CHAPTER 242: THE WEDDING DAY

"Yes, my lord. We have been awaiting your return," Lambard replied respectfully whiletaking Marengo’s reins and bowing deeply.

He then led the horse toward the stable.

Marengo, too, had worked hard in unfamiliar lands and deserved care and rest.

As Lambard walked away toward the stable, he could still hear the voices of the two men behind him.

"It’s been a while since we had a proper bath. I can’t wait. Lambard must have already prepared everything."

"Tell me, Prince Romas isn’t planning to visit tonight, is he? If he comes, I won’t be getting any sleep again."

It was certain that word of Lord Dominic and Lord Shiao Yi’s return would have already reached His Highness, the King’s younger brother.

Since tomorrow was Captain Louis’s wedding, it was inevitable that the prince would make a sudden visit tonight.

Even while the two of them were away, he had often dropped by and asking, "Have they returned yet?"

When it came to rare creatures or monsters from distant lands, that prince would lost all sense of restraint and completely forgot the trouble he caused everyone around him.

Lambard thought that perhaps he should ask Eline to prepare extra late-night snacks for them, just in case.

...

The wedding of Lady Camilla of House Londonderry and Captain Louis of the Second Division ended without a hitch. It’s celebrated warmly by a great many guests.

Apparently, there had been much debate about where to hold the ceremony, but in the end, it was decided that it would take place in the Londonderry family’s grand hall.

Lambard accompanied Lord Dominic and Lord Shiao Yi to the estate as their attendant and guard.

He was able to watch the ceremony from the sidelines with the other retainers and knights.

The grand hall of the Londonderry Marquisate was very magnificent, it’s spacious, splendid, and glittering.

The nobles, knights, and officials filled the place, yet even that crowd was easily absorbed by the vast hall. The tables groaned under the weight of exquisite food and wine and even the attendants were treated generously.

The Londonderry household’s courtesy was indeed remarkable.

The marriage was a great difference in status, it was an extraordinary match for a noble lady to wed a man of common birth. Yet everyone smiled. Of course, no one dared utter a single word of disapproval.

After all, anyone foolish enough to do so would have immediately earned the wrath of the bride’s father, the sharp and influential chancellor, or of her uncle, Lord Quintus.

Moreover, the mediator of the marriage was none other than Count Johan von Caligny, the Commander of the Knight Order. There’s no noble in the kingdom would ever risk angering both them.

The bride and groom both looked genuinely happy. Still, Lambard couldn’t help but wonder if the groom ought to be eating that much at his own wedding. The bride, watching him with a bright, affectionate smile, seemed equally unusual. Come to think of it, Lady Camilla was once the fierce woman who had stormed into Lord Shiao Yi’s residence in a fit of rage.

Lord Dominic and Lord Shiao Yi were now speaking with Captain Louis and congratulating him with warm smiles.

Though their conversation seemed cheerful, Lambard noticed that their faces looked a bit tired.

It was no wonder, Prince Jerocles had made one of his unexpected visits the night before, leaving the two of them with little to no sleep.

Those unaware of this circumstance simply teased them, suggesting that the two were overly affectionate.

Seeing Lord Dominic smile awkwardly in response made Lambard sympathize with him.

He silently wished his masters could rest peacefully that night.

The smiles that Lord Dominic and Lord Shiao Yi gave the newlyweds were calm and gentle and the way they stood close together radiated quiet intimacy.

In truth, they looked more like a married couple than the actual bride and groom.

Their closeness had always been well known, though in the past Lord Dominic’s open affection sometimes came across as possessive and forceful.

Lord Shiao Yi, on the other hand, had often seemed hesitant or embarrassed, sometimes he would turning away or rejecting those advances, there had been a stiffness between them.

But now, both men appeared completely at ease. Their gestures were soft, their connection natural, as if something had quietly shifted between them.

Lambard could not imagine what had happened during their long journey, but whatever it was, it had clearly been something wonderful. They had never held a formal ceremony nor announced any union publicly, yet their presence together that day was the very image of true partners.

A warmth swelled in Lambard’s chest and his vision blurred. Only then did he realize that his eyes were damp. Smiling to himself, he thought that when he returned home, he would tell Jude and Eline everything he had witnessed.

...

When they returned to the royal capital of Rosaria, Shiao Yi was immediately caught by Aaron.

There were endless reports that he and Dominic had to submit, about the completion of new base installations, the recovery of fragments, observations of newly explored regions and the creation of maps of lands that never been visited before.

Besides the mandatory reports to Lord Quintus, His Majesty and the Chancellor, there were many others lying in wait for them, eager to pounce. To avoid the noisy and bothersome knights who crowded the west wing, they tried to take a detour out of the castle.

Maybe their plan had been too naive or maybe they had focused too much on avoiding Mr. Vundo’s sharp eyes and neglected to watch for other dangers.

Just as they slipped quietly out through the back gate of the east wing.

"Shiao Yi! Lord Dominic, Please stop!"

A loud voice echoed through the air.

Damn it! Now everyone will know we’re here!

There goes the peaceful night we were supposed to spend at home!

Before Shiao Yi could even react, Dominic’s fist shot toward Aaron.

There was a dull metallic sound.