Chapter 316 (2/2)

“Gillian.”

“I want to walk with you. I want to live a happy life with you everyday until death separates us.

I want to spend my life with you as your partner. Would you accept my request?”

“Gillian…”

“Please answer me, Beatrice. Will you marry me? ”

“Yes, yes. Of course. ”

With her big eyes full of tears, she jumped into his arms with a bright smile.

At this moment, she was the happiest woman in the world.

***

“Groom Gillian lo Feden, do you accept bride Beatrice de Lisa as wife and vow to love her in joy, sadness, distress and happiness?”

“I swear.”

“Bride Beatrice de Lisa, do you accept groom Gillian lo Feden as husband, and vow to love him in joy, sadness, distress and happiness?”

“I swear.”

“As of today, these two have got married and accepted each other as husband and wife. If you have any objection to this marriage, speak now, or remain silent forever. Do you have any objection? ” said a senior priest wearing a white new robe, looking around.

Beatrice looked down at the bouquet in her hand. Gillian asked her in a low voice, who was fidgeting with the bouquet of yellow marigolds.

“What are you doing now, Vera? Are you hesitant about this marriage? ”

“No, nothing like that, but…”

“But?”

“Marigold is a flower that means separation, right? Then, why…”

When she was about to speak with a trembling voice, the priest solemnly declared, “I declare in the name of Vita that these two have become a couple.”

Gillian removed her white veil to have an oath of kiss and smiled at her, looking at her green eyes. Kissing the woman he loved, the brown-haired knight whispered, “The hidden language of marigold is that happiness will certainly come.”

***

“Your Majesty, you must go back now.”

“Okay, Sir Monique. Let’s go back.”

Although I expected it, I didn’t know it was so serious. It’s been already three years since I was inaugurated as the emperor, it was really tough to combat corruption. I didn’t think I could quickly drive out the evil practices and corruption that had been accumulating for the past several generations, but it was a huge challenge for me.

As I was sick and tired of those who lavished praise on anything I did, I got out of the Imperial Palace on purpose and went to the commoners’ district for inspection.

Commoners could not spring at me because Sir Lars and Sir Monique were wearing uniforms and swords, but I couldn’t forget their angry look, who clearly showed their displeasure and dissatisfaction with me. They were in shabby clothes and starving, feeling spiteful, and their eyes were glowing with malice.

“Help me! Is anybody there?”

It was at that moment that I came to know the woman that I loved for the first and last time in my life.

I heard her scream when I turned with a deep sigh. Normally I would never have done anything dangerous, like jumping first, but on that day I instinctively headed to the alley where her scream was heard.

The masked men surrounding the woman with crimson hair turned when they heard someone approaching. The moment one of them, clicking his tongue, was about to cut the woman, Sir Monique charged toward him and struck down his sword. Because of Monique’s timely intervention, his sword barely struck past her hair.

My eyes turned to the cut crimson hair falling off the floor. The eyes of the woman looking at Sir Monique in surprise shone like a jewel… I was fascinated by her.

He chuckled at her when she asked in a trembling voice, then beckoned to Gillian, who was standing at a distance. Then, after taking his sword and handing it to the royal guard, he opened his mouth again, “You seem to undermine the intelligence of the empire.”

“No, I didn’t mean that.”