The highly anticipated double wedding ceremony was finally underway. The grand hall was filled with countless invited guests who had come to witness the marital celebration.
Upon the wedding altar, adorned with hundreds of fresh white flowers, the betrothed stood facing one another, accompanied by two high priests who were to officiate the sacred ceremony.
The first priest stood facing Dave and Raliana. He looked at the bride and groom with an authoritative yet warm smile.
"Dave Garrent!" the priest spoke, his voice echoing throughout the silent hall. "Do you take the woman before you to be your wedded wife, to love and accompany her in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, and to remain faithful to her forever until death do you part?"
"I do!" Dave answered firmly and calmly, his eyes not leaving Raliana's beautiful face for even a second.
The priest then turned his gaze to the bride. "Raliana Altavis, do you take the man before you to be your wedded husband, to love and accompany him in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, and to remain faithful to him forever until death do you part?"
"I do!" Raliana answered no less firmly, a smile of profound emotion and pure happiness clearly etched on her face.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the altar, the second priest stood facing Kazien and his three fiancés. The four youths wore matching all-white wedding attire, radiating a charm that made it impossible for anyone to look away.
The high priest took a slow breath to calm his racing heart.
This is the very first time in the entire history of my service as a priest that I must bestow a wedding blessing upon a man marrying three other men at once. the priest thought, half-resigned but with no other choice. Furthermore, one of them is a High Elf.
Although briefly lost in a whirlpool of his own thoughts regarding norms and traditions, the priest quickly suppressed his doubts. He resumed his professional demeanor, raised his sacred tome, and immediately proceeded with their wedding blessing.
"Kazien Altavis!" the priest spoke in a deep and firm tone, initiating their sacred vows. "Do you take the three men before you to be your life partners, to love and accompany them in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, and to remain faithful to them forever until death do you part?"
"I do!" Kazien answered straightforwardly, without the slightest hesitation. His sapphire blue eyes radiated absolute conviction.
The priest then shifted his gaze to the three youths standing before Kazien.
"Alvin Latreess Dass'el, Allen Altavis, Arken Altavis!" the priest called out. "Do the three of you take the man before you to be your wedded husband, to love and accompany him in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, and to remain faithful to him forever until death do you part?"
"I do!"
The answer was spoken in unison. Alvin with a smile of sincere happiness, Allen with a gaze full of conviction, and Arken with a red flush on his cheeks. Their voices echoed firmly, filled with profound love.
"Very well, Kazien Altavis, Dave Garrent!" proclaimed the first priest, who was leading the overall ceremony. "Please place the rings upon your respective partners' ring fingers, as a symbol of the eternity of this sacred bond!"
On the left side of the altar, Dave took a gold ring from the velvet cushion. He gently slipped it onto Raliana's ring finger, which was then reciprocated by Raliana. The two gazed into each other's eyes before finally sealing their vows with a warm kiss on the lips.
Simultaneously, on the right side of the altar, a far more unique scene unfolded. Alvin, Allen, and Arken took one step forward. The hands of all three youths held onto Kazien's single wedding ring together, and slowly, carefully, they slipped it onto their husband's left ring finger in unison.
Once the ring sat perfectly on his finger, Kazien immediately focused his mana and divided himself. In the blink of an eye, three completely identical figures of Kazien stood directly facing each of his spouses.
This action instantly captured the attention of both priests and all the invited guests in attendance. Murmurs of awe rustled throughout every corner of the hall. No one had ever expected that this would be how Duke Elgard's third son provided attention and proved his fair, undivided affection to his three spouses, ensuring none felt second best.
The three figures of Kazien smiled gently. In perfect synchronization, they each took a wedding ring from the velvet cushion and placed it on the left ring fingers of Alvin, Allen, and Arken.
With the rings secured, the three Kaziens leaned forward and sealed the moment with a kiss on the lips of his three spouses.
Kazien merged his figures back into one after breaking the kiss.
A highly festive round of applause instantly thundered through the hall, replacing the sacred silence. The wedding blessing ceremony had concluded smoothly and flawlessly.
After the priests closed the ceremony, the attending guests of honor walked up the wedding altar one by one to give their congratulations directly to the six individuals who had just officially become married couples.
However, when it was the Garveon Royal Family's turn, a mildly entertaining scene occurred. Princess Estania marched up to Kazien with light, stomping steps.
As she stood before the youth, the princess immediately pursed her lips and openly pouted.
"Congratulations on your wedding, Brother Kazien!" Princess Estania said in a tone that sounded snippy and contrived, still harboring resentment over his refusal to marry her. "I hope the four of you will be happy."
Kazien smiled endearingly at the princess's behavior. She was so honest with her feelings. It was no different from watching a pouting little sister.
"Thank you very much for your congratulations and sincere prayers, Princess Estania." Kazien replied amiably, slightly bowing his head in respect.
Standing not far from his daughter, King Nalvon could only sigh and shake his head. He felt both embarrassed and amused seeing his daughter's antics, still hung up in disappointment over that past rejection.
As time passed, the hall was filled with the sound of laughter and warm conversation. The residents of Lazavis City, the nobles, distant relatives, and even citizen representatives from other cities gathered around the Altavis residence to celebrate the grand day.
At the same time, the servants, assisted by the soldiers, began moving in an orderly fashion, serving various luxurious dishes and high-quality wines to all the invited guests, whether they were inside the hall, in the front courtyard, on the mansion's grounds, or among the commoners celebrating outside the mansion gates.
Amidst the boisterous and delightful party atmosphere, Ritalia jogged through the crowd and went straight to Kazien. The girl immediately threw her arms into a tight hug around her brother.
"Congratulations on your marriage to the four of you, Brother Kazien!" Ritalia said happily, her eyes slightly glassy with emotion. "May all of you always be showered with happiness and peace for all eternity."
Kazien returned the warm hug. With profound affection, he briefly lifted and carried his adopted younger sister in his arms before setting her back down.
"Thank you so much for your words, Ritalia." Kazien replied with a broad smile that radiated pure happiness. He gently patted the top of Ritalia's head. "In a few more years, it will be your and Hudeon's turn to stand upon this altar."
Hearing Hudeon's name mentioned, Ritalia's cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
"Yes, Brother!" Ritalia answered enthusiastically yet blushing shyly. "When the time comes, if the four of you happen to still be out adventuring, please make the time to return for a moment to attend our wedding."
"Of course. I will definitely be there to see my little sister wearing—"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Kazien's sentence was abruptly cut off. The sound of three bodies collapsing against the altar rang out almost simultaneously, piercing through the clamor of the party.
In that very instant, the atmosphere in the hall descended into chaos. Everyone nearby was severely shocked to see Alvin, Allen, and Arken suddenly fall completely unconscious right in the middle of the ongoing wedding celebration.
"Alvin! Allen! Arken!" Kazien called out in panic.
Kazien let go of Ritalia's hands and dashed over to his three spouses sprawled across the altar.
However, before his fingers could even graze Alvin, Kazien's vision suddenly spun violently. An excruciating bout of dizziness hammered his head without any warning. He lost his balance in a fraction of a second, and the world around him faded to pitch black.
Thud!
The silvery-white-haired youth's body collapsed right after his three spouses, falling unconscious in front of everyone present in the hall.