Ataraxia Abyss
Chapter 46: The Bell of Marriage

It has been a week since they fought and caused an earthquake in Belterre, Regal is now preparing for his wedding party to be held at Belterre's palace, he arranged the decorations and the food. And while he was at work all of a sudden he heard from one of the servants that the Queen called him.

Regal who heard it instantly pointed at one person to replace him and he finally left. She reached the Queen's office and sat in the chair opposite her mother-in-law.

"What's the matter until you call me?" Eleanor answered. "For the invited guests, we were pressured to invite the Holy Kingdom to the wedding, you must already know what they are doing for it." Regal replied after sighing. "They want to protest that this marriage is illegitimate, a bastard like them... Can't lend a single priest but they can come as party guests, who's coming?"

Eleanor was silent for a moment and when she answered the question, Regal knew that she would be in trouble...

———

In the Holy Kingdom, the largest temple built to worship Aria is the Temple of Light. A young man was walking with an old man dressed as a priest. The young man was also dressed as a priest but he wore knight armor on his priest's shirt.

The two of them sat down and prayed to Aria, and then they talked afterwards. "The wedding of Callen Belterre and Mercenary was already going to do well...?" The old man asked the young man. The young man nodded and replied. "Well, Your Grace..." The old man was the King of the Holy Kingdom, he was Charles Claudius. And the young man next to him was Roland Claudius, the nephew and leader of the 12 Paladins who swore allegiance under Charles.

"That's so... Roland, this marriage is going to upset the balance of this world, a child raised by monsters, and a child who is half monster, they both have incredible strength.

If they bind their souls to each other, I'm sure the balance we've kept in this world will soon be broken..." Roland asked. "Then you want us to do what?" Charles answered her firmly. "If they wear a false priest, or marry a false soul bond made by a mortal, then we will oppose it."

Hearing that answer Roland asked. "Is it okay? We force someone to marry in the name of our Goddess in a country that worships her Queen as a Goddess?" Charles was silent for a moment and replied.

"We are the original devotees, we take refuge in the most almighty Goddess ever. Those who do not worship Aria are only pagans, and we will not allow them to act as they please..."

Roland who heard that immediately knelt down and replied. "According to your orders, Your Majesty..."

———

Back at the palace, the whole preparation is almost ready. Regal then meets Callen at the party hall, the two of them greet each other and finally sit down to chat. "The Holy Kingdom is looking for trouble again huh?" Regal who heard the question finally smiled and replied. "They sent some important people to oppose this marriage when the binding of souls was not done properly...

The men claimed to swear that their actions were in the name of Goddess Aria, but they were only afraid that we would point our swords at them." Callen asked too. "Then why would they dare to oppose our marriage in public?" Regal then answered.

"Of course for sympathy, they want everyone to see themselves as the right one, and their Goddess the best... From the beginning of the formation of the Temple of Light, they began to hate creatures other than humans because Goddess Aria who loves all living things, choosing humans as her favorite creatures.

But over time they also hate humans, those who worship other than Goddess Aria will be blacklisted in the Holy Kingdom, especially to half-demon humans and also worshipers of God Teloch like myself. They're not gonna let my life settle down..."

Callen who heard that was obviously worried, but he was also confused.

"I know the reason why they hate Satan, but why in this century did they start to hate Teloch worshipers?"

Regal while silent, as if he did not want to talk about it at all, Callen then changed the topic.

For greedy Dragons, one's prayers can make a Dragon stronger, their strength can match the Gods in Celestia and even if their strength is sufficient,they can ascend to the realm of the Gods. I think they hate it when it happens..."

Regal laughed and replied. "That's right..." The two of them continued chatting while preparing their party. Until finally the wedding party was successfully held, the legislation spread throughout the continent, Belterre's allied countries and countries that had hired Regal services were also many who came,it was all because they were satisfied with the performance of Regal who could solve the problem very well.

Everyone seemed to love this party, when everyone was talking to each other, a servant announced that the wedding was about to begin. The bridegroom came alone without any company, and then came Callen who walked along with her brother. Regal was obviously sad to see that no one from his family could accompany him at this wedding. Yet he dispelled that thought once Callen stood before him.

Regal saw Callen's face. Never had she seen a woman as beautiful as Callen all her life, not long after Eleanor came as a priest who would marry them off, Regal could tell from the bleachers,Charles and some of his paladins were already preparing to protest. However he did not mind it and nodded to Eleanor.

"Those guests I honor, we come this time to unite two souls who meet each other in a vow that will bind peace and harmony. In this marriage, on the proposal of the groom and on the consent of the bride and her family...

We will not marry them in the name of Goddess Aria..."

That statement was clearly very offensive to the Holy Kingdom side, however,affirming that they do not need Goddess Aria in front of the most loyal worshipers, of course, makes Charles and 3 Paladins who he brought including Roland now stand up and oppose.

"What does this insult mean?! You want to unite one's soul not in the name of Goddess Aria? Is she the only Goddess who can cast out darkness with her light?" Roland was obviously furious, followed by Charles. "True, the first marriage that took place was not done by people from the dark ages. But done by Aria, those who marry without Aria's consent who bear the name of Goddess of Marriage will forever give birth to illegitimate children!"

Callen was upset by the words, but Regal stopped him and replied.

"Aria you said? The goddess was indeed the first creature to make and perform marriage until it was called the Goddess of Marriage... But did you realize he was also the first to divorce?"

Regal who provoked the emotions of the Paladins in the end made them draw their swords towards Regal. "What do you say lowly Mercenary?!" One of the Paladins named Simon looked angrier than the others. But Charles told his paladins to calm down and sheathed their swords again.

"That's true and I can't deny, but Regal, still marriage won't be legal without the consent of the Goddess of Marriage, I hope you're aware of what you're doing..."

Everyone is clearly arguing over who is right and who is wrong. But the majority of guests also agree, marriage will not be legal without Aria's approval. But suddenly a bell rang very loudly, not a wedding bell, but a death bell...

"You said that marriage requires the approval of Goddess Aria who bears the title of Goddess of Marriage right?

Well, since he can't come I think the God of Marriage can take his place..."

Everyone was surprised by his arrival, the man had only seen his statue in the temples, his face had been just a painting that captivated the eyes of every woman who saw it. But this is where he is at the moment...

"I knew you were coming." Regal smiled at the man who was walking on the red carpet where Regal and Callen were walking. The man then stood before Regal and fixed Regal's slightly tangled tie and collar as he said.

"My son is getting married, of course I won't miss it..."

...***...