580 Private Ceremony

Sometime later, Vaan followed Empyrean Scarletsea back to Henrietta's bedchamber on the top floor of her palatial magic tower.

All magic tower masters usually made their bedchamber on the top floor of their magic towers. Due to the higher density of mana in higher altitudes, it was easier to sleep pleasantly and enjoy the various benefits mana could give.

Skin beautification and lifespan prolongation were just some of the most general benefits.

Nevertheless, shortly after Vaan stepped inside Henrietta's bedchamber and shut the door on his way in, the atmosphere suddenly turned heavy and serious.

"Just like you said before, Sir Vaan, we do not know when the seven Great Devils will make a move on Pangea due to the fluctuations in Gehenna's Gateway. That's why it's imperative to increase our power as much as possible to prepare for the worst situation."

"However, a woman's chastity isn't something you can just acquire and throw away after you are done with it. No, you must take responsibility for it. That's why, if you want to dual practice with my disciple, you must marry her. Of course, you have already voiced your agreement, so there's no point asking you again."

"That said, hosting an official wedding ceremony with the whole kingdom as witnesses is just a waste of time. As such, I will hold a private one and act as the officiant to bear witness to your promise with my precious disciple"

"You don't have any objections to my arrangement, do you, Sir Vaan?" Empyrean Scarletsea asked.

"I do not, Empyrean Scarletsea," Vaan calmly answered.

Nevertheless, his mind briefly drifted back to a private conversation he had with Astoria prior to leaving the Holy Knight Empire.

Going back a few days in time, he wouldn't have thought he would be making Queen Henrietta his first wife, and one through an informal marriage ceremony with no feelings attached at that.

Even so, he still understood its necessity from a normal civilian's perspective.

Still, he wouldn't have readily agreed to make Queen Henrietta his first wife if he hadn't made a promise to Astoria. It was Astoria's sincere request that he marry her dear friend Henrietta and take her as his beloved wife.

She wished he could care for Henrietta like he cared for the rest of his women, even if the person might not reciprocate his feelings.

Astoria also understood it was a selfish request.

However, Henrietta was her closest friend and someone important to her. She wished Vaan could be the person who could fill her loneliness and let her experience the wonders of life - things in the world she never got the chance to experience.

Despite knowing Henrietta's throne and power were filled with loneliness, there wasn't much Astoria could do to help her.

"Don't worry, I'l take good care of her." - Vaan recalled his promise to Astoria.

...

"Good!" Empyrean Scarletsea exclaimed shortly after hearing Van's agreement. Then, she stated, "Since you don't have any objections, I will start."

Within moments of Empyrean Scarletsea's statement, a magic circle appeared in front of her. At first, the magic circle seemed like a simple contract magic spell. However, more mana lines were added to the simple magic circle over time, turning it into a complex spell.

Vaan found several unfamiliar runes in the magic circle that he failed to comprehend completely. There were even unknown laws added to the spell.

Henrietta's nose started bleeding as her body couldn't handle Empyrean Scarletsea's power.

'Is there a need to go so far for a binding contract spell for the union of marriage?' Vaan silently thought with a frown as he witnessed Henrietta's body suffering the rebound of Empyrean Scarletsea's mighty laws.

Although he didn't completely understand Empyrean Scarletsea's spell, he could still tell it was a contract spell-and a high-level one at that.

"This is the strictest contract spell I know - it cannot be voided by any power or law below Rank 10. The two parties bound by this spell cannot intentionally harm, betray, or abandon each other. Even if one's flesh is destroyed and soul perished, their fate to each other will still be bound together, allowing the two parties to find their way back to each other"

"There's no penalty for breaking this contract because you won't be able to act on any ill or dishonest thoughts that go against the contract once you agree to it. On the other hand, if you honor the contract, there may be unexpected blessings," Empyrean Scarletsea explained.

"I see... So, it's like a geas," Vaan commented thoughtfully while studying the complex magic circle.

The longer he studied Empyrean Scarletsea's complex magic circle, the more he understood the intricacy of her contract spell.

It was just as Empyrean Scarletsea explained - her contract spell would compel the involved parties to honor their agreement when they try to break it.

Although it seemed like a shackle, Vaan didn't find it disadvantageous.

After all, it implied that once he entered the contract with Henrietta, she would also become his closest ally. Even if she hated him, she could never hurt or wrong him.

The bond he shared with Henrietta through this contract would become even firmer than his bond with Astoria, regardless of how they change in the future.

"It's exactly like a geas," Empyrean Scarletsea calmly admitted before saying, "Since you understand how it works, I will now officiate the ceremony between you and my disciple." Vaan found it amusing that the one presiding over the wedding ceremony shared the same body with the one he was marrying.

They didn't really need the ceremony as long as they acknowledged each other as husband and wife.

Nevertheless, Vaan signaled Empyrean Scarletsea to continue with a simple hand gesture.

"Do you, Vaan Raphna, take my disciple, Henrietta Rosegarden, to be your wedded wife? - To share the good and bad times together, to care for, never betray, and never harm one another?" Empyrean Scarletsea asked, setting the terms of the contract spell.

"If you agree, place your hand on the magic circle with a drop of your blood."