Chapter 9: Bryana’s Fantasy
Even though they were walking hand in hand, both seemed to be deliberately creating distance between them, as if there was a glass wall between them.
It is understandable since they just met less than an hour ago. This is normal for this kind of political marriage.
The groom and the bride appeared perfect together when they were walking side by side. Although the bride's face was covered with a long veil, the guests could see her beauty through the transparent fabric.
The bride's long black hair was styled half-up-half-down-double-braid, making her back look sexy but also graceful. The simple average dress appeared gorgeous on Ayana's body since it was able to accentuate the important part of her body but was not too revealing. No one can guess that this wedding dress was bought hurriedly just two days before the wedding.
The reason why the dress was brought in a hurry was the mistake of the people who organized the wedding. The tailor assistant who should be responsible for the dress put the wrong note, which consisted of the old's bride body measurement. In the end, the tailor-made the wedding gown based on the wrong measurement which did not fit Ayana at all.
That was the excuse the people said for the Luxon family. Haruka nodded her head, showing her understanding. But Ayana could see it from her mother's eyes that the woman thought the same thing as her.
Ayana did not see this as a mistake since she could see some hidden emotion in the tailor's eyes when the woman saw her. The best tailor in District 4 is one of the Everheart's relative. She must be doing this intentionally as a protest of this marriage.
In the end, Ayana persuaded Haruka to buy the wedding dress since making a new one just in two days would cost a lot. Luckily, they could find a wedding dress that fit Ayana perfectly in the first shop they visited. Haruka suggested that they needed to visit more shops so she could have some choice, but Ayana refused. Ayana had a feeling that what her mother said about more shops was all the shops that have some wedding dresses in the entire district.
Ayana glanced at the man beside her with envy, It's so much easier to become a man. They only need to choose a black suit that could be worn on any occasion.
Ayana froze for a second the moment her eyes caught her soon-to-be-husband. What a beauty! Ayana thought unconsciously.
The groom looks dashing beside the stunning bride. He was tall and the black suit he wore only added to the perfection of his body. His confidence as he walked made him look even more attractive. He has the most captivating face, like God really put all the effort into sculpting the man's beautiful face.
All the people were stunned when they saw the visual of the groom and the bride.
Bryana was also one of the women who were bewitched by the groom's visual. Her eyes were glued to the man since the man walked inside the room.
Bryana only awakens from her dazed state after Roxane nudges her and whispers in her ear with a proud expression, "Ayana is beautiful in that white dress, right? I was the one who chose the dress for her."
Bryana only realized that she was gawking at the man and she felt all the blood rushes to her face after hearing Roxane's voice.
She was grateful that Roxanne didn't notice anything strange, or else she would be so embarrassed. Although after her embarrassment was gone, Bryana looked at her stepsister with a disbelieving expression. Did Roxane think that she was staring at Ayana's beautiful dress? Is she blind that she cannot see the handsome groom beside Ayana? But after remembering her stepsister's bizarre attitude, she can only shake her head.
"They seem awkward," Someone from district 2 commented with an amused laugh.
"I just hope that Luca brat can restrain himself and not break this agreement as he pleases." The man beside the person responded.
"You were right. The bride's family, the Luxon, is far more powerful than the Everheart family. It would create a bigger problem if something happen to the bride."
The wedding ceremony, which should be a happy occasion, seems to proceed in a slightly tense and awkward atmosphere. The tension reaches its peak when the bride and groom begin to exchange the ring and declare their wedding vows.
Ayana places her small delicate hand in Luca's stretched hand. Her white and pale skin makes her hand look fragile on Luca's strong arm.
Several people in the front row were amazed when they realized that Ayana's hand is even more white than her soon-to-be husband's. The people there will even believe her if she tells them that she is also a vampire.
"I, Luca Winter, take you, Ayana Luxon, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you, in the good times and the bad, in sickness and health. I will love you and honor you all day of my life." Luca's deep attractive voice sounded, making the woman in the hall hold their breath in anticipation. After that, he took the ring from the ring boy and put it on Ayana's ring finger.
Bryana felt her cheek heated when she heard Luca's voice. Initially, she decided to come to the wedding to let go of everything. She wanted to forget her hatred since Ayana would move to district 2 after this, but when she landed her eyes on the groom, she couldn't break off the strong pull she felt toward him.
That groom was perfect. Bryana had dreamt of getting married to this kind of man. She never thought that this kind of man would be the groom of this political marriage. She had always imagined that the person in this kind of marriage was usually old or ugly or seemed very rude, but the man in front of her did not show any of those traits. He was just flawlessly beautiful that she could not take her eyes off him.
The man's name also rings a bell in Bryana's head. Her eyes widened when the recollection of the man filled her brain.
Luca Winter is the general of the best army in the entire Atlan. He is also the one to hold the highest order in the military. The man was the son of the last pureblood vampire in Atlan.
When visiting District 2 for work, Bryana always remembered that some people praised this man for his ability in developing District 2 military power. The man was like the ace in District 2. She even heard rumors that said that even the elders from District 2 were afraid of him.
I heard that Luca Winter has a fiancé. Did I remember the wrong person? Bryana frowned in confusion as she thought inwardly.
Bryana bit her lips in annoyance. If she knew she would marry such a man, she would never reject the marriage offer that her mother offered her.
Bryana looked at Luca with longing in her eyes. If only she knew that she would marry this amazing person in advance, she wouldn't back off. She would even fight with Ayana for the position as a bride.
Bryana imagined the advantage of having this kind of man as a husband. If she really married the man, their perfect appearance would attract more jobs, and she would get an easy promotion since the man is also well known in Atlan. The man's flawless figure can also make her stand out from the crowd if they attend an event. All her friend would envy her for having such a beautiful man by her side.
Suddenly, a crazy thought flashed in her mind. This marriage contract should have an expiration date. If she could take advantage of her relationship with Ayana to approach the man, there was a high chance that the man might be attracted to her and choose to be with her after the contract finally ends.
Bryana lowered her head as a smile appeared on her lips. She was confident that the man would be enchanted by her charm since she was more clever and beautiful than the plain Ayana.
Luca also seemed clever and wouldn't hurt her like another brainless vampire. Bryana smiled as she looked at the couple in front of her, imagining that she was the bride.
"I, Ayana Luxon, take Luca Winter as my husband. I promise to be true to you, in the good times and the bad, in sickness and health. I will love you and honor you all day of my life," Ayana declared the wedding oath in a calm and soothing voice as she put the ring on Luca's finger.
"With this, I will announce that Luca Winter and Ayana Luxon as husband and wife. The groom can give the bride a kiss," said the priest who presided over the wedding.
Luca appeared to pause for a few seconds and did not appear to initiate the kiss. He was still holding Ayana's hands with an expressionless face. His eyes then stared at the priest for some time, making the poor priest lower his head after flinching.
The atmosphere in that place became a little tense now that people assume Luca's rejection to kiss the bride as a confrontation with the marriage.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone