BEAUTY AND THE RED-HAIRED BEAST
PROLOGUE

"Do you, Erio Mondial, take this woman with all your heart and vow to remain loyal to her for the rest of your life?"

"I do."

"And do you, Cinque Mondial, accept this man as your beloved husband and pledge loyalty for all the eternity?"

"…yes, I do."

Carim smiled. "As the Head Priestess of Saint Church, I pronounce you man and wife. Erio-kun, you may kiss the bride."

The veil was slowly taken off. The red-haired teen stared into the young woman's eyes, grinning to see her blush at the delicate touch of his fingers. "Cinque…"

"E-Erio-kun… dame…"

His right eyebrow batted upward. "Hmm?"

Cinque frowned. "I… actually I never kissed someone before…" she murmured. "Gomen…"

Erio chuckled. "What are you talking off? This is my first kiss, too." So saying he cupped her flushed cheeks and lifted her face to meet his. "So let's make it right, okay?"

She remained silent, her tongue too numb to say anything. She nodded, though, and with a shy smile she tipped her feet, bent forward, her mouth parted to accept her husband's gift. "Erio-kun…"

Erio moved a bit closer, his head bending down, ready to claim the moist lips. "Cinque…"

The door was suddenly kicked. The wed couple, crews of Saint Church, and the guests turned around. There, standing in all the protests and anger, was a group of girls armed to the teeth. All of them defiantly marched into the hall, stopping in midway at the troop leader's signal.

"What the… hell?"

The troop leader pointed to Erio. "Erio Mondial, I demand you to hand over the bride," she bellowed. "Lest you want me to provoke wrath and trash this memorable day."

The red-haired teen stood defensively before his bride, arms spread open. "You can do nothing about this marriage," he spoke. "It is legitimate, and everyone has expressed their agreement to support it."

"I object!" the troop leader cried out. "I object this wedding! I object everything that led to this marriage! I object everything that comes after this wedding! I OBJECT EVERYTHING!"

Cinque clung onto him, her hands wrapped around his arm. "Erio-kun, I'm scared…"

"Do not be afraid, my heart," he replied. "As the knight that upholds codes of honour and dignity, I shall protect you with my body and soul."

Cinque blushed. "Erio-kun…"

"How dare you! How dare you take my only life from me?!" So saying the troop leader withdrew her weapons, opened a stance and screamed at the wed couple. "You ruined my whole life by taking it with force! You… you…"

"You've gone too far," Erio replied and activated Strada. "What makes this bride so important that you're willing to put everything on the edge? Answer me."

"Because… because…" There was an untimely pause, as the troop leader glared at the red-haired teen with watery eyes full of hatred.

Then she cried out.

"BECAUSE ONEESAMA BELONGS TO ME!"