Chương 24: An Extravagant Wedding

The wedding was being held at the estate. Despite its massive size, everything was being pushed to capacity. I moved into my mother's apartment, while they gave my current rooms to a king from a neighboring country. No one would dare touch my mother's rooms except me. Taking her apartment suite would claim a higher status than the person who had been staying there. I had discussed this with my father and agreed to the arrangement.

My youngest sibling had also lost his apartment in the mansion and moved in with his parents to save space. Tutor Damian and Healer Castelle, along with the other high-ranking staff members, were all relocated to the barracks with an apology, but everyone understood the situation. This wasn't just the social event of the year, but of the decade, at the very least. And while my eldest half-brother and his fiancée were at the center of the chaos, it was my presence that was fueling the drive for everyone to attend.

I wasn't my mother, just a likely future legend, and she wasn't around to kill people that offended her. The nobility in the surrounding nations was using this opportunity to assess whether a monumental power shift was forthcoming and how much they needed to prepare. That was why so many kings from neighboring countries had arrived, each with their own nobility and entourage. They set aside a large section of the estate grounds for pavilions for these nobles.

Unless you were a king, it was impossible to stay in the mansion. King Terander had the entire guesthouse for himself and his family. Security was incredibly tight. I now had three elite guards always shadowing me, even while sleeping. If someone assassinated me during the wedding, it would be a political disaster of epic proportions. No one knew exactly what my mother would do beyond killing many people. At least it was only for a week.

Various banquets and get-togethers took place during the five days leading up to the wedding. Then there was the day of the wedding and then a day for everyone to pack up and prepare to leave. A servant helped me put on the perfectly tailored clothing that had been made a month before the wedding. It was a seamless fit that I would soon outgrow, and of the highest quality. It was the current fashion of the nobility, used to flaunt their wealth and status with colorful clothing that was far too tight.

It was a way of measuring another's wealth without having to fight, since supplies and mercenary support decided many battles that weren't chosen by a legend. I sat down in the front row with my family as everyone gathered in the outdoor chapel for the ceremony. The King and his family sat on the other side of the aisle in the front row. The rest of the nobility sat on either side. Floating platforms were provided for the visiting royalty to view the ceremony.

There were at least four legends in attendance, hired as guards, from what I heard. My father had given me a Ring of Concealment to block any attempted scans of my status. Usually an illegal item, since it prevented people from being scanned by guards at the city gates, he said it was for my health. It was highly likely that enough people would try to scan my status, causing me to develop another skill, which would ultimately be detrimental to me. The orchestra played as noon approached.

One by one, the marriage procession walked down the aisle and took up their positions on either side of the altar. My brother then walked down the aisle in a resplendent suit. The golden thread sparkled slightly. He took up his position to one side of the System High Priest, who was present. My father would have gotten a Cardinal if they did weddings, but they tried to avoid all politics. That just left the High Priest for the nation of Terander.

The music changed, and everyone stood up, turning to watch the bride walk down the aisle. I didn't see her until she got to the front. Two elves walked in front, using a spell to create shimmering flower petals in the air in front of the bride. Small, glowing, magical fairies carried her white bridal gown behind her. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work. They weren't actual creatures.

They were just some enchanted automatons used for events like this that cost a fortune from the Dwarves. Her gown shimmered in waves like white water come to life. No doubt another expensive enchantment. But despite the immense cost, I had to admit both looked amazing. Not a single hair, enchantment, or thread out of place. The King escorted his daughter down the aisle and left her at the altar across from my brother. Everyone took their seat for the ceremony.

"We gather here today to bless this couple in the System's light. May their fates always be intertwined. If anyone has an objection to this union, speak now, or forever hold your peace," the System High Priest roared. No one spoke up and created a scene.

"Then, do you, Dereck Burnstock, Heir to the Duchy of Burnstock, First Son to Duke Darren Burnstock, take this woman as your wife in perpetuity, to protect, cherish, and honor until the end of your days under the watchful gaze of the System?"

"I swear under the watchful gaze of the System."

"Then, do you, Jasmine Terander, First Princess of Terander, daughter of King Maximillian Terander the Eighteenth of the nation of Terander, take this man as your husband in perpetuity, to protect, cherish, and honor until the end of your days under the watchful gaze of the System?"

