Chương 106: Chapter 94. The Gauntlet

The food was great. Even better than I'm accustomed to considering Anna didn't have to check it for poison. The 3 of us really enjoyed the meal. I also noticed that Sarah gave a thumbs up to Trish when she saw what I was served for dinner. I have my suspicions about what the food I was eating benefited, but I decided to just ignore Sarah and just enjoy the moment. I mean, it is my Wedding Night after all... Though, having said that... Once the meal was finished, the gauntlet began."

Hello, I'm Duke Dennis Darksound. This is my wife, Olette. Thank you for inviting us to this wonderful event!"" It's our pleasure, Duke Darksound." Sarah answered for all 3 of us. It made sense, seeing as how she seemed familiar with the Duke and his wife." Though I must say, to defeat the Hero from Promethia, as well as sparing time from preparing your Wedding to heal the sick and injured. You've shown such a wonderous disposition.

I'm amazed that there are people who still decide to protest your Wedding to our Princess." The Duke's wife, Olette, spoke positively to me. I responded to her." Thank you. I'm just trying to do what I can to help for now."" The will and the ability to act for the benefit of others are all traits shared by Paladins of the past. While we were never Blessed with one before, I can see why the Class was so highly sought after." The Duke followed up after I responded to his wife. I smiled at them."

Well, we should be leaving for now. I'd hate to cause the traffic to pile up. I hope I can meet the Marquess Drake Family again soon."" I hope so as well, Duke Darksound." With that, the Duke and his wife left us. I turned to Sarah quickly." Was that good?"" Yes, you accepted the compliments and didn't definitively promise anything. Keep it up. Anna, I'm sorry. I think they'll be after only John and I tonight."" Thank you, but I don't mind not talking. All these high-profile Nobles are stressing me out." Grip.

I held Anna's hand as I awaited the next couple to greet us." Hello, Matthew, Sarah, Anna! You're not tired out yet I hope?"" Duke Clearfield! Hello! Thank you for coming!" The next in line was Asha's parents. It was such a relief I couldn't help but greet them excitedly." Congratulations, you two. I'm glad to see that you've both accomplished your goals from way back then. How goes the other plans that My Daughter informs me are happening?"" Hm? Plans?""

Yes, regarding your medicinal abilities, for when we head out to the Rose Swamps." I was confused by what Mrs. Clearfield was talking about, but Anna filled me in. The women started to chat amongst themselves for a bit. Leaving the 2 guys out of the conversation. Luckily, Duke Clearfield was used to such events and began to speak to me." It's rough, isn't it? Having all of these strangers come up for a chat."" Yes... Yes, it is. How do you deal with it, Duke Clearfield?""

Well, when I first got Married, I was horrible at it. To the point where Penelope filled in for me a lot of the time at social gatherings. I eventually figured out how to do it, but it took time."" Ah. Right, you were a Viscount before, right? The sudden rush of all these people who used to be Higher-Ranked than you, clamoring to meet you, must've been exhausting in a different sense I'd imagine." This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings." You'd be right, Matthew."

Duke Clearfield and I had a conversation that made me feel as if we could be good friends if given the opportunity. Kind of like how I am with Warrick. But the Clearfields couldn't stay long." Well, Adam. Time to go. Thank you for having us, Matthew!" With a wave of their hands, they left. Hm? Asha was waving at me as well. I waved back and she seemed happy at it. I turned to Sarah and Anna to ask them how their conversation was." It went quite well. Aunt Pena is basically Family at this point after all."

She reminds me of Aqua."" Duke Clearfield was a good conversation partner too."

"Sarah!" As I was finishing my conversation with my Wives, a voice tried to overpower the chatter from all around us. A young man with ashen hair and black eyes walked towards us with a thin older man with white hair following behind him with a scowl on his face. Since they were Demons, they were pretty tall, but they were pretty lanky, almost like giant stick figures. I wondered if the old man with the scowl was sick or not as they came up to our table." Sarah! I haven't seen you in a year!

