However, just as Blanc said before, the Betrothal Ceremony is more important than the Marriage Ceremony ever would have been.
This reflected on the duration of the ceremony, ritual, and its meaning.
There is no blood spilling, no fancy blessings, nothing.
Just the simplest question asked by an officiator, in this case, Lune of Blood Denegis.
Well… at least that's how Kael explained the Marriage Ceremony in his romance books.
"Blanc of Blood Denegis," spoke Lune, trying not to stutter.
"Yes?" Blanc asked, a grin on his face as he looked at his sister.
"Do you wish to take as your first wife, Celine of Blood Maroux, to love and cherish her, to defend and die for her, to care for and build a family together, until Vita summons you home?"
"I do, with all my heart," Blanc replied, bowing deeply.
Lune nodded as she heard him.
"Do you wish to take as your second wife, Beleel Denegis Miyanna, to love and cherish her, to defend and die for her, to care for and build a family together, until Vita summons you home?"
"I do, with all my heart," Blanc replied, bowing deeply once more.
"Celine of Blood Maroux," spoke Lune, turning towards her.
"Yes?" Celine asked, a graceful smile painted on her beautiful face.
"Do you wish to take as your first husband, Blanc of Blood Denegis, to love and cherish him, to help and lead him, to care for and build a family together, and to ensure the stability and happiness of the Noble Blood, until Vita summons you home?"
"I have no need for another husband, but yes, I do," Celine replied, bowing just as deeply as Blanc did.
"Then raise, as Celine Denegis, first wife of Blanc Denegis."
"Beleel Denegis Miyanna," spoke Lune, turning towards her last.
"Y-Yes?" Miyanna stuttered, a nervous look on her face, her bronze eyes darting around as she did not know where to look.
Her hands began to shake slowly, and she only managed to stop and calm down because Blanc reached out and softly grabbed her hand.
Since Lune did not notice this, she proceeded to ask her the same question.
"Do you wish to take as your first husband, Blanc of Blood Denegis, to love and cherish him, to help and lead him, to care for and build a family together, and to ensure the stability and happiness of the Noble Blood, until Vita summons you home?"
"I will only have a husband, but I do," Miyanna replied as she bowed deeply.
"Then raise, as Miyanna Denegis, second wife of Blanc Denegis."
"May the Vita offer you a blissful life together," concluded Lune.
And with her words, the three bowed in unison.
And raised together, as a married couple.
The twins clapped as Blanc kissed each of his wives in turn, after which the women shared a kiss of their own.
For a heartbeat, the applause faltered; Kael and Lune weren't sure what to make of it.
Then, as Blanc joined in with his clapping and yelling, they resumed with bright enthusiasm.
"With this, we are truly sisters," Celine giggled as she moved her lips away from Miyanna's.
A Miyanna who stood there frozen in shock and embarrassment.
With the ceremony complete, they gathered at the table.
Blanc, Celine, and Miyanna sat on the central bench, while Kael and Lune faced each other from the opposite sides of the table.
"I thank the Vita for the meal before us and pray it blesses this union of ours. Vita la Nima," Blanc calmly lowered his head, offering the prayer as the temporary head of their Blood.
"Nima," the others echoed.
Then they began to eat.
The table groaned with bowls of stew, roasted duck legs, fresh bread, fruits, several cheeses, a ceramic jar of cow's milk, and, of course, a wineskin brimming with red wine.
It smelled divine, making the hungry eyes stare at the food, barely able to resist.
And resist they didn't, as each chose freely from the feast, and in quiet contentment, they cleared the table in less than twenty minutes.
"Should I go order more?" asked Blanc, breaking the silence.
"I'm full," muttered Kael, as he placed his head on the table.
"So am I," said Lune, exhaling slowly, as she waited for the food to settle down in her stomach.
And with Celine and Miyanna confirming that they, too, were, in fact, full, Blanc began pouring everyone a drink.
Kael and Lune received milk; however, Celine and Miyanna opted for a glass of wine.
"To the married couple," said Kael, raising his milk glass in the air before chugging it down in one go.
As if confirming that they were twins, Lune did the same, "To the married couple."
"Cheers," said the three, raising their own glasses of wine before taking a few sips.
"Well," said Kael, getting up, "We will leave you to it, then."
"Are you two tired?" asked Blanc.
