Chapter 50

The Royal Wedding

The Kingdom of Verlaine, 25th December 1526 / 227

It's been a month since Rosaria earn an MSc degree in Politics and International Relationships. Not only was she able to earn the Master's Degree in a year and a half, but she also earned an MSc degree in Business and Management. She attends the Business and Management degree in secret until Alicia discovers one of the assignments is using her student number on Business and Management Student. Surprisingly, Rosaria earns the Honoris Causa title after her dissertation receives a very positive review from academics.

The citizens are gathering to participate in this day, where the Kingdom of Verlaine will become a part of the Celestina Empire through a wedding. Rosaria wears a beautiful yet elegant white bridal dress. When she visits the wedding clothes shop at Celestina, she immediately picks the dress that suits her.

Instead of black and white rose patterns at both waists, she embedded the rose with the red flame color, signaling her status as a Queen and her class as a Fire Wizard. The white silk covers her chest down to her waist, as she refuses to wear any covering on her shoulder. The skirt's right side has a black rose sewed on it, while the left side has a white rose sewed on it.

Inside the palace, the Main Council, Main Advisor, and the Eclipse Empire royals attend the wedding day. Reynes and Dawn did not forget to participate in this event, as he was grateful that Shiki finally found someone he loves.

"It's too bad I can't tease him anymore…"

"Dear. Please don't."

Inside the changing room, Shiki was nervous as he wears a military tuxedo. His left chest was decorated by medals achieved throughout the campaign for thousand years before serving Celestina. Some of the medals he uses are:

- Celestina High Council Command

- Imperial Legion of Honor with three bars

- War Maidens Squadron

- Imperial Guardian Sage Star

- Imperial Campaign Master with three bars

- Celestina Royal Red Moon

A five-star rank of Navy embedded his shoulder pads and neck while he also wears Knight Grand Cross's riband of Valkyrie Order, an award from the Kingdom of Scharlwarltz when he serves Reynes as Special Operations Commander.

"No need to be nervous, Shiki. We're rooting for your relationship with her."

"Reynes… I…"

"It's too bad I can't tease you anymore. Maybe we can get a drink someday?"

"Well… If I can build this Kingdom into the age of prosperity, I will have a drink with you."

"Lookin' forward for it."

A butler knocks on the door and opens it.

"Your Highness. It's time."

"Yes."

Reynes, Dawn, Frederick, and Shina, escorts Shiki to the altar. They are the ones that serve Reynes, becoming a comrade-in-arms during Reynes' adventure to escort Dawn back to her homeland and establish the Legion that becomes a legend, Guardian of the Valkyrie.

Sacchito and the others are watching as Shiki waits for Rosaria nervously. When the announcer announces her presence, he's in awe of her appearance.

"Presenting, Princess of Verlaine, Rosaria!"

Using the wedding dress that Rosaria choose and personally design it, she makes a slow step as she went to the altar.

Shiki only blushes as she saw Rosaria's beautiful face. Once she arrives at the altar, she only makes a smile, making Shiki embarrassing further. The one who will lead the wedding is Sofya Viltaria. As both are present at the altar, she will chant a rite to commence the wedding ceremony.

"God of creation Perkunas, and Goddess of Love Aphrodite, be our witness to give these two blessings as both are fate to be together with a red thread that binds them together. Tohriu Shiki, will you accept Rosaria as your wife, regardless of happiness, sadness, sickness, joy, and sorrow that may fall upon you or Rosaria?"

"I do."

"Rosaria Verlaine, will you accept Shiki as your husband, regardless of happiness, sadness, sickness, joy, and sorrow that may fall upon you or Shiki?"

"I do."

A Priestess presents them with a ring for them to wear.

"As both have exchange vows, this ring will serve as a symbol that serves both as husband and wife."

First, Shiki nervously wore the ring on Rosaria's ring finger, followed by Rosaria, who was also nervous as she placed the ring into Shiki's ring finger. Once the ring exchange complete, Sofya presents them with a wedding chalice. Both are holding each side and drinking it, they hand it back to Sofya and kiss each other.

"Presenting! King Daara the 19th!"

Once the marriage vow complete, now it's King Daara that steps forward, with his servant that carries both crowns for the Queen and Crown Prince.

"Rosaria, my daughter. Now, as I'm officially abdicating my throne to you, I will entrust the future of the Kingdom of Verlaine to you. You will serve this Kingdom as a Queen, and you shall bring the Kingdom of Verlaine into the age of prosperity."

