Wedding

As a maid hurried down from the second floor and whispered her message to Albert, Albert cleared his throat and gestured to the court musicians who had been waiting for some time.

Immediately, solemn and slow music filled the somewhat empty Lord's Hall. Although the number of musicians was limited and the instruments were far less magnificent than those in the court of Prye City, the familiar melody still instantly drew the atmosphere into a solemn sense of ceremony.

All eyes in the hall were drawn to the stone staircase leading to the second floor.

A moment later, a figure appeared at the top of the stairs.

Princess Louise, wearing a wedding dress.

The wedding dress was made of the finest silk and lace, with the skirt embroidered with intricate and delicate Broomflower and vine patterns in gold and silver thread. Under the glow of the fireplace and countless candles, it shimmered with a soft and noble light.

She wore a small Diamond Crown on her head, and a veil gently draped over her face, partially obscuring her carefully made-up features. Although a hint of fatigue could still be seen, the poise and beauty befitting a royal Princess were still breathtaking.

On either side of her, a maidservant carefully supported her, holding up her long skirt.

Karl stood in the center of the hall, his gaze calmly fixed on the woman who would soon become his wife in law, as he slowly descended the stairs.

His feelings were unusually complex, far from being as calm as they appeared on the surface.

Although the marriage was essentially a cold Political Marriage, and although another person's image was already etched in his heart.

But at this moment, gazing at the beautiful Princess dressed in gorgeous robes and wearing a veil, an indescribable flutter still quietly swept through his heart.

Whatever the reasons behind it, from this day forward, their fates will be inextricably linked.

In the eyes of the world, and in the name of the law, they will become the closest of partners, sharing honor and disgrace, and facing the storms of the future together.

This unprecedented sense of connection carries a heavy weight, and also brings a touch of unfamiliar excitement.

That being said, whether in his past life or this one, this was indeed his first time entering the hall of marriage.

A sense of solemnity, belonging to an important life ceremony, inevitably stirred a ripple in his heart.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the slight fluctuation, and steadied his mind.

When the Princess reached the last few steps, Karl stepped forward and extended his hand.

Louise's gaze met Karl's calm eyes through the thin veil.

She hesitated for a moment, as if confirming something, and then gently placed her hand, gloved in white silk, into Karl's broad, slightly rough palm.

Karl's hand was steady, carrying a reassuring strength.

He gently helped her down the last step.

The two walked side by side, slowly towards a small platform temporarily erected in front of the hall, accompanied by music.

On the platform, a Royal Bishop, dressed in a magnificent Ceremonial Robe and accompanied by his entourage, was already waiting solemnly with a scripture in hand.

They stood facing each other before the bishop.

The bishop began to recite the Wedding Vows in a loud and solemn voice.

"Karl von Schmidt, do you take this woman before you, Louise von Heinrich, to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, in good times and bad, in riches and in poorness, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"

Karl's gaze remained calmly fixed on Louise, his voice clear and steady, devoid of any emotion. "I do."

"Louise von Heinrich, do you take this man before you, Karl von Schmidt, to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"

Louise took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly beneath her veil, but still firm. "I... do."

Next came the ring exchange.

Karl took a simple ring from the velvet cushion Edgar was holding. The ring was set with a small but beautifully cut sapphire and was one of the heirlooms passed down in the Schmidt Family.

He knelt on one knee, lifted Louise's hand, and slowly placed the ring on her ring finger.

The cool metallic touch made Louise's fingers curl slightly.

Louise then took a relatively simple Gold Ring from the maid and put it on Karl's finger.

The bishop raised his hands high and proclaimed in the loudest voice. "In the name of the Goddess and by the authority of His Your Majesty, I hereby declare that Karl von Schmidt and Louise von Broomflower are now husband and wife!"

As soon as he finished speaking, polite applause and cheers rang out in the hall.

The Royal delegation and the officials of Carnford, whatever their true thoughts, displayed the expected jubilation at this moment.

Next, Albert brought out a Silver Wine Cup filled with deep red wine.

According to the ceremony, the newlyweds must share a cup of wine, symbolizing sharing joys and sorrows.

Karl picked up his glass, took a sip, and then handed it to Louise.

