddenly say they can't come?"

'Tap-tap-tap!'

Just then, there was a tapping sound on the window. Paul looked over and saw a white owl pecking at the window of the bookshop with its beak as if knocking. He opened the window, pulled out the letter tied to the owl's feet, and handed it to the boss.

"What does it say, boss?"

"It's from the demon who was supposed to officiate the wedding. They couldn't come because of an accident."

Only then did Paul regret his words. The bride and groom, who were waiting, were also startled when they heard the news as can be seen from their expressions quickly darkened.

"I'm sorry, boss. I shouldn't have said that. What should we do now…?"

"I'll do it."

"Really? Have you ever officiated at a wedding?"

"No. But there's a way."

The boss brought a book in demon language from the basement. He quickly flipped through it.

"What kind of book is that, boss?"

"<A Collection of Wedding Officiant Speeches>."

"Goodness! I never imagined that book would come in handy. I was considering returning it since no one bought it and it was just taking up space."

The boss continued flipping through the book without responding.

‘How does someone reading a book look this cool? I guess I just really like him.’ Just as the boss was examining the book, Paul was carefully examining the boss's face.

The wedding began right on time as scheduled. Paul was sitting at the empty groom's table, marveling at the sight. When the boss gestured, the piano started playing the song on its own. As the wedding march began to play, he finally spoke from behind the podium.

"Here comes the groom."

Upon the boss's words, the groom walked along the prepared path. At this moment, he was shining brighter than the Fomor boss under the lights. Walking with a slightly nervous look, he made his way to the bookshop counter that had been transformed into a platform.

"Here comes the bride."

This time, the bride in a veil entered with her brother's escort. She wore a dazzling wedding dress and held a book instead of a bouquet of flowers. Step by step, she walked slowly under the light until she finally stood next to the groom.

Alec, who brought the bride to the groom, bit his lips as if holding back his tears. However, once he returned to his seat, tears streamed down his face. Watching from behind, Paul's heart also ached for him. However, it was only for a moment as the boss's words caught his attention.

"Do you swear to love each other forever?" The boss skipped the other processes and asked the two demons directly, perhaps because he had learned the speech in a hurry.

'The sequence is wrong, boss! That's a question that's usually asked at the very end of a wedding!'

The bride and groom also seemed surprised by the unexpected turn of events, but the bride opened her mouth first.

"Yes, I swear."

Then, the groom followed.

"Yes, I also…"

It was then that something happened.

'Thud!'

Alec's chair on the bride's side fell over, making a loud noise. The groom's answer was drowned out by the sound.

"Alec!!"

He had another seizure and collapsed. Again, Morris was the first to rush over to him.

"Are you okay? Hang in there!"

Looking even worse than last time, Alec lay on the floor with his eyes rolled back, shaking uncontrollably, and even frothing at his mouth.

"Paul, stay with the patient. I'll call for a doctor."

"Yes! Please hurry!"

The boss hurried out of the bookshop. Paul quickly brought his blanket and made space in the bookshop. He and Morris then laid Alec down.

"W-what is going on…"

Morris took off Alec's coat and began to unbutton his shirt. However, he was struggling as his hands were shaking too much. Paul helped him unbutton instead.

"I've never seen the symptoms become this serious… I'm sorry, Paul-ssi, but could you get some water? I'd also like a towel, please."

Paul nodded and handed over what he needed. Morris gently wiped Alec's face with a careful touch.

"Oppa will be alright. He'll get back up healthy again, just as always." Anne wrapped an arm around Morris’s shoulders. However, Morris couldn't hold back his tears any longer when he heard her comfort.

"I'm sorry, Alec. I was all wrong… Without you, I'm… "

"How's the patient?"

Just then, the doctor arrived with the boss. He was wearing a white gown and carrying a large leather bag in one hand, ironically resembling a living skeleton.

"He's still unconscious. Unlike usual, the convulsions were severe and he was even foaming at the mouth."

In response to Morris's reply, the doctor lowered his bone bag and pulled out the examination tools. Morris watched Alec, who was motionless during the examination and held back his tears, his shoulders moving up and down.

"Thank you, Paul-ssi…"

Paul wanted to offer words of comfort, but he couldn't say anything due to his poor knowledge of the demon language. Instead, he carefully held Morris's hands with his warm hands.

After a moment, the skeleton doctor gave his diagnosis. "Fortunately, there are no abnormalities other than minor bruises he got from falling. The mana flowing from his body has stabilized as well." He continued as he put his examination tools back, "It seems he experienced a sudden amount of stress that he couldn't handle."

"Stress…? But we were having a wedding…?"

When Paul asked through the boss, the skeleton doctor turned his head and looked at Paul with empty eyes.

"The cause of stress varies for each individual. Something that may be a happy event for someone could be a difficult one for another."

