Vincent.
I stood upon the grand altar for what felt like an eternity, having forced myself to discard the weird, unsettling sensation that had briefly threatened to shatter my composure. I clamped down hard on the lingering disquiet, burying it deep where it couldn’t disrupt my moment of triumph.
Even so, doubt crept into the edges of my mind. I really couldn’t tell if this prolonged delay was simply how the grand tradition was supposed to unfold, but Maria was taking far longer to make her entrance than expected. The agonizing wait was beginning to stretch my composure thin.
I was already on the verge of entirely losing my patience when the profound sound of the ceremonial drum suddenly rang out, struck twice in heavy, reverberating succession. The profound beats echoed off the high walls of the hall, signaling the long-awaited arrival of the bride.
The crowd gasped as she was carried into the vast hall seated upon a magnificent sedan chair, draped in lavish decorations.
The moment my eyes landed on the grand entrance, I felt my pride immediately soar to unfathomable heights. A swell of raw arrogance filled my chest. No one in the history of our realm had ever carried out a wedding in such an extravagant, awe-inspiring manner.
I was the very first leader to establish such splendor, and I would ensure this monumental moment was meticulously written down and documented in our history books for generations to admire.
Slowly and carefully, Maria descended from the sedan chair, stepping gracefully onto the carpeted aisle.
Her face was hidden behind two layers of mystery: her shining golden mask rested over her features, while a delicate veil fell over her head, obscuring her from the eager gazes of the crowd.
Her striking red wedding dress flowed freely, trailing endlessly on the ground behind her, so much so that two female omegas had to hastily step forward to lift the heavy, luxurious train and keep it from sweeping the floor.
Her movements were deliberately slow, every step measured and hesitant, but for once, I didn’t mind the delay in the slightest. I could easily afford to wait a few more minutes for her to reach me. After all, when this ceremonial march was over, she would end up right where she belonged—locked securely in my arms.
"I finally made you mine, Maria," I muttered beneath my breath, the quiet confession slipping so softly from my lips that it was completely swallowed by the hushed whispers rippling through the surrounding crowd, as no one seemed to notice the words, and that only made the private moment feel even more satisfying. "Isn’t that awesome?" I silently asked myself, unable to suppress the surge of self-congratulatory satisfaction spreading steadily through me.
The feeling settled deep within my chest, warm and intoxicating, filling me with a quiet sense of triumph.
Almost instantly, the faint smile hidden beneath my mask slowly deepened, curling into a victorious smirk that I made no effort to suppress.
I will treat you so well tonight, Maria, I thought boldly, my mind already racing ahead to the hours waiting beyond the ceremony. The anticipation stirred within me, accompanied by a dark, competitive curiosity I couldn’t quite explain.
’I truly want to see who is better between you and Anabel.’
The thought echoed through my mind, lingering just long enough for me to fully register it.
I immediately shook my head ever so slightly, momentarily catching myself off guard. My brows drew together as I frowned beneath the mask, unable to understand why such a comparison had surfaced so naturally.
Why on earth was I trying to compare them?
The question lingered in my thoughts, leaving me quietly puzzled by my own reaction.
It was a ridiculous notion. It didn’t matter who was better, because in the end, I would have both of them locked by my side regardless.
The distance between Maria and me kept growing shorter with every passing second. She approached the altar with a deliberate, dignified posture, her chin raised high beneath the delicate lace of her veil.
Watching her draw closer, a surge of impatience flared up inside me. I wanted nothing more than to move quickly, cross the remaining space, and wrap my hands firmly around her waist. I wanted to lift her off her feet in a swift bridal carry, bring her directly to the altar, and rush through the remaining vows just to make her mine immediately.
But I forced myself to take a breath and calm down.
I had to follow through with the proper process. I needed every ritual performed to absolute perfection. I wasn’t about to give her a single loophole, nor any tiny excuse she could try to use against me later to claim that we weren’t truly, legally married.
Finally, the remaining distance between us vanished entirely. Maria stood directly in front of me at the foot of the altar, her posture still, her hands gracefully stretched out toward mine.
My smile deepened into a wide, triumphant grin beneath my mask. Subconsciously, my eyes drifted away from her for a brief second, flicking toward the high-profile table I had specifically prepared and reserved for the quadruplets.
From there, my gaze shifted upward, locking onto the hidden upper compartment where I had personally locked Noah away. I had taken great care to ensure there was just enough of an opening for him to see every detail of this ceremony. I wanted them all to watch. I wanted every single one of my enemies to witness my ultimate moment of triumph and internalize the undeniable fact that I had won.
Satisfied, my eyes returned to the bride before me. I accepted Maria’s outstretched hands, feeling the cold fabric of her gloves against my palm.
Wrapping my fingers tightly around hers, I guided her two steps forward until we stood side by side, turning together to face the glowing light of the moon.
’It was finally happening!’ I muttered inwardly.
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