The ceremony was solemn and simple at the same time.
There was no trace of lavishness and luxury in the background.
However, everything about it did not translate negatively to the reputation of the Imperial Family.
Instead, it only made the reputation of the imperial family more holy and attuned to the will of the Heavens.
Finally, it is time for the couple to march down the aisle.
Leon stood with Eli as they walked toward the altar. Both dressed in off-white attire.
Leon's suite was decorated with a red-colored sash and undershirt, which matches the color of his hair and was the very symbol of the Seirende Imperial Family. There is also a golden brooch that was intricately carved with the crest of the Crimson blade.
Eli's dress was equally beautiful and elegant. Wearing an off-white tea-length halter dress with intricately embroidered lace sleeves that hugged her slender arms so beautifully.
With her dress and posture alone, there was no need for her to use lavish jewelry. And so her stylist, which came from the Forgeworn Family opted to decorate her hair with a floral headdress that made everyone think of her youth.
"Waaah! Mommi, Daddiii!!! Beauty!!! Hansum!!" Little Han, who was watching with Baobao, Rosea, and Kayden, explained at the window glass in the Vip room.
His eyes were so excited to see his mommy and daddy dress so elegantly.
"Yes, that's right my nephew… Your mommy and daddy are so beautiful today!" Kayden rubbed Little Han's head lovingly as he peacefully smiled.
If he appeared as Kayden, the Third Prince's close friend and legendary doctor, he would stir a lot of talk in the Empire and would also agitate the Spectre who was after his knowledge.
And so he volunteered to be with Little Han, witnessing their engagement from afar.
High Priest Enoch was waiting right in front of the altar, looking at Eli and Leon with great satisfaction in her eyes.
If one would even scrutinize closely, one would be able to detect a trace of proudness in his expression.
The ceremony was not long.
It was only High Priest Enoch pronouncing his opening statement, Leon and Eli's names, and asking their consent if they allow themselves to be betrothed to each other.
Next was asking their respective families if they permit the engagement, to which, Emperor Valentin and Queen Tehila replied without hesitation.
General Eugine and Tyce, along with their respective wives stood as parents for Eli. Together they wholeheartedly gave Eli their consent in marriage.
Overall, the ceremony looked like marriage, only that the involved people retained their status as single. and the one who was asked the question was their families, not the couple themselves.
Finally came the portion where Leon will now prove to the witnesses that he had obtained heaven's permission to take Eli's hand in marriage.
This was the first time in several years that the citizens of the Empire would witness a successful engagement that was blessed by the heavens.
In order to prove that there were no tricks done on the altar, High Priest Enoch let a cleric in the Temple drop his blood into the altar's receptor.
The Altar did not react one bit.
Next was a young man who was also engaged but had not gone through the sacrifice on the altar of matrimony.
Just as expected, the Altar did not also react.
And finally, it was Leon's turn.
Everyone kept their eyes open and every little movement of Leon was there for everyone to see.
As soon as his blood fell into the receptor, the Altar which was connected to the Temple's ceiling buzzed loudly.
!!!
Instantly, everyone in the room was on high alert, albeit they outwardly remained in their seats.
And before their eyes the altar lit up in yellow light, then in white, in green, in blue, and finally in fiery orange, representing all the known guardians in Prasinos.
"Goodness! All the guardians gave their permission!!!" The people in the hall exclaimed.
The common people who were in the plaza
Even the representative in the Temple was also astonished. It was the first time they saw the guardians' presence manifest on the ground all at once.
Normally, only one of the five guardians would reveal their presence occasionally. But this time, all of them generously did.
And that was even for an engagement of the Empire's Prince and his beloved!
Eli stood there with an astonished expression. She looked at Leon who was looking back at her lovingly.
Her heart stirred.
The man which took her two lifetimes to know has demonstrated how much he cherished her not only in the Empire but to the heavens.
Leon slowly walked towards her, who stayed in a daze as she felt her eyes heat up from tears that were threatening to fall.
"Eli…" He called out, meeting Eli's eyes which were filled with so much emotion, Leon's voice trembled.
This was one step closer for the two of them, not the three of them to being recognized as a complete family.
And for him and Eli, it was another stage of their relationship.
Before the Emperor, the High Priest, and the Guardians watching from another realm;
Before the nobles and even the common people;
Before his son, who was watching happily in the secret room;
Leon, the Third Prince of the current Seirende Family knelt before Eli.
In his hand was a red brocade box, with a beautifully crafted ring, which was studded in the finest diamond.
From the way it reflected the light from the Altar of Matrimony, the ring emitted a colorful rainbow lighting up the entire hall.
"T-thats!! The Rainbow Seed!!! The rarest diamond which can only be found in the jewel kingdom, Rubino!!!!"
Everyone who was watching couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
"Oh, how much will the Prince show his love towards the Lady!!!"
But even as the crowd rose in an uproar, Leon and Eli felt that they were the only people in the hall.
"Eli… I have asked my parents, our families, and even the Heavens…"
"Now, the only thing I want to ask of you is this…"
"Elise, will you marry me?"
Leon's voice was clear and gentle. It was far from his cold and authoritative demeanor. His crystal blue eyes looked at Eli nervously, like he was afraid that Eli would say otherwise.
Eli, on the other hand, felt like she was floating. Just as she thought that everything was over, Leon knelt down and let her experience a proposal she never thought she would even go through.
Her heart was beating fast and her chest felt tighter as she tried to contain the joy and surprise of the moment.
But then, Leon needed an answer, so she took a deep breath and looked at him with a bright smile.
"How could I not? Leon, I will marry you!"
"Wooaaaaaah!!!"
"Yeaaaah!!!"
"Finally!!!"
As soon as Eli said these words, the entire hall, the plaza, and all of the locations where their engagement was broadcasted cheered in victory.
It was as if they won the lottery or more than that, they won a long-standing battle with the enemy.
"All hail the Third Prince and Lady Eli, the future Third Princes Consort!" They cheered in delight.
The hall also went on a great wave of applause, the ladies and women could not help but also teared up.
"Sister, your make-up will be ruined." Anderson took out his handkerchief as he helplessly looked at his sister who was already bawling in tears.
"Shut up… I'm not crying…boohoo… I'm not!"
"Ahhh, my Master and Madame will soon become official husband and wife!!! Who would have known!!!" The Blades who were also there to witness everything could not help but shed a tear.
"Ah Valentin, our son has grown up…" Queen Tehila looked at the couple blissfully, "Look, he really learned how to smile like that.
Emperor Valentin, General Farauld, Kazimir, Antoine, and the rest of the Imperial Family, watched as Leon stood up and gently placed the ring on Eli's finger. He was smiling so brightly as he took Eli's hand and kissed it so tenderly.
"Weeee!!! Mommi! Daddi!!! Kiiiiisss~~" Little Johann on the other hand, cheered in the secret room, with his chaperones looking at him with surprise.
How on earth did Little Han have the idea of kissing at this particular moment?
"Why are you crying, Leon… Don't cry… I will cry too.." When Eli finally looked at Leon's face, her entire body trembled with so many emotions.
Leon's handsome face had a tinge of red as his eyes moistened in tears, all while he was smiling so happily.
He cupped Eli's cheeks with his trembling hands, as he said while leaning his forehead sweetly into hers, "I can't help it, I am too happy to be with you…"
Then even without the crowd's coaxing, the two exchanged tender looks as their lips leaned closer into a soft, sweet, and fluttering kiss.