Chapter 605: Chapter 167: The Wedding Begins_5
Despite the absence of the Fire Phoenix, the two women did not fall. Instead, the girl floated down gently with the matron’s hands in her own, enveloped by a golden radiance. Ballon’s gaze remained riveted on the maiden’s delicate figure, a blazing fervor intensifying in his eyes. His hands were clenched tightly into fists, oblivious to the perspiration soaking his palms.
"White Robe Priestess Nasa, Red Priestess Xuan Yue, pay their respects to His Holiness the Pope." The almost identical melodious voices resonated. All the clerical staff reciting the Prayer Charms could not help but pause, joy evident in their eyes.
The Pope gazed at his granddaughter clad in a white dress, nodded, and said, "There is no need for further formalities."
After Nasa and Xuan Yue had taken their places, Mang Siu announced loudly, "The betrothed are here, the families of both parties are requested to come on stage to observe the ceremony."
Xuan Ye, emerging from behind the Light Altar, ascended the stage, bowing to the Pope before standing next to Nasa. With his daughter about to be wedded, he inevitably felt a pang of melancholy. Turning to look at his wife, Nasa gently placed her small hand in his as they exchanged a tender glance. Over twenty years ago, they had been wedded here too! This scene took them back to that moment in the past.
At this moment, Ballon also ascended the stage with his wife Luo Shui. After paying their respects to the Pope, they stood next to their son. Their faces held barely concealed joy - their son was about to be wedded, and the bride was no less than the Pope’s granddaughter. How could they not feel happy? Ballon patted his son’s shoulder, indicating to him to not be overly excited.
Mang Siu said with a smile, "The betrothed and their families are all present. Now, the Holy Pope himself will preside over the sacred wedding ceremony. The parents of the betrothed are requested to lead them forward."
Without needing his parents’ guidance, Ballon rushed towards the Pope. Ballon’s father sighed helplessly - his son was even more anxious than he had been when he married Luo Shui. Standing three meters behind him with his wife, he watched his son’s upright figure and felt a surge of pride.
Xuan Ye signaled to his daughter to step forward, but to his surprise, Xuan Yue was rooted to the spot, her delicate body trembling slightly.
Nasa also noticed her daughter’s abnormality. She knew that Yue Yue must have thought of Ah Dai again. But how could she back down before the public’s scrutiny? In a low voice, she said quickly, "Yue Yue, you have to step forward."
Xuan Yue’s body continued to tremble. She could only step forward before the Pope with the support of Xuan Ye and Nasa. Her mind had already become blank - not knowing what to do, she could only force herself to hold back her tears.
Nasa and Xuan Ye withdrew their hands as they felt their daughter’s complex emotions, worry written clearly on their faces. Ballon and Luo Shui naturally noticed Xuan Yue’s discomfort, both frowning in disagreement and dissatisfaction towards their future daughter-in-law. Ballon didn’t notice anything, he was on the verge of marrying his beloved. His heart was full of nothing but excitement and love.
The people below the stage had started to grow tense too. They knew that once Xuan Yue and Ballon completed the ceremony under the Pope’s auspices, they would officially become a married couple. Ah Dai would lose all legal and emotional chances to get Xuan Yue. The most anxious was Xi Wen. Even though they had discussed a plan last night, their strategies would only work if Ah Dai appeared in time to stop the wedding. Yet, Ah Dai was still nowhere to be seen. Were they going to let Xuan Yue marry Ballon? They absolutely did not want to see that happening.
The Pope looked at the couple before him, a complex swirl of emotions in his eyes. By all accounts, he did not want his granddaughter to marry Ballon, but it was already too late for him to stop it. The wedding had been public, and it was already too late to back down. He sighed softly. Watching Ballon and Xuan Yue, standing shoulder to shoulder, he raised both hands, manipulating two golden symbols to float above their heads. In a low voice, he said, "Witnessed by the Sky God, I, Pope Xuan Di, will preside over your wedding ceremony. May the Sky God bless you." Turning to Ballon, the Pope asked, "Ballon, as a Judge of Light, are you willing to devote your life to the sacred cause?"
