The wedding of a member of the Imperial Family was a large-scale event, where everyone was eager to see the bride and groom. Fools imagine what the anxious look of a bridegroom will be when he sees his partner entering a temple under a veil. The fool craves love and affection. The most ambitious may see it as a time to ally or not, wearing the social mask to increase their influence during the event. The ambitious yearn for opportunities and gains.
In addition to all this opera that only the Imperial Family could star, there was curiosity. Curiosity was fueled by the gossip that those two starred in recent days.
What would happen at their wedding?
The eyes were attentive and anxious.
The first surprise was the news of the temple accepting to do the marriage of a Grimwood. Opening the doors for the nobles to attend the wedding, together with the commoners, aroused the interest of all, without any exception. Especially when the musicians began to play and a choir of children and adults raised their angelic voices for the entrance of the High Priest.
The High Priest went up to the main altar, standing in front of the huge statue of the Goddess. Making a bow to the divine figure, the old man soon turned and then the music changed, coming the turn of the Grand Duke to enter.
As expected, his beauty did not fade even when his expression remained rigid and serious. The sweet smell that only an omega of his strain would exile, spread to the people closest to the corridor he passed. Nor would anyone say that man would have spent the last days harming the lives of the priests to try to see Lucian and check if he was all right.
"My goodness!"
"So beautiful!"
Magnus filled his chest, a little proud to hear the compliments. Of course, he was already used to it. His pride was further increased by knowing that the priests would be listening to the praises, proving that he was more important than those old men in robes.
The reddish eyes of Magnus quickly scanned the place, immediately recognizing some noble figures. In the first row the Grimwoods sat on the left, where he found the emotive look of his two younger brothers. Eugene waved quietly while Jesse just flashed a thin smile from his lips, still holding his now wife's hand.
Already on the right side was the Imperial Family. The Consort and Cadec, accompanied by the other brothers... All attended despite the clear lack of brotherhood among them. Magnus even frowned slightly when his gaze met that of Cadec, but the two ignored each other as they had done since the duel.
Standing on the altar steps, Magnus raised his red eyes to the High Priest. The old man raised his hand in a sign to end the song, which occurred softly. As soon as the attention came to him, the old man looked over all the audience and opened a wide smile.
"Blessed day in which we gather, to witness the union of a couple. Let's welcome with honor and joy, the star of our Empire that begins a new journey."
The melodious sound of a wedding march began again at the end of the speech. Soft and affectionate to the ears of the guests. When Magnus turned back, all imitated him to face the huge doors of the temple where Emperor Rehael was. His imposing figure seemed to be the sun itself stepping on the earth, or an archangel if we consider its ethereal beauty. The Emperor drew attention, which was natural, but it was the person next to him who stole the sighs of noble ladies.
In fact... there were no words in the world that could express what all people saw.
Even Magnus was stunned to notice the quiet and elegant walk, the calm expression and the thin smile printed on Lucian. Those who had seen the eighth prince in the last events did not escape the surprise of his beauty. Wearing the tunic with an embroidered bird, the guests saw — with admiration — the delicate alpha walk alongside his father throughout the corridor of the temple.
"Wow..." Eugene sighed at seeing Lucian, getting a blush on his cheeks.
In the middle of the road, Lucian raised his eyes forward. Those blue diamonds, lighter than the sky itself, fell on his fiancé who looked at him in amazement. Noticing his reaction made the prince drop a low and inaudible laugh, but Magnus can feel like it's right in his ear, causing him to tickle.
Beautiful.
A work of art.
Nothing compared to the beauty that Lucian Saint Richmond held.
If someone had never seen him before, now they were stuck in his figure without blinking.
A member of the Imperial Family that was the definition of royalty.
As soon as Emperor Rehael stood before Magnus, he cast a hard look at the omega. Grimwood did not take his eyes from Lucian, as if they were talking in their world alone. This made a small smile appear on the cold face of the Emperor, who extended Lucian's hand to the Grand Duke.
"I count on you to keep your promise of protecting him, Grand Duke."
A shiver went behind Magnus' back, the seriousness and threat contained between the lines of the Emperor. Magnus' bare fingers held Lucian's warm hand, creating a chain of creeps that passed between them.