"I will not disappoint you, father. As I still have much to learn, I will study more from you."

Daara the 19th smile as he coronates his daughter with a crown. Next is Tohriu Shiki, where Daara looks at him not only as an assassin and the Chief of the Zealot Strike Force but he also looks at him as someone who can protect and guide his daughter.

"Shiki… I will entrust my daughter to you. Know this that someday I may die. I wish there will be a moment where I could be reborn as a new person that can see this Kingdom grows into the age of prosperity. With you by her side, I'm trusting her future to you."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will not let you down."

After Former King Daara officially coronates Shiki as a Crown Prince. The crowd once again cheers.

While the Verlaine and Celestina Knights are preparing the parade, it's time to present the newlywed gifts. Tiamat decides to step forward to present the gift.

"Lady Rosaria. Congratulations on the wedding. You may aware that Shiki has eternal life, correct?"

"Yes."

"Then I will present you the same thing, where both of you will live as much as necessary."

Taking the wedding chalice, Tiamat fills it with her blood as she presents it to Rosaria. She whispers to Rosaria.

"Hey, maybe we can talk to each other once you drink this. Of course, if you need something to please him."

Winking to Rosaria, Tiamat giggle as her reaction makes her face turns red bright as a tomato. "S-stop teasing me!"

"Hm?"

Rosaria then looks at Shiki, still with her face red.

"Hold this."

"What?"

"I said hold this!"

Holding the chalice, Rosaria takes a drink, and when there's half left, she stares at him.

"Drink it as well."

"What!?"

"Drink it!"

"B-but…!"

Reynes pat his shoulder, "Just give it up, Shiki. Don't make your wife angry."

Grumbles a bit, Shiki finishes the rest, and they gave the chalice back to Sofya. Both feel a surge of power as they can feel that they've grown stronger while Sofya heals Tiamat. The next one to present the gift is Shina Delauge. Using her own money, she gifts them two Firefly-class Heavy Frigate that has been modified for their custom. One is for honeymoon and recreational, and another one is for any mission they wish to take.

"These two Frigates will be the property of Verlaine, and I will cover the maintenance cost as an additional reward. We will pay a visit sometimes, so we can make a party inside the Starship."

"Thank you for the present, Madam Shina."

The gifts continue as the Financial Minister Officials are counting how much income they receive should they finish calculating the price worth for each gift. Rosaria got a new set of her suit from Dawn, which later become an official Sovereign dress of Verlaine. It almost the same as her usual adventurer dress, but with a more royalty design than what she used to wear. Shiki also receives a new suit to fit his role as a Crown Prince from Reynes.

As the wedding and coronation end, it's time for the parade at the capital, Blate.

Parade To the Colosseum

The parade is one of the most extravagant events held by the Kingdom of Verlaine. The Celestina Empire covers most of the costs, with plenty of banquets and entertainment. There is an entertainment held at the Colosseum, which Rosaria requests to have a public execution for the Papaldia Empire's Official Zion and three retainers.

During the parade itself, Sofya deploys the 1st Honor Guard Regiment with the 1st, and 2nd Royal Defender Battalion are also involved in this matter. The security is tight since the entire Main Council, Main Advisors, and Royalty from the Eclipse Empire participate in the wedding.

"Congratulations, my Queen!"

"Long live the Queen!"

"Long live the Crown Prince!"

Riding on the open carriage, Shiki and Rosaria wave their hand to the Verlaine citizens that come to attend their wedding. The banquet itself will last for a week, as people are enjoying condiments from the Celestina Empire. This banquet did not just happen at the capital, Blate. Rather, this banquet also affects the entire town and village of the Verlaine Kingdom.

To heat the public further, both Shiki and Rosaria kiss each other, much to the public's reaction that becomes excited when the couple kisses.

Rosaria pick their wedding day as Christmas since she wants to celebrate their anniversary every Christmas. Their luck didn't end as the weather itself was between eight to twelve degrees. It is as the gods give a blessing on their marriage day.

Reaching the Colosseum, they went to the seat that Celestina Officials have prepared. As Rosaria requested weeks before marriage day, she wishes for Zion and his three retainers to be executed in public through a game of life and death. The Colosseum is full of citizens. Those who were unable to enter due to capacity can watch it from the Celestina Empire's video projector.

The crowd cheers for a while until Rosaria raise her hand to silence them. As soon as the spectator went silent, Rosaria make her speech.

