Chapter 5 : Ceremony

This morning, Anna, Alex, and Robert were ready to depart for the Sea Dragon Kingdom.

As Alex had explained, once arrived, they would immediately prepare themselves and swear the vows before Goddess Exi. According to him, Goddess Exi was the deity who blessed and protected the Sea Dragon Clan.

The moment they arrived, Anna was amazed by the view.

It looked exactly like the magnificent castles described in fantasy novels—a grand mansion with elegant classical interiors, countless rooms, and numerous servants waiting to welcome them.

The castle stood on land, exactly along the coast.

Before coming here, Anna had assumed that the Sea Dragon Kingdom would be hidden deep beneath the ocean.

Unable to suppress her curiosity, she leaned closer to Alex and whispered, "Since you live on land, does that mean you can't breathe underwater?"

Alex glanced at her with adorable smile.

"What kind of question is that? Of course I can."

"Welcome, Your Majesty!"

The maids and servants greeted them in perfect unison, interrupting Anna before she could continue the conversation.

"Please escort my wife and help her prepare," Alex instructed.

"As your command, Your Majesty."

After acknowledging his command, the servants quickly dispersed to carry out their duties.

A young maid stepped forward and bowed respectfully before Anna.

"My name is Julie, My Lady. His Majesty has assigned me to be your personal maid."

"It's nice to meet you, Julie," Anna replied with a warm smile.

Receiving such a kind smile from the woman she was about to serve instantly filled Julie with excitement.

"Please come with me, My Lady. We should begin preparing right away."

Anna smiled once more before following Julie through the castle.

When they entered the room, the maids were ready in the position. Some waited beside the vanity table, others in the wedding gown, while a few stood outside the bathing room.

Julie helped Anna remove her clothes before guiding her into a large bathing pool.

Together with several other maids, she carefully bathed Anna.

The shampoo and soap carried a sweet strawberry fragrance—Anna's favorite scent.

She was even treated to a luxurious body scrub and a relaxing massage.

Once the bathing ritual was finished, Anna slipped into her wedding gown.

It was a simple white dress, lightweight and perfectly tailored to fit her figure.

She fell in love with it immediately.

Rather than sitting down to have her hair and makeup done, she continued admiring herself in the mirror, unable to stop smiling as she twirled around like an excited little girl.

"My Lady, are you pleased with the gown?" Julie asked.

"Of course! I absolutely love it!"

Anna continued admiring the dress, turning from side to side in front of the mirror.

"Thank goodness. That means His Majesty's efforts paid off," Amrita remarked. She was one of the maids who had helped Anna put on the wedding gown.

"His Majesty? You mean Alex?"

Amrita nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes, My Lady. During the wedding preparations, His Majesty personally oversaw every detail from beginning to end. He chose your wedding gown, your everyday wardrobe, and even your skincare and personal care products himself."

Julie's eyes sparkled with admiration as she spoke.

"Really?" Anna asked, wanting to be sure.

Anna still found it hard to believe.

Was this really the same Alex who sometimes took as long as three days to reply to her messages?

"Of course, My Lady," Julie replied enthusiastically. "His Majesty has been waiting for this day for a very long time."

She smiled fondly before continuing.

Wait… A very long time?

"Our king rarely smiles. In fact, there are only two occasions when we've ever seen him beam from ear to ear."

Anna tilted her head curiously.

"And those are?"

"The first was while preparing for the wedding."

Julie let out a soft giggle.

"The second was whenever he was about to visit you. Every time he was getting ready to go to your house, His Majesty would ask us over and over whether he looked handsome in the outfit he was wearing."

Anna stood frozen.

She could hardly believe what she just hears about.

But, hearing those stories from the maids filled her heart with joy.

Oh God...

Anna couldn't wait to see Alex.

She wanted nothing more than to run into his arms and hug him.

But she knew she couldn't.

Anna obediently sat down at the vanity, allowing the maids to finish her hair and makeup. More than anything, she wanted to ask Alex whether those stories were true.

"Wow... My Lady, you're beautiful. The most beautiful bride on the empire," Amrita praised.

The other maids quickly joined in, showering Anna with one compliment after another.

"Alright, alright..."

Anna's cheeks turned crimson.

"Let's head to the ceremony."

She was growing embarrassed by all the praise.

***

Anna and Alex's wedding blessing ceremony was held inside a small cave overlooking the sea.

Robert and the citizens of the kingdom were already waiting there.

Anna's heart pounded hard. Nervous.

As she walked toward the cave, the people welcomed her with warm smiles and heartfelt congratulations.

She had expected the cave to be dimly lit.

Instead, it was bathed in a soft, radiant glow.

Anna couldn't even tell where the light was coming from.

Then, she saw Alex. The groom. Her soon to be husband.

Dressed in a white military general uniform. He looked like the hero of a royal fantasy novel.

He’s so breathtaking.

As Julie accompanied Anna toward the ceremony, she explained that the Dragon King's wedding attire had been passed down from generation to generation.

When seeing it directly, there uniform just like new. Anna suddenly curious about how to care the clothes.

The pristine white uniform looked as though it had been made specifically for Alex.

It fit him perfectly, making him appear both regal and strikingly handsome.

Please calm down, my heart. Don't let everyone hear how hard you're beating, Anna silently prayed.

The blessing ceremony itself resembled a church wedding.

Anna and Alex stood before the statue of a woman, believed to be the human form of Goddess Exi while receiving the blessing from a person revered as the gods' earthly vessel.

The chosen vessel could be either a man or a woman.

As long as that individual remained alive, no successor would appear.

The next vessel was determined by a sacred chalice preserved within the temple. Whoever caused the chalice to glow upon touching it would be recognized as the next vessel of the gods.

The wedding blessing was always accompanied by the coronation of the queen.

Julie had explained that if a king married while he was still a prince, both the king and queen would be crowned together on a later date.

However, if he married after ascending the throne, the king would already have been crowned, and the queen's coronation would take place during the wedding ceremony itself.

That was exactly the ceremony Anna was participating in today.

For any woman who married a king, the coronation was always the most nerve-racking moment.

Anna had only been told that Felix, the current vessel of the gods, would place the royal cloak and crown upon her.

"...Therefore, on behalf of our people, I hereby crown you, Lady Joanna Anastasia Marine, beloved wife of our king, Alexander von Pieterburg, as the Queen of this kingdom. May the blessings of the Gods always remain with you and guide every step you take for the prosperity of our people."

As Felix finished speaking, Anna lowered her head.

A moment later, the crown was gently placed upon it.

"Long live Queen Joanna!"

"Long live Queen Joanna!"

The citizens erupted into joyful cheers as they witnessed the coronation of their new queen.

For years, word had spread throughout the kingdom that King Alexander had loved the same woman for a very long time.

Everyone had been curious about the mysterious young woman who had captured the king's heart.

At last, they were able to see her with their own eyes.

"Our queen is so beautiful."

"She's absolutely stunning. No wonder His Majesty is so deeply in love with her."

The whispers from the crowd were loud enough for Anna to hear, making her blush with embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Alex just stays calm.

Among the Sea Dragon Clan, unwavering devotion to one's spouse was regarded as one of the greatest honor.

For that reason, not only the people, but the king chose a life partner carefully.

Whoever earned the king's heart would always receive the wholehearted support of the entire kingdom.

Finally, it was time for the groom to kiss the bride.

After seeing how calm Alex had been throughout the ceremony, Anna expected nothing more than a brief, ceremonial kiss, just as he had done during their wedding at the church.

Instead, the moment their lips met, Alex deepened the kiss.

He gently claimed her lips in a lingering, affectionate kiss.