Lady Jia Lin Na seemed to be in a very good mood.
She glanced at Leia, who was dressed as a bridesmaid.
Although she didn't know what had just happened, seeing Xia De's nearby seat, she guessed what Leia was doing.
"Good afternoon, little Leia."
She maintained an elegant smile, and her bright red long dress particularly accentuated her beauty today.
Leia, wearing a bridesmaid's gown, also maintained the elegance of a Royal Lady:
"Good afternoon, Grand Aunt Jialinna."
In the church hall where the wedding was about to take place, both of them restrained their emotions, and on the surface, everything was in accordance with etiquette.
Leia quickly walked back towards the entrance; she should be with today's bride now.
Lady Jia Lin Na turned to watch Leia leave, then scanned the surroundings.
She didn't look for other seats reserved for Royal Family members in the first three rows but, after greeting Xia De, sat down on the other side of the aisle, next to Lady Silvia.
This way, the two Great Witches from the Witch Council sat together.
Tifa, of course, had no seat.
After confirming that Lady Jia Lin Na had found a seat, she temporarily left the hall to wait outside.
There was still some time before the wedding began.
Amidst the slightly brisk tune of “Midsummer Green Grass,” Xia De originally wanted to continue chatting with Dorothy, but he didn't expect Dorothy to strike up a conversation with Princess Margaret.
The Princess of Carson Rick had also studied delarion, and therefore knew about the recently renowned Tobesk Writer.
They had a pleasant conversation, and Dorothy even pulled Xia De into the talk.
Although Xia De had already met this Princess in Huntington City, he still had to pretend it was their first meeting and, according to social etiquette, praise the beauty of her attire today.
Princess Margaret first thanked Xia De for yesterday's gift, then also praised Xia De and Dorothy, even mentioning that Xia De's formal suit looked quite good.
She suddenly blinked and said playfully:
"At the farewell banquet in Huntington City, I saw another Delarion gentleman wearing a formal suit of similar fabric and craftsmanship.
It seems this is the fashion in Tobesk this winter."
She probably didn't realize what this "coincidence" meant, but Xia De almost broke out in a cold sweat.
The suit he wore to the farewell banquet last Saturday, which was struck by lightning, was custom-made for him by Leia, just like the one he was wearing today.
Fortunately, the topic quickly moved on from there, and Dorothy skillfully discussed literary topics with this foreign Lady.
To prevent himself from revealing any more flaws, Xia De voluntarily withdrew from the conversation between the two Ladies.
But sitting there in a daze was not a good idea, so while guests were still arriving, he got up and went to the other side of the aisle, saying to Lady Silvia:
"Madam, are you Miss Emma Sylvia?"
"Sir, do you know me?"
Lady Silvia asked hesitantly, her face cooperatively showing an expression of aversion to socializing, while Lady Jia Lin Na next to her smiled.
"Yes, I have read your papers.
You left a photo when you attended the Yalta Mathematical Summit two years ago."
Xia De said according to the planned words.
This was the method the Witches prepared to allow Xia De to reasonably get to know Lady Silvia:
"I have always admired your academic achievements, and I have been reading your papers.
I didn't expect you to come to Tobesk with Princess Margaret."
"This is Hamilton of Thunder Jeed."
Lady Jia Lin Na introduced.
Xia De reached out to shake hands with Lady Silvia, but the latter hesitated and refused to extend her hand, so Lady Jia Lin Na again smoothed things over:
"Knight, this Lady Silvia from Carson Rick is Princess Margaret's mathematics teacher.
If you have questions you'd like to ask, you can wait until the banquet tonight."
"Yes, I do have some questions I'd like to ask."
Xia De said softly, then bid farewell to the two Ladies and returned to his seat.
"Mr. Hamilton, the teacher has always been unyielding towards men; it's not that she has an opinion of you."
Princess Margaret, who had witnessed the scene just now, explained softly, and Xia De nodded.
That scene just now was purely for the Princess to see.
After the brief conversation just now, Xia De had a reason to continue getting to know Lady Silvia, Lady Jia Lin Na had a reason to invite this Lady to her manor as a guest, and Princess Margaret also dispelled her suspicion about Xia De suddenly having a connection with Lady Silvia.
