The Lewale house was decorated with flowers, banners, and ribbons. Gentle music floated through the smaller ball room; the musicians hidden on a balcony high above the dance floor.

The guests were numerous, causing many to wonder about the carefully groomed gardens as the ballroom filled. Alaster suspected that many of the guests would only remain for the ceremony, leaving before the reception, or only remain for a little bit.

Guards wearing the Lewale colors of purple and green were out in force, both to keep the peace as well as protect the many high value guests, but also to display the power of the Noble House.

The City Lord entered the ballroom through the open doors, his escort ensuring the other guests kept a respectable distance. But Alaster hung back on the street. The wind was beginning to pick up, blowing away what little warmth the people on the street.

Guests that were lingering outside began shuffling into the estate, where the stone walls would at least block most of the wind, even if it was still cold.

Alaster was unaffected by the cold, at least this level. He had long since grown used to this temperature, even without the aid of [Dead Embrace].

Now alone on the street, Alaster wrapped himself in shadows. Of course, the shadows were just Shadow Assassins bundled so closely they obscured vision. It did its job well, at least well enough for Alaster to step back into the moonlight now properly dressed for the wedding. He lightly swept away a bit of snow off the collar.

The Shadows silently exploded outward, spreading the hundred or so Shadow Assassins around. The pale moonlight cast lengthy shadows, allowing the Assassins to travel in the darkness nearly invisibly. They were already difficult to spot during the day.

The Shadows had only one mission, the same mission they always had. Spread, remain hidden, and listen. The most powerful people in Onigas, both in magical and physical power, and in influence.

Alaster already knew that many were not happy with the wedding. He sought to ensure that it would go off without a hitch. Unfortunately, due to their importance, Alaster couldn’t simply kill them. That and if Astrid found out that he spilled blood on his special day, she would not be happy.

Already, in the mere moments it took him to walk into the Mansion, Alaster’s Shadows had already knocked out two rich merchants that had gotten a bit too drunk and loud. Their sleeping bodies were thrown out into the snow in the distant corner of the garden.

Alaster might not be able to kill them, but he didn’t care about them getting sick. Who knew, maybe the cold would sober them up if they woke up before the wedding was over.

Walking into the warmth of the Mansion, Alaster was impressed. The Lewale House might not be the wealthiest Noble Family, but they certainly knew how to use their still immense wealth to impress.

The interior of the small ballroom was filled with guests. Waiters expertly weaved through them without bumping into anyone with their trays. They were only serving a few drinks, but a few, such as the two merchants, were indulging themselves.

Despite the crowded space, Alaster enjoyed a ring of space around him. While the common people of Onigas had likely not heard of it, the influential had heard about how their Hero had stormed into the City Lord’s meeting room and dispatched several guards in mere seconds merely for wasting his time.

No one wanted to offend him.

Which Alaster was happy to take advantage of. He did not like crowds. Too big of a target, too little room to maneuver.

Alaster gracefully accepted a drink from one of the waiters, but he did not drink from it. He did not like alcohol. He did not like how it made him feel, how it dulled him. However, he wished to keep up appearances.

He did not want to be seen as someone there on duty, but instead as someone there to relax and enjoy the party. Luckily, he was only standing there, listening to the gentle music, for a few minutes before a servant walked up to him.

“Sir Alaster?”

Alaster looked over at the small woman. Despite being slightly older than him, she was two entire heads shorter than him.

“Yes?” Alaster had to bend slightly at the waist to comfortably look at her.

“My apologizes, but I have been sent to fetch you. Lady Astrid wishes to speak with you.”

Alaster politely nodded, “Of course. Lead the way.”

The small woman began walking to a side door, during which Alaster placed the glass of wine on a table.

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The servant held the door open for him, closing it behind him, before continuing down the hallway. The passage was clearly meant more for servants. It was small, without any furnishings, and only a few Mage Lights. But it was also the shorted route to his destination, because after only a moments, the small woman opened another door, revealing the main hallways once more.

She pointed to a door across from the servant passage, a door with two guards stationed.

“She is in there.” She said shortly.

“Alright, thank you.” But the woman was already gone.

Shrugging to himself, Alaster walked over to the door. The guards merely glanced at him, so he knocked gently on the door.

A moment later, a familiar voice called out from within, “Come in.”

Alaster opened the door and closed it behind him before looking up.

Astrid stood in the middle of the room, in front of a tall mirror, dressed in a beautiful white gown that fit her body from the waist up, but opened up into a flowing tail from the waist down. Intricate designs were sewn into the pure white fabric. The dress left her shoulders and back bare but did so tastefully.

Her long red hair was left down, but was twisted into designs above her ears before combining into a larger design that behind her.

