You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 712

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Majestic as its purpose to venerate those at Izeneya, the temple was further decorated with blooms ready to welcome the coming spring. Usually empty solely for the believers to visit the whole place was now filled with nobles and their people. Expectations were resounding as echoes, and the path for the bride was cleared up waiting for her steps to summon the gasping stillness her beauty would demand.

Further inside, where a priest silently prayed, a groom stood... anxious... holding back the need to look back as he smelled the addictive scent of the beloved he had dreamed of marrying for so long.

’She’s here...’ — He breathed in deeply, opening his eyes to feel a shiver of ecstasy as he also could hear the people lose their minds as her steps made it through the path to the altar.

Music, elegant and fantastic was already playing... and yet he resisted the urge... for if he turned before her figure entered the holy hall... a blessed marriage would be revoked by the gods.

Meanwhile, Marianne’s eyes had already found her groom’s back. Tall and wide, high at the altar where she was soon to stand. During her march, through the veil covering her visage, many friends were found. Theodore was along with his mentor Bashaa who had returned from Latrishk after taking some vengeance for the Empire, Vitor and Paige who were also with her siblings waved at her lovingly shy and later, Madame Fannie Moody, Gustav the craftsman, Dr Talmhach and Deslys... Thomas, her household’s butler... everyone she crossed and became fond of was there. Clemente’s eyes, soft as his kind heart, smiled at the friend as she tilted her head for a hi, deciding to forget the love he would never own at this temple while praying for her happiness to fill his heart while remaining a friend with Marianne.

The words exchanged with the groom one day after the war made him more aware... that loving her was not his destiny on this earth.

— How can you be so calm? Although she has always survived are you planning to simply wait for her to wake up? All of this happened to her because of the history linked to your blood! Shouldn’t you release her from such demise!? How are you so sure this won’t happen again!? —

— I am not sure... yet I will wait forever... my blood’s history little has to do with me for I didn’t write it. I love her... and if demise is what it brings... I want to at least protect her from it while spilling every drop of this blood to atone for a far past. —

— You are saying you would die for her? You are putting everything aside? You? The mad hero of the Empire? —

— Was there ever anything else to put aside? — The man had smiled baffled to even spell that out, for natural it was for a devoted heart and soul as his own. — ... I cannot die. That would bring tears to her shiny eyes... no matter how, I am to be by her side... healthy... so she will never worry for anyone else beside her own laugh. —

Now, Clemente watched gladly the woman in white as she soon would enter the holy hall, anxious to see how the man to whom he gave up a first love would look once he saw the beautiful soul he was to bond until death do them part.

’Lovely you look... congratulations... to both of you.’

... The priest’s nod to tell the groom it was all right to look was too slow for Zeleskiaz to wait. His ears, too trained to notice every change in her breath had already learned the moment was finally his.

His family and the bride’s could only giggle at how enthusiastic his turn was... yet little could it matter for everything of him was kidnapped by the view of her majestic white dress and veil, crowned with a golden crown of diamonds resembling her reddish brown that could still be seen underneath like a silky breeze.

The father held her hand out... offering it to the man... and once he finally took it...

"May you both be blessed... my heart at least may rest for I know this man loves you, my child... Love her right, brat... son." — The pat on the back felt finally nice for Zeleskiaz to smile at the father-in-law.

"I always will, Sir."

They moved to face the priest and immediately without allowing them to share words the ceremony began.

Long it was... the bride tried to pay attention yet the eyes of the groom that never stopped gazing at her even when the priest cleared his throat many times had her restless instead.

’I know I look gorgeous... yet how can he be so selfless about it?! It is almost embarrassing, some have been murmuring entertained by it too!’ — She thought at one point, blushing underneath the veil... Meanwhile, the groom was obsessed with other thoughts. — ’My wife... once this man proclaims it... she’ll be my wife... oh gods... I would love to see her without the veil right now... her lovely skin... those elegant hues... mine... haha... my wife, Anne...’

"Now... may the lovers tell the vows. Crown Prince Zeleskiaz Reynold Di Frotschter repeat after me: I Zeleskiaz, as the soul this realm has sent me to inhabit the lands, offer my hand to never untangle from walking the path of life next to the woman you are, always protecting you, healing with you and building the future that brought us together in this life."

"I Zeleskiaz, as the soul this realm has sent me to inhabit the lands, offer my hand to never untangle from walking the path of life next to the woman you are, always protecting you, healing with you and building the future that brought us together in this life... loving you endlessly and without restraint, my love."

A giggling gasp was heard briefly yet the priest would continue as the ceremony told.

"... ahem... lovely that was... now... our Ninth, Marianne Elise Sylfinnier, the Ninth Calla’s Confidant, repeat after me: I Marianne, as the soul this realm has sent me to inhabit the lands, offer my hand to never untangle from walking the path of life next to the man you are, always beside you, healing with you and building the future that brought us together in this life."

"I... Anne, as the soul this realm has placed together to inhabit these lands, offer my hand to never untangle from walking the path of life next to the man you are, always beside you, healing with you and building the future that brought us together in this life. Happily... my love."

"... Zeleskiaz, do you take Marianne as the bond to your soul to be your wife?"

"I do."

"... Marianne, do you take Zeleskiaz as the bond to your soul to be your husband?" — Fighting the amusement at the groom’s quick response the priest, reigned himself to continue.

"... Yes, please, I do."

"Therefore, I now declare you husband and wife. You may now seal this marriage with a kiss for this crowd."

It was only Marianne who looked at that mentioned crowd, seeing how everyone’s eyes were waiting for the scene with excited gazes. Aghast at the pressure, the lift of her veil was noticed too late and the moment she met the ultramarine hues that not once paid mind to those around them, her visage was uncovered, her waist was pulled lovingly closer, and his forehead collided with hers surprising her but also preparing her.

"My love, my wife... my Anne..." — Zeleskiaz murmured with delight, kissing the forehead innocently to cast the lovely spell on her so she would forget anything else and kissing her lips suddenly passionate that her body was moved so no one but him would see his uncontrollable lust for the wife.

The cheers of the people were deafening for anyone and yet the newlyweds started a small struggle over when to stop this awaited seal. Her body simply accepted the hunger of his, becoming as restless as the hands caressing her dress until her skin burned from frustrated need.

"Uhm... Ahem..." — They heard after a while from the considerate priest that kindly looked away. — "Any more than this... shouldn’t the highnesses leave it for later? You must now march down this altar, otherwise, the gods will become jealous of your bond."

"! O-oh, yes, Sir. W-We’re sorry." — Marianne said, embarrassed to be reminded of this kind of manners. Meanwhile, her hand was tangled by her husband’s who wouldn’t stop smiling widely while having his own reply to her apology. — "I am not sorry, my love, why are you?"

"!? Goodness, behave now, Zel..." — She muttered as they went down as tradition said.

"I will behave for now... yet do not forget the promise made last night." — The final whisper was seductively threatening and squeezing the hand of his now wife, Zeleskiaz acted nice to the people, waving his hand happily the more they walked to the carriage that would take them around the city and lastly to the palace... their home.