Darkhelm Castle gleamed like a new bride.
Garlands of white and silver draped the stone walls, lanterns casting a soft golden glow across the great hall.
How could it be otherwise, when today marked the long-awaited wedding of Knight Commander Raymond Eldritch and the greatest Alchemist of their age, Allen?
Allen had no family by blood, yet he might have been the luckiest man alive.
The two northern lords had taken him as one of their own kin after the great war ended.
It had been three months since they returned to Darkhelm Capital. Many things needed to be taken care of, like reimbursing the families of fallen soldiers.
However, when Xion heard Ray proposing to Allen, he was quick to arrange everything.
Perhaps deep down, they all wanted a joyous occasion after losing so many in the war, including General Berry.
Hence, now the hall overflowed with nobles, soldiers, and friends gathered to celebrate him.
The Eldritch family was at the center, receiving praise for their son’s marvelous work on the battlefield, and also for managing to marry the great Allen.
With them stood little Aurilius Eldritch. The boy looked pretty with his silver hair and shiny blue eyes, almost similar to Ray’s.
Like a little snow fairy.
Funnily, none of them noticed that Aurilius had been using mana magic to change his appearance.
Only when they returned to their home did they see his real face.
The boy who was afraid to show his beauty to the heinous world now stood with the elders who flanked him from all sides, giving him food and drink, their faces alight with adoring smiles.
How could they not adore him when Aurilius was the youngest in the family?
Father Eldritch’s smile never thinned, while the lady of the house couldn’t help but shed tears of joy as she gently patted Aurilius’s head.
Xion, still quite weak from his sudden mana manifestation, leaned against Darius.
They were sitting on the higher floor where none of the others were allowed to enter.
"It’s nice," Xion murmured, looking at the happiness of the entire Eldritch family. "Ray is lucky to have a family like that."
"Allen, too," Darius said.
Xion chuckled. "How can you praise yourself like this?"
Instead of directly answering, Darius pulled Xion onto his lap and kissed him.
"Because I am right."
Xion ignored him because the bells rang, indicating the start of the ceremony.
Ray and Allen were dressed in beautiful blue ceremonial robes, making them look like the biggest stars in the sky.
The knight commander was standing straight, but with how Allen’s eyes looked so warm with a smile, he was definitely nervous.
At the center of the raised platform stood Nazia, smiling broadly as she prepared to read the vows.
"Today, before the eyes of our ancestors, of sky and earth, of water and stone, of air and soul—we are gathered for the life-binding of these two hearts."
The noble guests and the two grooms bowed their heads, paying their reverence to the five elements of the living things, and then the second bow for the ancestors watching over them.
All of it reminded Xion of Serena.
Serena had read the vows at their wedding just like Nazia.
If it weren’t for the diary she left behind, Xion would have been much more troubled.
She was under Michael’s control from the very beginning. However, Michael merely asked her to keep an eye on Xion.
When she would report it back, Michael would make her forget everything.
All her love and care had been genuine.
The way she would tease Noxian and him still made Xion’s heart clench.
But then again, if someone had asked him to bring Darius back from the dead, he would have agreed to do anything as well.
But even after being under complete control, she still managed to save Xion.
She angled the dagger before plunging it into Xion’s chest, saving his heart.
And now she was gone. He should have called her ’mother’ earlier.
Their first stop was the Archduke and the saint.
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