"People of Verlaine! I'm sure all of you wish to know why I choose this day for the execution of the Papaldia Empire's official that was assigned to this Kingdom until its downfall a year ago. This day shall be remembered as the day when not only we regain the honor, but we also show these officials on the last day of their life that they deserve more pain than we do! We will execute them through a game of life and death, and we do all hope can enjoy this entertainment! Now, I present the Official of the Papaldia Empire, Zion, and his three retainers!"

When Zion and the officials are represented to the public, the spectators booing and insulting them.

"You bastard!"

"This is the punishment you deserve, you Papaldian Dogs!"

"The Queen is not your slave!"

Zion and the others grit their teeth as they take this humiliation. Never in their life that the Celestina Empire dare to challenge the Papaldia Empire. Even though he knew that the Papaldia Empire was defeated by Celestina at Celestina – Papaldian War, he knows that the Papaldia Empire will someday return, and the next generation will demand more.

Rosaria looks at them as she silences the spectators.

"Any last word before you will travel to the oblivion?"

"You will not get away with this! His Grace will surely demand you and your entire assets as a gift to the Papaldia Empire! You won't even dare to lay a finger on Papaldia Empire!"

"Such a rubbish talk you do. The Papaldia Empire has fallen, and they no longer have the power to resist us. Lady Zilva, I will give you the honor to play with them."

"As you command, Your Majesty…"

The Colosseum arena suddenly turns into the darkness, with many obstacles, and a magic generator appears at a random place inside the arena.

"Now, I will explain these rules. If you wish to survive, then power five of eight magic generators through magic circle. This is where all of you will face a life-and-death situation. If you can escape, then I will spare your life, but if you can't escape, then get ready to have your soul consumed. If you think you can defeat the killer, you are wrong. Your only choice is to repair, run, and hide."

The spectator looks at the video projector while the ball that features a recording spreads around the arena. Zion and his retainers appear in a different location, and Zilva also appears in a different location.

Dead by Sacrifice

Zion looks around as he wonders where his retainers are. He can't escape like this as he needs to find a way out. In this darkness of the night with a foggy field, he wandered around until he finds a magic circle.

"A magic circle!"

He starts to chant a spell to make sure he can escape, but the magic circle slowly recharges.

"W-what is this!? Come on!"

As he was complaining, he looks at a spark emitted from the magic circle. Zion knew he needs to control it, or it will blow up.

"Hah!"

BOOM!

Unfortunately for him, the magic circle blows up, and the recharging speed was down from fifteen percent to ten percent.

"Damn it!"

BA-DUMP! BA-DUMP!

His heartbeat starts to beat more faster, sensing a killing intent. He quickly runs as fast as he could, leaving the partially charged magic circle behind. There, he saw Zilva is approaching, shrouded in a black and red fog. Zilva herself is enjoying this, so she chooses to torture them little by little.

"Sir! Over here!"

Hearing the whisper, Zion found one of his retainers.

"I found the door to the exit; we better escape!"

"What about the others!?"

"I will look for them."

As soon as they reach the door, it won't open or powered up.

"Dammit! Why it won't open!?"

"R-remember what the slave says!? We need to power up to five magic generators if we want to make it out of here alive!"

"That bastard…!"

"AAAAHH!"

Their eyes suddenly caught Zilva has hooked someone. Somehow they start to realize that if they wish to make it out of here alive, they have to follow the rules.

"We have to rescue him!"

"H-hey!"

Zilva opens a locker, refilling her handbow ammunition, and looks for another victim. Rosaria, Shiki, the Main Council, and the others are watching this execution. Rosaria pick this punishment since their soul deserves to be used as an offering for the entity.

As Zion and his retainer arrives at where one of his retainers wearing a white noble clothes is being hanged into the hook earlier, they find him already struggling to live.

"S-save me…"

"H-How can we get rid of this thing!?"

"J-just pull me out from the hook!"

Zilva was about to intercept them from the shadows, but she senses someone has just activated a magic generator. Grinning, she moves to stalk the last retainer wearing noble blue clothes. He didn't know that Zilva marks him, and she start to stalk him.

"I see… That's how it is!"

After powering up the magic generator, his heartbeat starts to rise. He's aware that Zilva is chasing him.

"I must get away from her!"

Rather than running, he chooses to make a fast walk, aware that she can catch his tracks if he runs away. When Zilva looks for him, she didn't find any track. "He's brilliant."

Shiki grins as he watches the game while the spectators watch it without letting out any scream or comment. Rosaria also feel pleased to have Zilva tortures them.

"Why I feel like you're enjoying this, my dear?"

