7:45 AM.
Although July's New Continent and Black Sea had entered the rainy season, within the small half of the Duchy centered around Saint Aiven City, there was a picture-perfect scene of clear skies and gentle breeze.
Now, with the power of the [teorological Spirit] combined with the [Pseudo Authority: Usurper], Aiven could directly command the weather over a thousand kiloters.
It's not too much to say that ensuring abundant harvests in the Duchy's most fertile agricultural region every year is no problem.
Though sothing unexpected seed to have occurred with Jelos and Stephanie, at this critical mont when all eyes were upon them, there was no ti to worry about the two of them.
After sending a Spirit Realm ssage and confirming no response, Aiven comforted Liweina, who was slightly worried about her sister's disappearance, and the wedding proceeded on the lawn before the White Swan Castle.
Though Aiven, as a saint of the Goddess, holding a wedding outside Her church seems a bit inappropriate.
But the oldest church in the New Continent is rely the decades-old "Glory Church," whose diminutive size is far from adequate for a Monarch-level wedding.
Finally, the wedding planning committee decided to hold the Grand Duke's wedding directly in the garden with lush lawns around the White Swan Castle, as long as a High-tier Cleric was present to witness.
Chirping...
Symbolizing loyalty, dozens of robins chirped crisply at the treetops, while over a thousand well-dressed guests, guided by the administrative staff, were seated on both sides of the tender green lawn.
Among them were eight kings or crown princes, thirty-five governors, over a hundred Tier 3 Transcendents, with wizards, clerics, and ordinary transcendent people numbering in the hundreds.
Aiven, wearing a black uniform that had been ticulously refined by the Duchy, adorned with golden tassels and a unique founder's dal, stood early on a platform built of white marble, with his polished boots.
He stood tall and imposing like a mountain.
At his waist hung the [Mother-of-Pearl Gilded Lion Sword] belonging to the Galliot Duchy; this "Sword of Royal Authority" glead brilliantly in the sunlight, capturing many gazes.
Recently, Aiven also used this "Sword of Royal Authority" to complete the ceremonial enfeoffnt for Milan as Count, making Milan Count the first noble of the Duchy enfeoffed under this sword.
Although true land wasn't awarded, he received corresponding land rights or land profits, so to speak.
"Feudalism" originally ans "Seal the state and build the country," while Aiven's approach could be called "enfeoff but not build," aning "enfeoff but not grant land, title but no dominion."
In effect, it rewards those with significant contributions by binding their interests with the country's interests, while preventing regional separatism.
Unlike the Kingdom Mainland where a large portion of land ownership remains with traditional nobility despite urbanization reforms, all land in the Galliot Duchy is state-owned and only usage rights will be leased in the future.
To accommodate future national developnt needs, the governnt has the right to acquire land compensatively on this territory.
Toward his good brother Aiven was generous, not only granting Milan an hereditary count title but also gifting Vice Admiral Snite a bottle of [Secondary Elixir of Immortality], the second bottle given out besides his aunt.
Ti passed, and soon it was 8 o'clock.
Honk——!
Under Midorra's direction, with Liweina's sponsorship, the Royal Orchestra forcefully blew the horn, and the resonant sound lingered in the sky; it was the signal for the bride to enter.
However, many guests, possessing considerable skill and keen senses, had already spotted Marquis Duke standing at the southernmost end of the venue, ready to receive his daughter, yet hadn't seen any carriage for the bride's transport.
"Huh? Did sothing go wrong?"
"Shouldn't she be entering on ti?"
"Impossible, right?"
Just as guests murmured, looking at the empty periter of the venue, suddenly a lady from an unknown house exclaid:
"Look, the sky!"
Neigh—!
Simultaneously, a loud horse neigh drew every guest's eyes to the azure sky.
Upon seeing clearly, everyone couldn't help but slightly open their mouths.
"This... is too exaggerated!"
Whizz! Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!...
Ahead paved the way by thirty-six Griffin Air Knights clad in gold armor, glittering all over, followed by six snow-white Flying Horses with silver horns and wings drawing a gorgeously gem-studded luxurious carriage.
The entourage, like a lavish airborne convoy from a fairy tale world, arrived in the blink of an eye above White Swan Castle.
Guests also got to see the noble coat of arms decorating the carriage had changed significantly.
As a distinguished monarch, the "Thorny Crown Sea Serpent Emblem" could rightfully use the gold and silver combination and added the Lion and Crown representing the Tulip Monarch.
Moreover, this wedding marked the union of the Galliot Duke Clan and Marquis Aimoer Clan, thus the emblem also included a circle of orange leaves and stars.
Finally, the Grand Duke's emblem presented was:
A blue shield in the center where the silver Thorny Crown Sea Serpent sprawled, with gold Lions and erald Giant Dragons flanking either side as supporters, surrounded by a circle of erald orange leaves and stars, topped by a golden crown.
