Chapter 66
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"Yes, good work."
Busy movements could be felt outside the door, and the sound of the Grand Cathedral's bells faintly echoed from afar.
A once-in-a-lifetime stage filled with blessings and expectations.
Odelia mentally rehearsed the order of the ceremony, checking every possible variable one by one.
'I won't let anyone disrupt this wedding.'
The reason why this wedding had to be carried out safely and perfectly was clear.
It was because the Imperial delegation was attending, and because Cardel had to be defeated in order to proceed with the subsequent plans without any setbacks.
So…….
It couldn't be for such a private reason, like not wanting to ruin her last wedding with Ludville.
'Haa…….'
Odelia sighed, clenching and unclenching her fist.
The throbbing of her heart, conveyed through the dress, was painfully clear.
In this life, she would definitely protect him.
Just like he had done for her.
To save him… she could do anything.
Even if she was not left at the end of it.
* * *
The bells of the Grand Cathedral rang out solemnly.
The silhouette of the spire soaring into the sky and the golden belfry.
Blinding sunlight streamed through the windows, pouring down on the pure white dress.
The door opened, and Odelia appeared through the light-adorned arches.
At that moment, the guests gasped.
"Indeed, Cardel……."
Someone inadvertently let out an exclamation.
Odelia was the most ideal figure symbolizing Cardel.
A figure as if the 'Saintess of Holy Blood' who purified the Emperor's curse had been reincarnated.
Archduke Excepcion's choice of the Grand Cathedral as the wedding venue felt like an excellent choice, not a luxury or arrogance.
Her appearance was that of sacred beauty itself.
'Why has Cardel been hiding such a woman until now?'
'Even if she is sickly, wouldn't Cardel want to show her off?'
Everyone had the same thought.
Silver hair revealed beyond the transparently shining veil.
The silk dress flowing down like a wave moved gracefully with her movements.
Her sky-blue eyes were calmly gazing forward, and there was not even a hint of wavering on her pure white face.
As Odelia took each step, the Grand Cathedral naturally fell into silence.
The choir began to sing, but people's eyes were fixed solely on her.
Odelia walked up the stairs towards the altar.
In front of it stood Ludville in a black dress coat.
Odelia almost stopped walking without realizing it…….
Soon, she moved forward steadily without showing it.
Although most of his days were stained with blood, his blonde hair was shining as brilliantly as the sun today.
Beneath his neatly combed-back blonde hair, his sculptured features were revealed.
Although his face was clearly beautiful in terms of form, his unique expression exuded the aura of a soldier who had just returned from the battlefield.
An impression as sharp as a blade.
The overwhelming physique created by his massive build and solid muscles.
The only shining gold buttons and epaulettes in the middle of the black dress coat shone heavily, as if flaunting the Grand Duke's dignity.
He felt like a manifestation of the god of war in mythology.
In fact, until then, the guests had been suspicious.
That the reason he was standing at the wedding could not be love. That there must be a purpose.
"……."
But the face that had been coldly hardened changed subtly the moment he faced the approaching Odelia.
His gaze fixed on her was like that of someone caught in the afterimage of a distant memory.
A faint light flickered in his eyes, which were as dark as the abyss, as if not allowing any emotion.
People instinctively felt it.
He was crazy.
But if that wasn't the face of a man in love, then what was it?
At that moment, the light of the colorful stained glass poured down on the two.
The scene was like a recreation of the scene in ancient mythology, where light and darkness faced each other in a sanctuary.
Like the Saintess of Light and the cursed King in the shadows.
Extreme opposites.
Although they had very different textures, the two were strangely well-matched.
As if they were born for each other.
Like an inseparable fate.
* * *
'It's almost time.'
Gawain, sitting in the VIP seat in the front row of the audience, quietly watched the two meet.
Soon it would be time for the wedding vows to begin.
Odelia was standing side by side with Ludville.
In front of the altar, in the very center of the Magic Circle.
The place where all the Barriers of the Grand Cathedral and the 'holy objects' they had set up in advance were concentrated.
Gawain turned his gaze to the side.
Beloa had a soft smile on her lips.
Every time Odelia took a step closer to the center of the Magic Circle, her eyes sparkled.
She was looking forward to the chaos that would soon occur.
The moment her plan would perfectly come true…….
'Now.'
Odelia stood exactly in that spot.
'It's done.'
It was perfect.
The Magic Circle, which the Cardel family had infiltrated the Grand Cathedral in advance and directly manipulated, was set to react only to 'Purification Power', the unique energy of a Purification Ability User.
In particular, it was adjusted to activate when the Purification Ability User was nervous.
Throughout the wedding ceremony, Odelia would naturally be nervous.
Archduke Excepcion was standing right next to her, and all the guests' attention was focused on her.
No matter how confident one was in their composure, even if it was their own wedding, there would definitely be a slight tremor.
That was enough.
And…….
'A rampage will occur.'
The Magic Circle on the floor would soon shake, and beams of light would soar to the ceiling.
Some of the Imperial delegation experiencing shock reactions was also included in the scenario.
The more important the guest, the closer they were seated to the Barrier.
However, Gawain and Beloa would not be harmed because they wore separate protective gear.
For this plan, they had also dropped hints at the banquet the day before that Odelia's 'new ability' was unstable.
It was a kind of cornerstone for today's plan.
In the end, he was humiliated and stepped down, but it was okay.
The public opinion was going to be overturned anyway today.
All those who attended the banquet heard Gawain's words, and that was enough.
'When the rampage occurs, I can use the chaos to regain my position as the Envoy of God.'
That's why he hadn't killed Odelia yet.
If he killed her right away, there would be no way to restore his honor.
He intended to make this wedding, with the Imperial delegation present, his comeback stage.
'Now, activate.'
Gawain quietly clenched his fist tightly on the chair.
Waiting for the moment when the beams of light, the shaking of the Barrier, the rampage… everything would burst out before his eyes.
The moment when the stage announcing that Cardel's 'Envoy of God' was still alive would begin.
He stared at Odelia and slowly counted numbers in his head.
One, two, three…
And…….
…Nothing happened.
