Episode 243
The Wedding.
No matter how many times you hear it, the word always evokes a sense of freshness and the opening of a new chapter in life.
Reflecting on it, I’ve attended weddings, but I’ve never been the one to bestow blessings or officiate at someone else’s ceremony.
In the past, there was no reason for it, and now, given my current status, no one dares to ask me for such a favor.
In that sense, Fatima’s wedding was a novel experience for me.
After much deliberation, it was decided that the wedding would take place in Jerusalem, not Damascus.
Given that both are devout believers, the idea of getting married in the Holy Land must have been a dream come true for them.
Nasr, perhaps feeling a bit inspired by his sister’s marriage, decided to include all the organization’s leaders on the guest list.
A wedding attended by the leaders of Alamut and the Syrian Assassins en masse—it’s hard to imagine a more formidable guest list at any wedding I’ve ever heard of.
Of course, I’m the only one who knows they’re Assassins, which makes the scene all the more surreal.
Whether she knows my thoughts or not, Fatima, now a bride in the Holy Land, greeted me with more excitement than ever.
“A pleasure to see you, Apostle!”
“Ah, yes. You look well, I’m glad.”
“All thanks to your grace, Apostle. Honestly, I never expected you to do so much for me. I’m truly grateful.”
“As I told Nasr, it’s only right to do this much for your wedding. If I didn’t, it would mean my humanity is lacking.”
“No, no. Even so, there’s a clear line between public and private matters…”
Sometimes, excessive loyalty can be a bit of a headache. A simple thank you and acceptance of goodwill would suffice.
“By the way, does your husband know what you do?”
“Of course not. I have no intention of telling him.”
“But can you really keep it a secret forever?”
“It’s possible. There are others in the organization who have families. I’ve received advice from them, and it doesn’t seem too difficult.”
True, there are modern agents who keep their identities secret from their families while carrying out covert missions. It’s a similar situation.
“Still, there might be times when you have to move to another country. That could be difficult. It would also interfere with your duties as my bodyguard, so I’ll speak to Nasr about finding you a new position that won’t inconvenience you…”
“What do you mean, Apostle? Did I make a mistake?”
“No… what are you talking about? Even if you can make excuses for overseas missions, you’re now a married woman. Surely you don’t expect me to keep a married woman as my constant bodyguard?”
Given the nature of the job, you’d be with me almost 24/7. It was one thing when you were a child serving me, but now that you’re married, it seems inappropriate.
Of course, no one would think I’m interested in a married woman, but the optics aren’t great.
If I were Fatima’s husband, I wouldn’t be thrilled about it either.
Especially since he’s a devoted follower of mine, I should be even more considerate.
“My husband would consider it an honor if I told him I was serving you, Apostle. He’d probably boast about it to everyone. He’s always envied my position by your side.”
“Serving me isn’t the issue. But being with me 24/7 would raise eyebrows. If I were your husband, I’d be a bit uneasy.”
”…Should I get a divorce?”
No, no, this young lady was just so excited about getting married, and now it feels like I’m the one doing something wrong.
“No, no. Let’s find a practical compromise. How about you handle the usual bodyguard duties but skip the 24/7 part? Would that work?”
”…Yes, that would be fine.”
“And once the current schedule wraps up, I’ll mostly be in Constantinople, so you won’t have to travel much. Let your husband know that.”
“Yes.”
For someone like Fatima’s husband, it might be okay to tell him roughly what she does, but that decision can wait a few more years.
“Come to think of it, once we return, it might be best to elevate your status in Constantinople, perhaps as head maid or something similar. That way, your husband and his acquaintances won’t find it odd that you’re often with me.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“It’s not just consideration; it’s a practical measure. Honestly, there aren’t many who can protect me as efficiently without drawing suspicion as you can.”
Her skills are one thing, but the fact that she’s a woman and doesn’t attract attention is a unique advantage that’s hard to replace.
There’s no one more suited for secret missions, so I hope she continues to excel in her role.
Especially as my position rises, security will become even more crucial. While I have no doubts about the Assassins’ loyalty, having someone familiar nearby is reassuring.
“At least I won’t have to hear ‘Should I kill them?’ as often anymore, which is a relief.”
