The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 556: When your husband wants to make a movie, you just clap in the back and wait for its release

Chapter 556: When your husband wants to make a movie, you just clap in the back and wait for its release

As always, the night ended early before the New Year. The lights were snuffed after the Temple rang a bell from the top of the hill, and we snuggly slipped beneath the blanket with only a dim light from the barely flaming hearth.

I was excited. I was so excited I could barely fall asleep.

Natha chuckled at my stiff body lying on the bed, eyes shut tight in the hope I would quickly fall asleep and wake up fresh in the morning. But of course, it didn’t work that way.

"You’re so excited," Natha placed his palm on top of my chest--certainly, my heart was beating loudly there.

I turned to face him and pursed my lips. "It’s whatever for you since you’ve been doing this every year, but this will be my first!"

"Alright, alright," he chuckled, making peace to me with a soft kiss. That was the only thing we could do, though--nothing more. We could not ’defile’ the sheet during Sacred Night.

As I had said, this would be my first worship ceremony, as I could only observe from afar last time. But this time, I had the right to attend the ceremony itself. Not because I became Natha’s spouse, but because I had gone through Lord An’Hyang’s trial and thus being ’acknowledged’ by the demons.

Eh--I guessed that trial did have its use.

With my fickle condition, however, I was so afraid something would happen on D-day that would prevent me from attending the ceremony. And so, I was busy ensuring I would wake up as healthy as possible. I ate the mana-filled dinner, drank the herbal drink, and even snacked on the mana stones--which I hadn’t done for the past few days--to ensure my mana core was above ninety percent.

It would go down in the morning because Shwa never stopped eating, so in order for my core to stay above fifty percent, I had to stuff myself. We also prepared two containers of mana in case of emergency, and only after listening to Natha listing those things while patting me gently did I finally fall asleep.

And oh, what a nice sleep it was. I met Shwa--the cocoon--again, but this time we didn’t talk. I just crouched leaning against the cocoon and we spent time just enjoying each other’s presence.

I woke up feeling so refreshed in the morning, and woke Natha up with a shower of kisses all over his face. I was more chipper than even Jade as we prepared for the worship, giggling to myself as Panne helped me wearing the robe with the same embroidery as Natha.

It had been a while since I dressed up for anything. The last time was for our wedding banquet, if I recall correctly. And it made me excited to match with Natha.

I mean...I knew I also wore one last year, but I couldn’t really show it off during the worship, could I?

Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be able to stay together with him for the first half of the ceremony. Well, understandable, since he had his role as the Lord. But I would be there with the vassals and D’Ara--Aunt Nezja was in the Realm of Lust for Zia’s succession--so that wouldn’t be a problem.

He left first with Caba and Haikal to check on the venue with the priests while I was having a small breakfast to sustain myself before the communal feast after the worship. Together with Arta, I dressed my little bird in a black cape to match with the rest of us. It was adorable how the rainbow tails stuck out and swayed at the edge of the cape.

[Papa, Jade don’t think black is color for Jade] the little bird shook its green head. [And Papa is prettier in white]

Pfft--what with this bird suddenly becoming aware of fashion?

"What about me, Jade?" D’Ara asked.

[Teacher always wears black anyway...]

She laughed and patted the distressed green head. Was this a sign of Jade growing up? This kid even worried about fashion and talking back to D’Ara. How adorable--worrying, but...adorable.

"Remember, you have to keep quiet, okay?" I reminded Jade while we were on our way. Arta was still putting snow flowers on my braided hair, more concerned about my appearance than the worship.

[Jade know! Jade is not a baby!] the little bird huffed and perched quietly on my shoulder as if to prove its maturity.

Oh, how I missed this kid. I wished the training could be finished soon because I was getting more lonely each day. It didn’t matter even if the other vassals were there to accompany me from time to time, Jade was my first child; my first companion.

But, well, that was also why I had to support Jade fully, even if that meant Jade would grow up and lose this cuteness. I guessed...that was just something all parents had to endure at one point.

Lesta hurried us, and we hastened our pace so we could arrive right before Natha climbed to the dome roof and lit up the First Beacon. The Temple and the hill had been filled with black robes when we arrived, but the crowd parted easily before anyone could say anything.

Naturally, since the Progenitor was there.

The citizens watched with widened eyes and parted lips as we walked past the masses to the front of the Temple. I had gotten used to demons getting stunned at the sight and presence of D’Ara in the Castle so, it just felt like the usual.

If there was something, though...

It shifted the mood of the crowd.

It was something I had observed on our way; the palpable tension among the citizens. Of course, there was no need to guess why, because the cause was up there getting ready to light the beacon. With the evening post and community gossip, the whole realm had found out about the morning display of brutal execution at this point.

Be it the socialite madams too delicate for savagery, or the reclusive magicians in the tower, they had found out that some exiled criminals had tried to infiltrate the Castle to harm the Lord and his consort, possibly to sow chaos in the realm.

At least, that was what the evening posts--guided by Lesta--wrote. They especially tried to make it seem like we were mistaken about the real objective, and the ’sow chaos’ thing seemed plausible after divulging those exiles’ previous crimes.

Why, you ask?

Naturally, it was to make the ones behind the attack thought they were out of suspicion. Remember; we still had a party to be held later on. We wanted to establish that ’oh, we have gotten rid of the enemies, so it’s a good time to celebrate!’--hence the reason for the party.

On the other hand, Natha wanted those demons to get scared enough about being found out and facing execution on their own that they would act stupid. They would either come to the party feeling all tense and suspicious--which would amplify their thought and make it easier for Natha to sense them--or get too scared to come, which was an admission of guilt.

Eh--either way, Natha just wanted to make a show.

The exiles’ execution? It was just a teaser for the whole ass movie he was trying to shoot.

Hmm...just to be safe, I would still pray for the success of this.

We reached the front of the Temple while I was pondering about this matter, and the beacon had been lit by that time. Damn it--I missed it!

Fortunately, I did not miss the scenery of Natha climbing down the stairs in his glorious black robe. He looked cold, but also dignified as he addressed the mass.

"I shall pray for the safety of the Realm," he said solemnly, like a real prayer instead of a declaration.

Those words, said after the execution, had such a profound meaning that the tense atmosphere shifted completely. The crowd, clasping their hands solemnly, chanted together.

"I shall pray for the safety of the Realm."

I didn’t remember this part existed last year, but I felt the goosebumps nonetheless. Natha smiled and offered his hand to me, which I took to follow the guide Arta gave me earlier. The good bird Jade jumped off to Lesta’s hand and waved at me as I walked to the altar for the first bow.

And in place of the Head Cleric, we had D’Ara.

Of course; who had the highest position in this ceremony aside from the Sacred Guardian--the demigod herself?

I liked this though, because I got less nervous when I stepped into the altar. She smiled and winked at me, which almost made me burst out laughing--thankfully, I got a hold of myself quickly.

Swallowing my laughter and holding my husband’s hand tightly, I stopped in front of the altar. It looked almost identical to the one below, in the middle of the lake where I had my trial. There was a single torch in this altar, positioned at the center, but unlit. Natha told me it was only ever lit up if there was a prophecy or a communication from the Demon King’s Sanctuary.

Geez--could you at least light it up during your subjects’ worship, dear Demon Lord?

I thought so as I followed Natha to bow, offering the first worship before we were blessed by D’Ara--and then the torch was actually lit.

Huh...

I heard gasps as I finished my bow and was greeted by the view of the eternal flame.

Before I blacked out. Again.

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