Ancient Empire Calendar Year 1815
A month had passed. The people of Kislathor were preparing for a new wedding; there was both joy and fear.
Those who believed the last attack was because of Ricardo feared the possibility of another attack, while others believed this wedding would not be like the previous one.
Ricardo had finished the final preparations. Just as he was about to leave the room, the door knocked.
"Dynasty Heir, may I enter?"
It was Marilin.
"Enter."
The guards opened the doors. Marilin entered and glanced at the servants.
"May we speak alone?"
Ricardo nodded and gave an order to the servants.
"Step outside."
The servants bowed to Ricardo and left the room.
Instead of her usual cheerful and romantic demeanor, Marilin was confused and full of thoughts.
"Ricardo, are you truly the reincarnation of our ancestor, the Last Ancient Emperor, Harloumen?"
Ricardo was silent for a while, then adopted a serious attitude.
"Yes, I am VIII Harloumen, the ancestor of all who descend from the Kisalavein line."
Marilin began to laugh tearfully.
"Haha, seriously? The man I chased for years, the one I fell in love with, is actually the reincarnation of my ancestor."
Marilin stepped back.
"With your permission, Dynasty Heir."
Before Ricardo could speak, Marilin left the room. Neither of them expected this moment to be a separation that would last for years.
An hour later
The people of Kislathor,still traumatized by recent events, had gathered to witness their Heir's second wedding.
Among them,there was fear of the possibility of another attack.
In the last attack, 200,000 humans and 500,000 spirits had been killed.
When Ricardo and Xiao Meiran stepped out of the vehicle, half the people forced fake smiles and cheered for the bride and groom, even if it was strained.
When the young couple stood before Orsman, the same rituals repeated: prayers and vows were read.
"Then, as the 65th Lord of the Kislavein Dynasty, I declare you husband and wife."
Nothing had happened. The spirits had not attacked again. After sweating buckets of cold sweat, the people finally relaxed.
The crowd applauded enthusiastically and congratulated the young couple.
After the wedding, Ricardo and his wife, Xiao Meiran, entered their room.
Xiao Meiran had been frowning throughout the wedding.
This pessimistic mood had started with her father being killed in war, continued with the suicides of her siblings, and after the death of her last surviving brother, Junric, in battle, she had become a girl who cared about nothing—always depressed, soulless, and emotionless.
Even when she learned she would be married to Ricardo, she showed no reaction.
Faced with Meiran's lack of expression, Ricardo didn't know what to do.
Meiran was waiting for Ricardo to make a move; although she didn't show it, she was excited as it was her first time.
"Are you ready, Meiran?" Ricardo said in a soft voice.
Meiran slowly raised her head.
"Y...yes."
Ricardo noticed Meiran's excitement at that moment.
"It would be good to proceed without scaring her."
Ricardo took everything slowly. He caressed Meiran's cheeks and hair, gently brought his lips close to hers, and left a soft kiss.
For the first time in years, a light came into Meiran's eyes. The stirrings inside her and the soft feeling on her lips had intoxicated her.
Just as Meiran was about to wrap her arms around Ricardo's neck, she pulled back.
"What am I doing? The son of the murderer of my father and siblings is right in front of me. I should kill him. No, I can't kill him. I don't have the strength. On the other hand, if I kill him, my father's line ends. I will take my revenge on him through the child I bear him," she thought.
Ricardo felt a great hatred and a desire to kill from Meiran.
"You're right, Meiran. You have every right to hate me to death. I will never force you to love me or to carry my child, Meiran."
Meiran laughed angrily.
"Are you joking? My entire family died because of you."
Ricardo took a step back, giving Meiran space to relax.
"Your father started the war, Meiran. You can't deny that. We gave you and your siblings extremely luxurious rooms and treated you well. But they chose to become depressed and commit suicide. Look, Meiran, I don't want you to love me or treat me well. Let's just respect each other. I will never, ever harm you."
Meiran adopted a mocking expression.
"Seriously? Whatever. Damn it."
Meiran grabbed Ricardo by the shoulders, kissed his lips, pushed him onto the bed, and sat on top of him.
"I don't care anymore. I'm your wife, and that fact won't change. Let's do it."
They spent an emotionless, feelingless, and pleasureless night. The next day, they woke up with a strange mix of emotions.
"It wasn't bad. Are we going to do this every night?"
Ricardo got out of bed.
"Yes, but if you want, I won't touch you."
Meiran laughed.
"What happened? Did the 'be nice' act stick?"
Ricardo spoke in an emotionless voice, facing away.
"Think what you want. I hope one day, even if we don't forget the past, we can respect each other and get along well."
Meiran took it as a joke and didn't care about its seriousness.
Ricardo bathed, dressed, and left the room.
He entered Orsman's study.
"Ricardo, sit. I have a task for you."
Ricardo sat in the chair.
"What is it, Dynasty Lord?"
"You have sisters who are still unmarried. Choose husbands for them. I'm tired of dealing with these matters. It will also be good experience for you; the days will come when you will have to choose husbands for your own daughters."
Ricardo thought for a short while.
"May I recommend my friends?"
Orsman didn't mind.
"Alright, which ones?"
"Jack, Jacob, Jonas, and Osiris."
Orsman remembered a name.
"What happened to Heinrich? Why didn't you mention him? Wasn't he your closest male friend after Marco?"
Ricardo answered.
"Heinrich is engaged to Luna. They will marry soon, Dynasty Lord."
Orsman was surprised. Luna had been selected for Ricardo by the Genetic Scientists.
Noticing his father's surprise, Ricardo answered before he could ask.
"After the news of my curse spread, Luna's father, Lucius Eduvali, engaged her to Heinrich. I heard that Heinrich's father, Adolf, and Lucius were childhood friends. In short, he used my curse as an opportunity to become relatives with his friend."
Orsman chose to remain silent.
"Alright then, tell the Genetic Scientists about the groom candidates you've chosen. Let them decide if the marriages are suitable."
Ricardo stood up, bowed his head to his father, and left the room.
"Alright then, I'll go give the good news to our friends... or should I say, my future brothers-in-law? Puhahaha."