’...’
I felt a familiar presence walking inside the mansion.
’.....Mother.’
Even though I stood far away from the front gate of the garden...
I could still see her walking inside the place, alone.
’Where is Shyamal?’
I wondered as her lifeless grey eyes found in just a second.
Even in the crowd of hundreds, her eyes were only on .
Esray didn’t move towards as she just stared.
Finally, after a while she looked away before vanishing in the crowd.
I drew in deep breaths as I felt nausea building inside my mind.
Even though I hated that woman from the bottom of my heart, I would never get over her lifeless eyes.
Those eyes that remained cold even after torturing all those years.
[]
Inna’s voice brought out as I exhaled softly.
’Yeah.’
I blinked, Daina quickly walked towards from the side.
"Let’s go." She said, her voice genuine. "It’s ti."
I fixed my dress once before I walked behind her towards the altar.
The aisle of crimson petals was soft underfoot as I stood there.
An elven old lady stood in the middle, she must be the officiant for the engagent.
’I heard she had to learn the traditions of both races for it.’
Noticing my gaze she smiled softly as she gave a small bow.
I bowed back awkwardly as I didn’t know what to do.
Though, the awkwardness vanished as people began to clear a way.
Siersha ca towards the altar through the crowd, earning gasps with her every step.
’....’
I may always undermine it but she is one of the most beautiful girls I have seen.
She wore a crimson dress that covered her body, its long sleeves trailing behind her as she walked.
Her black hair was tied back into a simple braid, with a single white lily tucked near her ear.
She didn’t wear any jewelry as it isn’t allowed.
Siersha didn’t look nervous, she didn’t look excited either.
As if this was just another duty she had accepted without question.
She reached the altar and stood beside , our backs on the crowd.
For a second, our eyes t for a brief second.
She smiled and winked at .
’.....’
I take that back, she is excited for the engagent.
The officiant looked between the two of us and raised her voice.
"Today, before all gathered, we bear witness to a bond not only between two individuals, but between two lineages, two powers, two promises."
She made us face each other and Siersha kept on staring at .
She then began the formal rites but I barely heard them.
My attention drifted away from her towards the crowd.
’Where is Shyamal?’
I couldn’t help but wonder as I still haven’t seen a glimpse of her.
But as I moved my gaze around the crowd, I finally found soone.
He was the king of Demiurges....Kryllios.
The horned man raised his glass of wine with a smile.
I didn’t smile back as I looked away from him but to Siersha, who was staring at .
"Are you trying to find soone?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"...No." I replied, there was no point in telling her about Shyamal.
"Sir Himl." The officiant said. "Take her hand."
Siersha extended her hand and without a word, I took it.
Her hand was cold, soft like it would break if I squeezed a little harder.
"Please bring the rings." She said, glancing around us.
Daina quickly walked forward and brought a ring whose body was made from the branch of the world tree.
In the middle was a crimson red gem...one of its kind.
Elise was the one who ca from the vampire side, their ring was simple with the sa crimson gem.
The officiant then gave both of us a small knife. "Pour your blood on the rings." She instructed.
I winced at the thought of cutting myself but Siersha did without a second thought.
The blood trickled down her hand, rich and red, dripping onto the ring in her palm.
I stared at the small ceremonial blade in my own hand.
[]
’I’m just... taking a breath.’
I turned my hand over and made a shallow cut.
The blood welled up instantly, warm against my skin.
I let it drip onto my ring, watching as the crimson gem pulsed once, faintly glowing in response.
When the rings settled back down, the officiant held them out.
"By blood and will, your rings are bound," she declared. "Place them on each other, and let the union be sealed."
I took Siersha’s ring first.
Her hand trembled as I slid the ring onto her finger.
Her eyes flickered, but she smiled.
She took mine in return and gently placed the ring on my hand.
Then the officiant stepped back. "May the engagent stand strong in the tis to co."
The crowd began to applaud but it wasn’t that loud.
I swept my gaze around and found none of the Vampires and elves moving.
Only Elijah and Aimar were clapping like idiots.
’Urgh, whatever.’