I waited patiently for you to return to the Academy, but you never came back!"" Yes, I was sick Mr. Dragonbane, for quite a long time."" Well, I tried to find out what was wrong, but Ms. Clearfield and Ms. Ashblade never told me! What happened, Sarah? Could you tell me?"" I'm sorry, but who are you?" This guy kept speaking to Sarah and asking about her health, but damn he was loud. When I interrupted his conversation, he looked at me with scorn in his eyes like I was a homeless man asking for money at a bad time."

Who I am, Marquess Drake, is, Drak Dragonbane! The successor of my Father, Duke Daniel Dragonbane." I would be taken aback if not for the fact that I've received similar looks from people since arriving here on Gaia." Well, Drak Dragonbane. Correct me if I'm wrong, since I'm new at this. But isn't it poor etiquette to only conversate with one person when there are 3?"" It's simply because Sarah and I were close at the Academy!"" I find that hard to believe."" Nonsense!

My Son and Princess Sarah went head-to-head for the Title of Valedictorian in their class. A Title My Son wound up winning, Marquess Drake." Duke Dragonbane decided to answer the question." That doesn't imply closeness, that just means tha---"" But we were close!" I'm starting to want to summon Scarlet now... I turn to Sarah to see what she thought of all of this. Oh, she's pissed. Drak didn't notice though." I believe that our time in the Academy, we had the distance appropriate of schoolmates. No more, no less."

Drak didn't seem to take the hint." But Sarah, we spoke every day during the school year! I was even considered for your Marriage Partner!"

"Indeed, I brought the idea to the King himself, and he said he would think on it. That was 2 years ago, I believe."" Yes, but then, only a little under half a year ago, I heard the news about your engagement. Simply because he had healed you of your sickness! Sarah, have you never thought that this human was simply taking advantage of you!?" Pressure!

"!" Grip! And like that, I felt a torrent of mana begin to explode to my right side. I turned to see dark purple mana mixing with bloodlust. I quickly grab Sarah's hand and begin to speak to her in a whisper." Sarah, don't let them ruin the day. Calm yourself now and I promise, I'll make it up to you in a few hours."

"..." The mana stopped, thankfully. I then turned to the stunned Duke and his son." I believe the idea of me taking advantage of Sarah, is quite a foolish idea. If you were given a report of the announcement, Aqua quite clearly stated that she, Sarah and King Warrick had come to the decision together as a family in regard to our Betrothal and Marriage. If you still have issue with it, I suggest taking it to the King and Queen."

I gestured to Warrick and Aqua and noticed they, as well as everyone else, were currently staring at Sarah, Anna and me. I looked at the Dragonbane family and began to speak again. Before I could though, Sarah began to speak first in a low tone." To suggest that MY Husband, is somehow manipulating me, is an assault on his Character as well as his Honor as a Good Man. MY Husband is a Kind man, who willingly saves those who are in danger.

Son of Duke Dragonbane, which is what I called you in the Academy, even though you continued to insist on using our first names, which I repeatedly told you, made me uncomfortable. If you truly cared for me, you would realize that I am quite happy with MY Husband. To suggest otherwise, angers me greatly. Please leave us on Our Wedding Day. I seek to enjoy this night, as it is the only time I will be Wed to a man." I followed Sarah's thoughts up quickly." To continue on with my Wife's train of thought.

I thank you for attending. But if you truly have an issue with us as a Wedded Couple, please send a request to King Warrick and Queen Aqua. Now, if you both would leave, the other guests would thank you. Seeing as how you're holding up the line." As they left, the father glared at me as his son spoke in broken words." But.... Duke..... Marquess.... Human.... Trash.... Love.... Evil....." With those words, they left. After that event, while there were still Nobles who wished to speak to us.

With Sarah's bad mood, we decided to retire for an early night, using her foul mood as a way to get around etiquette. We left the room filled with a crowd that seemed to understand why we wanted an early night. Asha, Sharon and the Advisors simply waved goodbye to us as Warrick, Aqua and Cynthia guided us to a room in the building.