Married into the enemy family - chapter 7

‘…No. I can’t reveal my emotions here.’

Callion barely suppressed his anger.
Was it because the full moon was not far off? It was difficult to control his emotions.
Having barely managed to rein in his feelings, Callion took wide strides toward Ronin Alistair, who was standing in the middle of the virgin road.
Callion grabbed the arm of Ronin, who was standing blankly. Perhaps because he couldn’t see, Alistair flinched and trembled.
Without offering any explanation, Callion guided Ronin’s arm. The fingers resting on his forearm were incredibly small and were trembling slightly.
However, Callion’s heart was not moved. There was no sympathy, no pity.
The only emotions he could harbor toward an Alistair were anger and disgust; any other emotion was a luxury.
Callion moved silently. Ronin tactfully moved along with him. The sight of the two walking with unmatched strides almost looked comical, but fortunately, the remaining distance was not long.
Soon, the two stood before a stone altar. Atop the altar, golden candles glowed to celebrate their union. Their light cast sacred patterns onto the floor through the stained glass.
Callion watched the scene without inspiration, while Ronin couldn’t even see it. The Archbishop, who had personally come forward to officiate, gazed at the two of them intently.

‘Two wounded souls are being joined.’

But this, too, must be the will of the gods. Shaking off his personal feelings, the Archbishop spoke solemnly.

“Beloved brothers and sisters, we are gathered in this sacred place to bless the union of Callion Leofric and Ronin Alistair. Marriage is a holy union arranged by the gods, and in accordance with their will, it shall bind their lives as one through vows of love and devotion.”

At those words, the two stood facing each other. Pitifully, Ronin’s body was still trembling slightly.
With a cold gaze, Callion watched a priest take his place behind Ronin. He could feel another priest standing behind himself as well.
Callion was more accustomed to the battlefield than the capital. The sensation of exposing his back to strangers was deeply unpleasant.

‘I might have been fine with it normally, but today it is especially hard to endure.’

If so, he had no choice but to wrap up the ceremony quickly.
With somewhat hasty hands, Callion lifted the veil Ronin was wearing. The face hidden beneath it was revealed.
The moment he confirmed the face beneath the veil, Callion thought,

‘Certainly… he is excessively beautiful.’

Only then could he understand the rumors.
Ronin was wearing a lace blindfold. His face was so small that the blindfold covered more than half of it.
Though so much was concealed, Ronin’s beauty did not wane in the slightest.
Silver hair sparkling under the candlelight. Clear skin without a single blemish. His red lips, contrasting with the white blindfold, looked like a ripe, succulent fruit.
However, remaining unshaken, Callion removed Ronin’s blindfold. His eyes, unable to adjust to the sudden brightness, reddened.

‘…And he still isn’t an Omega despite this?’

Callion couldn’t help but doubt the Temple’s words once again. And understandably so, because Ronin’s face was excessively, truly excessively beautiful.
Every time his long, lush silver eyelashes fluttered, his bright, sky-blue eyes appeared and disappeared.
Callion wasn’t the only one surprised by Ronin’s appearance. Unlike him, who harbored slight shock and suspicion, the nobles and royalty harbored different thoughts.

‘Beautiful! So beautiful! How much more beautiful would he be if tears were to fall from those reddened eyes!’
‘They said he was a Beta? I truly can’t believe it! To think there would be such a windfall! Isn’t he perfect for a plaything!’

These were highly inappropriate thoughts to harbor toward someone having their wedding today. Yet, keeping a pet Beta had recently become the trend in noble society.
Alphas and Omegas were sacred mates decreed by the heavens and guaranteed by the Temple. As proof, Omegas could conceive regardless of their gender.
On the other hand, Betas could only conceive if their biological sex was female. And even then, they could not become pregnant with an Alpha’s seed.
That meant a Beta would never get pregnant, no matter how much they were ravished.
Flowers without scent. That was what those who favored pet Betas called them. They enjoyed the comfort that only a Beta could provide.

‘To be able to enjoy pleasure without causing trouble by producing useless illegitimate children. How convenient!’

This trend in the capital was spreading like wildfire.
The Archbishop noticed the shift in the hall’s atmosphere. Being an Alpha himself, he could vividly feel the pheromones reaching out toward Ronin. Even if the person involved was oblivious to it.

‘Gods above…’

Perhaps it was better to call it a blessing that Ronin couldn’t sense the blatant, vulgar pheromones.
The Archbishop knew he had to finish the ceremony quickly, if only for the sake of the young lamb. It was a moment when the intentions of Callion, Ronin, and the Archbishop all aligned.

“May these two souls become one through this holy marriage. May the blessing of the gods be with them eternally in their lives.”

The Archbishop’s voice echoed along the high ceiling of the Temple. Soon after, the priests who had been standing behind the two approached. On the white cushions they held, a ring was placed on each.
Callion picked up the ring with cool fingertips. Then, slipping it onto Ronin’s slender finger, he whispered lowly.

“Through this ring, you and I shall become one forever.”

Ronin also placed a ring on Callion’s hand. Fortunately, the trembling had stopped.

“Through this ring, you and I shall become one forever.”

Now, only one thing remained. Callion bowed his waist.

Smooch—

Callion’s lips descended upon Ronin’s lips in front of everyone watching. At the unexpectedly soft and supple sensation, Callion closed his eyes without realizing it. Though Ronin did not.

“Pardon? No, that’s not it, but… Still, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime wedding. Aren’t you excited?”

There was still no excitement. It was just hard to believe that the face of the husband he had awaited for so long did not belong to the Emperor.
Ronin’s sky-blue gaze moved from Callion, to the surrounding nobles and royalty, and then to the one seated in the highest seat of honor.
The Empress, seated in the place of honor, was also watching Ronin, and their eyes met.
The same Alistair, but of different secondary sexes. Yet, the two were in similar situations.

‘The Empress, who cannot give birth to a proper child despite being an Omega, and me, a Beta who cannot bear a child at all. …It feels like proof that this wedding is unblessed.’