"Then what should we do now?"

In response to Morris's question, the doctor raised his three bony fingers. "First, stability. Second, stability. Third, stability. Don't ever let him stress out. He got lucky this time, but it could be a much more serious situation next time."

The skeleton doctor gave this piece of advice before leaving the bookshop.

"Alex, are you awake?!"

"Morris…"

It took a while before Alec finally regained consciousness. However, he couldn't get up right away after opening his eyes.

"I'm sorry… I screwed everything up. How could I ruin the wedding we had prepared for…"

"It's alright. Don't say things like that. It's not your fault."

Morris held Alec's hand and interlocked their fingers habitually. Then, the low voice of the boss who had been watching them from behind chimed in. "Now it's time to reveal the truth."

The boss stood leaning on the podium with an expressionless face, his arms folded. He went on slowly.

"Same-sex marriage is strictly prohibited in this country. It's a law directly mandated by the queen herself, so you could be sentenced to death if you violate it. Perhaps that's why you set up a false bride. Am I wrong?"

He turned to Anne as he spoke. Startled, her eyes shook slightly.

"Fomor-nim! What do you mean? We're not in that kind of relationship at all. Say something, too, Morris!" Alec, who was lying down, quickly pulled his hand away from Morris's grip. However, the words that came out of Morris's mouth were different from what Alec had hoped for.

"Alex… that's enough… Let's stop lying. I don't want to make you collapse like this anymore."

"Morris! What do you mean?! I-I was just a little tired, that's all."

Morris leaned in and Alec on the back of his hand as if to calm him down. Finally, he admitted everything. "Yes, as you said, Alec and I are in love. Despite being a same-sex couple, we still desire to hold our wedding ceremony. We dared to deceive you, Fomor-nim. I'd like to apologize."

Alec closed his eyes and looked resigned upon Morris's confession.

"No, it was all my plan. You guys have done nothing wrong except for loving each other. I'll pay for my actions, so please spare them, sob…"

"We have committed a grave sin, Fomor-nim! But please punish only me. I'll accept any punishment."

Anne, who was crying, and Morris begged the boss. Paul was speechless at the sight of the bride in a wedding dress and groom in a tuxedo prostrating themselves at the boss's feet and trembling.

"Who are the demons who contributed the most to the establishment of this country?"

As the boss asked out of nowhere, Morris answered while lying prostrate. "It's the Fomors."

"You know it well."

The air around the boss gradually grew heavier. It was as if an invisible dark energy was emanating from his body.

"Yet you dare try to outsmart the law of this country in front of me."

Morris's body rose into the air as the boss flicked his finger.

"Tell me Article 1, Paragraph 1 of this country's law."

"Those who violate the law… shall be punished… accordingly…" Morris barely managed to speak out in agony upon the boss's order.

"Right. Therefore, all of you deserve to die here."

"Please, boss! Can't you forgive them just this once? We have a patient here, too!" Paul, who was watching anxiously, stopped the boss. As he grabbed the boss's sleeve, the heavy air around him quickly calmed down.

"You're lucky this time. I don't care about the law or punishment, especially if it's something ordered by the queen."

Morris fell to the floor at the same time as he said. He looked up in amazement and asked. "F-Fomor-nim, does that mean you will spare us?"

"Yes. Instead of executing you, it seems like this wedding will be more interesting."

The boss looked at Alec this time. "Can you stand up?"

"Yes? Yes! Of course!"

Anne rushed to help Alec as he stumbled while trying to get up from his seat.

"There's no need to rush. We'll continue with the ceremony once the preparations are done."

"Thank you, Fomor-nim! Thank you so much! I will never forget this grace for the rest of my life!"

The boss raised his hand as if to say it was nothing. He calmly picked up <A Collection of Wedding Officiant Speech> again like nothing had happened.

A little while later, Alec regained his vitality and stood in front of the podium with Morris supporting him. Anne had taken off her veil and was sitting at the table, watching the two demons.

After a brief congratulatory speech, the boss asked Morris and Alec, the two young men. "I'll ask again."

"Regardless of whether the weather is good, moderate, or bad, do you swear to love each other?"

"I do!"

"I do."

The two demons answered in unison as if they had rehearsed it before.

"You know that you must keep the oath you made in front of a Fomor until death do you apart, right?"

"I do!"

"I do."

The demons answered together once again.

Now it was time for them to exchange the wedding rings they had prepared. However, the ring prepared for Anne couldn't fit Alec.

"It's okay. It's a ring that I won't be able to wear anyway."

Morris knelt down on one knee and kissed his ring finger instead of putting the ring on Alec.

All the doubts were finally solved. Over the past few days, Morris and Alec had exchanged loving glances. Now, Paul finally felt relieved to see the two demons look at each other and interlock their fingers without hesitation.

