Alex fidgeting awkwardly while adjusting his black suit, his legs trembling by the lack of his usual braces holding them.

“Have I told you how much I hate suits?” He quipped while stealing a glance at his back. “And what's the deal with this oversized red bow tied to my back?”

Astra, in the midst of fastening the bow, couldn't help but snap a bit. “Could you please stop fidgeting? You're making it difficult for Aqua to work on your hair!”

She raised her left hand, likely giving a telepathic command to a pair of Boys to open the door.  

“The red bow signifies that you're a symbolic gift from us to your future wife.”

Astra's words held a touch of reluctance as she rose to her feet.

“There, your hair looks perfect now.” Aqua assured him with a soft push, her voice carrying a soothing tone. “It's time, the big moment is here.”

With legs that seemed to tremble of their own accord, Alex took hesitant steps forward, his right hand absentmindedly adjusting his newly trimmed hair.

“Geez, it almost feels like you're selling me to gain control of the world!”

His nose flared up, his steps hesitant as he advanced toward the main hall of his castle. Inside, a throng of nobles and cameras awaited him. 

However as he advanced, he caught a snippet of Pyra's voice.

“Don't blame us for the lack of taste in these ceremonies! It's the local God's doing!”

Alex let out a small chuckle for a last time.

Then his expression became firm, almost regal. His clumsy, trembling steps now carried weight and purpose, increasing his presence.

The crowd instinctively made way, parting before him like a sea. 

At the end of this passage stood his radiant soon-to-be wife with her flowing red hair.

Silence took control of the situation as Alex advanced through the path, only broken by the faint mechanical whirr of automatic cameras adjusting their lenses to capture the moment.

Alex’s heartbeat grew faster as he drew nearer Ashlyn.

The only thing stopping him from stumbling were her reassuring blue eyes that held him in their gaze, grounding him and filling him with confidence.

She stood before him, a picture of elegance in her short blue wedding dress, the bow on her back matching with her hair.

Finally, the moment he had both anticipated and feared had arrived. 

And, as he stood before Ashlyn, she reached out and took his hands into her own, a radiant smile gracing her face. 

Her touch and presence brought a sense of calm and assurance that washed away any lingering doubt.

She was the right one.

Without hesitation, Ashlyn began her vows with a confident voice.

“My love, my king. I stand here today to swear my loyalty for the rest of my life. To share your burdens and your successes in life, forever.”

The words flowed smoothly from her lips, a simple pledge crafted by the God of flames that Ashlyn had memorized to the point she had dreamed them countless times.

The only part modified from the original was the part of ‘my love’ for ‘my king’.

Alex, on the other hand, stood there with a mixture of determination and a hint of clumsiness. 

As Ashlyn spoke, his eyes locked onto hers, his lips parting slightly.

“My love, queen. I stand here today to swear my loyalty for the rest of my life….” Alex paused, almost pronouncing the wrong words. “To share your burdens and your success in life, forever.”

Despite the small stumble, his gaze remained fixed on Ashlyn's, a mixture of sincerity and determination in his eyes.

“Clap!”

The sound of applause echoed through the air, filling the space with an enthusiastic response from the gathered crowd.

Alex could even swear he heard Pyra’s drowned cry as she witnessed his last words.

He had no doubt that he would be requesting a copy of the video from her, for comic relief at her expense.

As the clapping died down, Alex and Ashlyn exchanged a smile and waved at the cameras, sharing their joyous moment with the world. 

The crowd seemed pleased by the brief ceremony.

The simple yet meaningful ceremony had fulfilled all the requirements that Elysian culture demanded for such occasions.

Now only something important was missing.

“The gifts for the newlyweds!” The voice of Pyra pierced through the air, loud and urgent, breaking the serenity of the moment.  

Her words sparked a frenzy of activity among the attendees. The atmosphere shifted into a competitive mode.

Each noble regarding each other with distrustful eyes.

The first to offer his gift was Lord Ashborne, Ashlyn's father.

He strode forward with purpose, holding a long violet sword in his thick arms. 

The sword gleamed under the light, its edge menacing. 

