The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

The entire day.

Liszt hadn't enjoyed the pleasure of "close contact with beautiful bridesmaids" that Levis had mentioned. He was like a marionette, manipulated by the internal affairs officials.

"I don't like being a groomsman," Rolie, his cousin, complained under his breath, dressed in a light gold suit, with a wreath of colorful flowers on his head and a round, fluffy, ruffled collar around his neck, looking out of place.

"Count me in,"

Liszt echoed.

He, too, was dressed in the tactless groomsman outfit. He had no idea where the custom of wearing such a ridiculous costume had originated.

Even with his outstanding demeanor and handsome appearance, he was defeated by the suit. Among the groomsmen, only his handsome face stood out a bit.

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Levis secretly yawned, "I also regret agreeing to be Meioubao's groomsman. It's hot, tiring, and uncomfortable. I'd rather exhaust myself practicing Dou Qi than stand here as a prop... especially in this ugly and silly suit. I'm all sweaty!"

But there was no helping it; it was custom.

The golden suit represented the glory of knights, the puffy round frilled collar signified the nobility's grandeur, and the colorful woven wreath symbolized nature's blessing.

Only such a group of groomsmen could provide the groom with the utmost support and guard his honor.

Liszt glanced at the opposite side of the red carpet, where a group of bridesmaids was draped in white dresses. They weren't wearing wreaths but bird lady hats with feathers, and with gloved hands, they held a bunch of dry flowers. The white symbolized purity, the bird lady hats signified vigorous Dou Qi, and the dry flowers meant restrained beauty.

At first, the group of bridesmaids was indeed so beautiful that it was hard to take one's eyes off them. But now, Liszt had lost count of how many secretive rolled eyes he had caught from the bridesmaids.

Especially after the rehearsal, their postures, both standing and sitting, lost all grace and were quite rough, far from ladylike.

All in all,

The day had passed in painful rehearsal, and the young ladies who had paid attention to Liszt because of the piano piece "With You" worked themselves half to death as bridesmaids without any intention to flirt with him. This allowed Liszt to sleep soundly again, greeting the wedding day with full energy.

...

On the morning of August 17th,

The group of groomsmen assembled, and the wedding had already begun.

It was a complicated sequence of events. First, they had to assist the groom, Meioubao, in going to Matsutake Castle to welcome the bride. Galloping on horses, the six groomsmen inside the carriage all stripped down to just their boxer shorts. Upon arriving at Matsutake Castle, they hurriedly dressed in the bizarre light gold suits.

Then, they put on Ruffs and wreaths.

They stepped out of the carriage with bright smiles, following the bridegroom Meioubao, dressed in glittering gold, towards Matsutake Castle under the guidance of the internal affairs official.

In their hands, each bore a strange potted plant.

They were wheat, barley, glutinous rice, corn, peas, and taro. The first five grains symbolized the food of the harvest, and the last taro signified the family's foundation.

Once they entered the castle, these grains and taro were handed over to the bridesmaid group—the male host handed over the management of the family's foundation to the female host.

The male host was responsible for battle; the female host for the castle. This was the common understanding.

Of course, most male nobles were responsible not just for battle but also for the castle.

The women were merely responsible for enjoyment.

Just as Liszt was passing the glutinous rice in his hands to the opposite bridesmaid, Joanna Evening Primrose, he suddenly felt a caress on the back of his hand.

It was Joanna smiling, her fingers tapping against the back of his hand.

And she gave him an amorous look.

She was the daughter of the Count of Moonlight Island and a direct follower of the Grand Duke, her mother being one of the Grand Duke's cousins, bearing the Sapphire Family's bloodline. At nineteen years old, she was the most stunning among the bridesmaids, bearing a resemblance to Angela Sapphire.

The young lady who had hoped Liszt would teach her piano in private was among them.

Having been tired all day, one might have thought she wouldn't be inclined to any fanciful thoughts, yet after a night of restorative rest, this noble young lady still hinted at Liszt — and did so under the broad light of day.

Maintain a smile.

Liszt pretended not to notice her subtle moves, for in the style of the Little Princess, he truly had no interest in her group of close friends.

The ceremony continued.

After blessings infused with symbolism such as the "exchange of grains," "feeding of horses," and "donning armor," it was time for the bride, Angela Sapphire, to finally emerge from the depths of the castle, under the protection of the First Prince. She shone as brilliantly as her gilded groom.

The golden gown she wore hugged her figure, accentuating her curves, and the light veil at her bosom made the profound cleavage teasingly visible.

Atop her styled hair sat a tiara adorned with gemstones and pearls.

The heavy makeup and significant beautification rendered her stunningly beautiful and noble.

She placed her hand in Meioubao's, who, with his arm, helped her onto the carriage, then Meioubao mounted his horse to personally guard by the side of the carriage.

The bridesmaids each went to separate carriages while Liszt and the rest of the groomsmen also mounted their horses.

Following them were the First Prince and others, forming the bride's entourage, with the Blueblood Knight Order occasionally letting out inexplicable roars, amplifying the procession's presence.

Two and a half hours later.

The procession returned to Long Taro Castle as the sunlight began to intensify.

The groom assisted the bride out of the carriage, while the groomsmen aided the bridesmaids. This time, Liszt found himself being teased again — when he assisted Joanna, she cunningly pretended to slip and fell into his arms. As she stood up, she even pinched Liszt's pectoral muscle.

"You have a really strong body," she said on tiptoe, whispering quickly into Liszt's ear.

In such a situation.

Liszt could hardly show discontent and ruin his cousin's wedding, so he simply smiled and pretended nothing had happened, proceeding with the following rituals.

Serving the groom and bride — the cleansing with spring water, the sharing of a cup of wine, a piece of wheat bread, and the bride spinning yarn while the groom practiced archery.

Finally.

They stepped into the well-decorated hall for the final marital approval ceremony.

It was only then that Liszt had a moment to notice that the entire hall was filled with numerous nobles and their spouses, and at the seats of honor sat an middle-aged couple — Grand Duke Andrew Sapphire and his wife Sarette Dahua Huilan.

The Grand Duke looked well, though he no longer radiated Dragon Might.

Surrounding them were Marquis Merlin, The Mesiro Couple, the First Prince and his wife, Glendenton and the Grand Princess with their spouses, as well as Liszt's brother Li Weiliam and his wife, and other nobles whom Liszt had merely greeted. Only Glendenton from the old Marquises was present, being the Grand Princess's husband after all.

The other Marquises had all sent their heirs in their stead.

Regardless, the Grand Duke and Duchess's very presence at the wedding was an honor in itself.

The officiant of the wedding was an elderly noble, an Internal Affairs Official of The Court, who had presided over the First Prince's wedding before.

Now, with his dimming eyesight, he looked at the thick parchment in his hands and, addressing Meioubao with a dry but booming voice, read, "Meioubao Taro, if the master of the sea, the Lord of all islands, the great Sapphire Duke agrees, do you swear to take Angela Sapphire as your wife?"

"I promise," Meioubao solemnly vowed.

The elderly noble then turned to the Little Princess, "Angela Sapphire, if the master of the sea, the Lord of all islands, the great Sapphire Duke agrees, do you swear to take Meioubao Taro as your husband?"

Angela, too, vowed solemnly, "I promise."

Seeing this, the elderly noble continued, "By the power and name bestowed upon me by the master of the sea, the Lord of all islands, the great Sapphire Duke, I witness your marriage... May the glory of the knights shine upon this newlywed couple."

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