The event prepared by Paul was carried out late due to the boss changing the order. He had initially planned to reenact their first meeting.

"There was only one volume left of all things in that bookshop."

"We both reached out to grab that book. That's how our hands touched."

"At that moment, I felt a tingling sensation like electricity was running through me."

"What? You too? I felt the same thing!"

"Oppa, wasn't that just static? It was dry weather then."

Paul smiled slightly as he looked at the book they had brought to recreate that moment. It was a book that he knew well. <Superhero> was a popular series among the demons who liked the action genre. Who would have thought that a comic book would bring these two together?

The second event was throwing a book instead of a bouquet.

"I'm throwing!"

Morris threw the book he was holding. However, his strength control was misaligned and the book flew in a completely different direction. Not to Anne, who had her hands open, but to Paul who was watching quietly. The boss quickly used magic to lower it slowly onto Paul's hands, preventing him from getting hurt.

"Wow! I got it! But can I really accept this…?

When Paul asked in a voice filled with half joy and half fluster, Anne, who received the translation through the boss, smiled and replied that it was okay. Alec interrupted in an excited voice.

"Anne, you didn't get the book, but how about having your wedding here?"

"I'd love to~! I want to marry a handsome demon like Fomor-nim! Do you happen to have a girlfriend, Fomor-nim?" Anne, who forgot that she had begged him earlier, asked innocently. As expected, she had no protection against the boss's handsome appearance.

"Wouldn't he already get married? I don't think anyone would just leave him alone like that."

Paul listened to their conversation and felt a strange feeling in his chest. The boss replied, glancing briefly at Paul's knitted eyebrows. "I don't have a girlfriend and I'm not married. Anne, think about it more after you're a little older."

"Really? Did you hear that? I'm such a demon~"

"Fomor-nim is saying this out of courtesy. Anyone can tell Fomor-nim is too good for you."

"I do know Fomor-nim would be wasted on me, but does oppa know that Morris-oppa is much~ more wasted on you? Especially when your mustache looks so tasteless."

"Hey! You're picking on my mustache? You've offended a man's pride!"

The boss, who was watching Anne and Alec bicker like siblings, lightly poked Paul's forehead with his index finger. "Paul, It's just a joke. Why are you frowning?"

"…I just had a headache thinking that we have to prepare a wedding for those two again." Paul turned his head sulkily, "Don't worry about me."

Paul, who was pouting, went straight into the kitchen. Anne was taken aback by his reaction and rubbed her nape. "What's wrong with Paul-ssi all of a sudden? Did I say something wrong?"

"…."

The boss was also a little taken aback and didn't say anything. Only Morris and Alec noticed Paul's mood and exchanged glances.

'Ah… why did I do that? I was jealous for no reason and ruined the mood.'

Paul paced around the kitchen with embarrassment. Then, the large box that Pablo had brought came into his line of sight. Having a good idea, he murmured and took the box out to the bookshop.

"Are you all surprised? It was actually a surprise show to present this to you!"

Paul opened the box in front of everyone. Then, the demons exclaimed one by one.

"It's a specially made three-layer wedding cake!"

The first layer at the bottom was in the shape of a large book, the second layer above it was in the shape of a smaller book, and the third layer on top was in the shape of an open book. At first glance, this cake looked like actual books stacked on top of each other. It was like it had been made by a skilled pastry chef.

"I've never seen such a wonderful wedding cake in my life. Thank you very much, Fomor-nim!"

"I only paid for the gold. Paul prepared everything from start to finish, so thank him."

"Thank you, Paul-ssi!" Morris, who was moved by the customised gift, bowed his head and thanked Paul. 

Paul handed over a large knife that was included in the box. "Aren't you curious about the taste of a book-shaped cake? Please cut it together with Alec-nim!"

When Paul made a gesture to cut the cake, Morris and Alec understood and reached out to grab the knife. They moved their hands, which were holding onto each other, to cut the book-shaped cake.

"Boss, now!"

'Boom! Boom! Boom!'

Upon Paul's words, the boss used his magic to set off confetti in the air. Morris and Alec were surprised at first, but soon smiled and faced each other.

"I love you, Alec. I'll try my best to make sure you never fall down for the rest of your life."

"Don't worry. Even if I fall down, I know you'll be by my side for me. I love you, too."

They kissed in front of everyone.

The road that the two demons had taken so far must have been filled with thorns because of their same-sex relationship, but Paul hoped they could walk on a path filled with flowers from now on.

Next to him, the boss was applauding with an expressionless face. Paul also clapped along and smiled brightly, forgetting that he had been sulking.

***

The next morning, Paul woke up in the boss's big, fluffy bed. The boss had switched places with him again today. He chuckled at the boss's stubbornness and put on the glasses at his bedside.

'Don't people usually lose sleep in the morning as they get older? Our boss sometimes seems like a child in this aspect.'

