The Ancient Imperial Calendar Year 1821
Kislathor awoke to the most magnificent and boisterous day in its history.
The city shimmered with a grandeur and elegance surpassing any wedding that had come before.
According to the accountants' calculations, the total cost exceeded half a billion.
The exact figure was known to no one.
Ricardo wore a suit adorned with jewels so dazzling and ostentatious that they made the attire from his previous weddings look like rags, its total value worth a hundred million gold.
A groom's suit this costly would not be produced even in future generations.
Marilin's wedding dress, meanwhile, was glorious enough to have evolved her beauty itself. This dress, which no previous bride could have even dreamed of wearing, was even more magnificent than the fantasies Marilin had harbored since childhood.
The total cost of the dress was several times that of Ricardo's suit.
In all likelihood, no wedding dress in future generations would be as expensive as Marilin's.
Every corner of the city was decorated with finery worth hundreds of millions of gold.
Even the square where the vows would be taken rivaled the Grand Throne Hall of the Kislavein Dynasty Lords in its spectacle.
The decorations, jewels, groom's suit, wedding dress, attire of the common folk and nobles, the games played, and entertainment shows used in this wedding—
In short, everything used in this wedding would set the standard for weddings in future generations and would be regarded as the progenitor of wedding ceremonies in the distant future.
Marilin was experiencing the greatest happiness and excitement she could ever have in her life.
She was going to marry her childhood friend, her childhood love, the first and only man she had ever loved.
For years, she had fought to win his heart, suffering countless heartbreaks and pain for this cause.
Despite everything, her struggle had ended in victory.
The servants finished the final touches on the wedding dress, then retreated and bowed.
Marilin stood up, took a deep breath, and looked out the window.
Though incomparable to the excitement and happiness she felt, the people too were in a state of great enthusiasm and fervor.
Seeing them made her even happier.
Marilin was lost in thought when the door knocked, and she flinched slightly.
"Marilin, are you ready?"
This was the man she valued most in this world.
"I am ready, Dynasty Lord."
When Ricardo entered, he was struck speechless, standing like a statue before Marilin's enchanting beauty.
He could neither move nor speak.
Understanding his state, Marilin looked at Ricardo with a brilliant smile, then turned and gave an order to her servants.
"Leave us."
The servants first bowed to Ricardo, then knelt to Marilin in salute, and left the room with their heads bowed.
Marilin moved towards Ricardo with slow steps, careful not to wrinkle her dress.
She took his hand and kissed his lips. At that moment, Ricardo came to his senses and returned the kiss.
The two kissed non-stop for a long time.
When their lips finally parted, their hearts were pounding as if they would burst, and they were breathing uncontrollably.
"You are so beautiful, I could kiss you forever, Marilin."
Marilin, with a brilliant smile, replied in an extremely sweet and lovely voice.
"I feel the same, Ricardo. After waiting all these years, I finally have you."
Marilin hugged Ricardo tightly and rested her head on his chest.
"I could stay like this in your arms forever, Ricardo."
Ricardo caressed and kissed Marilin's hair, face, and shoulder, careful not to ruin her makeup or braids.
"Me too, my love. I will never let you go."
For a while, the two simply held each other—a hug full of love and affection, separate from lust and other feelings.
Ricardo didn't want to think about anything at this moment, but the past and his regrets insisted on not letting him go, clinging like a tick and gnawing at his mind.
"I'm sorry, my love. I'm so sorry."
Marilin was taken aback by these unexpected words.
"What do you mean, Ricardo?"
"If I had never inherited the memories of our ancestor, I wouldn't have upset you for years, I wouldn't have broken your heart, I would never have married someone else. I could have lived a happy life only with you, just you."
These emotional words were enough to make Marilin cry, but she restrained herself to avoid ruining her makeup.
With her soft hands, Marilin gently held and caressed Ricardo's firm cheeks.
