Dark Moon Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 11. Bloody Wedding II (Patreon)

Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 11. Bloody Wedding II

They turned around, walked out and headed for the royal carriage at the castle yard. As they walked, the maids, servants and guards that lined up along the corridor bowed and didn't raise their heads until Angel and Rose passed them. Unlike yesterday, although Angel and Rose still showed their formal expressions, they didn't hesitate to show their hands that were holding each other, showing their seriousness about this marriage.

After both of them entered the carriage, their carriage moved slowly towards the royal blessing place followed by the elite Euphorion cavalry. The sound of cheers came from the crowd on the sides of the street as their carriage came out of the castle gates. The civilians were so excited about their king's wedding and gathered on the side of the street just to wait for his carriage to pass.
"Long Live the King! Long Live King Angelus!" they shouted. Their hands waved in excitement.

Angel answered them with a slight smile. While Rose answered them by waving her hand.

"Nervous?" Angel's voice made Rose turn her gaze to him and lower her hand.

"You don't?" she asked. Of course, she was nervous, her heart was beating fast either because she married him or because she knew the rebels were waiting for them.

"A bit," he answered in a casual tone. But rather than because of the battle that awaited him, he was nervous because he was going to marry Rose. He had prepared everything thoroughly, so he wasn't too worried about this attack.

Hearing Angel's words, Rose sighed.
"If you're nervous, what about me?" She guessed that Angel was nervous about the battle that awaited them. Moreover, they wore wedding attire, not their usual clothes. Of course, they would have difficulty moving and fighting because of it.

Realizing Rose's misunderstanding, Angel decided to straighten it out.
"It wasn't because of the battle but for the other reason," he said boldly.

Rose was speechless upon his words. She could feel her face starting to turn red from embarrassment. Quickly, she turned her head the other way to cover it.

Angel smiled. His eyes were still glued to her. Her reaction made him want to tease her even more.
"Is it only me?" he said, still in a casual tone.

"No... I'm also nervous." Rose finally let out her voice without daring to look at him.

After those words left her mouth, their carriage slowed down and stopped, indicating that they had arrived at their destination. Everyone had gathered when they got out of their carriage and entered the Luminus City blessing Hall. Just like White Moon Castle's Hall, red decorations also adorned that place.
"The King and Princess Rose have arrived!" announced one of the guards.

The guests got up from their seats, preparing to greet them. Everyone's attention was focused on that royal couple as they walked to the altar at a steady pace. Behind them, Claire and Cley followed them, holding the wedding ring box. As usual, they wore their official uniforms with a flower pinned to their left chest. In front of the altar, a man in his mid 40's with brown hair and a graceful face. He was the blessing minister who was waiting for them. His white holy robe covered his body and a high hat above his head. Besides him, Flare stood and watched the entire room like a hawk. The Euphorion's soldiers also lined up neatly on the sides of the room with their weapons.

As they drew closer to the altar, Rose's heart beat faster and faster in tension, for whatever reason. Her eyes glanced left and right, looking at the guests who were standing beside them with happy smiles, trying to recognize the rebels' faces whoever were there. But she didn't find it. Their faces looked foreign to her.

Noticing Rose's nervousness, Angel tightened his grip, holding her hand dearly, as if to remind her that everything would be fine. Upon his gesture, Rose felt calmer.

Once they arrived in front of the altar, they stood facing each other.
"Calm down. You just need to pay attention to your surroundings," he whispered without taking his eyes off Rose.

The door closed and the guests shifted their gaze forward. The atmosphere in the room turned serene.
"Welcome, family, friends and honourable guests. Today, we are gathered here to unite Angelus Raizel Moonfall and Rose Ambrosia Heart in holy matrimony," the blessing minister started the ceremony.

The blessing minister turned his gaze to Angel.
"Angelus Raizel Moonfall, are you willing to accept Rose-"

Before the blessing minister finished his sentence, an arrow flew toward Rose. Angel noticed it, yet he didn't move from his position.

- Trak!

In one movement, Flare broke the arrow with her chakram. Deftly, she threw her other chakram to the direction where the arrow came from followed by a scream of pain. A second later, a man fell covered in blood from the second-floor inner balcony.

The guests gasped in shock. Their eyes looked around them in confusion. But not with the Euphorion soldiers. They remained still without trying to help Flare or protect the guests. In just a glance, Rose immediately realized something was wrong with them.

An arrogant laugh echoed throughout the room, which was followed by a male voice.
"What a beautiful and magnificent wedding, yet you did not invite me. I am very disappointed in you, Your Majesty." And Rose recognized that voice.

Angel and Rose turned their gaze to the room that was filled with confused-looking guests. A smirk on his lips, although he was in a disadvantageous position.
"Do you think you can mess up my wedding that easily----- Duke Bartlet?" said Angel.

Duke Bartlet came out of his hiding place, behind a pillar near the entrance. His hiding location was near the Euphorion soldiers yet they didn't move from their positions. Even though Duke Bartlet had shown himself, they didn't attack him either.
"Ah... You caught me, my king," replied Duke Bartlet with a casual tone. A confident smirk on his lips.
"Or... I was the one who caught you." As his hand pulled out his sword, the Euphorion soldiers also took out their weapons. But instead of aiming it at Duke Bartlet, they pointed it at the guests and Angel, indicating that Duke Bartlet had replaced all of the Euphorion soldiers in the room with his troops.

The blessing minister's legs trembled in fear and he looked panicked. While Rose gritted her teeth in anger. Who would have thought that the rebels weren't hiding among the guests as expected but disguised as Euphorion's soldiers themselves? Strangely Angel, Flare and even Claire and Cley still looked calm.

"You know I was touched by your wedding decorations today," said Duke Bartlet in an arrogant tone. He walked leisurely towards the altar.
"Unfortunately, your wedding attire doesn't match the decoration. So I'll help you to recolour it in the same red---" He stopped in the middle of the room.
"---with your own blood." He raised his two fingers and the archers hiding on the second floor aimed their bows at Angel and the others.

"Your confidence is really something, Duke Bartlet," said Angel calmly.
"But, do you think it will be that simple?"

After those words left his mouth, screams came from the second-floor balcony as his Black Devil soldiers slew the archers one by one. At the same time, the guests in the room took off their outer dresses and suits, revealing the elite Euphorion uniforms with armbands on their arms. Their weapons were in their hands.

An evil smirk appeared on Angel's face as his eyes looked at Duke Bartlet's panicked face after he realized he was the one who had fallen into Angel's trap.
"What makes you think rats can beat cats, Duke Bartlet?" said Angel again.