Chapter 163: Wedding (6)

In the end, she slowly raised her head. "Is something wrong?"

"Are you free next week?" Rewen asked with a neutral tone.

The group was stunned by the sudden question.

Looks were exchanged in a split second and the atmosphere turned silent.

"Y-yes." Bianca sucked in a mouthful of air and answered. She didn't know why he suddenly asked that but if she had to make a guess, it would be that - he was asking her out! 

"How about Monday?"

"I… am free."

"Okay. Meet me at the Central Canteen at noon." Rewen said, before turning around.

Shocked!

Asking out a girl without even properly asking her out?

How domineering is that?

Everyone's gazes landed upon Bianca who stood in a daze. As she slowly regained clarity in her thoughts, she clenched her fist. "Wait!"

Rewen looked back with a confused look. "What?"

"I, I can't go with you." 

"Why? Aren't you free on Monday? I would buy you a new smartphone..." Rewen asked that before his expression suddenly changed. "Wait, did you think I was asking you out?"

Bianca: "..."

Rewen started laughing and didn't say anything.

Others also chimed in.

Junar: "Rewen, you need to focus on your wording. Our heart almost skipped a beat when we thought you were asking someone out and that too, on your wedding." 

Salica, who was nearest to Bianca, heaved a sigh of relief. "I was about to instruct her not to reject you too harshly."

Bianca lowered her head, her face was slightly red. She repeatedly blamed herself for directly assuming.

Denny, Evans, and Kesha silently smiled.

Sam, who was by the side, snorted lightly. 'This guy can surely act.' If there's one person who knows Rewen the most after his own mother and master, then it's Sam. 'Even though he might not seem like it, he is a prankster.'

Gill laughed out loud. "Man, if only Svety was here… ah!" He was hit by Kesha with her legs. 

The cheerful atmosphere turned awkward.

Rewen's ear perked up. "Right, where is she? I saw her outside. Did she not come?" It wasn't particularly surprising that she didn't come. It was his wedding after all. With the amount of FP she had for him, it was already good that she didn't come and strangle him. Well, he didn't know if 79 FP was that high enough but from his past relationship, he could make an estimate.

"She didn't." Denny gave a straight answer. 

Looking at everyone's faces, Rewen understood that matter of his predecessor's rape had already spread out to them. 'I don't know if it's good or bad. Well, whatever. I'm not my predecessor. They are his close friends and relatives. If they want to ostracize her or even sue her, I'm no one to meddle in their business.' 

"Ay! Red! Red!" The little imp wasn't comfortable in Salica's embrace and wanted to go back to 'Red'.

Salica's face turned sour as she handed over the little imp to Rewen who had a smug face.

"She is related to me so of course, she would like me, isn't it?" Rewen held the little imp by her shoulders and rubbed his face on her cheeks.

"Wa… wah!" As his sharp beard rubbed against her soft cheeks pushing her on the verge of crying.

Zelic: "How could you do that? It's hurting the baby!"

Salica: "Be a little mindful of yourself."

Kesha: "Learn to shave."

Seeing this, the maternal instincts of these three women skyrocketed.

As soon as Rewen loosened his grip over her, the little imp effortlessly climbed on his shoulders and started eating his hair. "..."

***

Neither Rewen's nor Vinia's family were followers of any particular religion. That doesn't mean that they were atheists but they just weren't religious. The Darkhood City itself was a city where there were no churches. However, that doesn't mean people didn't pray to gods and goddesses. 

Rewen's mother herself was a firm believer of Seven Gods of Destiny. It had no large churches around the kingdom, but it was often said that they were - Gods for commoners. It sounded insulting but in practice, it wasn't. The core belief of the Seven Gods of Destiny believers was that everything, no matter how trivial it is, is destiny.

On the other hand. the Baron worshipped Olterio, Goddess of Time. 

Similarly, everyone had their own beliefs and rules set out by different gods and goddesses. 

What does this have to do with anything?

Religions and sacred beliefs are major factors for determining the kind of wedding. For instance, weddings held in Darkhood City are usually simple. As long there are two willing parties of different sex involved, a wedding can be held soon after the most important person in the City, i.e., the Baron, is notified. The kind of wedding would be based on the beliefs of the two parties. 

Standing on one end of the stage, Rewen looked around. 'There is no 'kind'. Only a brief prayer to the gods or goddesses, whomever the fuck they pray to.' He was neither religious nor did he pray. That's not to say that he was an atheist. He just didn't care enough about them.

He shook his head to clear his mind of these thoughts, then turned to look where his family and friends were sitting. His mother, Master Kaf, and the Baron sat closest to the stage. Behind them sat his Uncle and Aunt with Shirley sitting atop her mother's lap curiously looking at 'Red' with fingers on her mouth. 

The next row was filled with his friends casually chatting among themselves.

Clap!

Clap!

Clap!

A round of claps rang in the hall when the bride was accompanied by four bridesmaids. The bride  took light steps and walked over the stage. Her light golden hair perfectly synched with her fair skin. Wearing a white bridal dress, her figure enhanced her overall beauty. The veil over her face didn't diminish her charm one bit. If anything, the sense of mystery only added to it.

"Damn it!" Junar slapped his lap. "This guy shouldn't get a girl this good…"

Sam nodded silently.

Evans lightly muttered near his ears. "Stop talking. There are people here. You would make us look disrespectful and rude."

"She is so pretty! I would probably look like an ugly duckling if I were to stand beside her. To think that she is my sister-in-law!" Zelic had stars in her eyes.

"You are an ugly duckling, hehe." Salica teased while grinning. Out of her friend circle, Zelic was the easiest and also the most fun to tease.

Zelic gave her a dull look.

Kesha consoled her. "Don't say that. You look just as pretty."

Gill also appreciated the beauty of the bride. 'Rewen got himself a good catch, but with this, it would be difficult for him to maintain a relationship in real life.' Thinking of this, a small smile appeared on the corner of his lips. His EQ might not be best but he wasn't dumb. He was rather good at critical thinking.

Just then, he felt a sharp pain on his left thigh. Looking to his left, he saw Kesha giggling. "You were looking at her for too long."

"Holy crap, Kesha. Now is not the time for the 'overly jealous girlfriend' act." 

"Hehe… ow, stop!" Gill's revenge began when he pinched her waist.

Meanwhile, sitting near them, Sam was disturbed by the amount of "love" they were generating. "Tsk, young people these days think of public places as their bedroom." 

"Alas, my friend. Our generation is the worst." Junar cried out in an elderly tone.