Chapter 653: The People we Used to Be
Erika glanced sharply at the other women, offering them a confident grin as she hooked around Ryuji’s arm. He didn’t recoil, placing his palm on her back and pulling her against his chest. He then gazed down at her with a peaceful expression.
"To what do I own the pleasure, Ms Erika?"
"Why are you asking a stupid question, Ryuji?" Her tone returned to the girl he first met in the throne room. Worried about her friends and whether they would survive. It was a huge difference compared to the woman who fought in several massive battles and faced death multiple times.
"Well, you rarely act so enthusiastic outside the bedroom."
"Idiot!?" She poked his cheek with her fingertip, the ring sparkling on her finger. "You can’t say things like that, I don’t permit it!"
Ryuji lifted her back and placed his head against hers. "Oh, and what will you do?"
Erika’s nose twitched as she huffed. Her heels left the floor as she curled her lips into a playful grin. "This!" A soft warmth pressed against his cheek, Erika’s lips slightly sticky because of her lip gloss. "No what will you do? Hehe." She playfully returned his words while brushing his cheek with her tongue.
’Such a lovely wife, her tongue is so soft it makes me want to pounce her.’
She narrowed her eyes with a cheeky smile, almost as if knowing the effect her kiss and playful teasing had. "We should complete the ceremony, I can’t have you to myself now but maybe later... Mhm?"
"You win, Erika."
"Haha, well I always do. You’re just too cute to fight back."
A little ticked off, he lifted her off the ground while holding her with both hands. "Kyaaa!?" Then whizzed her around several times with a fluttering dress. "Put me down~ I can’t breathe, you win... you win!"
Her body floated in the centre of the altar until she submitted, while Ryuji just smirked. His body shook while laughing. He dropped her down, and their lips met one final time. She filled his mouth with warmth as his tongue spread her lips and coiled her tongue with ease.
"Nn! Such a good kisser."
"You’re not bad yourself, Erika... push your tongue out further."
"Loverboy, there’s people watching!" Velvet’s voice bellowed from the side of the altar, her aura pulsing with danger.
’It seems I played around a little too much, but Velvet’s so cute... does she want to kiss too?’
"I’ll kiss you later, don’t be jealous." He spun Erika to the side and winked at Velvet with a sly grin, his hands slipping down to his bride’s firm behind. ’I really don’t want to let go!’
Erika squeaked when his palm squeezed just a little too tightly, swatting his chest in mock protest before stepping back to join the other wives. "Fine, fine~ go on, Emperor. The rest of your kingdom’s waiting."
"Cheeky woman," Ryuji muttered with a grin, stealing one last kiss from her cheek before releasing her hand. She spun away with a graceful twirl of her dress and took her place among the others, blue eyes glittering with quiet satisfaction as she winked with a cute huff at him.
"Hmph~ can you live without me?"
"Hahahaha!"
"Hey!"
"Sorry, sorry. I can’t live without my cute Erika. There? Good enough?"
The laughter and teasing on the altar slowly faded as a new sound rolled through the plaza.
’I’m a little tired...’
’Honestly, I just want to eat a feast and enjoy my night with those beautiful women...’
His thoughts became looser the more vows he made, drowning in memories of the past and realising his deep affection for each woman, which surprised him.
And while recovering, the tallest bell tower began to toll, followed by the smaller towers of the citadel. The air became solemn as a deep, heavy song began to play... like a church hymn.
Everyone recognised the signal.
Another wife!
"Our emperor is really impressive." A mature woman holding her daughter whispered in the crowd.
"I know... one wife is enough." The man beside her commented, before an elbow dug into his ribs at light speed.
"Hrrrk... sorry, wife."
The frivolous tunes faded with a reverent song.
Even the crowd that had been cheering and shouting a minute ago now hushed and gently swayed their banners above the plaza as the light shifted from a pale red to black and violet, and the clang of armoured boots clattered on the ground.
Demon Paladins marched forward, holding lances and shields almost twice their size. Each paladin wore black armour, with black and violet colours, which was the standard for Leviathan’s subordinates of the Royal Guard.
Ryuji’s eyes widened as he saw a woman seated on a mobile throne, a veil of pure black with dark eyes gleaming through the material staring at him from hundreds of metres away.
His expression softened, his golden eyes lifting toward the far end of the aisle. "So... it’s finally your turn," he whispered in a voice carrying clear anticipation.
The music switched between a mellow hymn and a slow, repeating chant that echoed like a battle song or a sea shanty. His future wife lounged on the platform with her face covered.
Leviathan.
She swayed with divine grace, every inch a war-maiden and queen. Her attire was nothing like the dresses from before. Instead, she wore a masterpiece of craft.
A ceremonial armoured dress forged from abyssal steel, plates as dark as the ocean’s floor fitted seamlessly around her frame. Interwoven through the armour were layers of white and violet silk that trailed behind her like the Baltimore tide.
