352 Don’t judge a book by its cover

Iris nervously looked at Vincent and waited for the ceremony to begin.

The music stopped. The priest looked at Iris, and his frown worsened.

However, Teresa paid extra for Lupa, Iris, and Sakura’s marriage and the marriage documents. It took some time and monetary gifts for a bishop to accept their marriage legally with certain conditions. Non-humans can’t hold positions of power. Thus, the three of them can never be the head wife of the family, and their offspring can not be nobles.

The priest sighed as he had no choice. He proceeded with the marriage, and they soon reached the final phase.

Vincent raised Iris’s thin veil. She looked nervously at him with a pair of blushed cheeks. Her eyes blinked frequently, and she averted her gaze.

[Remember to announce the promise. Iris and Sakura have no marriage promise.] Kazumi reminded him.

Vincent leaned forward and whispered. “I promise to marry you, Iris. I promise to love and treat you well.”

The Promised Quest window appeared, and it was similar to Lupa’s marriage quest. No special rewards and no special conditions.

Iris became more nervous. She raised her hand and fiddled with her hair nervously. Iris stopped when the priest cleared his throat to continue with their vows.

.....

Soon, Vincent and Iris said their vows, exchanged the rings, and later kissed, marking the completion of the fourth wedding.

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[Promised Quest: Marry Iris Completed]

[Rewards]

*Wife Iris Surname Change gained

*Wife Iris Lionheart gained

*Soul Synch potential unlocked

*x1 Title: Husband gained (Total 4)

*Reputation – Iris Lionheart +200 (Total max reached)

*Reputation – Goblin Race +40 (Total 50 rep)

.

Iris looked passionately at Vincent. She smiled happily, and her dimples appeared. Her nervousness was converted into happiness, it seemed.

Iris went to sit beside Lupa while Teresa and Leonis left once again while Vincent remained on the podium as if he was waiting for another bride.

“It can’t be right?”

“Are there more brides?”

historical

“I want to ask, but I feel I might interrupt what is happening.”

The guests who didn’t know about Sakura conversed and questioned each other. On the other hand, those who live in the same mansion as Sakura knew while Ben, his wife, Byron, Vopor, and Biro had an idea.

The wedding song started for the fifth time. The flower girl Leah appeared, and she threw an assortment of different shades of purple flowers on the floor.

Leah looked cheerful, and her excitement was infectious. Everyone smiled as they looked at her.

On the other hand, Nick was sad to see such a young child as a slave, yet she was so happy to throw flowers that he understood it was her genuine feelings.

Nick knew that the slave curse wasn’t the same as mind control. Certain emotions can’t be ordered to express such happiness, for example.

The ring bearer Lian followed Leah and kept a watchful eye not to let her fall. Soon, both reached Vincent and went to sit. The floor now had five different kinds of flower colors. White, yellow, green, red, and now purple.

Vincent looked at the guests and notified, “My next and final wife will walk the aisle soon. She is a good woman. Please do not be alarmed.”

[Say something sweet to lessen their shock. Say something from experience. I believe in you.]

An idea flashed in his mind. “My good guests. The fifth bride is like a book. A sweet story where the main protagonist is kind, caring, and gentle. However, the book is protected by a very thick cover. So I ask not to judge a book by its cover as the story inside is what matters in the end.” Vincent said. He hoped these words would persuade someone from making a rash decision.

Many started to guess the last bride might be ugly or deformities that would cause frowns instead of smiles.

On the other side, Sakura nervously waited to make her appearance behind the curtain. Teresa and Leonis stood beside her, ready to walk her.

Teresa wasn’t too comfortable about her daughter marrying a man with multiple women and marrying on the same day as well.

However, as the wedding progressed, as she led each bride to become a wife, as she was told a heartfelt thank you for acting as their dead mother’s representation, the more Teresa started to let go of her irritation towards the four other women to marry the same man.

Teresa looked at Sakura, and she saw her more anxious than her daughter, and the three other brides were from the side. “It is as I was told. You look tough on the outside, but you as just as nervous as the others. Want me to tell you a secret?” Teresa asked.

Sakura nervously nodded.

