Cousin Mel and Annie Xuanfuhua's engagement banquet was not particularly grand, with only relatives and close friends in attendance.
However, King Ares rode the smoke-belching Scorching Dragon to Summer Chrysanthemum Castle, elevating the engagement banquet to a matter of honor.
Of course.
Everyone in the Xuanfuhua Family understood that King Ares had come for Russell's sake. Otherwise, the engagement of a mere earl's daughter would not have been enough to warrant King Ares's presence—though a wedding banquet might barely have qualified.
After the engagement banquet.
Following a brief two-day stay, Russell and Mel were due to set off. This time, however, they would not be accompanied by merely a small squad of knights.
Earl Adel Sol and his wife, along with the Xuanfuhua Family's many relatives, would all travel with them to the Shadowflame Grand Duchy for Mel and Annie's wedding. Once the wedding was over, Annie would become part of the Monochoria Family.
Time flew by, and the day of departure arrived.
"Quick, load the gifts onto the carriages!"
"Check the goods in the carriages. Don't leave a single item behind."
"Remember to fill the young ladies' carriages with refined black charcoal. Check the gemstone heating sets too, and make sure they're fully charged with magic!"
"Philip, be careful! You're always making a mess of things!"
"Lia, the madam is calling for you. The thread at the collar of her favorite embroidered dress has come loose, and she needs you to mend it."
Early in the morning, everyone at Summer Chrysanthemum Castle was busy making preparations.
Russell had risen early as well, but with nothing to do, he simply rode the Simulated Nightmare Beast Dragon Sembra around the Phantom Beast pasture. The ride was merely a pretext; in truth, he was tempering their minds together, striving to achieve perfect