"Trust me, Your Majesty."
The Emperor handed over Lucian to his fiancé, and stepped away to sit next to the Imperial Consort. Facing each other, Lucian wrapped his slender fingers between those of Magnus, both turning to the High Priest who signaled them to approach.
Going up the steps, they stood in front of the statue of the goddess. The High Priest raised his hand over them and began his speech again.
"Before our Goddess Kronosis, we gather to ask for your blessing on this couple, and that illuminate your way. May your goodness fall on them, so that love and affection never lack. As proof of their devotion to holy marriage, let the young people drink from the blessed water."
Skyler approached carrying a tray covered in white velvet that contained a silver bowl. Stopping in front of the couple, Magnus was the first to take the cup and look at the liquid inside. It does not look great, which made him drink and make a discreet grimace.
"What is it?" whispered Lucian.
"Nothing."
Magnus looked up at the High Priest, who played a trick on him by putting some kind of liquor in the cup. Of course he would be teased. When Lucian also drank, he raised his eyebrow in confusion, but smiled as if he found the small gift of the High Priest amusing.
At least made them remember how their story began.
Pretending that nothing happened, they continued the marriage.
The High Priest blessed the two mens, and at the time of the exchange of the covenant he let them take their oath. Lucian took Magnus's hand, sliding the golden ring into his left ring.
"I, Lucian Saint Richmond, the eighth prince of the Roveaven Empire, declare before the Goddess Kronosis, Emperor Rehael Saint Richmond, and every soul gathered here, to be a faithful and devoted husband to Magnus Grimwood. I promise to protect you, love you, support you, regardless of the obstacles that arise."
Magnus steamed his chest slightly and took the golden ring. Gently holding Lucian's hand, he rubbed the tip of his finger on his wrist when he put the ring on it.
"I, Magnus Grimwood, the Grand Duke of the Roveaven Empire, declare before every heart present in this place that I will be a faithful and devoted husband to Lucian Saint Richmond. I promise to protect you, support you regardless of obstacles, and make you mine, body and soul, to the point of forgetting who once belonged. I solemnly swear to cut the throat of anyone who dares dishonor your name or touch a strand of your hair" Magnus bowed holding Lucian's wrist. His pink lips kissed the fingers of Lucian. "I will make you obsessed with me, so that never leave my side and so... We will dominate the ground that we tread."
A speech worthy of a Grimwood, which surprised all those present. Many women widened their eyes and suffocated their euphoric cries, some conservatives reproached the bold and disrespectful words. The Emperor sighed without making his reaction clear, which was a contrast to the Consort that he found funny. Many saw Priest Skyler roll his eyes and the High Priest laugh as if watching two children playing.
Already the target of those words... he blushed and smiled diabolically to what would be the best statement they ever heard in all their lives.
Before all, Lucian was now married to Magnus Grimwood.
"May the Goddess cast her light on this couple, gracing them with prosperity as well as for our Empire!"
At the end of the words of the High Priest, a strong and icy wind passed through all those present in the temple, swaying dresses and hats, undoing hair and pulling out high wheezes from fright. All the guests exchanged stares frightened by the sudden wind, until they heard a child of the choir pointing to the huge statue on the altar.
"The Goddess is crying for the prince!"
All turned to the statue of the goddess, where they could see a golden glow illuminating the eighth prince and water flowing from the eyes of the huge statue. Lucian clenched his fingers around Magnus' hand, frowning as he saw the same image repeated in his dream on his first day at the temple. Immediately he took his free hand to the chest, becoming pale.
"What is it, Lucian?" whispered Magnus clenching his fingers around the prince's hand.
"I..."
"Why is the statue crying?!"
"It's a miracle!"
"Wouldn't that be a punishment?"
The sudden screams began to spread uncertainty. The Emperor raised his voice quickly, echoing throughout the huge temple in a single order.
"Silence!"
The people were silent, but the hesitation and fear of a bad omen was still poking in their eyes. Then, Skyler stepped forward without taking his eyes off the statue. Not until he stopped in front of Lucian.
"The Goddess blesses your envoy. Lucian Saint Richmond, you have been recognized as the new Saint of the Goddess Kronosis."