DMHS 24

“……!”

As the hall fell into shock, Kian asked calmly,

“Is this not enough?”

The pope wiped the sweat running down his forehead and answered,

“Ah, hmm… Forgive me, but there is also a time for the bride to kiss the groom.”

“I see.”

Kian tapped his own lips with his index finger.

“Kiss me, Lord Lucien.”

“I…”

“You do not need to listen to talk about the first night. That experience, I have more than enough. I will share some of my overflowing experience with you.”

This time the reaction was even louder. People, shaken by shock, began whispering in groups.

‘How can someone be so shameless?’

‘They say he came to the tournament with flour on his face from the first day. He must have planned to lure the young dragon.’

From the beginning, there had been many rumors about this wedding. It was already unusual that out of all the candidates filled with South Party and North Party people, the one chosen as mate belonged to neither side.

Now that everyone was watching Kian, the one remark he made easily became the center of controversy.

‘Tsk tsk. There is always a reason why a family collapses without leaving even its name. He is a vulgar man to the core.’

But Walter paid more attention to Kian’s expression than his words. Kian lifted one corner of his mouth and sneered at the people gathered in the hall. Walter understood Kian’s intent.

‘He hated hearing people mock Lord Lucien.’

Kian’s attempt was effective.

‘Once today’s wedding is over, all the talk about Lord Lucien will be forgotten. Only the exaggerated rumors about his mate will remain.’

The mate was clearly not an ordinary man. Until now Walter had only worried that he would hurt Lucien. But if he truly stood on Lucien’s side…

‘He would be a truly fine match.’

No one would dare speak carelessly about Lucien again.

“Go on. It will be over quickly.”

On the platform, Kian urged Lucien and drew a kiss from him.

“Next, the bride will kiss the groom.”

Kian lifted his own veil, pressed both of Lucien’s cheeks tightly, and kissed him.

Fast and decisive. It was an act that could be summed up in two words.

“With this, I proclaim that the two who completed the sacred rite are now bound as husband and wife.”

After the pope’s blessing, the two turned toward the guests. Lucien’s ears burned red, and he could not raise his head. Kian had lowered the purple veil again, so his face could not be seen, nor could anyone know what expression he wore.

The two began their procession from the platform to the archway decorated with seven kinds of trees.

Since the bride could not see well under the veil, Lucien held Kian’s hand tightly and walked slowly.

The attendants scattered iris petals, a wish for a happy marriage. The light petals could not fly far and soon dyed the ground yellow.

The three-beat dance tune used in traditional weddings gradually quickened its tempo.

Formal claps of hands sounded irregularly. In the blue sky, white clouds hung sparsely like a painting.

So the wedding of the two came to an end.

After the ceremony, Kian and Lucien boarded the carriage prepared for the parade.

It felt strangely unreal to climb onto the wagon so richly decorated with flowers.

‘This feels like I have become a victorious general.’

That was the highest honor a swordsman could enjoy, yet something that had never belonged to Kian.

While Kian was lost in such thoughts, Lucien was busy with needless worry.

“Are you all right? Isn’t it uncomfortable since you cannot see?”

Throughout the ceremony, the bride had to wear the purple veil. Even now Kian still wore it.

But Kian was keenly sensing the surrounding mana, so he could see the scenery better than someone with sharp eyesight.

That meant he could also see all too clearly Lucien’s anxious face, afraid Kian might trip.

“The wedding attire is cumbersome and uncomfortable in many ways.”

Kian gave a reply that matched Lucien’s words.

“The parade will end soon. I heard it only goes down the boulevard that crosses the 4th District.”

“Yes.”

The carriage shook side to side as the eight horses hitched to it moved together.

Kian, who naturally braced his core, did not move at all, while Lucien’s knees buckled and he staggered.

Almost falling, Lucien grabbed Kian’s arm and barely regained his balance.

“Be careful.”

…You are the one who should be careful.

“If you feel it is dangerous, hold on to me.”

Kian held back the words he wanted to say and answered briefly.

“Yes.”

