"All right, since you've already made up your mind," Margaret sighed.
As long as her daughter wasn't taken from her too soon, she had no major objections.
Besides, she was smart enough to catch something in Josh's words—Carol's role was symbolic only until she came of age.
And after that?
Margaret glanced at Josh—her husband seemed to have more and more secrets.
And so, just like that, the throne of the soon-to-be-established Austrian United Kingdom was casually decided.
Of course, the actual formation of the kingdom was still in progress, and it would take another year or two before it was officially established.
For now, the most important thing was Josh and Margaret's wedding.
Leisurely days passed quickly.
Before they knew it, the wedding day had arrived.
With Pope Pius XII officiating and over 3,000 guests in attendance, Josh and Margaret successfully completed their vows and wedding ceremony and officially became husband and wife.
Mike and Carol, of course, served as flower boy and girl.
At first, Josh had invited the pope as a formality, not expecting much. If he declined, an Austrian bishop could perform the ceremony instead.
After all, the Pope's presence added prestige.
But to his surprise, Pope Pius XII readily accepted.
The idea that Catholicism forbids premarital relations was conveniently ignored by everyone present—including Pope Pius XII, who officiated the wedding.
After all, such things weren't uncommon among European aristocrats, even those who still adhered to Catholic traditions.
To ensure that this momentous occasion would be properly documented, Josh had arranged well in advance for a shipment of state-of-the-art digital cameras from Yuri to capture every detail of the wedding.
"Hmph, these gadgets are pretty good. Keep it up, Josh!"
In a quiet corner of the wedding hall, a figure dressed in a saffron robe stood out among the guests. As she watched the couple exchange their vows, she kept stuffing pastries into her mouth and muttering to herself.
Yet strangely, no one seemed to notice her presence.
Who else could she be but the Ancient One?
————————
Once the wedding concluded, the guests marveled at its splendor and extravagance before departing from Schwangau, returning to their own lives.
As for Josh and Margaret, they had no plans to leave so soon.
Since they were already in Europe, why not stay a little longer?
And of course, a honeymoon was a must—even though, counting their time on the cruise and the month at Neuschwanstein Castle, they had already spent nearly two months glued to each other.
But that was before the wedding.
Now that they were officially married, it was different. No argument.
However, Josh hadn't expected their honeymoon to be cut short halfway through.
There was nothing he could do about it. After all his diligent efforts, there had to be results.
Yes, Margaret was pregnant again.
Unlike in the U.S., where pregnancy tests still relied on outdated biological methods, Neuschwanstein Castle was equipped with advanced medical equipment provided by Yuri.
So when Margaret felt a little nauseous, a quick check confirmed that she was already over a month along.
In another eight months, the Kahn family would welcome a new member.
It was a joyous occasion, of course.
And for Josh, the day held another reason for celebration—his Dimensional Trading System had finally refreshed for its annual update.
A double blessing!
That night, after sending the two little troublemakers back to their rooms and making sure his wife was sound asleep, Josh locked himself in his study.
"So what kind of world is it going to be this time?" he murmured, gazing expectantly at the system screen.
Soon, the screen shifted to reveal a highly modernized, almost futuristic office space.
Josh's eyes lit up—clearly, this was a high-tech world.
Shortly after, a middle-aged man in a tailored suit appeared on the screen, further confirming Josh's suspicions.
"A Dimensional Trading System ? If I'm not mistaken, this isn't April Fool's Day," the man said, leaning back in his large office chair and eyeing Josh with a skeptical frown.
"Of course not. Today is your lucky day. I'm Josh Kahn. And you are?" Josh answered with a businesslike smile.
"Lawrence Robertson. So, Mr. Kahn from another dimension, what exactly can you offer me through this system?" the man replied with an equally polished smile.
No doubt, this man was a businessman.
And Josh found him somewhat familiar.
"No need to get ahead of ourselves, Mr. Robertson. Let's establish some basic facts first. Are you on Earth?" Josh asked calmly.
"Of course I am. Why? Are you saying you are too?" Lawrence asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, but I suspect we're from different eras—possibly even different historical timelines. You're in the 21st century?" Josh inquired.
"That's correct. The year here is 2035," Lawrence confirmed. "And you?"
"1948," Josh replied with a smile.
"Oh? I think we'll have a lot to talk about," Lawrence's eyes lit up with excitement.
As the richest man in his world, he wasn't one to be easily fooled.
He immediately grasped the advantage of a time gap between two worlds.
But before he could speak, Josh raised his hand.
With a whoosh, a massive fireball materialized in his palm.
Lawrence's eyes widened in shock.
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