Chapter 667: Wedding Ceremony (1)
More guests entered the wedding venue and a cheerful servant would come to escort them to their assigned seats.
While the guests were being ushered to their seats, Sam Bartadamen, the officiant, walked solemnly down the aisle in ceremonial bishop’s robes.
It has been a while since I last wore these clothes.
He felt a mixture of emotions as he walked toward the stage.
Some guests actively greeted him as he passed by their seats. Although he had already retired as a bishop, he still held some authority in the church.
"You look great in those robes, Reverend Sam!"
"You are looking younger today, Reverend!"
To these enthusiastic praises, Sam chuckled.
As soon as he stepped onto the stage, the crowd quieted down to give him some respect.
The former bishop cleared his throat and looked at the gathered crowd.
Many important personages were invited to today’s event. Officials from smaller nations, princes from neighboring empires, and Venerables with high authority were among the guests.
These were high and mighty individuals who were rarely seen in public, but here they were, obediently waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Only Her Majesty has the power to gather all these people...
Sam sighed internally.
Suddenly, a commotion was heard at the entrance as the groom entered with his entourage.
Dressed in gold and red wedding attire, Alaric exuded an effortless noble temperament. His every step and movement displayed a unique charm that awed the crowd.
"Whoa! Is that the groom?"
"He looks amazing!"
Seated in the front row, a king from a small nation mumbled in surprise. "So that’s Alaric Silversword! He is quite the charming young prince. No wonder he was able to move the heart of Yskaela Veronica."
The people seated next to him nodded in agreement. Even the arrogant young lords of the various martial and noble houses didn’t dare claim that they were more handsome than Alaric.
Meanwhile, Lucas Silversword, Jade Kristine Astania, and Maria Keller who were following their son, felt immensely proud.
"Hold your head high. We cannot embarrass ourselves in front of the guests." Lucas whispered to his wives.
...
Namgung Ilsun looked at the young prince who was confidently walking along the isle, his aged face displaying a complex expression.
Alaric... He looks much younger than I thought.
How did someone so young manage to get an expert like Lord Bellator? Is he hiding a deep secret?
Although he held resentment toward this young prince, there was a blooming curiosity within him.
As if sensing his gaze, Alaric looked at the Carefree Duke and let out a radiant smile.
A playful grin hung on his face as he approached the old official.
"It’s good to see you, Lord Duke!" Alaric offered him a greeting followed by a light bow. It was a standard courtesy shown to the older generation.
Seeing this, the crowd looked on with great interest, wondering how the Carefree Duke would react.
The smarter people could sense the sarcasm in Alaric’s voice. They believed that he was trying to assert his dominance over the old duke.
Namgung Ilsun didn’t expect Alaric to be this brazen, but he didn’t feel offended by his antics.
"Your Highness, you are the most impressive person in the younger generation. You have my utmost respect." The old duke squeezed out a smile.
"I want to stand up and shake hands with you, but as you can see, this old man is not in the best state to move around." While saying this, he stretched out his hand, staring at him with anticipation.
Will you dare to shake my hand, young man? Let’s see if that bravery is just false bravado.
Bellator, and a few other warriors were about to interfere, when they noticed Alaric signaling at them with his hand to back off.
The crowd watched nervously as they waited for Alaric to respond.
To everyone’s amazement, Alaric stepped forward, grabbed the old duke’s hand, and gave it a gentle shake. He then leaned forward and whispered in a voice that was just enough for the old man to hear.
"Lord Duke, I know we started as enemies, but there is no eternal enemy. If you bend those old knees, I will take you to the vast world and give you the chance to make up for your mistakes."
"This is your last chance. Yskaela may have been lenient with you, but I’m different from her."
With that warning, Alaric smiled and gave the old duke a friendly shoulder tap.
Namgung Ilsun felt an unusual stir in his heart upon hearing his words. He grabbed his chest and muttered to himself.
To think that a young man could actually cause a stir in my old heart...
At that exact moment, a thought emerged in his mind.
Should I trust him?
Alaric was unaware that his casual words had left the old duke feeling conflicted.
He waved at the guests and walked toward the stage, beaming at Sam Bartadamen.
"You look amazing, Your Highness!" The former bishop praised with a cordial smile.
"You too, Reverend Sam."
"Oh please! I’m no longer a bishop of the church. Your Highness can just call me by my name." Sam corrected him with a chuckle.
Alaric shook his head and replied. "You may have retired, but you are still a faithful follower of Aru. You deserve this title, Reverend."
As the two exchanged pleasantries, there was an abrupt change to the background music.
A sharp switch in tone was made as the bride made her grand entrance together with her entourage.
The crowd’s attention quickly shifted.
Everyone stared at the empress who was dressed in a gorgeous red and gold gown adorned with sparkling jewelry and precious spiritual crystals.
Her presence wowed the entire venue. They were dumbstruck by her beauty and elegance.
"The Great Ruler of Veronica, Her Majesty Yskaela Veronica!" Bai Seol-hwa announced, a signal for the guests to stand and offer their respects to the empress.
Under everyone’s respectful gazes, Yskeala walked along the isle, staring at Alaric with a faint smile.