“My little angel sent me a letter where she described each of you girls.” Teresa looked at Sakura, raised her hands up high, and lifted her veil. “Sakura is like me. She is misunderstood like me. People think I eat food for three people every day, while people think Sakura is a dangerous woman. But I got to know her well, and I like her company. PS. If mother acts as the representative of her mother, please treat Sakura as if mother treats me. PS. I bet father will remain angry. I chose a man with many women. But I am happy to be surrounded by people, by a family who treats each other well. My day is never dull. Much love Lilith.”

Leonis averted his gaze. He appeared to be a bit embarrassed his daughter knew his reactions and emotions a couple of days before the wedding.

Teresa smiled warmly at Sakura. She raised a handkerchief and wiped the tears welling in Sakura’s eyes. “Please don’t cry. This is a happy and memorable day for you.” She warmly said.

Shortly, Teresa overheard Vincent mention the book reference and continued, “Did you hear Vincent? Your man is setting the stage. Be happy and let everyone see who you really are.”

Sakura took the handkerchief and wiped her tears. “I never had a mother... my birthday is the same day I visit my mother’s grave... but now I feel happy.” Sakura smiled, gently hugged Teresa, and boldly asked. “Can you become my stepmother?”

Both Teresa and Leonis were surprised. A woman of the demon race asked a human to become her stepmother. Such thoughts never crossed their minds.

Being asked to be the stepmother of a woman who never had a mother figure in her life made Teresa stop feeling irritated. Furthermore, time was ticking, and they needed to go out soon.

Her daughter’s fate was already bound with Sakura. Furthermore, Teresa heard how her daughter might have gotten hurt or worse from the four men that infiltrated their home if not for Sakura. Teresa was grateful.

“I can’t offer much since you are a grown woman, but I am fine with being your stepmother and helping with basic things.” Teresa hugged Sakura and rubbed her back. “I will visit some times if Vincent and my little angel go to the academy and leave you behind.”

“Thank you, stepmother Teresa.” Sakura smiled and was about to tear up again.

“I want to act like a petite girl because I only learned how to act roughly like a man. ” She then requested.

Sakura stopped hugging Teresa, wiped her joyous emotional tears, and lowered the veil to cover her face. The time was ticking, and the people started to question if something had happened.

Leonis didn’t know what else to say other than, “Honey...”

“That’s a deal.” Teresa smiled. She appeared to have accepted Sakura instead of hating her for being another competitor to her daughter’s man.

Teresa accepted that she couldn’t change her daughter’s mind after a week passed. All she could do was trust in her daughter’s happiness.

A tall woman soon appeared from behind the curtains wearing a beautiful wedding dress with thin translucent sleeves, a flower crown on her head, and a veil covering her face. Furthermore, her tail was inside her dress.

To her sides stood Teresa and Leonis. Teresa smiled at everyone while Leonis remained with an expressionless face. However, when he saw his daughter frown at him, he decided to smile a bit.

“She is tall, but her horns and skin... is she a demon?”

“A-a demon? S-she doesn’t have the slave curse on her...”

“Maybe she is a half-giant with a horn accessory.”

“A demon’s skin tone is between red and blue. Her hands are lavender-colored, and her horn is different than the accessory horn the hobgoblins wore. She is definitely a demon.”

“I am scared. Are we in danger?”

The guests started to wonder if they were safe. Who would marry a demon and make her a lesser noble? Many from the noble side started to wonder.

“Impossible! Is this a wedding or an army?...” Darwin shouted in surprise once again. *Cough, cough* However, Darwin had to respect Vincent’s wishes, so he sat down.

Darwin stared at Sakura instead of looking at the floor, but he still didn’t respond to his wife and daughter’s questions about his actions. Both the wife and daughter were surprised as Darwin never acted this way.

“Ahem.” Biro cleared his throat and stood up. He nodded at Teresa and Leonis to keep walking Sakura down the aisle. “The bride is a demon the groom saved from the now-deceased Viscount Demel Blackheart.”

“Congratulations in advance. A real man takes responsibility for his actions. I, Duke Biro Hawkins, praise your commitment.” Biro tried to clear the frowns out of many people’s faces. “So, don’t judge a book by its cover.” He reminded before sitting down.

“So, are we in danger?” A few people asked.