"I thank everyone for accepting my invitation to today's great event," Duncan Tapes spoke loudly, drawing everyone's attention.
I stood beside Elizabeth near him.
"After my son's and daughter-in-law's death, I thought I'd never be happy again, but I soon realized I was mistaken. The mont I saw my two granddaughters, I knew joy again. They have both grown up beautifully, and today, the ti has co to entrust one of them, Elizabeth, to a trustworthy man. I vouch for him. Son of Kleines Falkrona and Alea Olphean, younger brother of Connor Olphean and Christina Olphean. You must have all heard of him already, I'm quite sure," Duncan chuckled.
Well, you bet they heard of . I had been in the news for two weeks in a row. Quite embarrassing, to say the least.
"Amael Idea Olphean," Duncan said, pointing toward .
They all turned to look at .
I smiled awkwardly, not enjoying this embarrassing presentation.
"Well, I am happy that Elizabeth and I finally ended up together. It was our wish, and I can't thank Lord Duncan enough for fulfilling our wish," I said shortly.
"I am also happy and proud to have such a wonderful fiancé. Amael and I have grown quite close in the academy, and our ideals match perfectly. There couldn't have been a better match for . Thank you all for blessing us on this occasion," Elizabeth said, doing much better than .
Then, a beautiful woman approached.
"Aunt," Elizabeth smiled upon seeing her.
To her, she was Aunt Priscilla, but to us, she was Professor Priscilla.
She approached us with a small knife.
"Your arms," she said with a smile.
"Are you going to cut off my hand, Professor? I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from that—"
"Co on, Amael," Elizabeth nudged with a smile.
"Right," I smiled wryly and stretched out my arm, as did Elizabeth.
Priscilla first held Elizabeth's wrist, giving a slight cut and drawing blood. Then she took my left wrist and did the sa, pricking it for blood.
"I, Priscilla Tepes, beseech the Crimson Goddess to bless this couple with your eternal light and unlimited blood. Watch over them and protect them."
When she finished, I widened my eyes, seeing the blood on both my wrist and Elizabeth's wrist blending and swirling together, drawing a pattern around my left wrist and Elizabeth's right wrist. It looked like a red bracelet of blood.
I could see Claudia nearly crying upon seeing this. The old woman sure has feelings when it cos to her granddaughter.
When she noticed my gaze, though, she glared at .
I grimaced at that.
At least show a fake smile.
Duncan Tepes sighed in relief after finally entrusting his granddaughter.
I looked at Elizabeth, who was watching the red blood tattoo on her wrist with an unreadable expression.
"Are you finally changing your mind, Elizabeth?" I asked.
Elizabeth giggled softly. "Not that. It just feels strange. I had thought this day would co one day, but I didn't expect it so soon and with soone strange like you."
"I will take that as a complint," I replied.
Though I could understand her. It hadn't even been a year since I arrived, and now I was engaged to the Princess of the Tepes House. Everything had escalated quickly.
It must have been the sa for her. She was suddenly getting engaged to soone she didn't love, and her life was decided just like that, all because of an incident.
Here I was, speaking about breaking off the engagent every day, thinking she would be happy and pleased about it. But Elizabeth might suffer the most from that.
She was a woman, a Princess of the Tepes House. She had unfortunately lost her purity to .
Let's say I break off the engagent. What would other people think of the Tepes House, especially of Elizabeth, who would be seen as already "touched"?
"Now, the ceremonial kiss," Priscilla said suddenly, interrupting my thoughts.
My cheeks twitched at her words.
Ceremonial kiss?
There is no way such a thing exists. It's only during marriage, not engagent—
I was thinking that until I saw Elizabeth's slightly red cheeks and awkward smile.
Are you kidding ?!
A ceremonial kiss exists?!
"Let's get it over with, Amael. The sooner, the better..." Elizabeth said.
"R-Right," I nodded.
Priscilla stretched out the knife between us as Elizabeth and I faced each other.
Elizabeth started, kissing the bloodied blade softly and tainting her lips red.
When Priscilla looked at , I understood and also kissed the bloodied blade.