"Forget these things, my love. Let them go now. I don't even want to talk or think about them. I waited years for this moment, for the day I would marry you, for this day that will be the beginning of a life spent with you. Yes, sometimes I was very sad, my heart was shattered into pieces, but right now, it was all worth it."
Ricardo had cried very few times in his life; he had shed tears very rarely. Despite being as tough as nails, these words were enough to bring tears to his eyes.
Ashamed of Marilin seeing this, he rested his head on her shoulder and dried his tears with magic.
Marilin felt it but, not wanting to embarrass Ricardo, acted as if she hadn't noticed.
"Well... if you want me to forgive you, you have to give me at least ten children."
Ricardo burst into laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Marilin, I really didn't expect that! Ten children, huh?! Meiran doesn't even want a third child! Dilara said she wouldn't want a second child even if her womb wasn't damaged! But you want ten children? Haaaa!"
Marilin had gotten angry, her brows furrowed, but even this expression had a cute and beautiful side to it.
Faced with Marilin's expression, Ricardo couldn't help himself and kissed her again.
At first, Marilin was surprised, but she returned the kiss and savored it.
"I wish this moment would never end."
Ricardo smiled, leaned close to Marilin's ear, and spoke in a sensual voice.
"Wait for tonight and don't think about sleeping. Even if it's your first time, I won't let you rest. I'll give you more than you ever imagined."
Marilin had turned crimson with embarrassment, and this state was enough to drive Ricardo wild.
"What kind of woman are you? How is it that every state of yours, every shift in emotion and mood, can drive me this insane? How can you seduce me so completely?"
Ricardo kissed Marilin's lips again and again.
"You drive me mad, Marilin. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, even if it means throwing away this Dynasty and my responsibilities."
With these words, Marilin was on the verge of madness—she was going crazy to say 'yes'—but she chose the sensible path.
"I want that too, but you are the Lord of this Dynasty. You are a Ruler who wants to conquer the world. I am your wife and your aide. I will always be by your side, in every moment."
There was no more conversation, only silence and mutual romantic gazes.
A while later, the door knocked. Ricardo and Marilin stood side by side, assuming a posture befitting nobility.
Ricardo gave an order in a firm, authoritative voice.
"Enter."
The one who entered was Luna Eduvali.
She bowed her head respectfully and knelt.
"Dynasty Lord, My Lady. The final preparations are complete. Everyone is waiting for you."
Ricardo replied in the same authoritative voice.
"Very well, we are coming."
Ricardo extended his hand to Marilin. Marilin took it happily.
The two Soulmates, hand in hand, exited the palace.
The people greeted the young couple with fervor.
Ricardo and Marilin, greeting the enthusiastic crowd, boarded the Wedding Carriage.
In the Western Lands, since childhood, they had been considered a match for each other.
Ricardo and Marilin, the number one couple whose marriage people most wanted to see, were realizing countless romantic dreams.
Along the way, the people lined the sidewalks, almost crushing each other to see and greet the most dazzling and well-matched couple in all Five Lands.
All this fervor, joy, happiness, and bustle were even more magnificent than the wedding Marilin had dreamed of in her nighttime fantasies.
"How is it? Is everything as you wanted?" Ricardo asked.
Marilin held Ricardo's hand tightly, as if she never wanted to let go.
She nodded her head slightly, a sweet smile on her face.
She answered in a sweet and gentle voice.
"Yes. Even more magnificent than I imagined, my love."
Seeing Marilin happy made Ricardo even happier.
Finally, the wedding carriage arrived at the square where the marriage vows would be taken.
The carriage stopped, and a Blood Falcon opened the door. Ricardo exited first. The girls who saw him let out screams powerful enough to burst eardrums.
From married women to young girls, all women gazed with admiring eyes.
Before them stood Ricardo, possessing a handsomeness one could only read about in stories.
They couldn't help but fall in love with him.
Naturally, this situation also provoked jealousy and hostility from the men.