"I swear under the watchful gaze of the System."

"Then, with my authority as a High Priest of the System, I declare this couple married and grant them the linked skill of Bonded Companion," the High Priest said and brought up his hands. A white glow engulfed my brother and his new wife.

"Now you may kiss and seal this covenant," the High Priest said, and they kissed. There was a round of applause at this. My brother turned to the assembled guests.

"Family, friends, honored guests. Please join us for the celebration of this auspicious occasion," my brother said to another round of applause. He escorted his bride back down the aisle and towards the mansion so that they could change into new outfits. While I didn't have a good sense of money, I knew all of this was costing a fortune. But the Burnstock family was on the ascent, and they needed to look good in front of the other nations.

As we made our way to the party site while the orchestra played in the background, a grizzled-looking warrior with no shirt, only a simple pair of shorts covering him, and a massive war hammer on his back, stepped in front of me and my family members. The guards nearby all tensed up.

"I shall look on the son of the Supreme Warlady myself," he declared, and I felt more fear. Several of the elite guards took a step forward.

"No harm will come to him," my father said while stepping in front of me.

"Hah, I do not kill the weak like she does. I kill only the strong, like her." My father made a half step to the side while the heavily scarred man stared down at me. He could probably crush my head with one hand.

"Weak, but young. I am Legend Extravagant Warren."

"Justin Burnstock," I replied while not looking away, even while trembling.

"Good, you have steel in your spine, like your mother. One day, I will kill her and take her title of Supreme Legend with my skills and my Warhammer Absolute Domination. Then I hope you come to me for revenge, and I will kill you too." Several people were looking over, and the tension had increased.

"Then make your attempt on her, and we shall see the outcome," I said, putting my belief in my mother out there for everyone to hear.

"Hah! I like people who aren't afraid to speak their minds …if they can back it up. Don't let overconfidence be your downfall, young Justin."

"I will remember your words in the context in which they were given." It was the politest thing I could think of that would end the conversation with this man.

"I believe that is enough. You said what you wanted to, Legend Extravagant Warren," my father said. The scarred man gave him a look and then turned away, saying nothing else. The tension left the air.

"Come, let's get to the celebration," my father said as we continued walking with the other guests. Then, another figure forced us to stop again as they stood in our path.

"Forgive my colleague, but he piqued my curiosity. I am Legend Quick Draw Yorren," the man said while spinning a pair of knives in his hands casually.

"Justin Burnstock," I greeted him while he looked me over.

"You have the same fire in your eyes as your mother. She is quite a scary woman. Unlike that muscle-headed brute, I have no interest in fighting her to the death."

"I won't convey anything in that regard to her." He let out a low chuckle at that statement.

"And if you ever want to learn about knives in the shadows, well, you can come ask for some training from me. Your mother might be an invincible supreme, but the rest of the lesser beings must make do with other tactics besides brutally slaughtering their way through the opposition. Finesse goes a long way. Well, it was a pleasure, young Justin," he said, and just left before I could say anything else. Legends were eccentric, but that was expected. One did not reach that level of strength by being simple.

These people were greeting me now, since my father had been running heavy interference up to this point. Also, the legends greeting me like this before the celebration kicked off was a favor in disguise. They were telling all the would-be social climbers that they didn't have the right level to talk to me, since they had approached me so openly. As the son of the Supreme Warlady Elena, they would only invite her ire if people tried to manipulate me or cause trouble.

I had enough social training and levels to pick up on this. They didn't use any skills or threaten me directly with a weapon. Legend Quick Draw Yorren was constantly spinning his knives in his hands. Probably some training for some skill. A true legend never stops training for a single moment. It was inspiring for me to work even harder. Seeing the people I was chasing after was thrilling. Those two men were over level 100.

I did not know how far above that they were, but they stood at the pinnacle of strength of all beings. That was the level I wanted to reach one day. I noted they had gathered at a separate standing table with the other two legends present for this social event, drinking as much as possible in some contest. Probably more skill training than a contest. I could only imagine the stakes they were playing for. A favor, or something else?