Elise quickly took Siersha back to her room, leaving alone.
’Co to think of it...why are there so few people attending the engagent?’
Did they not send other invitations or what?
Just when I was about to move towards Aimar, soone grabbed my hand.
I looked to my side to find Olivia.
"What happened?"
She began pulling my hand. "Co with ."
Despite my confusion, I let her lead out of the garden into a silent place.
I looked around, finding no one in the place.
Olivia stopped and looked at .
I tilted my head in confusion. "Why did you—."
My words died down slowly as I felt the sharp, cold scythe on my neck.
"Hello, mister groom."
A familiar voice echoed from behind.
’Fuck my life.’
–––
–––
"Sir Edwin must have a vision for this."
A vampire said, trying to defuse the tension in the air.
He was standing close to Edwin, hands folded.
"I don’t see any other reason for lding with the elves."
"I said the sa." Another one said. "He must be doing this for us."
Edwin didn’t say anything as he looked calmly at the wine glass.
His mind was still occupied with why the House Atretic is here.
’What the hell is he doing now?’
Edwin thought, glancing around as he didn’t find Himl anywhere.
Even though he was sure Himl can’t do anything to him, Edwin was still extrely wary of him.
’I can’t let him spoil my plans once again.’
He thought, drawing in a deep breath to keep himself calm.
"Congratulations, Sir Edwin."
A voice made those around him turn silent.
Edwin looked to his side as he found a blue-skinned man, walking towards him.
The other vampires walked away leaving him alone as he looked at Kryllios coldly.
"Don’t act friendly with ." Edwin said, looking away. "We are enemies in the public."
"I wouldn’t have bothered you if I not had concerning news." Kryllios said, standing by his side. "This is much more important."
Edwin’s expression turned grim as he looked at him. "What happened now?"
Kryllios leaned in slightly, taking a sip from his drink. "Himl kidnapped House Atretic’s youngest son."
"What!?" Edwin snapped, his voice filled with anger. "How!? I thought it was impossible—."
"We all thought the sa, Sir Edwin." Kryllios said, his voice soft. "Yet he still did it."
Edwin’s jaw tightened. "When did this happen?"
"A few days ago," Kryllios replied, calmly sipping his drink like they were discussing the weather. "Just before the engagent invitations were sent."
"And they still showed up?" Edwin asked, his eyes narrowing. "That doesn’t make any damn sense."
"They think Himl will return him quietly once this is over," Kryllios said with a faint smirk. "Naïve, isn’t it?"
Edwin remained silent for a mont, thoughts racing. "What do you think, he would ask?"
"It’s related to Lady Yennefer." Kryllios said, his voice soft. "And also the end of the war."
Edwin turned dead silent as his rage leaked out of his body.
It was so bad that the people around him could feel it.
"What do you say, Sir Edwin?" Kryllios said, eyes on him. "Are you going to let him walk away with ruining your plans again?"
Edwin gave him a sharp look but he quickly cald himself down.
He forced his grip to loosen on the glass, even as the stem creaked faintly under the pressure of his fingers.
He slowly exhaled, eyes closed for a mont.
"No," he said. "Not this ti."
Kryllios raised a brow. "So what will you do?"
"I’ll do what I should’ve done long ago," Edwin muttered, his voice cold. "Remind Himl that no matter how far he climbs, he is still beneath ."
"And how are you going to do that, Sir Edwin?" Kryllios asked, his voice curious.
Despite not showing it on his face, he was curious as to what can make him have an upper hand on Himl.
"He did sothing he shouldn’t have." Edwin said, cryptically. "And if he wants to live a normal life, he would need to do what I say."
Kryllios didn’t say anything but he made his mind to keep following Edwin till he talks with Himl.
"Oh, by the way." The king of Demiurges said. "He is my youngest son, Axl."
Edwin looked at the young boy he was pointing at.
He had the sa blue skin like his father and he didn’t look more than ten years old.
Edwin nodded at the terrified boy but didn’t give him much thought.
Yet...
He couldn’t help but notice... sothing was off with the boy.
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