The carriage carrying the two left the palace. As it entered the boulevard, people were gathered, leaving only the carriage’s path open.

“Waaaah!”

“It is Lord Lucien, the Gold Dragon, and his mate!”

Yellow iris petals flew from the crowd.

“Congratulations on finding your mate, Lord Lucien!”

“May the holy Goddess grant you endless blessings!”

Words of celebration poured out from everywhere. Lucien, who had not expected so many people, looked surprised and waved back. The carriage slowed its pace and moved forward slowly.

The faces of the shouting people came close. A girl clung to the side of the wagon and reached out her hand to Lucien.

“Lord Lucien! Please try this fruit skewer! It is really delicious!”

Lucien, caught off guard, accepted the skewer. But since he had never eaten such food, he only held it awkwardly without moving his hand.

Kian leaned close to his ear so that his words would not be drowned out by the noise.

‘Try it. It will taste good.’

Hearing that, Lucien opened his mouth wide and ate the cherry tomato at the top.

The look of anxiety in his eyes melted away. Kian fully agreed with him.

‘Yes. The fruit skewers sold in the 4th District are incredibly good. The ratio of fruit to sugar is perfect.’

Lucien, tasting a new world of flavor, ate the rest of the skewer one by one. Now only the apple at the end was left.

“Mm.”

Leaving the apple, Lucien looked at Kian.

He moved his lips to speak, then finally let the words out.

“…Do you want to eat it?”

Kian’s face twisted under the veil.

‘Do not act generous by offering something you already bit.’

But Lucien, fidgeting, quickly added,

“I know there is almost nothing left, but it was so good that I want you to try it too. If you like it, I will buy you a new one later when we come out. So, how about it? Do you want to try?”

It was not a request but pure pleading. When Kian glanced at him, Lucien’s face had already sunk into gloom again.

‘If I say no and he cries again…’

Even the thought made his vision go dark. Seeing this boy cry in front of him last night was more than enough.

Kian snatched the fruit skewer from Lucien’s hand.

“If it tastes good, you must promise to buy me another one.”

Kian turned his head to the side and ate the remaining apple. Since it was at the end of the skewer, less sugar was on it, but the fruit itself was fresh.

“It is good.”

Kian set the stick down on the floor. He made sure to touch the thick veil cloth to cover his face completely.

That was because Lucien’s expression as he looked at him gave him a shiver.

‘All this over eating a skewer.’

Lucien smiled as if he had gained the whole world.

‘Now that I think of it, he was strange at the wedding too.’

A virgin. A brat.

Even when people openly mocked him, Lucien lowered his eyes and showed no reaction.

‘What would Hellenos have done?’

The answer came quickly.

‘There would have been a storm of curses.’

Not just curses. His eyes would have turned bloodshot red and he would have dragged each person who insulted him onto the platform.

Rowan would have clapped shyly in support.

‘No.’

Kian brushed away the scene that played naturally in his mind. That was not the only thing that worried him.

‘The mana is strange too.’

Dragons were originally a race that was like the essence of mana itself. They had talent like an unending spring for sensing mana, and through it they awakened magic on their own.

But the amount of mana he felt from Lucien was extremely small. If he stood among ordinary humans, no one would be able to tell who was human and who was dragon.

At first Kian thought Lucien was just good at controlling his magic to the point of deceiving his eyes, but now…

Seeing his body that did not age and his temperament unlike a dragon, it seemed more accurate to call him an odd case.

Meanwhile the carriage reached about two-thirds of the way through the city center.

“Please protect the kingdom!”

“Next month my daughter will give birth! Help her deliver safely!”

“Let me pass the academy exam this year!”

People began openly voicing their wishes toward the carriage. Perhaps because of the image of guarding the kingdom, the story that the Gold Dragon brought luck had spread among the common folk. But since the doctrine only acknowledged the Goddess as the sole deity, praying to the Gold Dragon was publicly forbidden.

‘At this rate the mood will turn bad.’

Kian felt the need to calm the overheated atmosphere. But something happened.

Thud

A stone suddenly flew out from the crowd and hit the carriage.