Paul squatted down and watched the boss sleep on the sofa. He waved his palm in front of his closed eyes, but there was no response as if he had fallen into a deep sleep to the extent that he wouldn't know if someone carried him up. Of course, no one would dare to carry a Fomor anyway.

Paul got up stretching after properly folding his blanket. Then he suddenly remembered what had happened yesterday and sat down in front of him again.

"Wow~ did you prepare all of this for us? You're amazing, Paul-ssi!"

After the end of all events yesterday, Paul set a table for the main characters. The boss had said he would order a buffet, but Paul had asked to leave it to him. He had put his heart and soul more than ever into preparing the food. A delicious smell rose from the large pot, spreading throughout the bookshop.

"Galbi stew is a must for a wedding! There's a lot so please eat as much as you want. Especially the grooms, since today is your special day."

"Well then, we'll eat the food gratefully."

"We'll enjoy it, Paul-ssi."

Morris and Alec exclaimed after tasting Paul's special Wang-Galbi stew.

T/N: 왕갈비 (Wang-Galbi, lit. king ribs) is Korean barbecued short ribs.

https://cdn.gamtantimes.com/news/photo/old/file/life01/1925820072_or4xVmyz_B0A5BAF1.jpg

"Wow… It's really…!"

"You're amazing, Paul-ssi!"

"This deep and refreshing flavor. And the ribs were cooked just right to be so tender. Paul-ssi, would you like to open a Galbi stew speciality restaurant with me?" Anne asked while holding Paul's hands with a serious expression. He smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

They talked about various topics over the meal. With a newlywed couple, the topic of love naturally became the main topic.

"By the way, Paul-ssi, do you have someone in your heart?"

When Alec asked, Paul looked at the boss with a slightly flushed face. The boss was indifferent. It was unknown whether he knew Paul was looking at him or not, and just ate the cake that came out as a dessert. 

As Paul continued to hesitate, Alec said with a smile. "I think I already know without you saying anything. Please be brave and try to confess, Paul-ssi."

Morris also chipped in while holding Alec's hand.

"Yes. If we hadn't had the courage that day, wouldn't we have remained demons who had passed each other without knowing each other's name?"

"And someone gentle like Paul-ssi will surely be loved by anyone."

So now Paul decided to gather his courage.

He won't wake up, right…? Paul cautiously approached the boss's face. Then, he slightly pressed his lips against his thick lips.

‘Stealing a kiss. I didn't expect to do something I had only read in romance novels.’

'Whoa!'

The boss changed his posture as if feeling uncomfortable somewhere, causing Paul to fall onto him. Fortunately, the boss was breathing evenly with his eyes closed.

'You scared me… I thought he was waking up again…'

Paul just kissed him for a moment, but he felt like a real thief, so he got up as if he were running away.

"Paul."

At that moment, the boss's low voice called out to Paul. Surprised, Paul's body froze on the spot.

"What were you doing just now?"

"Oh… Boss, this… You see… Well…"

Paul's words came out in broken fragments in response to the boss's question. Then the boss pulled his arm forcefully, causing his thin body to wobble and fall onto the boss's lying body.

'Meow!'

Lego had been sleeping at the boss's feet and was surprised by the sudden shaking and jumped off the sofa. The boss, who had just woken up, asked in a drowsy voice. 

"Is that all?"

He slowly took off the glasses that Paul was wearing and put them on the floor.

"It's no fun if it ends like that."

The boss lightly touched Paul's cheek with his hand, gently brushing his red lips with his thumb. Suddenly, his lips covered Paul's without warning.

"Ah…?!"

Surprised, Paul opened his mouth slightly, and the boss's tongue entered his mouth as if he had been waiting for it. His tongue explored Paul's mouth, tasting everything from the roof of his mouth to his soft gums. Paul became short of breath as his tongue tangled with his own. It seemed as if the air in the room suddenly became hot.

After some time, the boss suddenly released his lips and turned his head. Paul, who wasn't satisfied yet, unconsciously approached the direction where the boss turned. The boss slightly lifted the corner of his mouth and turned his head in the opposite direction. Paul also followed in the direction he turned. Then, he suddenly turned his head again.

"…?"

Paul blinked his eyes, dumbfounded by the boss's prank. At that moment, the boss changed his position in an instant. Paul was now under him unlike when they first kissed.

"B-boss, wait a minute."

The boss began to unbutton Paul's pyjamas from the top as if to take them off. Then, Paul's body trembled visibly. The boss, who was watching Paul's tense expression, soon withdrew his hand and gently ruffled his curly hair instead of taking off his clothes.

Feeling his playful touch, Paul summoned up his courage once again and spoke.

"I like you, boss."

"…."

"What about you?"

"…."

However, he kept fiddling with Paul's head with his large hand and didn't respond.