"It's an appropriate punishment for them, anyway… Their life is expendable for me, and not even the Papaldia Empire can save them right now."

"I was thinking if we could bring their family to terrorize as well…"

"Not necessary. I already write the letter that the former diplomat Zion and his three retainers are killed-in-action during Operation: Blood Rose."

"Hoo… That's interesting."

Rosaria did have some darkness inside her, and it's a darkness of vengeance that makes her wants to punish Zion and his retainers in cruel yet deserving for them.

When Zilva found the retainer, she shot a handbow arrow and score a hit. The scream pleases her as he runs away.

Zion and the others are trying to fix the magic circle so they can light up the magic generator. The worst has yet to come as they can hear someone screaming.

"It must be him!"

"Let's look for him!"

Their eyes can see the fallen retainer, but his presence disappears as soon as he gets lifted by Zilva. Hooking him into a hook, he screams in pain, but this time the entity has yet to appear while Zilva moves into hiding to watch them. When Zion discovers him, he quickly lifts him away from the hook.

"Why this guy doesn't have things that can kill him?"

"I just… getting hooked by her…"

"So there's an estimated time, then… GAH!"

When he got shot by an arrow, the group realizes that Zilva is hunting them again. They quickly disperse, but Zilva already set her sight on the guy that needs execution. Chasing a retainer with noble white clothes, she struck him down, carrying him to the hook for the execution.

"Time to end your life…"

"No! Spare me! Please! I beg you!"

"You should never demand her in the first place…"

When the retainer in noble white clothes got hooked by Zilva once again, Zion and the others arrive too late as they can see the entity execute the retainer in noble white clothes. His body was stabbed at multiple spots as a black cloud appears on top of it. The cloud emits a thing that looks like spider legs, lifting the deceased retainer into the black cloud.

"No…!"

Zion will try other tactics, as he will try to use his superiority to subdue Zilva in an attempt to prove to her that the Papaldia Empire remains in a glorious shape. When Zilva makes her move again, Zion ambushes her, grabbing her and attempt to strip her. The other two retainers also try to push her, so they can bring her down to the ground.

"Are you stupid or what?"

Using the claw on her left hand, she smacks all of them as they can't bring her down, and they can't even strip her.

"Unless you want me to kill you by my own hands, I don't mind about it…"

For the first time, Zion and his retainers feel an immense amount of fear. They quickly run away, but Zilva catches the noble with the blue garment.

"My, my… You seem to think that we can't prosecute you, do you?"

"L-let me go!"

When Zilva places him on the hook, he screams again, and this time the entity around the hook appears, forcing him to struggle for his life.

"If you're free before your time is up, one more hook, and you're dead."

Now Zilva moves to find Zion and the other retainer. She can feel the Papaldian official's fear that messes with her as they are running for their dear lives. Both of them finds the broken magic circle to fix, as they want to escape as soon as possible. When the noble in the blue garment was sacrificed to the entity, there's only two of them left. The nightmare hasn't come to an end as Zilva pursues them relentlessly. They keep trying to run and hide, and even when they are hiding in the locker, as soon as they find a killing intent, they immediately make a run to escape.

"It seems you make her into a fine killer, Shiki."

"I didn't deserve such praise, Reynes. After all, it's our nature to keep ourself merciless and prepared for anything that can come to us. Even with such puny opponents like them, I would like to give them a memory to remember when they went to the afterlife."

"Your wife seems also enjoying this. If you can train her further, she may become the first mage assassin."

"Oh? That's quite a nice insight, Reynes. I think I should train my wife if she wants to enter S League with flying colors. Knowing her opponent will be Lady Tiamat, I'm sure Rosaria will try something… Out of the box for a magician."

Tiamat looks at them as she grins about it. "Oh, I'm looking forward to it, Shiki. Don't forget to tell her to go all-out if she wants to earn the S Rank license."

"You're up for the challenge, my dear?"

Rosaria, looking at Shiki and Tiamat, nodded as she was looking forward to it. "I don't know about mage assassin, but I'm sure it will be nice to have some spells to assassinate someone that only mages can use."

Taking the dagger hidden inside her legs, she only stares blankly at Zion and his retainer. "I could wish I can kill them by my own hands, but no. I choose to make them dead by sacrifice. They want me as a slave; now I want their soul taken as a punishment."

Tiamat giggles, hearing that as she comments, "Seems you got a wife that can be scary when she meant to."

"Ugh!"

Shiki can't deny it since they love each other.

"No! No! Spare me!"

