Chapter 1009: Between Ceremonies ( 1009 )

Javier arrived at the courtyard where the wedding altar stood.

The space had been transformed for the Elven ceremony: a shallow basin of water mirrored the sky, while two young silverwood saplings arched overhead, their branches woven together. Soft, glowing mana orbs floated among the leaves.

He spotted Liana and Gloria heading toward the manor and called out.

"Liana? Gloria?"

They turned, their faces softening into gentle smiles. "Young master."

"Where are you two off to?"

"Mrs. Erinnette called for us," Liana said. "She probably needs help with something before the ceremony starts."

"Oh, got it." Javier nodded, then gave them a look. "Keep your mana talkies on, okay? Let me know right away if anything comes up."

"Mm, we will," Liana said with a warm smile.

Gloria reached up to touch his cheek, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Don’t worry, young master. We won’t be gone long." She leaned in, lowering her voice to a soft tease. "Who knows how many girls might try to approach you while you’re alone?"

Javier chuckled, shaking his head. "You don’t have to worry about that. Besides, Felicia, Mimi, and Delya are still with me, right?"

"No~" Gloria sang the word lightly. "Nope~ They’ve been summoned by their families. King Lioness and King Veldrac want their princesses to join the ceremony formally."

"Oh... right."

Liana’s expression stayed gentle, but there was a warning glint in her eyes as she stepped closer.

"Don’t even think about flirting with anyone else."

Javier raised his hands in surrender, swallowing. "I won’t. I promise. I’ll stick with Mother or my brothers the whole time."

"Good," Liana said, her tone softening but her eyes still watchful. "Our schedule is already set. I don’t want to ruin the perfect timing by adding any more unnecessary people, no more girls to mess it up. I’ve already set aside a day for Her Majesty’s time with her ’favorite’ honey bun."

Javier let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "Well... don’t blame me for that. She’s my mother, not some stranger. It’s normal for her to want time with me."

"Mm... I know." Liana’s gaze drifted past him, scanning the courtyard. "I see Prince Marcellus sitting with Lithia and Harny at that table over there. You should go join them." Her eyes snapped back to his, a gentle but firm warning in them. "And make sure there’s no flirting."

"Ahahaha... relax, Liana. I won’t."

Javier watched them walk away, noticing Liana glance back over her shoulder one more time, Gloria following her lead.

He just shook his head and made his way toward the wedding area. He spotted Marcellus already seated at one of the tables with his future wives, Lithia and Harny.

Javier walked over and greeted them with a grin.

"Yo, Marcellus! Mind if I join you?"

Marcellus groaned. "Ugh. Go find your own table."

Javier narrowed his eyes at his brother while Lithia and Harny offered polite, slight bows.

"Prince Javier," they said in unison.

"Relax, you two. You’re both about to be my sisters-in-law..." Javier paused, his gaze shifting between them as he puzzled it out. "Err... since she’s your mother, Lithia... that means she’s my... err... sister-in-law too, right?"

Before Lithia could respond, Marcellus let out a long, suffering exhale. "Don’t ruin my moment."

"What? I just need a seat! Liana told me to come here so other girls wouldn’t try flirting with me." Javier dropped into the empty chair, crossing his legs and leaning back with a confident smile. He swept his hair out of his face and shot Marcellus a smug look.

"I mean, who could resist such a charming man as I am?"

Marcellus rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Just remember, these two are mine. No funny business."

"Oi!" Javier’s eyes narrowed at Marcellus. "I’m not a homewrecker. Besides, they’re both already going to be your wives." He glanced toward Lithia and Harny, then let a confident smirk spread across his face. "If I wanted a dark elf, I’d just ask Lithia or Harny to introduce me to a young one from their village~"

Marcellus just smirked back, then raised his voice a touch. "Liana! Javier said he wants you to..."

"O... oi!!!" Javier lunged across the table, trying to clamp a hand over his brother’s mouth.

Lithia and Harny let out soft, shared laughs before standing to make their way toward the buffet table.

"Don’t you dare say that," Javier glared, his voice low.

Marcellus raised both hands in mock surrender, a smirk still playing on his lips. "Heh... someone’s scared of his girls."

"Not scared. I just don’t want them nagging and watching me like a hawk every second. Besides, I was just joking. Five is already enough trouble."

"Heh... me? I’ve got a lovely mother-daughter pair. They’re more than enough for me."

"Hoh! Good for you." Javier leaned in slightly, his tone dropping to a teasing murmur. "So... who got pregnant first? The daughter or the mother?"

Marcellus cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "Um... Lithia first. Then Harny."

"Oh? Daughter first, huh?" Javier’s grin widened. "Lucky you."

Marcellus exhaled softly. "But it’s not that far apart. The timing’s close. Both are still in the early stages, just around a month or so."

"Oh... well, good for you, then." Javier glanced around. "Now, where’s Cedric?"

"No idea. Probably busy with Meira and Zania."

"Those two still bickering?"

"Yeah. And Meira’s parents are here now. They arrived yesterday, they’re staying in the guest house inside the estate."

"Oh, so that’s what all the commotion was about last evening."

"Yeah," Marcellus chuckled. "They were pretty shocked when they saw their king was here too."

"Well, that’s a normal reaction."

"Yeah," Marcellus smiled. "Cedric was already in love with Meira back when we were just a noble house. Now we’re... well, royal. So it shocked her parents even more. Father already tried to calm them down, but... you know how it is."

"Yeah... if I were them, I’d be shocked too."

"Alright, enough of that, Javier."

"Hmm?"

"This wedding... it’s being broadcast to the Elven Nation too, right? Father and Queen Mylezra’s."

"Oh, that? Yeah. It’s being broadcast so her people can watch their queen get married. They’re having celebrations over there too, just like here, free buffet food for everyone. The broadcast team arrived in the Elven Kingdom a few days ago. They’re setting up holo-TV cubes and mana relay wagons all over to keep the signal strong."

"Heh... with... what did you call that thing you launched into the sky again?" Marcellus asked, tilting his head.

"Oh, the mana satellite? Yeah. With that, the signal’s crystal clear."

( End Of Chapter )