He extended the sword to Ashlyn, who received it reverently.

“This sword has belonged to our family for generations.” Lord Ashborne declared, addressing Alex with a level of gravitas. “It's a symbol of our lineage, passed down to the heir of the family upon marriage.”

“Thank you, Father.” Ashlyn smiled, overcome by happiness.

Her father's eyes softened as he spoke, his tone taking on a more paternal note.

“This is your birthright, my dear. Wear it with pride.” He explained. “Now, there is a long line waiting for you.”

The procession continued with Pyra's turn, who approached with her signature fiery flair. 

She gifted them a pair of sleek white jetpacks, her voice tinged with mischief as she presented her offering. “Now you can fly away from bed to the hall!”

Astra followed suit, her practicality shining through as she handed them a compact cloning pod. “For those future hybrid children you two are bound to have.”

As the line progressed, the gifts became increasingly inventive and at times comical. 

They ranged from a strengthening solution that promised to make one stronger than a Gemcrab, an elemental laser that Alex claimed as his. 

Amid the chaos of the unconventional gifts, a ragtag group of children's clothes appeared in their hands.

By the time the last gift reached them, Alex felt his eyes spin. Ashlyn was not better, feeling pressured by all of the children's clothes around her.

As the crowd dispersed, Alex exchanged a knowing glance with Ashlyn.

He caressed her hand, feeling playful.

“The best part of today is almost here.” He whispered with teasing eyebrows, leaning in closer.

However, just then, a group of footsteps resounded through the hall.

Both Alex and Ashlyn turned their attention towards the entryway, their expressions shifting from playfulness to frozen astonishment.

Emerging into the hall was a group of priests, their robes a vibrant shade of red adorned with intricate white gems and delicate silks, resembling those of ancient China.

Their presence alone commanded a sense of reverence and awe from the gathering.

Leading this group was a woman whose appearance was nothing short of extraordinary. 

She radiated an ethereal glow, a halo that outshone everyone else in the room. 

Her hair, an otherworldly combination of golden and purple hues, framed a face of indescribable beauty. 

Her presence was captivating, and her ample chest didn't escape Alex's initial attention, though his focus quickly shifted to her hands holding a gift.

She advanced with an ethereal grace, her every step deliberate and elegant.

Once she stood directly in front of Alex and Ashlyn, her pink lips parted to speak. Her voice flowed like the sweetest melody, captivating those who listened.

“King of the Elysians and the Astraliths.” She began, her words hanging in the air like a fragrant scent. “We, the keepers of the flame, have come out of our self imposed exile to congratulate you on this joyous occasion.”

As she lowered herself slightly in a graceful bow, she extended a gift towards the newlyweds. In that moment, the view of her ample bosom through her cleavage became obvious.

A sly grin danced across her lips as her eyes met Alex's, and it was clear she took delight in teasing the Elysian king. 

The room held its breath, awaiting Alex's response to this unexpected and flirtatious display.

Alex was tempted to respond to her advances. Her alluring charm and the revealing nature of her attire were impossible to ignore. 

However, the vice-like grip of his new wife's hand on his own reminded him that he would be doomed if he responded.

With that in mind, he ignored his cold back and took the gift with a serious expression.

“I see, we accept your generous gift, saint.”

Beside him, Ashlyn offered a confident smile to the saint. “Thank you for your kind gesture. We appreciate your presence on this joyous occasion.”

Few noticed it, but in that second, sparks seemed to fly between the opposing women eyes.

As he held the offering, Alex glanced at the astonished faces in the crowd, some of whom were clearly taken aback by the saint's presence and her bold approach. 

Ignoring the saint's lingering presence, he took Ashlyn by the hand and led her upstairs to their room.

Stopping only briefly, he handed the gift to Astra with a nod of gratitude.

“Here, take care of it.” 

The saint, left standing in the hall, was momentarily dumbfounded. But as the realization of Alex's indifference settled in, a competitive fire ignited in her eyes. 

She licked her lips in anger.

No one should dismiss her, especially the walking wallet she had chosen as her target.