Azrael and Cecilia, enveloped in the cocoon of their private world, shared a quiet moment amidst the bustling crowd. The air around them seemed to hum with an unspoken connection that transcended words.
Cecilia's delicate hand found its place on Azrael's chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Azrael, in turn, gently cradled her face with his palm, his touch both tender and possessive. Their eyes spoke volumes, a language reserved solely for them, echoing the depth of their shared history.
A soft breeze whispered through the air, carrying with it the subtle fragrance of blooming flowers. As if choreographed by the universe itself, the ambient noises faded away, leaving only the symphony of their heartbeats.
In that moment, Cecilia and Azrael leaned into each other, their lips meeting in a gentle, lingering kiss. Time seemed to pause, allowing them to savor the sweetness of reunion and the warmth of familiar embrace. The world around them blurred into insignificance, leaving only the undeniable truth that, in each other's arms, they had found a sanctuary that transcended the chaos of the cosmos.
As Azrael reluctantly broke away from the kiss, a soft, shared smile lingered between him and Cecilia. Turning his attention towards the now watching crowd, Azrael gently enveloped Cecilia's right hand with his own, their fingers intertwining in a silent proclamation of unity.
The crowd, now fully in control of their bodies once again, looked at Azrael with a mixture of admiration and reverence, but most are overwhelmed by shock.
Azrael smirked, his gaze sweeping over the shocked and puzzled faces of the princes and geniuses, lingering especially on Desmond. He narrowed his eyes for a brief moment.
"Hmm, to think that there would be so many idiots trying to woo and get the attention of my wife. That's a big no-no, you know," Azrael said playfully.
The crowd was shocked at this revelation. Desmond couldn't hide his surprise. The geniuses and cultivators gathered looked toward Cecilia's maid, seeking an answer, but all they got were shocked and puzzled expressions.
"I-is this true?" whispered questions spread, and pure disbelief overtook the crowd.
"O-our Princess is married?" Cecilia's maid asked in confusion.
"Is this an arrangement of the queen?" the leader of the maids doubtfully wondered aloud.
"P-Princess Cecilia, is that handsome young noble telling the truth?" her maid asked.
Cecilia narrowed her eyes as she heard her maid's description of her husband. It was obvious to her that her maids and the female cultivators in the crowd were mesmerized by her husband's looks.
"Yes," Cecilia confirmed.
Many male cultivators literally cried when they heard this, but what could they do? The man in front of them was just too dazzling and definitely matched the princess's beautiful appearance.
As for the female cultivators, many sighed with eyes full of hope. It was very common in the cultivation world to have men with many wives, after all. They hoped that maybe they could have a chance with Azrael.
"But, Princess, does the queen know about this? And when did you have a marriage?"
"No, the queen does not know about this, and even if she does, there's nothing she can do. As for the marriage, I have long been married to him. But I would love to have a marriage ceremony 'again' with him," she said, looking at Azrael lovingly.
"Of course, I will have a marriage ceremony again in this reality," Azrael responded.
As for the crowd's reaction?
The crowd was left in a state of bewilderment, unable to comprehend how a prominent princess's marriage could be a secret, even from the queen. The revelation added an air of mystery to Princess Cecilia, leaving many curious about the circumstances surrounding her union with the enigmatic man beside her.
As the whispers and murmurs spread through the assembly, Azrael and Cecilia stood together, unfazed by the confusion surrounding them. Azrael's confident demeanor and Cecilia's serene expression only fueled the intrigue, creating an aura of secrecy around their relationship.
Desmond, who had been bold in his attempts to capture Cecilia's attention, was now left in a state of shock. The geniuses and princes, who had been vying for the princess's favor, found themselves facing an unexpected revelation. The unexpected turn of events left the onlookers questioning the true nature of the connection between Princess Cecilia and the mysterious man who had now become the center of attention.
The air was charged with anticipation, and the impending mystic secret realm opening seemed to have taken a backseat to the unfolding drama involving the princess and her elusive husband.
Cecilia's maid was left in a state of disbelief, her eyes wide with confusion. "H-how?" she stammered, unable to reconcile the secret marriage with the public persona of the princess.
Cecilia offered a reassuring smile to her maid. "Don't think about it," she said, attempting to dismiss the questions that lingered in the air. Her calm demeanor and Azrael's composed presence only added to the enigma surrounding their relationship.
Azrael temporarily separated from Cecilia, positioning himself in front of the gathered princes, geniuses, and Desmond, his arms behind his back.
"For those idiots earlier, a deserving punishment must be implemented, don't you guys agree?" he said playfully.
