Ancient Imperial Calendar Year 1815
There was a great flurry of activity in Kislavein Central, Kislathor, for the wedding between Kislavein Dynasty Heir, Ricardo Kislavein, and Lady Arnheid Payrist of the Payrist Dynasty.
Dozens of tailors were working tirelessly, day and night, to create the most flawless and beautiful wedding dress ever made for Arnheid, who was to become the future Dynasty Lord's first wife.
Thousands of people were decorating the city's streets and squares with the most expensive jewels, turning the city into a dazzling spectacle.
The wedding preparations continued unabated, and everyone was in very high spirits. The years of war had worn down the populace. Now, everyone was preparing for a dazzling wedding that would last for days, allowing them to shed the stress of the years.
Of course, not everyone was happy.
Marilin was watching the enthusiastic crowd outside the window with a sullen expression. She was in a very bad mood. No one, including her brother Marco Kislavein, dared to approach her.
"Brother," said Marilin in an emotionless voice.
Marco flinched and replied.
"Yes, my dear sister?"
Marilin turned around.
"Do you think Arnheid is more beautiful than me?"
Marilin's beauty and perfect physique were so striking that even in her sullen and depressed state, she could captivate people's minds.
'Oh, fuck. Why do I have a sister like this? Ricardo, you son of a bitch, why did you choose her over a woman like this?'
"Brother."
Marco, lost in his thoughts at Marilin's voice, snapped back to reality.
"Do you think Arnheid is more beautiful than me?"
When Marilin repeated her question, Marco answered.
"Of course not! After all, you were chosen as the world's most beautiful and powerful woman. The majority can't be wrong, can they?"
Marilin buried her face in her knees and wrapped her arms around her legs.
"Then why doesn't he want me?"
Marco's words got caught in his throat.
"Be... because..."
"I don't understand. I'm very beautiful. I've proven myself in battles with my warrior and mage skills, I always fought on the front lines, I took extra care to maintain my beauty... I did everything to win Ricardo's heart."
Marilin couldn't hold back her tears.
"But whyyy?"
Marco hugged his crying sister tightly.
"My beautiful sister, I don't fully understand either. Ricardo always said he saw us as siblings because we grew up together. Maybe that's why, or maybe there's another reason."
Marilin sobbed and asked,
"What kind of reason?"
Marco replied,
"It could be a reason we don't know about."
When Marilin calmed down, Marco pulled back.
"Are you feeling better now?" Marco asked.
Marilin got her breathing under control, and once her heart settled, she answered her brother's question.
"Yes."
Marco smiled and stroked his sister's hair.
"Good. If you want, you can leave Kislathor until the wedding is over. I don't know, go on a vacation, relax a bit."
Marilin liked this idea.
"That could work, but..."
"But?"
"I'm staying here, brother."
Marco didn't understand.
"Why? This wedding won't be very pleasant for you."
Marilin stood up and composed herself.
"I know, but I still want to see it."
Marco took a deep breath.
"You... you always do what you want. Fine then, prepare the clothes you'll wear for the wedding."
Marilin smiled cunningly.
"Don't you worry at all, I'll prepare very beautifully."
Marco felt a shiver run down his spine.
'I have a feeling this won't end well. I hope this girl... Actually, I know my sister, she would never do anything irrational,' Marco thought.
Marilin walked slowly towards the door.
"I'm going to prepare my outfit, brother."
Marco smiled.
"Alright."
Knock knock
"Who is it?" asked Marco.
"It's me, Marco. Benjen."
Marco opened the door.
"Welcome, Benjen."
"Good to see you, Marco. The Dynasty Heir is summoning you."
Marco was surprised.
"Me? Why? Isn't the Dynasty Heir preparing for the wedding?"
Benjen put his hands on his hips and took a deep breath.
"He's already preparing and needs your help. He needs your assistance."
"My help? What for?"
Benjen got annoyed.
"The Dynasty Heir can't decide what to wear. He wants to ask your opinion."
"Again?"
Benjen was taken aback.
" 'Again'? Hasn't this happened before?"
Marco chuckled.
"It's happened before. He could never decide what to wear; he always asked me."
Marilin was jealous.
"Hmph, why did he never ask me?"
Marco raised an eyebrow and put on a serious expression.
"Are you even asking? No matter what he wore, you'd always give these responses:"
"Ayyyy, you're so handsome!
"You look amaaaziiing!"
"Aaahhh, fantastic! I've fallen in love with you all over again!"
After reminding her of past moments, Marco looked at Marilin mockingly.
"Shall I continue?"
Marilin was utterly embarrassed, then looked angrily at Marco and Benjen.
Benjen had collapsed laughing, but he flinched when he suddenly felt an intense desire to kill emanating from behind him.