All of this was Lady Silvia's plan, originally intended for the Lakeview Manor banquet tonight, but the current occasion was more suitable.
As soon as Xia De got up, the two Witches immediately cooperated tacitly.
Not long after Xia De took his seat, the last batch of guests arrived at the wedding venue.
And the last batch of guests were King Larus III and Queen Diana.
Their arrival not only made other guests stand up, but even the Duke and Duchess Eisberg, who were sitting on the right side of the first row, stood up to greet them—according to tradition, the entire right side of the first three rows was for the groom's family, and the entire left side of the first three rows was for the bride's family.
As they passed Xia De, the King and Queen specifically stopped to talk to Princess Margaret and invited the Princess to sit in the front row with them, but the Princess refused:
"This is Cavendish's big day.
As an outsider, how can I disturb you?"
She answered gracefully, and her words and address were quite appropriate, causing those around her to nod repeatedly.
Of course, King also saw Xia De, but only nodded slightly to him.
This did not prevent Xia De from seeing an approving look in the eyes of this King, who was slightly shorter than him.
King was very happy that Xia De could faithfully complete his task.
After the Queen and King also took their seats, the guests' voices lowered slightly, because the wedding had entered its final preparation stage.
At 1:45 PM, the Old Father, wearing a white robe with a large white dove holy emblem hanging on his chest, walked out from the corridor behind the hall, adjusted his hat, and came to the pulpit, placing the Peace Church scripture, “Code of Peace,” which he was holding, among the flowers.
The wedding of a domestic Princess was qualified to have a diocesan Bishop as the officiant, but for some reason, they only invited the oldest Priest of the Peace Church in the diocese.
This Priest was three years older than Priest Augustus.
"Attending a wedding always makes one so excited."
By this time, most conversations had ended.
Dorothy softly said to Xia De.
The Golden-haired girl was infected by the atmosphere of the moment.
She placed her handbag on her lap, her eyes shining as she looked at the pulpit in front and the Priest who was making the final preparations:
"Xia De, your faith is Mr. Dawn, right?"
Dorothy suddenly asked again, and Xia De nodded.
Mia's daily nap time had arrived, and the cat was now sleeping on Xia De's lap.
The Golden-haired girl mumbled:
"I believe in Lady of Creation, Leia believes in father peace..."
"Do you know what she's thinking?"
The voice beside his ear chuckled.
"Of course I do."
Xia De replied in his heart.
At 1:48 PM, when the gray-haired Old Father was officially ready, he suddenly coughed.
Then the band, playing the third-to-last measure of “To My Love” in the corner of the church front, suddenly changed key and smoothly began to play “Wedding March.”
The guests all turned with smiles to look at the entrance.
After a moment, outside the previously empty double doors of the hall, two Boys, dressed in red coats and looking only seven or eight years old, wearing small black leather shoes, each carrying a flower basket full of petals, shyly walked in, then scattered red, pink, and white petals all over the red carpet at the entrance.
"It's starting, it's starting."
Dorothy said with some excitement.
After the two little flower Boys had scattered two or three handfuls of petals, the groom, Randolph Iceberg, wearing a red military uniform, brown leather boots, and a tall black bearskin hat, finally appeared at the entrance.
He had a smile on his face, but a hint of nervousness was still visible, and even his limbs were somewhat stiff, but he still forced himself to appear calm.
Golden ribbons on his shoulders pulled towards his chest, and besides the essential boutonnière for the wedding, there were also two small medals on his chest.
As everyone stood up, the groom, accompanied by the chief best man in a black formal suit, officially stepped onto the red carpet to the “Wedding March.”
The two Boys, probably from the church choir, scattered petals in front, while Mr. Eisberg walked at a moderate pace, allowing people to offer their blessings.
Mr. Randolph Iceberg was wearing a hat, so Xia De couldn't roughly estimate his height, but he wouldn't be taller than Xia De.
His skin was not very smooth, and his eyes were a bit close together, but overall, he was a very resolute gentleman.
Amidst the music and applause, he, along with the chief best man, finally reached the front row at the end of the red carpet, then opened his arms and embraced the Duchess Eisberg, who seemed to be crying, before stepping onto the elevated platform in front and standing to the Old Father's left.