"Now," Priscilla said with a wide smile, her eyes sparkling with excitent like all the others. The won had lting expressions as if they were seeing their two most beloved idols
kissing, while the n, especially elves, were glaring at .
I also noted so of the guys from my acquaintances.
Alia had the sa expression as any random girl, with shining eyes.
Celeste was looking with a conflicted expression.
As for John, he was glaring at .
Give a break.
Wait, is he holding a phone?
Is he filming?!
This fucker-
"Amael."
Elizabeth called my na, and I turned to face her. She was a head shorter than , her crimson eyes fixed on with an intensity I couldn't ignore. I felt a pang of guilt, realizing I had been looking elsewhere like an idiot instead of giving her my full attention.
It was her engagent day. Like any girl, she probably had dreams of a grand and joyous celebration, but things hadn't turned out the way she had hoped. I felt a responsibility to make her as happy as possible, even if my efforts weren't entirely genuine.
I had tried to help Selene avoid antagonizing Victor and steering clear of the Villainess Route, but in doing so, I had ended up sacrificing Elizabeth's happiness. In hindsight, maybe I shouldn't have involved myself so deeply. Victor was a smart and understanding person; I
could have reasoned with him.
Pushing those thoughts aside, I wrapped my arm around Elizabeth's waist, pulling her closer to . Her eyes widened in surprise as I took the lead. I smiled, but I could tell she saw through the slight guilt in my expression. She wrapped her arms around my neck and closed her eyes, trusting to guide the mont.
My heartbeat quickened as I closed the distance between our lips and kissed her tenderly. Unlike our previous, more aggressive kisses born out of excitent, this one was pure and gentle. Our relationship was complicated, but I wanted to give her a semblance of romance this ti, to show her that there was nothing wrong with us.
Her blood-moistened lips kissed back, and I felt a rush of warmth spread through my body. My cheeks and body heated up just like Elizabeth's. The familiar, exhilarating feeling threatened to engulf , but I bit her lip gently, eliciting a soft moan from her.
"Hn~"
I used sheer willpower to push aside all lustful thoughts and regain control over myself. Elizabeth seed to do the sa. We were synchronized this ti, controlling our impulses together. After a long kiss, we pulled back, our heads retreating. I had a refreshing smile on my bloodied lips, satisfied that, for the first ti, I had managed to control that urge.
Elizabeth also smiled, her cheeks flushed. "I think we did well this ti," she said. "Thank God, otherwise everyone would have witnessed your great fitness," I teased. Understanding my implication, Elizabeth's pale cheeks turned beet red as she punched in
the gut. "Idiot."
"Hitting your fiancé right after the engagent? I won't be a henpecked husband, I tell you,
Lady Elizabeth," I retorted.
"Oh, that's surprising since I have always been the one leading," she replied with a
aningful smile.
"Ugh..." I groaned. Spare .
That night, she was clearly the one in control, and it looked like I was the victim. When I
averted my gaze in embarrassnt, I felt a soft sensation on my lips once more. It was a quick kiss, yet a very impactful one. I looked at Elizabeth in surprise.
Elizabeth smiled wryly, the smile I was used to seeing-a bit shy but serene and charming.
"Thank you, Amael."
She didn't say why, but I knew. If she felt better, then I had done well enough to make her
happy. I wasn't really good at this sort of thing, so I felt quite satisfied that I did well with
Elizabeth.
"You are welco," I replied.
"Hm." She nodded ekly, staring into my eyes. I stared back at her crimson eyes, a bit
enthralled by them.
||||
""
"Ahem."
Hearing a cough, I blinked and looked at Priscilla. She had a wide smile, feeling even a bit
guilty for interrupting us. Looking around, we noticed that everyone had been watching us the whole ti. Elizabeth still had her arms coiled around my neck, while I had my arms
around her waist, holding each other closely.
We had completely lost ourselves in our own world.
God, kill .
I couldn't stand the flushed and lted expressions of everyone around us. Elizabeth and I gently separated ourselves, but the silence persisted. Fortunately, Duncan spoke up, breaking the tension. "Now that the long ceremonial kiss has ended, we can proceed
to the feast! Enjoy yourselves!" Though his first comnt wasn't necessary, I was grateful for the distraction.
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