At the bottom of the banner read the current motto of the Galliot family: "Endless exploration."
It also symbolized the "Adventurer's Blood" flowing in the core family mbers Aiven, Olivia, and Anita.
Among these three, until none of them could reach the "Demigod" level equivalent to the Ocean Goddess, "Adventurer's Blood" would continue to pass down through their lineage.
The carriage slowly landed, and the guests gradually closed their mouths.
Surrounded by four beautiful bridesmaids, today's most stunning bride, Olivia, elegantly and calmly stepped off the carriage, escorted by her father along the path lined with Charaji roses on both sides, towards Ivan waiting at the end.
Toot——!
After another welcoming horn for the bride's entrance,
a group of boys and girls from the church choir began to sing hymns with their tender voices:
"Blessed be the Lord, the True God of glory, Great power bestowed upon the people.
Universal grace enduring forever, deeply rooted, flourishing anew.
Grant wisdom, make strong, steadfast in heart at all tis.
...
Grant wisdom, make strong, never lost on the heavenly journey..."
Amidst the pure and sacred hymns, all eyes focused on Olivia, with Ivan in front being no exception.
The girl wore a diamond crown gifted by Liweina, draped in a pure white wedding dress, her off-the-shoulder neckline revealing the graceful curves of her neck and shoulders. Layers of white tulle piled like clouds at her chest, while a nearly five-ter-long luxurious train was adorned with diamonds and pearls.
In the sunlight, sparkling sapphire butterflies danced gracefully around her.
Olivia radiated dazzling brilliance, gradually rging with the "luminous girl" Ivan rembered from their first eting.
Following her were four bridesmaids: Angie, the sisters Clareesa and Leonara, and Milan's younger sister, an eighteen-year-old girl with long, wavy blue hair nad Irina.
As they approached, the Charaji roses rapidly grew, forming ring-shaped arches in front of them. As Olivia led the way through, they blood in succession.
Pop! Pop! Pop!...
The speed was so fast that the sound of buds bursting could be heard.
Then, one by one, "elves" erged from the fiery red rose buds, serving as flower children at the wedding, closely following Olivia, scattering countless luminous petals throughout the venue.
"This..."
With a sudden display that left them amazed, the eyes of the ladies among the guests turned red with envy.
As one of the unmarried, Liweina tilted her head upwards, expressing her genuine envy, gradually falling into fantasies about her own future wedding.
But she quickly shook her head vigorously, causing a strand of golden-red hair to fall to her delicate cheek, feeling frustrated:
"Damn it, with this person appearing before , how can I see those ordinary people? But this way, being just a lover doesn't seem appealing. Perhaps... beco brothers?"
Click.. click.. click..
Stepping in gemstone high heels, the beautiful bride held a bouquet of lilies of the valley, ivy, and myrtle as she walked step by step onto the marble platform, handed over to Ivan like a precious treasure by Marquis Duke.
Two n completed the transition in this girl's life, previously protected by her father, and in the future by her husband.
The ceremony proceeded accordingly.
The cleric witnessing their vows was none other than Archbishop Reims, who had officiated Liweina's crowning ceremony. Holding the holy scripture of the Goddess, the spirited Archbishop asked on behalf of the Goddess:
"Galliot, do you take Olivia as your wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and protect her, and be faithful to her for this life?"
"I do!"
"Olivia...."
The two, having t and fallen in love in the Spirit Realm at the age of seventeen, have spent more than six years together, considering the Spirit Realm's thirty-six tis ti acceleration. Though only marrying now, they have already spent a lifeti together longer than most ordinary couples.
However.
The two wizards on a journey aligning paths are evolving along the Extraordinary Path from mortals to Truth Embodint. Constantly learning and progressing, they beco new versions of themselves every day, offering each other freshness not just in their bodies but in their souls.
Their love has remained as vibrant as at the start, yet enduring like family.
Even with Ivan's current power, living for seven or eight hundred years would be easy, ensuring many will beco re passersby along the way. But he is confident that his soulmate will walk down with him!
Olivia's Tier 3 advancent is within reach, but this won't be their endpoint.
They have long been inseparable parts of each other's lives.
Having you by my side, this life is fortunate.
At the end of the ceremony, they exchanged rings.
There have been countless rings witnessing their journey, from the initial tourmaline ring with Thunder Attribute Olivia promised to keep for a lifeti, to the latest Creator's Blood Ring compressed into a box at the bottom.
Yet none carry as much significance as today's pair of diamond rings, symbolizing eternity, devoid of any extraordinary power.
In the crowd's attention, Ivan and Olivia gazed into each other's eyes, a shared sentint communicated through minute glances, clearly perceived by the other.
"I want to hold your hand and explore the world's end, whether mountains or valleys, ruin or sea of flowers."
"I believe, stars will speak, stones will blossom, after passing through sumr fences, winter snowflakes, we shall finally arrive."
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