When Zilva places the remaining retainer into a hook inside the shack and has his body and soul taken by the entity, only Zion was left alive.

"Stay back! Stay back! You won't get away with this! We will prosecute and smash you like a grassroots!"

"You think you still have extraterritoriality, do you? You're dead wrong. A one that was so-called a country of superpower is now kneeling in front of the true superpower. Even Emperor Ludius himself kneel in front of the Great Emperor Sacchito."

"No! That's impossible! There's no way his grace kneels in front of barbarian!"

"Unfortunately, it's true. Your Empire has been defeated, and you can't escape us. Now, prepare to meet your end."

Choking him, she slowly brings him to the hook for the final execution. Arriving at the destination, Zilva chants a rite.

"O entity. I offer thee and three retainers as a sacrifice to satisfy thou. Thee commits an immeasurable amount of crimes during thee days as a diplomat of the Papaldia Empire. Let thee soul burns as thy offer the main course to feast!"

When Zilva hooks Zion, the entity quickly kills him, and the entity takes his body into oblivion.

The game ends with the execution of Zion and three diplomat retainer. The people of Verlaine watches in terror as they witness one of the cruelest execution that Rosaria demanded. After the body and soul were sent into the entity, the crowd cheer her name.

Hearing those cheers only makes Zilva reply with a cold stare before she leaves the arena.

The wedding day ends after the event inside the arena is complete. People continue their party to make the kingdom lively even when the night comes.

Night Time, Imperial Palace of Blate

"Lady Tiamat, please sever it… Don't take a peek on us…"

"I will."

Rosaria was nervous as this is the first time she will be sleeping together with Shiki as his wife. They've been making love several times, but this time, she can go all-out without worrying about getting pregnant. Having stripped herself, she went to bed, where Shiki nervously hide his face with a pillow.

"You don't need to be nervous anymore, my dear."

"I'm still nervous, you know that…"

"The Chief of Zealot Strike Force was nervous when it comes to spending time together with his wife."

Shiki's face is still red when he takes a peek at her. Even though her build was not as slender as the War Maidens, she got a nice hourglass body overall. Over a year of her time at Celestina makes her breast size grow slightly over F-cup size, and he can feel her breasts are touching him when she hugs him closely. Removing the pillow that covers his face, Rosaria leans forward and kisses him.

"Mmm…"

Unlike where they restrain themselves, this time, both of them are going all-out until five rounds of sex. Rosaria lean herself on top of him, keeping it inside her after he came inside for the fifth time.

"How did you get so energetic…?"

"Fu fu fu~~ So are you."

"Could it be…!"

Shiki remembers that both drink Tiamat's blood that serves as a wedding gift from Tiamat. Normally Rosaria can last for two rounds before exhausted, but somehow she can go as far as five rounds. His face turns red as he didn't expect his dearest wife can go wilder than what he can expect.

"Is something wrong, dear?"

"N-no…"

Kissing each other again, they went into another round once more before they fell into slumber.

The Celestina Empire, Nomad Palace, 8th January 1526 / 227

Inside the Main Council's ward, they are holding the talk, starting with Sacchito and Alicia to speak out the details.

"Seems the conference is drawing near…"

"We got three key objectives there. The first is to establish the Central World's influence, the second is to destroy the Grade Atlastar's main guns, and the third objective is to secure the Port Town Cartalpas. We cannot trust Holy Milishial's defenses since the Gra Valkas Empire defeats Leifor with a single battleship."

Opening the holo-map from the hologram projection, Alicia maps out the details.

"Should the Grade Atlastar leaves on the first day, we will keep an eye on them. Michelle will give us a cue once their diplomat leaves."

"Did you plan to threaten them?"

"I do, Sachi. Besides, since Lord Armada and Lady Tiamat insist on participating, I guess the job goes to Shina and Sofya to escort both, am I right?"

Shina and Sofya only sigh when Armada and Tiamat insist on coming along.

"Fine…"

The 1st Expeditionary Fleet will be dispatched as planned months before. Aware of gunboat diplomacy, Celestina will deploy a fleet but with restrained strength. Should the Scharlwarltz be released before the next conference, the next fleet that will come to the conference will be two Battle Groups instead of a single fleet.

Author's Note:

The Eclipse Empire is made by Leaders 101, the guild is also a transfer from another world, and after the transference, the guild began to establish dominance upon the world they currently at. More information can be found on Leaders 101 made by my friend.

Also, if you know dead by sacrifice, you know the reference I took from.