BLOODY LOVE'S
Extra 11: The Final Game [end]

"Where are you guys from? I thought you were gonna be late!" Renata whispered to Jacob who came while holding Olivia. The two immediately sat on the empty spot between Renata and Juan.

"Livy's been a little unwell since yesterday" Jacob replied uneasily. "So early this morning she threw up."

"I'm fine," Olivia quickly said as soon as Renata looked at her anxiously.

"You're pale" Renata commented. "Have you been to the doctor? Did you ask Rolan?"

Olivia shook her head slowly, making sure her mesh hat was placed in a natural motion. "It's okay, Mom. Maybe it was just an allergic reaction. It's my fault for eating last night by the side of the road."

"I ate there too, but it's okay!" sergeant Jacob.

"Well, you're eating the ground with salt is okay" Jeffrey said of the back bench, which he immediately responded with, "Silence Jeff!" by Juan because the candle at the altar was already lit by the Son of Altar—the sign that mass was about to begin.

Jeanne sat between Marco and Jeffrey on the bench right behind them. He and Marco actually had a place on Edgar and Renata's side, but he chose the bench because it was close to one of the church doors, just in case Thea cried and needed to be taken out. He stuck his head forward as he whispered, "Go to the doctor!" to Olivia.

Olivia turned her head with raised eyebrows, understanding what Jeanne meant. "I do vomit if I eat shellfish that are not cooked well" he said without making a sound. Only his lips moved.

Jeanne herself did not make a sound when responding back. He merely lifted a little baby in his carrier and kissed the small round head of the delicate black-haired with a meaningful smile.

Olivia returned the face forward, towards the white altar laid out with a variety of floral and linen decorations. Not likely. After all these years, he didn't want to be too hopeful. But his hand involuntarily moved around the stomach. Olivia took a deep breath, knowing what she was going to beg at the time of the Ummah Prayer.

***

Rolan found Nolan in the back pew, staring at the wedding procession with a grim face. He sat down by the girl's side, holding back a laugh. "It's a wedding ceremony. At least pretend to be happy" he said.

Nolan quickly wiped away the tear marks in the corner of his eyes, albeit for free. Rolan saw it. "I'm overwhelmed," he said. His voice trembled and Nolan knew he was lying. "Don't tell anyone," he murmured.

"On you crying or about you falling in love with Jose?"

Nolan glares. He looked around nervously, afraid that someone would hear. But no one cares about them. There were only the two of them on the back of the church bench, blocked by the pillar pole. After all everyone was focused on Mary who was uttering a pledge in front of the altar.

"I'm not going to say it" Rolan said amusedly. "But I think everyone can see it."

"See what? Yeah-the first one or the second one?"

"both. Your tears will be clear. After all, from the eyes and attitude you have always seen. Only a fool doesn't know."

Nolan bit his lower lip and lowered his head, letting his tears fall into his lap. "Jose knows too?" he whispered hoarsely.

"He's not stupid, is he?"

"Good." Nolan almost laughed bitterly at Rolan's response just now. Almost. He rubbed his nose and wiped the tears with a handkerchief. "Let him pretend not to know. I'm good at pretending too."

But Nolan was never gifted at lying. He had even failed to lie to himself just now. Now it was Jose's turn to take the oath before the altar, his voice clear and calm. Although Nolan usually likes to hear the man's voice, this time each word feels slicing, wounding him viciously.

"Excuse me," whispered Nolan as he got up and moved away. It turns out he couldn't hear it. He did not want to see the two put rings on each other. He was afraid that he would raise objections when the Imam gave an opportunity for the objector to speak.

Rolan stuck his foot forward, blocking the path. He pulled Nolan's wrist and flung him back to the seat. Some people turned their heads when they heard the damming sound, but did not find the source of the commotion because Rolan and Nolan immediately put on innocent faces.

"What are you doing? I'm going to the toilet!" Nolan whispered furiously as the faces of the people returned to the front.

"Stay here," orders Radan sharply. His brown eyes were shining coldly. "If you can't survive this, you won't survive the next days of seeing them either."

"What do you care about me?" hiss Nolan.

"I don't care" Rolan replied plainly. "But you work for this family. If the two togetherness makes your heart wobble, you'll disturb whatever they do in the future."

"I work for Jeanne!"

"The one is an Argent." Rolan did not let go of his hand grip. "And my job is to make sure all Argent's workers are loyal."

Nolan. "What does this have to do with me? Unhand me!"

His hand could not escape from the check of Rolan. He looked up in a frenzy, seeing that the bridal veil had been opened. Just like Marco used to be, Jose also stole an opportunity to kiss Maria. The whole church is excited. Nolan took the opportunity to swing his handbag tightly against Rolan's face. The man complained. Check off. Nolan wasted no time. He quickly fled after previously hissing, "How I deal with my feelings is my business, don't get involved!"

Nolan did not understand what Rolan wanted to make sure. The doctor wanted to make sure that everyone who worked with the Argent family would not be easily swayed by personal matters that might affect the loyalty of the task. Since he was quite close to the nuclear family, with Jeanne, all the information was easy to get.

Nolan hates that. He hates Rolan. He hated the doctor's suspicions. He hates his cruelty. He hates being forced to hear and see how his first love was shattered before his own eyes. On top of that, Nolan hates it because he understands that for Rolan, it's all a matter of work. His feelings mean nothing.