The elegant modifications to the Paladin attire she wore each day softened her sharp edge with a kiss of elegance.
’Levia... you look so beautiful, like a goddess of war.’
He couldn’t help but swallow the saliva building in his throat before stepping away from the altar. The more women he married, the more he showed his true feelings, all the nerves fading.
Each movement made the steel catch the light, and each fold of cloth swayed like the ocean surface. She carried no bouquet or fan. Instead, Levia carried a massive shield and planted her spear in the platform beside her throne.
"She’s stunning." Ryuji whispered as the sight of her made his chest thump faster. It wasn’t a playful seduction like Erika or Sariel; she hid her face in darkness, yet he could tell she was smiling at him.
The closer she drew, the more he wanted to rush down the stairs and meet her, a reward for the effort she put into this moment.
"My kids look so cute..."
Another big factor that made him want to move was the cute paladin outfits that Kael and Selphira wore.
The mobile throne halted just before the first step of the altar. The paladins surrounding her turned in perfect synchrony, lowering their weapons until their lances crossed over their chests and their helms bowed. The chant deepened, rumbling through the stones beneath Ryuji’s feet, as if the plaza itself was paying homage.
Leviathan rose.
The black veil slipped from her face with a soft movement, as she stabbed her shield into the throne and detached it.
Her black eyes, intense and unwavering, locked onto Ryuji as if he were the only being in all existence. And in that moment, she did not look like a bride — she looked like a knight before her god.
’Is this some kind of symbolism?’ He wondered.
Ryuji’s hands clenched as he breathed faster with each step she took down the throne, spear in hand.
The heavy plate and flowing silk swayed with her every movement, and each step she took resonated through the air. She paused only once... to kneel before Kael and Selphira, who presented her rings on a polished silver sheet, or what seemed like a small shield, before continuing to the altar.
’She’s so hot!’
When she reached him, Leviathan didn’t waste time or try to kiss him. She dropped to one knee, head bowed, spear lying flat before her.
The entire world seemed to fall silent.
"Asmodeus, the man who saved me from a life of darkness. My beloved, My Lord and Husband." She began with a slow and steady voice, while not breaking eye contact. "I kneel before you not just as a queen, or a woman, but as a warrior, both your sword and shield... I swear to become an edge that cuts down all who stand against your will, and protect those you deem important."
The oath sounded beautiful and magical; however, Asmodeus stepped over the spear and frowned.
His foot landed close to her knee.
"Wait, Leviathan."
"Eh?"
She looked confused, with wide eyes and an open mouth.
"You, are including yourself in those important things, right? I am standing here... not as a god, a king, an emperor but as the man that loves you. Do you understand that meaning?"
"Ah..."
Levia’s face turned bright red the moment his words echoed through the entire plaza, and he cupped her cheeks with both hands.
"I seek nothing from you but your happiness and devotion."
"Even if I lose my strength?"
"Even if I cannot fight?"
"Of course! What kind of man expects such things from the woman he wants to marry?"
Her eyes lifted, burning with conviction. "Even so! I offer you my strength, my loyalty, my heart and body! Not because you command or desire it, but because I want to give it!"
Asmodeus could only recoil at her extreme enthusiasm; her hands grasped his as she rubbed her cheeks against his palms.
"Ugh... why are you so cute when you’re like this?"
"You are the one who saved me, a sinner who almost lost such a wonderful future. You forged me into something worthy of standing beside you. And now, my Emperor... my god... my love... I vow that my spear will never waver, so long as it bears your name."
"Even if it wavers, I will never stop loving you, Alicia."
The moment her previous name echoed, the demon paladin looked stunned, her expression cracked as if his words destroyed the armour around her heart.
"R-Really?"
"I can... just stay beside you?"
He lowered his body, almost kneeling with both hands, squishing her cheeks.
"I forgave you long ago, and what you’ve done for me and our people is beyond the debts you carried. Alicia, you no longer have to force yourself. Be my wife, the mother of my children and live how you wish."
"Then... Then...." Tears streamed down her face as she stumbled on her words, for so long she’d fought and worked beyond her limits to hear these words. Even though he might have said them before... right now they carried more power and importance.
"I will accept any selfish wish you have, at least today."
Asmodeus smiled at her.
The beautiful woman, who once drove a dagger into his back, metaphorically.
He couldn’t help but love this woman.
Even if stupid, his affection towards her started back when they fought the lich. Her kiss lingered on his lips and imprinted her on his soul forever.
"Please accept me, as Leviathan the paladin, Levia the slightly lewd demon... and Alicia the human who fell for you despite being enemies. That’s all i wish."
"Such a boring wish... come here!
Neither of us is the same person we were all those years ago.
I have always loved you, Alicia."
Their lips met under the afternoon sunlight, a salty kiss.
But one that overwrote the kiss that lingered in both their hearts.
Alicia, the human priestess, found solace and forgiveness in their kiss.
While Asmodeus could finally take hold and make her his.