"How wonderful."
Xia De heard Dorothy sigh softly.
As the wedding march continued to play, three pairs of groomsmen and bridesmaids appeared at the entrance to the music and then stepped onto the red carpet.
Their walking speed and posture were noticeably much more normal; Xia De only recognized one of the three groomsmen, a nobleman he had played rhode cards with, and the three bridesmaids were all Mona Cavendish's sisters, including the sixteen-year-old Angelina Cavendish.
They were all dressed in plain long dresses similar to Leia's, but the style of the dresses was even simpler than the chief bridesmaid's.
The standing people didn't pay too much attention to them, because behind the groomsmen and bridesmaids, male ring bearers, each holding a ring box, walked in somewhat shyly, followed by four little girls carrying small baskets, dressed in white robes, looking like little angels, who walked in with flower baskets.
At this moment, all the gas lamps temporarily hung outside the windows lit up, and the light passed through the magnificent stained glass of the church, casting colorful rays onto the entrance of the hall.
With a dull boom, petals and ribbons fluttered above the red carpet, and as the wedding march played, two musicians in red coats at the entrance simultaneously raised their golden horns and blew out a clear sound.
To the sound of the horns, the bride, Mona Cavendish, finally appeared, dressed in a white wedding gown, wearing a silver-white crown, a pearl necklace around her neck, diamond earrings, and holding a bouquet of white lilies.
The crown even looked more magnificent than Sister Devlin's eye patch, and the pearl necklace made her skin appear so fair.
Her face was filled with a happy smile, and the layered white wedding dress made her the most beautiful lady at this moment.
Mona Cavendish and Leia did not resemble each other much; her nose was very similar to Angelina's, and her eyes resembled the eldest prince Xia De had seen at the train station yesterday.
Her long red hair was a symbol of the Cavendish Royal Family.
At this time, her long hair was braided into small plaits, which were then woven together into an intricate style at the back of her head.
People clapped their hands, led by the chief bridesmaid Leia, and the bride walked onto the red carpet with a smile.
The exaggeratedly long train of her gown was held by eight little girls, all with golden hair, also dressed in white robes.
The pre-arranged steam pipes now sprayed fine steam mist from small holes in the ground onto the red carpet.
The soft midday light streamed in from the higher stained-glass windows of the hall, and in those faint halos of light, to the music of the wedding march, and amidst envious and blessed gazes, Mona Cavendish walked across the long red carpet, passed every person who offered her blessings, and finally arrived at the front row of seats.
She embraced her mother, Queen Diana, and then looked at her father, Larus III, the current King of Delarion.
Unlike the Queen, who was wiping away tears with a handkerchief, the King's expression was calm:
"Mona, remember to be happy."
He said softly, just a simple sentence, and the bride began to shed tears.
The King took the bride's hand, led her to the high platform behind the pulpit, and then turned and left.
Leia stood behind and to the side of the bride.
"Oh, this is truly..."
Dorothy bit her lip slightly, her eyes somewhat dazed.
She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, the cat held by Xia De let out a soft "Meow~," Mia seemed to be afraid of disturbing this sacred moment and deliberately lowered her voice.
"Leia?"
As people sat down, Xia De, using the sound of chairs moving as cover, quietly asked, "Dorothy" wiped her eyes and didn't pay attention to Xia De.
"May God bless this couple, praised and blessed by relatives and friends, to be united under the holy emblem!"
The Old Father announced loudly; to his right was Mona Cavendish holding the bouquet, and to his left was Randolph Iceberg in military uniform.
As the Priest announced, the sound of the wedding march gradually faded but did not disappear completely:
"In the name of our Lord, father peace, I give you blessings.
Bless your marriage, may you become servants of God, and attain eternal happiness in the mortal world through the teachings and grace of peace."
The Priest took a deep breath and looked at the seated people:
"Is there anyone who objects to the marriage of this couple?"
At this moment, of course, no one would speak, otherwise, they would certainly not leave Peace Church alive.
But the Old Father still waited for ten seconds before smiling and saying loudly:
"No one objects to this marriage; may God bless everyone, father peace will witness everything here and all vows, praise father peace! Praise War and Peace!"
