Chapter 387: Chapter 346: Raylo’s Wedding and the Northern Guardian

At noon, the scorching sun drove away the last trace of the morning chill.

From the highest tower of Black Stone Castle, three long, resounding chimes echoed across the sky, announcing the official start of the wedding ceremony.

A low, thunderous blast from a horn sounded from both sides of the square in front of the castle.

The guests turned toward the sound to see fourteen Hill Giants lined up on both sides. Their burly bodies were like small hills, and in their hands, they held horns crafted from the skulls and horns of Giant Beasts.

Kado, their leader, took a deep breath, his chest swelling like a bellows, and blew the main horn in his hands.

WHOOOOM!

The sound was majestic and desolate, filled with a raw, immense power that instantly drowned out all other noise and commotion.

Immediately after, the other Giants began to beat the massive war drums before them, each one taller than a man.

DUM! DUM! DUM!

The beat of the drums was heavy and rhythmic.

The guests from the southern part of the Duchy were captivated by the wild and powerful rhythm.

Just then, a clear, high-pitched cry came from the sky.

Everyone looked up to see a hundred magnificent Pegasi soaring over the castle in a neat formation.

Their snow-white wings shimmered with a sacred radiance in the sunlight. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The Pegasus Knights opened embroidered cloth bags on the sides of their saddles, and in an instant, countless brightly colored flower petals rained down, carrying a sweet fragrance as they landed on every guest’s shoulders and hair.

The majestic drums and horns with the romantic shower of flowers, Iron Blood with tender affection—these two completely different styles blended perfectly above Black Stone Castle, creating a powerfully striking scene.

The castle gates slowly swung open, revealing a path covered by a deep red carpet that stretched from the entrance to a temporary dais built in the center of the square.

Raylo was dressed in a blue and black formal suit, its fine tailoring outlining his tall and athletic frame.

At the other end of the red carpet, Avril approached slowly, escorted by her father, Marquis Orlando.

She wore a silver-white gown adorned with fine Moonlight Stones, its train trailing on the ground like flowing Moonlight.

The skilled hands of southern craftsmen had combined precious silk with Magic Fabric, giving the gown a shimmering, liquid-like texture in the sunlight.

Her eyes held a mixture of shyness and joy.

Under everyone’s gaze, Raylo descended from the dais and took Avril’s hand from Marquis Orlando.

The Marquis’s eyes were a little red. He patted the back of Raylo’s hand and nodded. No more words were needed; everything was understood.

The two of them walked up to the dais hand in hand.

Aiden Duke stood beside them, a gratified smile on his face.

There were no complicated procedures, no long-winded speeches.

In the Northern Territory, power and promises were far more important than flowery words.

Aiden Duke’s deep, powerful voice rang out.

"Under the witness of the mountains and the proud Sun, I, Aiden Thunder Dragon, in my name as Lord of the Duchy, witness my son, Raylo, the Count of Black Stone Territory, and the Pearl of Baisha Port, Avril Baisha, become husband and wife. May their union be as indestructible as black stone and as everlasting as white sand."

Raylo and Avril exchanged Rings.

"I do."

Raylo’s voice was firm.

"I do."

Avril’s voice was gentle.

As their hands clasped tightly together, the Golden Dragon Sun in the sky let out a high-pitched draconic roar, its massive wings unfurling to cast a vast shadow below.

Sunlight pierced through its golden scales, showering down in a cascade of golden rays.

With the ceremony concluded, a grand wedding banquet officially began inside the castle’s great hall.

The long tables were laden with an even more sumptuous array of dishes than the night before, from deep-sea lobsters to herb-roasted lamb from the snowy mountains of the Northern Lands, a truly dazzling spread.

The air was filled with the aroma of alcohol; fine wines from the South and ales from the Northern Lands were available in abundance.

The nobles clinked their glasses and chatted loudly.

With each clash of wine cups, the barrier between the boisterousness of the Northern Territory and the elegance of the South gradually dissolved.

Lillian pulled a few noble ladies from Baisha Port aside, enthusiastically introducing them to the local customs of the Northern Territory. Her bright, infectious smile quickly put the reserved southern ladies at ease.

Raylo, holding Avril’s hand, moved among the guests.

He raised his cup to every guest who came to offer their congratulations.

Captain Ed and his Personal Guards voluntarily took on the roles of guards and waiters for the banquet. They filled every guest’s cup, their faces beaming with sincere pride.

Raylo’s gaze swept across the great hall, taking in his loyal subordinates, his close family, his powerful allies, and finally, his wife beside him, her face radiant with a smile.

Sunlight streamed through the great hall’s huge stained-glass windows, falling upon her face and bathing her in a soft halo of light.

Night fell like a dark velvet curtain, silently blanketing the peaks of the Black Stone Mountain Range.

The joyous laughter in the great hall gradually subsided as the guests, content and tipsy, were led by attendants back to their rooms to rest.

The long tables were in disarray with empty plates and cups, and the rich, mixed aroma of roasted meat and fine wine still lingered in the air.

After the last course of the banquet was cleared, Aiden Duke stood up.

He hadn’t changed out of his formal daytime attire, and the majesty befitting the ruler of the Duchy had not diminished one bit despite the day’s festivities.

His gaze swept over Raylo, and he gave a simple nod.

Raylo understood. After exchanging a look with Avril, he followed his father out of the noisy great hall.

The night wind was cool and crisp, blowing away the effects of the alcohol and bringing with it the silence of a Northern Territory night.

One after the other, the two of them crossed the castle courtyard.