Nolan continued to run through the sacristy, past the presbytery, until he reached the large garden located inside the church. There's no one there. Nolan dropped himself on the grass without a care for his dress. She hated that stupid dress, that sweet clean dress with lace ornaments and silk hem that was lost away from Mary's wedding dress. Nolan sobbing. Even if he had worn a dress and extended his hair, Jose would not look at him. There was never a place for anyone else in Jose's heart. It would be foolish to think that a slum girl who appears suddenly can win against a beautiful girl who has been known since childhood. From the beginning, he had no chance. No one has a chance to win Jose but Maria.

Nolan let out a long sigh, wiped the rest of the tears with the back of his hand, then chuckled as he remembered he had just managed to hit Rolan. At last.

Nolan laughed and laughed on the grass. He laughed until his stomach hurt. At least there will be something to remember today.

Not far from him, Adrian Marsh was hiding behind a rectory wall. Upon seeing the girl running out of the church, he left Clearwater and followed his intuition to follow Nolan. He thought the girl was going to cry, but she was laughing. Now Marsh is wondering if he should show up and see Nolan or go back to the church.

Marsh pulls a coin out of his pants pocket to throw the ballot, but seconds later feels that it is a cowardly way to decide something. He stroked hard and struck his own forehead with a fist, then came out of his hiding place, stepping straight towards the garden, to where Nolan was.

"If I'm kicked out, I just mean good!" he murmured, I don't know who he was making excuses for.

***

Maria and Jose's wedding took place at Redstone, but the celebration was held in many places, including: Garnet, Argent, Bjork, and Chantall. The three families of Jose's bodyguards actually also wanted to make a celebration in their territory, but Jose forbade. It would be bad if her marriage was celebrated too big. He does not want to encourage social jealousy. He did not want the eyes of the palace people to be directed at him cynically because he considered it presumptuous to match a dynastic marriage.

Marriage for nobles is not an ordinary event but a new chapter in the game of chess. Many steps need to be considered and many parties need to be considered. Even the guests come with a double motif.

Jose and Maria looked at the crowd that had started to spread in the garden from the bedroom window. They had just returned from church and were taking a short break before welcoming the guests below. The maid had just come out after helping to remove the tail of the wedding dress that was up to five meters long.

"When are you going down?" ask Maria.

"Later," said Jose Short. They stood leaning against the wall beside the window, the sides of the head leaning against each other, and the fingers clasped.

The two are settling into the wedding ceremony they just went through, permeating the fact that they now officially belong to each other.

"A lot of people came" Maria commented, but she did not look out the window. His eyelids closed as if not strong to withstand the weight of his long and lush eyelashes. "They're waiting for us."

"M-hmm, I know." Jose nodded briefly. Her free hand was busy cleaning the confetti flakes from Mary's hair. "Actually I want to give you a regular wedding" she said.

"Regular?" Maria raised her face and opened her eyes, making Jose cursing inwardly because of her beauty that was other than ordinary. It was like looking at a living doll. Like a dream come true.

"I mean marriage without anything political," Jose explained, still couldn't take his eyes off the two clear blue colors staring at him. What was interesting to him was that even though he looked like a puppet, behind that sweet face was stored a wild determination of steel and fire. The fire always amazed him. "That doesn't make you tired."

Mary laughed at the explanation. "Who do you think you're talking to?" tanyanya. He pushed Jose's shoulder with his thin fingers hidden behind gloves. "I knew that my marriage could not be as innocent and simple as commoners. Just so you know, I grew up knowing that maybe I should have a cold marriage with someone I didn't love but was useful to me. Maybe that's why I'm having stupid dreams about Prince Charming like in a fairy tale. It was sort of ... well, a small rebellion in the heart." He shrugged his shoulders. "I'd even be ready if Dad told me to marry him."

"He wouldn't have done that."

Mary shook her hands, not caring. "Who knows?" His arms were tightly coiled around Jose's arms. "Marriage for people like us is not an ordinary event but a moment to combine power, show wealth and relationships, show off and lobby each other. There are always political reasons. Even the guests who come do not just congratulate. They're all trying each other out, looking for a loophole to bond with." Maria tightened her embrace, truly grateful that beside her was the person she loved. He could not imagine what it would be like to go through all this if his marriage was purely for political reasons. Maybe he will cry from stress and tired. "I don't need a dream about Prince Charming anymore. I love you," he said softly, beginning to like the echo of that sentence on his tongue.

Jose chuckles happily. "I love you more, Mary."

"Why does that sound like a challenge in my ear?" Maria raised her face, looking at Jose with a defiant smile that failed. His cheeks were reddish with pleasure and his blue eyes were glowing. Rather than challenging, he seemed happy.

Jose likes to see that girl happy. "Actually, that was reality" he said, still in a tone as if he had just won a match. "But I'd love it if you could prove me wrong, and you love me more."

"That's smart," Maria chuckled crisply. "Whatever the result, you still win! You don't change Jose, always make rules that cheat!"

Jose smiled knot. "You can help me improve the rules" he said, turning his body around to face Maria. Their eyebrows collide lightly. "We can play this challenge for life."

Maria wrapped both of her arms around Jose's neck, whispering, "Challenge accepted," before bringing together a smile that flashed across each other's lips in one gentle kiss.

***

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END.

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if you like this story, maybe you'll like my other novel with the title Red Light District. Info about the novel can be checked on IG @narazwei ya.