Delarion's wedding traditions are quite complex; normally, at this point, a choir would appear to sing hymns of the Peace Church, such as "White Shepherd" or "Song of Peace," but royal weddings always simplify the process—to prevent accidents, the choir children did not appear.
Instead, the Priest loudly read excerpts from Chapter 5, Section 3 of the "Peace Code," concerning the Peace Church's view on marriage, during which the band played "Song of Peace."
After all this, the Priest proceeded to the most crucial part, and people held their breath, watching the groom and bride behind the pulpit:
"In the name of God, I question you under the holy emblem—"
"Dorothy" quietly took Xia De's hand, and Mia curiously climbed onto Xia De's shoulder, staring with wide eyes over the crowd in front towards the Priest.
"Randolph Johnson Iceberg, do you take this woman to be your wife, even when she grows old and her youth fades?"
The Priest asked.
Young Mr. Iceberg instinctively looked down at the King sitting below, then quickly said:
"Yes, I do, may father peace bear witness, I do."
His hand rested on the holy book held by the Priest, who smiled and then turned to face a different direction, asking:
"Mona Fran Cavendish, do you take this man to be your husband, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health?"
"Yes, I do."
Tears were in the corners of her eyes, only a smile on her face, and she also placed her hand on the holy book.
Xia De seemed to hear Queen Diana in the front row finally crying out, while his hand was firmly gripped by "Dorothy."
"Leia" behind the bride smiled as she looked at her sister, and among the bridesmaids behind the chief bridesmaid, Angelina's expression was quite normal.
Curious about the Witches' expressions at this moment, Xia De carefully turned his head slightly, glancing towards the other side of the aisle.
Miss Silvia looked up at the bride and groom who were taking their vows, as if conducting some academic research.
And Miss Jialinna happened to look at Xia De at this moment, and the red-haired Great Witch glared at him for no reason.
"Hmm? Did I do something wrong?"
Xia De thought to himself, then heard the Priest loudly announce during the climax of the wedding march:
"Our Lord, father peace, witnesses this marriage as valid; you have made vows to each other, witnessed by God.
Please exchange rings; may God bless you, your marriage has begun, this is a new beginning, a new family, a new continuation!"
The ring bearer presented the rings, the Priest stepped aside, and amidst people's applause, Mona Iceberg and Randolph Iceberg looked at each other and then placed the rings on each other's fingers.
The midday sun was just right, and the atmosphere in the church hall was intense.
Applause erupted in a continuous wave, and everyone wore a smile.
And so, as the atmosphere reached its climax, Mr. Iceberg embraced his bride and then kissed her.
Afterward, there were still the Priest's address and the presentation of church gifts, as well as brief speeches from both sets of parents, but Xia De no longer paid attention to these.
"Dorothy" suddenly turned and threw her arms around his neck, then kissed him; of course, it wasn't a deep kiss, just a gentle touch.
Not many people noticed this scene; even Princess Margaret, who was concentrating on the stage on Dorothy's other side, didn't notice.
But Xia De was certain that the two Witches must have noticed; at least, Miss Jialinna definitely saw this scene, and Xia De felt as if her gaze had become substantial, "sweeping" over him.
The Priest's blessings continued to resound in front; after "Dorothy" kissed Xia De, she immediately turned back to look at the people on stage, as if nothing had happened.
Xia De dared not look in the Witches' direction, only lowering his head to touch his lips, then saw the cat lying on his lap twisting its neck in an awkward position, looking up at him with large amber eyes:
"Meow!"
Xia De believed he understood Mia's words, so he reached out and scratched her little head.
The cat narrowed its eyes, showing a look of enjoyment, then lay down contentedly, its two fluffy white front paws cushioning its small head.
"Marriage, huh..."
Xia De thought during the most stirring final section of the wedding march, and when he heard the people around him start clapping again, he also clapped his hands.
However, when he looked up at Randolph Iceberg and Mona Iceberg, holding hands and showing happy expressions, Xia De still pursed his lips, pondering the meaning of love and marriage.
"May God bless them."
He whispered, but his voice was drowned out by the surrounding applause.
