It took Jasmine 2 Months to rush the preparations for the Wedding and invite half the Kingdom. From the 7 Dukes of the Hesmaton Kingdom, 5 were personally present with their families. There was even a representative of the Royal Family. It wasn't that the King himself came, but the Second Prince was present. It was regarded as a great honor.
I stood In a sideroom glad in the suit Hilda had made personally for today. Hilda had created something astonishing. She created a suit that was black, the buttons were silver skulls and the cufflinks were golden suns. A golden flame pattern was spiraling upwards from his cufflinks to his shoulder. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. Hilda was by my side talking to me but I am unable to remember what she said.
As it was finally time, I walked to my place.
My wedding with Esy was held in the Temple of the Sun God. Lina, who had risen to the position of a high-priestess, volunteered to lead the Ceremony. Her husband Marius who had risen to the position of Vice-Captain had volunteered to be the Bride Guardian, but he wasn't chosen. After her Father and Brother there was no place left. So he reluctantly decided to just watch the event as a spectator.
The faction I created in my time as the young master of the Nature Tower commonly referred to as 'Nature Guard' had collectively enrolled into the Academy. Most of them had chosen the Knight class because they had no affinity for magic and even those with minor or low affinities had chosen the knight class over the Mage class after they heard that the others had graduated after only 1 week at the academy that was filled with all the exams a Knight student had to pass.
This resulted in 900 People officially graduating Knight class at the age of 14. They had been promised true knighthood, by the time they turned 18. Only the most promising talents stayed in the mage classes.
I walked down a long 500m long aisle between the sitting rows. The Nature Guard was lined up on both sides of the corridor, one knight every Meter, from the weakest knight to the strongest Mages.
Silence filled the hall as I walked up to the podium. I greeted Lina and turned around. The next moment an orchestra started playing, changing the atmosphere from silent waiting into excited appreciation.
Barely a minute later, it felt like two god damned eternities, Esmeralda Silverton walked the aisle flanked by her father and brother. She wore a dress of pure white silk that looked as if someone had woven it from pure moonlight.
It took Esy a few moments to walk the 500 meter long aisle of the temple. Every knight she passed kneeled down and greeted her as their Mistress. It was a little bit shocking for my Father-in-Law to see the knights the whole kingdom talked about greeting his Daughter, as their mistress, on their knees right in front of every high end noble of the Kingdom.
Once they arrived in front of me, I greeted my Father-in-Law with the traditional bow.
"Duke Silverton, I would like to ask you once again for your daughter Esmeralda's hand in marriage. I am well aware that the times are unconventional but please accept."
"Thorus Maxima," The duke spoke, "I am unwilling to hand my daughter to you at this time and age but I have no choice. But remember after today I will only listen to you if you call me Father. Make sure to take good care of my daughter."
The duke handed me the hand of Esmeralda who looked at me nervously.
"Thank you, my Lord." I said as I took Esmeralda's hand from Duke Silverton.
We walked hand in hand until we reached Lina, where we stopped.
Lina began to speak:
"Today we gathered to bear witness to the union of Thorus Maxima and Esmeralda Silverton…" What followed was a lengthy speech that I only remember fragmentally, which is the reason I am going to skip to the most important part.
Lina turned to me: "Thorus Maxima, do you take this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
After I answered Lina turned to Esy: "Esmeralda Silverton, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
I was glad that Esy said that, I knew that she never had any voice in this agreement but I was glad that she said it. It made me happy.
We turned towards each other and joined hands. before lina was able to tell me what to say I started to speak: "I, Thorus Maxima, take you Esmeralda Silverton, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."
Esy spoke after me with no visible hesitation.
"I, Esmeralda Silverton, take you Thorus Maxima, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."
Athena had the most important job of all, She carried the cushion with the rings. 2 months of training have a massive impact, especially if you can control someone telepathically.
She brought the rings to us at the exact moment without me needing to tell her what to do. I took the ring that was destined to be worn by Esy for the rest of eternity and spoke: "I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love."
Esy took the ring that was destined to be worn by me for the rest of eternity and spoke the same words: "I give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love."
"By virtue of the authority vested in me under the eyes of Regen Maximus, God of the Sun, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Lina smiled radiantly at me and said "Thorus, you may kiss your bride."
Cheering erupted from the spectators as I shared my first kiss with Esy that made us officially husband and wife.
/BOOM/
As unexpected as unwanted, the front door of the temple burst open and a young man stepped into the Temple.
"STOP" He yelled on top of his lungs, "I AM PRINCE GESAT NECRON AND I CLAIM THIS WOMAN AS MY BRIDE!"
For a few long seconds shocked silence filled the hall before it transformed into laughter. Every member of the Nature Guard was laughing as if that was the most hilarious joke ever spoken on Terra.
A group of mounted guards arrived at the temple headed by an old-looking mage who was visibly upset.
I turned around facing the intruder still holding Esy in my arms. My eyes narrowed down as I stared at the intruded dead in the eyes.
"You want to claim my wife as your bride? First, How dare you? Second, Who are you? Third, You and which army? I advise you to turn around and fuck off before I rip you into pieces for ruining my wedding."
The old-looking mage that led the guardsmen said nothing and was just watching everything unfold. His face was something between pale from shock and purple from rage.
"ARE YOU DEAF PEASANT?" The intruder yelled "I SAID THAT I AM PRINCE GESAT NECRON."
Before I could do anything hundreds of blades appeared in the aisle between me and the intruder. The Nature Guard just summoned their weapons.
Samuel walked out of the group, a thin longsword in each hand. His calm and steady gait attracted everyone's attention.
"You call yourself prince Gesat Necron, that doesn't tell us who you are. You dare to intrude onto the Young Master's wedding like a rabid dog to claim his wife, our Mistress, as your own and instead of challenging the husband to a duel you insult him."
Samuel stopped in front of the prince.
"My name is Samuel Hardak, for you: I am the worst nightmare. I challenge you to a duel of life and death right here right now. If you win, you will be allowed to challenge the young Master. I hope you prepared your will."
"I accept, I will show you what I can do you filthy peasant!" Gesat Necron spat out venomously before the old mage could intervene to save him.
An axe appeared in the hands of the prince. It looked pompous and luxurious. It was the weapon of a noble, not the weapon of a warrior. The prince attacked by swinging his axe widely, disregarding defense and putting everything in this one strike.