Astrid raised her arms out to her side, “So? What do you think?”

Alaster kept his face passive, “Do you want the truth, or just something nice?”

“The truth.”

Alaster smiled, “You look beautiful.”

Her face beamed with joy and she spun around with a giggle.

Four other women were in the room dressed in matching purple dresses. One of whom was the City Lord’s daughter, Iris. Alaster did not know the other three.

The women stepped forward and began helping Astrid with the final touches of her makeup, but Iris held back, allowing Alaster to stand beside her.

“Hello Iris.”

“Alaster.” She greeted curtly, not even looking at him.

“Oh come on, what have I done to deserve this treatment? You didn’t even come and greet me yesterday.”

“Well since you are never here, you might not know this, but I am in charge of an Elite Order of Soldiers now. I don’t always have time to saw hello to acquaintances.”

“Oh I heard. The Order of the Phoenix. You and your Order recently defeated an entire Tribe of Orcs. By the way, its rude to call me an acquaintance when after you tried to confess to me.” Alaster said with a cheerful smirk.

Iris elbowed him and he mocked injury, “I did not!”

“Oh don’t be so dramatic. It was nice. Besides it doesn’t matter anymore regardless.”

“And why is that?”

“Because a certain young man within your Order seems to have caught your eye.”

Iris finally looked at him as she spun around, “How do you know?” She asked in a harsh whisper.

Alaster answered back in a much calmer whisper, “Because I never ignored Onigas. I made sure to always keep an eye on this place and the people I care about. He seems like a good man. When are you going to introduce us?”

She turned back to Astrid’s preparations with a huff, “Maybe I won’t.”

“Oh come on Iris, you know its going to happen sometime, especially if the two of you go public.”

“Let’s not talk about this. This is Astrid’s day.”

“Agreed.”

They both remained standing there for a few moments as Astrid’s final touches were made. When she was done, one of the bridesmaids walked out of the room and called for a servant to inform the others.

Alaster watched through his Shadows as the word was passed around and the servants began to corral the guests out of the Ballroom and into another similarly sized room with multiple pews, the actual location the wedding would take place.

In a few minutes, they were all seated.

Alaster walked up to Astrid and offered her his arm. With the same bright smile that had not yet left her face, she took it and allowed him to lead her out of the room and down the hallway. Iris and the other Bridesmaids followed behind with small bouquets in their hands.

As they walked down the short hallway, Alaster leaned closer and whispered in Astrid’s ear, “Is now a bad time to mention that I have no idea what I am supposed to do?”

She gave him a strange look before giggling, “All you have to do is walk me down the isle, Arthur will be at the front of the room with the Priest. Once we are at the front of the room, let go, so I can grasp hands with Arthur, and sit down. There is a seat researved for you at the front next to the Siphas family.”

“That’s it?”

“Yep! Well, technically, since you are taking the role of my father, if someone objects to the wedding, it is the duty of Arthur’s groomsmen to ensure that it does not disrupt the wedding, and your job to ensure the disturbance is removed.

That is the technical duty, but that never happens, so don’t worry about it.”

Alaster nodded in understanding, completely ignoring the last sentence she spoke as he summoned two of his Death Knights in the side hallways so Astrid did not see them.

‘John, guard the perimeter. Samantha, sneak into the room and if someone acts like they are about to interrupt, ensure they can not, do so without loss of life or commotion.’

He received their voices of compliance and felt them move to obey.

Two guards in ornate armor stood at the large double doors to the room. As Astrid and Alaster neared, they pulled them open in unison. Gentle music began to play and everyone in the room stood up.

On either side of the isle, long pews were arranged. More guards in ornate carried banners of the Lewale House stood at the end of each pew. Small bouquets had been laid down along the isle at each pew and flower pedals had been thrown down the isle.

At the end of the room, raised a step up from the rest of the room, Arthur stood beside an elderly man in robes wearing a pendant of the Goddess of Love.

With slow calculated steps, Alaster walked Astrid down the isle. Allowing everyone to get a good look at the beautiful woman about to be married.

With each step, Alaster recalled each moment he had spent with Astrid, from saving her from Goblins, to being separated from her by Goblins, to seeing her again battling against wyverns in a hostile army, and finally, as they reached Arthur, to bidding her farewell before he traveled to Galmore.

Alaster handed her off to Arthur and sat down in the empty spot researved for him on the front left pew, right next to Lord Siphas and his wife, who was cradling a softly sleeping Johnathan.

The music came to an end, and the Priest began to speak.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the union between this couple before the eyes of the Gods.”

Alaster felt his heart heat up with pride and emotion with each word.