Chapter 9: The Royal Wedding Announcement

“Silence!” the mage, acting as a magical megaphone, bellowed. The sound reverberated across the entire venue, and the crowd instantly fell silent. Nobles, wealthy merchants, and commoners who had been whispering all ceased their conversations, turning their gaze towards the grand altar.

Escorted by knights, the old king ascended the newly constructed platform at the center of the grand altar. His expression was a blend of solemnity and profound joy.

Even from a distance, where his features were indistinct, one could discern the excited flush on his face. He radiated an unmistakable thrill.

Two knights unfurled a scroll containing the speech, positioning themselves respectfully on either side of the old king.

The old king spread his arms wide, facing the assembled multitude, and began to speak with impassioned eloquence.

Amplified by the magical projection, his aged voice resonated with surprising vigor. He meticulously recounted the history of the Valga Kingdom’s rise and prosperity.

The nobles and wealthy merchants in their seats, having received systematic education, were already intimately familiar with the kingdom’s history. They listened without the slightest ripple of emotion.

The foreign envoys present were equally well-read, possessing their own distinct understanding of the Valga Kingdom’s development. Hearing the king’s address, a subtle sneer touched their lips, for they perceived the old King of Valga as indulging in a degree of self-aggrandizement.

The commoners below the stage, largely uneducated and easily swayed, felt their hearts swell with excitement, their eyes gleaming with fervent admiration.

The atmosphere reached a fever pitch as the old king spoke of the moment a century ago when the last angel was rescued from the ruins of the Sanctuary, and then, eight years prior, successfully awakened.

The old king, pleased with the palpable excitement, finally unveiled the momentous news of the grand ceremony:

“Today, the esteemed Angel will enter into matrimony with the Valga royal family, marrying Prince Rod Valga!”

“OHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” The commoners erupted in excited cheers and jubilant shouts.

After a brief moment of astonishment, the lower and middle-ranking nobles and wealthy merchants also displayed expressions of delight. Unlike the simple ‘OHHHH’ of the commoners, they offered their congratulations to the Angel and the royal family with suitably ornate language befitting their status.

To them, the union of the Angel and the Valga royal family was a matter of too high a stratum to interfere with, nor did it impact their personal interests. Simple congratulations sufficed.

However, the foreign envoys and high-ranking nobles were utterly stunned.

They had their own channels and had already been informed of the impending engagement between the royal family and the Angel. Based on this, they had mobilized their resources to secure advantages.

They had never anticipated it would be a full marriage, not merely an engagement.

Princess Delia Yass’s eyes widened at the unexpected news as she stared incredulously at the high platform. Her hands, pale as wax, clenched into fists beneath the table, faint blue veins becoming visible.

‘Marriage?!’

‘It’s actually a marriage!’

‘The rumors I received earlier clearly stated an engagement, yet they’ve suddenly changed their minds, and the wedding is today.’

She swiftly composed herself, a feigned smile appearing on her face as she blended into the joyful atmosphere with the other nobles. Yet, she whispered privately to her knight:

“We can’t wait any longer.”

The knight understood his mistress’s intent, nodded, and discreetly withdrew.

****

The news of the Angel’s marriage to the Valga royal family spread throughout the streets. It also reached Lucia’s ears.

Lucia’s pink lips pressed together tightly, betraying her extreme reluctance. Even though this development was within her expectations, she found herself utterly helpless.

Betty Lane, on the other hand, had absolutely no psychological preparation. Hearing the thunderclap of news, she froze completely, her face turning ashen.

She stared blankly at Lucia, her throat constricting as if countless words suddenly surged forth, desperate to be spoken. Yet, when they reached her lips, no sound emerged.

She clenched her teeth, grinding the unspoken words with an audible crunch, then swallowed them all back down, accompanied by heavy, ragged breaths.

As a Guardian Knight who had harbored a secret affection for the Angel for many years, learning of the Angel’s impending marriage left her deeply despondent.

For a fleeting moment, she even contemplated abandoning her noble wealth and honor, seizing Lucia on the spot, and fleeing with her to the ends of the earth.

‘Or, should I kill Lucia? How could my Lucia be defiled by another?’

These frantic thoughts vanished as quickly as they appeared, with Betty Lane’s rationality regaining control.

She felt Lucia’s small hand trembling within her own, and for a moment, she couldn’t discern if it was she who trembled or Lucia.

She mused that Lucia must have known about this all along, explaining her profound unease and uncharacteristic behavior throughout their journey.

****

The old king descended from the stage, yielding the main position to the wedding officiant.

At the officiant’s silent cue, Betty Lane led Lucia onto the platform.

All eyes, from commoners to nobles, converged on the stage—more precisely, on Lucia herself. If gazes possessed warmth, Lucia felt certain she was on fire. Otherwise, why would her face burn so intensely?

Lucia felt utterly dreadful. She was a social phobic, terrified of being exposed, and the thought of a potential ‘wife’ outcome made her heart pound relentlessly. Being stared at by so many people left her almost breathless with pressure.

Betty Lane led Lucia to the right of the wedding officiant. Standing opposite Lucia was a remarkably handsome man, clad in a white ceremonial suit adorned with silver armor on the shoulders, elbows, and calves.

This attire, a blend of half-armor and half-suit, was the formal dress for active Valga knights on significant occasions.

The man opposite was Lucia’s soon-to-be husband, a Prince of Valga, and the kingdom’s most renowned knight. He was known as the ‘Dawn Breaker,’ Rod Valga, the Morning Light of Dawn.