He was already attractive under normal circumstances, but at this moment, he exuded an even more captivating charm. Many girls stared at him in a daze, unable to snap back to reality. This even included his brides...
The expressions on the faces of the young women were all the same. Their eyes were fixed on Victor, revealing an infatuation they could not suppress.
Everyone’s attention was focused on Victor, Amber, and Rina as they entered the hall
Festive themes of gold and red adorned the walls and ceilings. The coats of arms of House Silvernum and House Hall were intertwined, forming a single crest. The reason there was no third coat of arms was because Amber had rejected it, as she refused to bear her father’s sigil, and her mother’s family did not have one, since she had been an exceptionally beautiful and talented commoner whom her father had taken a fancy to.
Red roses covered the floor, carpeting the entire hall with petals. The candelabras floated gracefully through the air in perfect order by magic.
The music, which seemed to come from the air itself, changed drastically, becoming an elegant and noble melody.
Amber and Rina opened their mouths in fascination as they took in the breathtaking sight.
"I will wait for you at the altar, my loves," Victor said to Amber and Rina in a gentle tone. Although marriage had never been his dream, he knew that women cherished occasions like this, so he didn’t mind making this day unforgettable for both of them.
Amber bit her lip and suppressed the urge to throw herself into Victor’s arms and kiss him. Both girls were then escorted by their representatives. Hilbert represented Rina, but Amber’s situation was a bit awkward since she had no family.
"Lady Amber, who will represent you in the ceremony?" the priest asked calmly.
"If she wishes, I can do it," Hilbert suddenly offered, surprising everyone. Amber smiled gently at him and looked at Hilbert with an appreciative gaze, but shook her head.
"No, I have a representative," Amber said before turning toward a woman. "Sophie, come here."
"Huh? M-Me?" Sophie, who had been watching fondly from the side, was startled upon hearing her name and stammered.
"Of course. Even though you are my personal knight, you have been with me since childhood and are the closest person to me. I consider you my sister," Amber said with a gentle smile.
"Miss..." Sophie was stunned. She choked back her tears and walked forward with a stiff smile.
Then the three of them, along with their representatives, walked toward the altar.
Everyone’s attention was fixed on the three figures at the altar.
First was Victor, who stepped onto the altar.
Suddenly, the music changed once again, becoming more sacred and solemn. Rina, accompanied by Hilbert, and Amber, accompanied by Sophie, walked across the carpet of red roses as they ascended.
Draped over Rina’s head, shoulders, and back was a crimson cloak bearing the sigil of House Hall.
Seeing Rina and Amber walking toward him, Victor’s eyes remained fixed on them. For some reason, they seemed ten times more beautiful. Was it the magic of the wedding? Victor didn’t know; he only knew that his heart was beating faster.
He first took Amber’s hand from Sophie, who looked at him with a smile, and then took Rina’s hand before Hilbert warned, "Don’t you dare make her cry."
Victor’s lips curved into an amused smile. "Don’t worry. I will treat her as the most important person in my life," Victor said in a solemn and sincere tone.
Hilbert showed a satisfied expression and stepped aside, standing next to Eleanor, who looked as though she was about to cry at any moment.
The priest stood before a special altar that contained a tremendous concentration of mana and turned, facing the trio before him, his figure finally completing the circle of people around them. Victor, Amber, and Rina stood before the priest, facing him.
Taking a step forward, the priest announced. His voice echoed throughout the hall.
"Dear brothers and sisters, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Victor, Amber, and Rina in this beautiful bond of three souls. Marriage is an alliance of love and fidelity, established so that a man and woman may give themselves to one another, promising to live together in joy and sorrow, in sickness and in health, all the days of their lives."
"Victor, Amber, and Rina, have you come here to unite in marriage of your own free will?"
The groom and brides looked at each other before answering in unison.
"Yes."
"Do you promise to love and respect one another all your lives?"
Once again, the trio answered firmly.
"Yes."
Eleanor looked at the scene and felt her eyes well up with tears. Seeing her elder sister about to get married brought countless memories of the past flooding back into her mind.
Even Hilbert looked at the scene with a softened gaze. He could see the profound love with which Rina looked at Victor, as though he were the center of her world. What surprised him was that Victor looked at Rina in a similar way, though less intense, yet warmer and gentler.
"Bring the mana cups," the priest said as he gestured toward the two maids. One held a black metal chalice on a black cushion, while the other carried a black glass dagger on a crimson cushion.
The two maids approached, knelt before the priest, and raised the cushions respectfully.
"Let me explain how the ceremony proceeds," the priest said as he pointed toward the chalice. "The chalice contains liquid mana used to perform wedding ceremonies. The groom and brides will cut their fingers with the sacred dagger and pour a drop of blood into the liquid before drinking it. The groom will drink the chalice mixed with the brides’ blood, and the brides will drink the one mixed with the groom’s blood."
The priest handed the chalices to the brides and the groom along with the dagger.
Victor took the obsidian dagger, looked at Amber and Rina gently, and made a small cut on his finger as blood dripped into the chalice. A notification appeared.
[Ding Dong]
[Akashic Record is bearing witness to the soul marriage between Victor, Amber, and Rina.]
Not only he, but everyone attending the ceremony received the notification. Amber and Rina followed Victor’s lead and made small cuts on their fingers as well.
With their fingers stained with blood, the trio held hands, allowing the blood to trickle down into the black metal chalice.
The priest picked up the chalices from the trays and handed them to Victor, Amber, and Rina.
The girls accepted the chalices and did not hesitate to drink the colorless liquid. Victor did the same, though he had to drink from two separate chalices, one containing Amber’s blood and the other containing Rina’s.
The priest showed a satisfied expression and spoke.
"Let the couple kiss, completing the ritual of this union of blood, soul, and body."
Victor first cupped Amber’s face and, without hesitation, claimed her lips. Amber returned her husband’s kiss with equal passion.
He then turned to Rina, who did not mind being the second, and kissed her with the same tenderness and passion as Amber.
Seeing Rina and Victor kiss, Hilbert displayed a rare, gentle smile.
Then came the final part.
"I, Victor, take you both, Amber and Rina, as my wives, and I promise to be faithful to you, to love and respect you, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, all the days of our lives."
Amber and Rina felt their eyes well up with tears, but they had promised themselves they would not cry. They repeated their vows in choked voices, yet with unwavering determination.
"I, Amber, take you, Victor, as my husband, and I promise to be faithful to you, to love and respect you, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, all the days of our lives."
"I, Rina, take you, Victor, as my husband, and I promise to be faithful to you, to love and respect you, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, all the days of our lives."
The priest looked at Victor, Amber, and Rina and spoke in an exceptionally solemn tone.
"I now declare you husband and wives. What the heavens have joined together, let no man separate."
Everyone burst into applause as they looked at the newlyweds, who seemed to be bathed in a sacred radiance.
Amber looked at Victor with a warm gaze and whispered to him, "I swear, you won’t be able to get out of bed tomorrow."
Rina couldn’t help but be speechless at Amber’s shameless declaration.
[Ding Ding]
[Soul marriage has been completed.]
As soon as everyone saw the notification appear on their retinas, the applause grew even louder.
"Well, should I call you both Mrs. Silvernum from now on?" Victor said with a wink, causing both girls to giggle.