"Eeeek!"
Marco and Benjen recoiled in fear.
Marilin was filled with rage; her killing intent was so thick it was hard to even breathe.
"You two seem to have forgotten who I am."
Marco and Benjen briefly made eye contact.
'We're fucked.'
'Run!'
They understood each other with a look and started running as fast as their legs could carry them.
"AAAAAAH!"
"RUUUN!"
"DON'T RUN!"
Marilin chased the duo furiously.
Marco was filled with both fear and shame.
'Damn it, was my destiny to be scared of and run from my own sister?'
Benjen answered seriously,
"Don't be ridiculous! If we could beat this girl, would we run? She'd beat the crap out of both of us!"
Marco was running at full speed through the palace corridors.
"Damn it, isn't this girl my twin? How can she be stronger than me?"
Benjen was out of breath.
"Dude, are you comparing yourself? In our generation, only the Dynasty Heir can beat this girl!"
The same idea occurred to both of them at the same time.
"The Dynasty Heir!" they said simultaneously.
The two ran to Ricardo's room.
"HALT!"
The guards protecting Ricardo's room ordered Marco and Benjen to stop.
"Get out of our way!"
They forced their way in.
Seeing their audacity, Ricardo became angry.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS AUDACITY?!"
They fell to their knees under Ricardo's anger.
The two spoke at the same time.
"Forgive us, Dynasty Heir! Save us!"
Ricardo was surprised.
"Save you from whom?"
Marilin entered the room. Benjen and Marco pointed at Marilin in terror.
"FROM THIS MURDERER! WAHHH!"
There was no trace of Marilin's anger left. She entered with the grace befitting a noble Lady.
"I greet the Dynasty Heir. As always, you are very handsome."
"What's going on, Marilin? What did you do to these two to make them so scared?" asked Ricardo.
Marilin put her hand to her mouth and answered the question with grace.
"It's nothing important, Dynasty Heir. You have more important matters to attend to. Please do not concern yourself with such trivial issues."
Ricardo raised an eyebrow, looking first at Marco and Benjen on the floor, then at Marilin.
"Whatever. Marco."
Marco turned around in a panic and answered,
"I AM AT YOUR COMMAND, DYNASTY HEIR!"
"Stop shouting, Marco," said Ricardo.
"Which of these outfits do you think suits me better?"
Marco stood up and examined the outfits one by one.
"This one, I think."
Ricardo took the outfit Marco pointed to and examined it for a while.
"Let me try it on. Marilin, step outside."
"Huh? But, um... Can't I stay? After all, we'll be married in the future..."
Ricardo got angry. "We are not married yet, Marilin. And it is not appropriate for an unmarried woman to watch an unmarried man dress," he said in an authoritative voice.
Marilin felt Ricardo's authority to her very bones. She bowed her head, walked backwards, and left the room.
"Haaah..."
Ricardo let out a deep breath.
"Help me get dressed."
Marco and Benjen stood up.
"As you command."
With Marco and Benjen's help, Ricardo put on his outfit.
"Excellent. I'll wear this to my wedding."
Benjen and Marco bowed their heads.
"An excellent choice, my lord."
"Thank you, Marco. As a reward for your help, I will talk to Marilin and calm her anger."
Marco looked at Ricardo in surprise.
"What are you looking at? Did you think I wouldn't understand? It's not the first time, after all. That aside, Marco, you can't beat your sister in a fight. Even if a group of you attacked together, you couldn't defeat Marilin. On the other hand, you're twenty years old now. Stop messing with that girl."
Marco and Benjen bowed their heads.
"You are right, Dynasty Heir."
Ricardo left the room and called Marilin, who was waiting across from the door.
"Can we talk, Marilin?"
Marilin jumped for joy.
"Yes!"
"For my sake, will you forgive these two one last time, Marilin? They promised they won't do it again."
Marilin continued to smile.
"For your sake, I would single-handedly destroy armies of tens of thousands."
Marilin looked at the two behind Ricardo with a sadistic expression.
"I forgive them, as long as they don't do it again."
Marco and Benjen flinched.
As Ricardo and Marilin walked down the palace corridors, Marco and Benjen watched them from behind.
"That girl will beat us badly," said Benjen.
"You're right. I'm not just saying it because she's my sister; she's stronger than all of us."
"How did she become so strong?" asked Benjen.
"The Dynasty Heir trained her very well."
"He trained all of us," said Benjen.
"But Marilin was different. How should I put it... she was a terrifying genius. Perhaps she is the strongest among us after the Dynasty Heir," said Marco.
In Kislavein Palace, the wedding preparations continued at full speed. This wedding would be unforgettable for everyone.