CHAPTER 223: CHAPTER 184: THE WEDDING (PART 2)

The rest of the members of the Edmund Clan, along with the family retainers, sat sternly in the back rows according to bloodline and ceremony.

Count, Baron, Viscount...

They might not be familiar with the Calvin Clan or with Louis.

But today, as members of the Edmund Clan, they too must witness this union personally decreed by the patriarch.

The Calvin Clan did not send a large delegation to the Northern Territory, after all, the Southeast Province and the Red Tide Territory are thousands of miles apart.

In the end, only Pal and Willis, who were originally serving as Pioneer Nobles in the Northern Territory, and their third brother Eduardo, representing their father, attended.

Eduardo’s expression was calm, his demeanor composed, as if he was merely a guest here to observe the ceremony.

On the surface, he always wore a smile, but his thoughts were no longer on the wedding itself.

Last night, Louis mentioned the matter of the "worm corpse," which caught his great interest and awakened his vigilance as a church envoy, possibly related to his own mission.

Pal’s expression was much more complicated, his eyes always filled with jealousy and resentment.

He envied the glory that Louis now had, yet found it difficult to admit his own defeat and loss of power.

In contrast, Willis seemed much more composed.

He sincerely felt happy for Louis, after all, this brother Louis had provided him with countless tangible help, and also helped his domain establish a firm foothold in the Northern Territory.

In addition, some collateral nobles of the Calvin Clan in the Northern Territory were sent to "support the occasion," though most were insignificant figures.

They appeared respectful, but each harbored their own plans in their hearts.

As Louis was the representative of the Calvin Clan in the Northern Territory, the higher his prestige, the more benefits they could share in the future.

The wedding ceremony was about to begin, and a cleric clad in a gold-threaded magic robe stood quietly at the front of the stage.

He was one of the highest tier priests in the Northern Territory, with a solemn face, his hands folded in front of him, the whole person like some ancient vow sealed within a statue of God.

No one dared to make a sound; even a dropped pin might be distinctly heard in this silence.

Only the music began to quietly flow forth.

From the side hall came the faint and gentle notes, at first just a few low string murmurs, as if the first footprints in the snow.

Then a Cold Moon Three-Stringed Flute quietly joined in, its tone distant like the north wind swirling atop a mountain peak.

It was the joint orchestra of Red Tide City and the Cold Moon Clan, specially prepared for today’s celebration program.

It was said that just coordinating this "North and South Ensemble" took two whole months of rehearsals.

The moment it began playing, the entire hall seemed to be split open by a rift in time and space, with the tides of the Southern Territory and the frost of the Northern Territory briefly joined together in the notes.

The cleric opened his eyes and looked toward the direction of the grand doors.

The two protagonists should make their entrance.

The music paused lightly, as if the myriad of sounds were silenced in the wind and snow.

Then the melodious sound of horns rose, like morning bells and evening drums rising from both sides of the hall.

The first to appear was the bride.

Emily walked slowly into the hall, dressed in an ivory wedding gown, the hem sweeping across the ground like snow waves, each step seeming to tread upon the morning light.

The cloak was meticulously embroidered with yarn unique to the Northern Territory, silver threads shimmering like a star river in the night sky drooping over her shoulders, swaying gently with her steps, as if even the wind were holding its breath.

The veil partially covered her face, through the light fabric, her eyes could be seen slightly trembling, like soft ripples on lake water, hiding a trace of nervousness and an unspoken joy.

On her neck hung an old silver pendant, its design ancient, yet polished to shine, the last piece of jewelry left by her mother.

It lay against her skin like a silent guardian.

She instinctively glanced at the audience below the stage.

Duke Edmund sat calmly in his place, his expression steady and unperturbed.

Lady Irina gently wiped her tears, her gaze full of tenderness.

Emily’s gaze lingered on them for a moment, tears involuntarily brimmed in her eyes.

She bit her lower lip, trying hard not to let the tears fall.

Today is her wedding day, not a day for nostalgia, not a day for farewells.

Following closely, the grand doors on the other end of the hall slowly opened.

Under the focus of everyone’s attention, Louis Calvin stepped into the hall.

He wore a modified Northern ceremonial outfit, the dark black base color deep and restrained, further accentuating his tall figure.

On his chest hung a silver double emblem - on one side the crescent emblem of the Calvin Family, on the other the Sun unique to the Red Tide Territory, symbolizing his current status as the full representative of the Calvin Family in the Empire’s Northern Territory.

He draped a red and gold cloak, carried no sword, yet exuded a certain cold and oppressive aura.

There were no ostentatious jewels, no ornate gold ornaments.

But the entirety of him was like a longsword sheathed, standing quietly there, its edge concealed, yet none dared to underestimate it.

Louis’s steps were steady and composed, his gaze swept over the guests within the hall, but when he saw the bride on the other side, he paused involuntarily.

That wedding dress seemed as if it was made for her.

And her eyes, her posture, she stood there like a sudden burst of warmth in the snowy night.

The blend of smile and tear beneath the veil left him momentarily stunned.

Truly beautiful, he thought to himself.

On the other side, Emily’s gaze also penetrated through the crowd, landing on the man clad in formal attire, stepping forward, her heart suddenly gave a gentle jolt.

In a black cloak, a neat uniform, with eyes so firm they seemed able to pierce through the wind and snow.

The first time she saw Louis, she felt that this man was not only handsome, but also possessed an indescribable aura.