A palpable shiver ran through the princes, geniuses, and even Desmond. In an instant, they lost control of their bodies, levitating helplessly towards Azrael. Fear gripped them, realizing that the man before them operated on a different level, even Desmond was terrified.
As this phenomenon unfolded, the elders and guardians in the shadows, who usually refrained from intervening in conflicts among geniuses, revealed themselves. Azrael, a stranger to them, had raised their wariness, especially now as he exhibited control over the bodies of the young cultivators. Seeing him manipulate their geniuses and princes, levitating them, compelled the elders to take action.
Attempting to lunge and attack Azrael, they felt an unseen force increase gravity, and with a resounding "Boom!" they were forcibly brought back to the ground, creating a loud impact. The authority Azrael wielded left an indelible mark on the once-confident elders.
This scene instilled sheer terror in the hearts of the young cultivators.
Elders, protectors of the kingdom, were incapacitated effortlessly by Azrael, leaving the young cultivators horrified. How could this man, the husband of Princess Cecilia, render such revered figures powerless with seemingly no effort?
Azrael, displaying complete disregard for the elders, shifted his attention towards the princes and geniuses floating helplessly in a perfectly lined formation. The sight left the 15 or so young geniuses trembling, and some even succumbed to the fear by involuntarily wetting themselves.
Walking back and forth in front of them, Azrael touched his chin as if pondering something.
"Hmmm, you guys must be confident in your skills and looks, right? That's why you tried to flaunt yourselves in front of my beautiful and sweet Elf."
Cecilia, upon hearing this, couldn't help but blush a little.
Azrael narrowed his eyes.
"You guys are so egotistical, narcissistic, thinking that any female must be under your influence and pants. You could have targeted anyone, but you chose my wife. You know, being egotistical and narcissistic is only tolerable if I'm the one acting that way. What? You can't agree? What can you guys do? I am powerful." Then he smirked. "Not to mention, I am more handsome, charming, and charismatic than you guys. If people compared you to me, it's as if comparing dung to the rarest and most expensive stone of all time." He made sure to thoroughly crush their egos.
"You—" one of the geniuses attempted to rebut, but he was abruptly cut short by a crisp sound of a slap, followed by a shriek of pain.
"Arghhhh!!! My feeefff(teeth)!" The young genius who dared to speak against Azrael found himself instantly slapped by the formidable figure. His teeth scattered through the air, and blood began to flow. While such an injury could be healed in the cultivation world, the damage to his ego would linger.
Azrael proceeded to mete out similar punishments to the others, the young geniuses faces deformed as their teeth and blood flew the air. However, Desmond foolishly decided to challenge him. Azrael, instead of immediately resorting to violence, decided to humor him, entertaining the challenge.
Desmond, as if unwilling to accept defeat, shouted defiantly, "Release me and face me! Let me prove my strength!"
Azrael, with a wry smile, responded, "What strength to prove? Are you blind? Hahaha. Egoistic as ever while you knees are shaking violently, but sure. I'll entertain and educate you."
Then Azrael released Desmond as he requested. The crowd's interest was once more piqued by Desmond. They were now amazed by his courage, definitely deserving the spot of the number one genius in their opinion.
However, when Desmond grasped his freedom, contrary to the crowd's anticipation, as if anticlimactic, Desmond, instead of attacking Azrael, tried to run and escape. However, who is Azrael? He is Azrael! So, he caught up with Desmond, and Desmond lost hope for his escape.
Azrael, in a display of overwhelming power, engaged Desmond in a one-sided confrontation. Blow after blow, Azrael effortlessly incapacitated him, leaving Desmond's face battered and unrecognizable. The other geniuses and princes, witnessing this brutal display, couldn't help but feel a chilling fear and a newfound respect for the mysterious man who had effortlessly subdued them.
Desmond, his face already unrecognizable, managed to mutter between painful gasps, "Ishhtaf (stop)," pleading with Azrael to cease the relentless assault. As Azrael continued the one-sided beating, Desmond's desperate cries echoed, "Isshhhtaph... Pleash, ishtapp, ayeeh regresh itsh, ishhtapp" (Stop... Please, stop, I regret it, stop).
"Viiib buushh, pleeash ishtaphf."(Big Boss, please stop.)
"Yangsh Nuunel, hab mershhh... cough!" (Young Noble, have mercy ... Cough!"
Alas, Azrael remained indifferent, proceeding to 'educate' him until Desmond lost consciousness.
"Wheew," Azrael sighed out loud, as if having completed a task. "I am fully refreshed," he remarked, his demeanor unfazed, leaving the onlookers in shock and fear at the raw power he wielded.