"I want to read some more before I go to sleep," replied Kael.
"And I want to enjoy sleeping in a bed while I still have the chance," added Lune, as she followed Kael.
"Lune," said Celine, "Do not worry, you will sleep in a bed from now on."
"What do you mean?" Lune asked, confused.
"You will see tomorrow night, it's a surprise," Celine grinned.
"Very well," nodded Lune, "Good night."
"Good night," said the three. "And thank you, Little Flower, for your help."
"I enjoyed it, so it's fine," smiled Lune as they entered their room and closed the door behind them, leaving only the married couple present at the table.
"What do you mean she will sleep on a bed, my love?" Blanc asked.
"It's a surprise to you, too. Be patient," said Celine, "Shall we bring out the gifts?"
"Ah, yes, let me be the first one," said Blanc, jumping to his feet and running towards their room, only to pull out two small wooden boxes from under the bed.
The smile Blanc wore as he walked out of their room, boxes in hand, was beyond charming.
He looked proud.
Not only proud of the gifts he chose, but also of who he was offering those gifts to.
He placed the two boxes in front of his wives before he sat back down between them.
"Before you two left, I took some coins out and went into the city shortly after you left. It took me a while, but I found these the only things worthy enough to be granted to you two as gifts. Feel free to open them," explained Blanc to the two as they slowly opened them.
Inside each wooden box, nestled in straw, lay a golden ring set with a crown, and atop the crown rested a round gray crystal.
As the two of them lifted their rings, the crystals caught the light, scattering it as if caught in a mesmerizing dance.
They were gorgeous.
"Allow me," said Blanc to the two, as he took Celine's ring and left hand and placed it on her ring finger.
It stood proudly on her hand, as if fit for her.
He couldn't help himself not to kiss her hand before he turned towards Miyanna and did the same thing to her.
Though Miyanna was not a Noble Blood before she married him, jewelry seemed to look better on her than a sword ever did.
And with a kiss on her hand as well, it all but confirmed it, as they turned back towards the box.
Inside, stood in each a long silver hairpin that had at one of its ends, dangling by a small chain, a black painted crow.
"While not the sigil of Blood Denegis, this was the closest I could find," Blanc explained, embarrassed.
Though the eyes of the two were wide, they remained silent, yet they did not seem displeased.
Miyanna began sobbing while Celine had a somewhat sad smile on her face.
"W-what's wrong?" Blanc asked, worried.
"Since I met you, you have always been so opposite to what I've learned of men, of how a woman has to survive not only this life but her marriage as well. And yet, here you are. Making me feel more joy in less than two months than I've felt in the last two decades," Celine said as she kept on tracing her finger along the ring she just received. "I will, in less than a year, be a mother. And though I do not know what dangers await us on this journey of ours, I will be glad to walk that path along with you and find out. You, Miyanna, and whoever comes after."
Before Blanc could even process the tears that were welling in his eyes, Miyanna decided to speak too, "I told you before that I was all alone for a long time. The first time we met, we met as enemies, and then we became strangers for over two weeks. And less than a month after I met you, somehow I found myself married to you. Life sure is strange… After fourteen years alone, just like that, out of nowhere, I found purpose, love, and a family. I, too, will be happy to walk whatever path we take, and hopefully, I will be able to give you children as well at some point."
Blanc listened intently as he felt tears leave his eyes.
But he stood silent for a while.
"You two have given me the purpose I needed to get through the madness, and whatever may come, whatever madness and sorrow may befall me, I think I will be able to be fine, because, when I will need to look back for support, I know you two will be there. And that is reason enough," Blanc muttered.
"Blanc, my lo-" began Celine to speak, but she stopped herself as she saw Blanc getting to his feet.
"This is your fault," Blanc muttered as he grabbed the wineskin.
Going straight to gulping down four mouthfuls of wine.
The beautiful moment from earlier all but vanished, replaced by shock, a tinge of confusion, and… something more, perhaps.
Blanc was quick to confirm what that something more was as he grabbed the two's hands and dragged them inside their room.
"What about our gifts?" Miyanna asked, surprised by Blanc's sudden action as he pushed them into the bed.
"The night is long," Blanc replied as he closed the door behind them, "You can give them to me later."
And indeed, long was the night for the newly married couple.
One can only hope that the Vita will bless their beautiful life.