Louise took the glass and took a small sip behind her veil. The spiciness of the wine made her frown slightly, but the ceremony was finally complete.

The ceremony concluded, and the wedding banquet officially began. Everyone took their seats.

The Long Oak Table, a symbol of the core of power in Carnford, was still Karl's seat.

But today, right next to his seat, a high-backed chair of the same style, covered with a clean white tablecloth, has been added.

That position belongs to the New Lady of the Manor, Louise.

Karl and Louise walked together to the head of the table. Karl pulled out a chair for Louise first, Louise nodded slightly in thanks before sitting down. Karl then sat down next to her.

The atmosphere at the wedding banquet gradually warmed up with each round of toasts.

The candlelight flickered on the long table, illuminating the varied expressions of the guests.

As is customary, officials from Carnford and members of the royal delegation began to toast the newlyweds in turn at the head of the table.

Princess Louise maintained her elegant demeanor. Each time someone raised their glass, she would nod slightly, pick up the small silver cup in front of her, and, in accordance with court etiquette, only symbolically sip it with her lips, taking only a small taste.

Her movements were reserved and distant, like an invisible barrier separating her from the noisy banquet in the Northern Territory.

In contrast, Karl's performance was quite different.

He was completely unpretentious. Whether facing his own people like Edgar and Brendan, or royal officials with scrutinizing eyes, he accepted every toast offered to him, raising his large Pewter Goblet and downing it in one gulp.

At this moment, despite downing glass after glass of strong liquor, his eyes showed no signs of drunkenness; instead, they shone even brighter.

After several rounds, Karl seemed even more enthusiastic.

He stood up, holding his wine glass, and walked steadily down from the head seat, going straight to Albert.

Albert was a meticulous and rigid middle-aged man who never drank alcohol. At this moment, he was sipping water. When he saw Karl approaching, he quickly stood up and forced a stiff smile.

"Mr. Albert," Karl's voice boomed, tinged with a deliberately contrived warmth, "You've taken good care of Her Highness the Princess all the way from the Royal Capital to the Northern Territory! I'd like to offer you a toast!"

Albert looked embarrassed and waved his hands repeatedly, "My Lord, you are too kind. This is merely my duty, and I dare not take credit... I am not a heavy drinker, truly..."

"Hey!" Karl interrupted him, stretching out his arm and almost forcibly shoving a full glass of strong liquor into Albert's hand, while raising another glass for himself. "You must drink this one! Otherwise, you're disrespecting me, Carnford, and disrespecting me!"

His voice was loud, tinged with a drunken arrogance, which attracted the attention of many people around him.

Albert turned pale, caught in a difficult situation under the watchful eyes of everyone.

He glanced at the Princess in the main seat for help, but saw that Louise was just watching quietly and did not say anything to help.

He had no choice but to bite the bullet and accept the glass.

"Well... I'll gladly accept your offer..." Albert closed his eyes and, as if drinking medicine, poured the spicy liquid into his mouth.

However, the intense stimulation far exceeded his expectations. As soon as the wine entered his throat, he couldn't help but cough violently, his face instantly turning bright red. He bent over in a disheveled state, almost spitting out the wine, completely losing his composure.

Karl, pretending not to notice his embarrassment, patted him on the back and laughed loudly, "Good! Mr. Albert is indeed generous! Another drink!"

"No... no... Lord... please spare me..." Albert pleaded repeatedly, retreating to the side as if fleeing.

Louise witnessed this entire scene.

Looking at Albert's disheveled appearance, she recalled how she had vomited due to motion sickness a few days earlier while traveling. Although the steward appeared respectful, his eyes betrayed his urging and impatience, making her feel extremely embarrassed in front of everyone.

At this moment, seeing Karl use this seemingly crude but actually precise method to give her a little "revenge," she was first surprised, then couldn't help but raise her hand, gently covering her lips with her fingertips, a genuine smile spreading from her eyes and quietly creeping onto the corners of her mouth.

When she looked at Karl again, her gaze held less of the initial unfamiliarity and more of an indescribable gentleness.

Although this marriage began out of necessity, at least for this moment, her nominal husband, in his own unique way, has preserved a sliver of her barely perceptible dignity.

Thank you, Lord Karl, she said softly to herself.