Ricardo extended his hand to Marilin.
When Marilin took the offered hand and stepped out of the carriage, a great shockwave seized the crowd.
"What kind of beauty is this?"
"Magnificent!"
"As beautiful as the spirits!"
Amid waves of praise-filled words and intense cheers, Marilin stood beside Ricardo.
The young couple, hand in hand, walked a few steps towards the area where they would recite their vows.
Under normal circumstances, the marriage ceremony would be officiated by the Dynasty Lord.
If the wedding was the Dynasty Lord's own, then it would be officiated by his Master, who served as a father figure, if he was still alive.
Thus, Eduardo would officiate the marriage of Ricardo and Marilin.
Eduardo looked at his former apprentice, now the Dynasty Lord and groom, Ricardo.
On the other hand, he looked at his precious daughter Marilin, whom he couldn't bear to see hurt.
He was happy. He had considered his apprentice and his daughter a match since their childhood.
Finally, they were marrying. The only thing he hadn't imagined was that he himself would be the one to officiate their wedding.
As the groom and his daughter approached, he was lost in thought for a brief moment.
"Fate is truly a strange thing, isn't it? I never thought I would officiate my own daughter's wedding. Ricardo, my one and only apprentice. Marilin, my one and only daughter. I hope you live a happy life."
Alongside his happiness, Eduardo also carried fear within.
"My daughter, I hope you never lose any of your children in the future Heirs' War. This may seem like an impossible wish, but I cannot bear to see you suffer the pain of losing a child."
When Ricardo and Marilin reached him, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Ancestral Spirits, I beg of you, protect my daughter and my future grandchildren."
Eduardo opened his eyes, strengthened his voice with mana, and began the wedding ceremony.
"People of the Western Lands, today we bear witness to the wedding of our Dynasty Lord, Krael Kislavein II, and his new wife, Marilin Kislavein."
Eduardo raised his arms to the sky.
"Spirits of our Ancestors, grant your newlywed descendants a happy marriage and long-lived, strong children."
After finishing his prayer, Eduardo looked at his apprentice and his daughter.
"Do you accept each other as husband and wife, until death do you part?"
Ricardo and Marilin, disregarding the palace's strict protocols, answered simultaneously with a brilliant smile and a resounding voice.
"YES!"
Eduardo joined the happy couple in smiling and spoke in a booming voice.
"By the authority vested in me by the Dynasty Lord, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
The crowd erupted into deafening cheers.
Everyone's face bore a huge smile.
Not only Ricardo and Marilin's, but everyone's hearts were beating like crazy.
From Meiran and Dilara, watching the wedding from a corner
To their classmates watching from the very front
Everyone was thoroughly enjoying this wedding they had waited years for.
After the marriage ceremony, the night passed with dances, feasts, shows, and entertainment until late hours.
From the nobility to the common folk, everyone was freed from the pains and weariness caused by years of war.
It was as if they were celebrating the beginning of a new era, of new and happy years to come.
Towards midnight, the Bride and Groom retired to their chambers, while the people continued the festivities.
When Ricardo and Marilin reached their rooms, they were extremely tired but happy.
Buoyed by the day's positive energy, Marilin gracefully danced on her tiptoes, arms outstretched to the sides.
Ricardo watched her for a while, enjoying this happy display, then hugged his wife from behind, planted a kiss on her cheek, and joined her in the dance.
They danced like this for a while, then Marilin turned around. Face to face, with romantic gazes and amidst the fireworks rising from Kislathor, they danced together alone.
Then they stopped and looked at each other, slowly bringing their faces closer.
When their lips were close enough to feel each other's breath, they surrendered to a calm, emotional, and long kiss.
The moment Marilin had waited years for had come; she was now with the only man she loved and had devoted herself to in this life.
Not only Ricardo and Marilin, but the entire populace surrendered themselves to days-long festivities and revelry.