“That’s because the audacious ones who dare to be rude in front of you, Apostle, are disappearing, not because of my marriage. It’s unfair!”
“Well, you might be right.”
In the beginning, her constant ‘Should I kill them?’ was a real headache, but now it’s just a memory.
Not that I miss it, but thinking there won’t be any more of those moments feels bittersweet… or maybe not.
Such thoughts often become self-fulfilling prophecies, so it’s best to clear my mind.
Ah, refreshing.
The news of a grand wedding in Jerusalem spread far and wide.
After all, it was a wedding organized by none other than Apostle Edward Marshall.
Though it wasn’t his own or a family member’s wedding, the fact that it was for a maid who had served him for a long time drew significant attention.
Typically, a maid’s status is determined by the rank of the person they serve.
A king’s servant is usually a high-ranking noble, so a maid serving Marshall would be of no less stature than a great noble.
In fact, considering she serves the Apostle directly, her position might be more esteemed than that of royalty.
Moreover, it wasn’t just a blessing; the Apostle himself was hosting the wedding.
People flocked to Jerusalem, hoping to attend the wedding as guests.
Of course, not everyone had good intentions.
Some, who had been biding their time, saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Brothers, the time has finally come.”
“It’s been a long wait. We’ve tried to find an opening, but it was impossible. This time, we’re truly fortunate.”
“If we miss this chance, who knows when another will come? We must act now.”
These were the radical activists of the dwindling Jewish faith.
To the extreme sects, who could rival the zealots of old, Marshall was a blasphemer who deserved nothing less than death.
Christianity and Islam had already been swayed, and even within Judaism, many were beginning to acknowledge him, moving towards a unified world religion.
If things continued for just ten more years, the ancient traditions of Judaism might be uprooted and vanish.
“This is a crisis. An unprecedented crisis.”
“Many rabbis who attended the last council are now preaching that Marshall’s words have merit. Can you believe it?”
“It’s unbelievable. And this insane trend is accelerating. Recently, they decided to officially nullify the title of Caliph in Islam.”
“The same goes for the Pope in Christianity. I’ve heard they’re changing titles to something like Supreme Priest of Italy, Africa, Asia, and so on.”
The complete unification of religions is undoubtedly a dangerous trend.
The fear that it might be a threat in ten years could be wrong.
At this rate, it might only take five years for the situation to become irreversible.
“The only way to stop this madness is clear.”
“We should have done this from the start.”
“We wanted to, but there was never an opportunity. Every time like-minded comrades tried, they were discovered beforehand.”
“This time is different. We’ve secured a spot as guests at the wedding, so we can make our move there.”
Their goal was singular.
To eliminate Marshall, the religious adversary threatening Judaism from its roots.
That was their sole desire.
Attempts had been made before, as mentioned several times.
Some impatient brothers had taken up arms, determined to kill Marshall.
But none succeeded, and few even got close enough to see his face.
Most were caught by security or mysteriously disappeared without a trace.
It was undoubtedly the work of the detestable Marshall.
“The reason we’ve failed so far is obvious. We tried to kill him and escape. If we go in with the resolve to die after stabbing him, there will surely be an opportunity.”
“I’ve scouted the wedding venue, and it’s quite open. If we all rush in, at least one of us will reach Marshall and deliver judgment.”
“Indeed, he won’t be surrounded by guards while giving a blessing at a wedding.”
They had abolished the Caliph and the Pope, so what would be their next target?
With the perfect fusion of Christianity and Islam now complete, it’s almost certain that Judaism will be next.
However, if we charge in with the resolve to fight to the last and take down Marshall, at least Judaism might remain intact, avoiding the tainted flood of corruption.
“Everyone, thank you for everything up to now.”
“Yes, we are the last bastion of pride left in Judaism. It has been an honor to stand with you.”
“May divine retribution fall upon Marshall, who has defiled the name of God!”
“Divine retribution!”
The few remaining members of the resistance raised their glasses high, steeling themselves for the final stand.
With our lives, we will cleanse this world of the devil’s power that defiles it.
Their eyes gleamed with unwavering determination as they drained their glasses, as if failure was not even a consideration.