Today, the Walt family witnessed a grand celebration in their midst. It was a rare and special event—a massive feast held to mark the marriage of the eldest son, Sam.
Exactly one week prior, the family had welcomed Sam's new bride, the daughter of Lord Ayato, who arrived alongside the first shipment of goods and resources Dan had demanded during their last meeting. Dan was quite impressed by Ayato's clear diligence in executing his orders with precision and without delay. He had provided everything requested—clothing, rice, wheat, paper, and metal tools—all of good quality and in sufficient quantities. Furthermore, he had sent his eldest daughter, Hinamori, with visible pleasure and enthusiasm; he hadn't hesitated for a moment, appearing honored by the opportunity.
In the family's great main hall, which was decorated simply but festively with wild flowers, colored fabrics, and numerous lamps, Hinamori gazed at the assembled family before her. She wore a slight smile, feeling relatively at ease.
When her father first told her she was finally to be married, she hadn't liked the idea much at first—a natural feeling for any girl told of an arranged marriage. However, she never dared to object out loud or refuse the matter directly. In truth, such was the nature of this ancient era; daughters did not choose their husbands, families decided, and obedience was expected. Moreover, her father, Ayato, had cared for her well throughout her life, providing everything she asked for and never treating her with cruelty. He had even agreed to her requests many times over the past years to reject various marriage proposals from other warlords.
But she understood realistically that it could not be escaped forever, nor could it be delayed any longer. At nineteen, she had passed the usual marriageable age by several years. Also, from what she understood of her father's vague words—given without much detail—she was to marry into a powerful and hidden family that carried great secrets. Thus, she finally agreed reluctantly, accepting her fate.
However, when she was sent from the palace in a closed carriage accompanied by several guards, and especially when she saw that the journey was heading directly toward the Forbidden Sacred Dragon Forest... she became a little afraid. Her heart raced. She was internally troubled. The Dragon Forest? The Forbidden Land? What is happening? Yet, she maintained her external calm with difficulty, showing no fear on her features.
Then, when she reached the large, newly built manor on the edge of the forest, she saw the young man who had come to take her and accompany her for the next stage. He was a young man who looked to be in his twenties, with short, tied sky-blue hair and bright, attractive blue eyes—a handsome face with delicate features. He introduced himself to her in a calm and polite voice as her future husband, Sam.
At that, she let out a clear sigh of relief, feeling a great sense of comfort. At the very least, she was marrying someone handsome and young, not a fat old man as she had secretly feared. This greatly eased her internal turmoil.
But once she reached the family's true base deep within the forest, she was profoundly shocked. There were many, many people—dozens—all bearing the same distinctive sky-blue hair and the same bright blue eyes. Men, women, youths, and children—all with the same clear features. Then she understood clearly: this was a large, hidden, and isolated family, and from now on, she would be a wife within this mysterious clan. It was a strange feeling—a little scary, but also... interesting.
Then, a very beautiful girl who seemed to be about her own age stepped toward her. She had long black hair and warm black eyes, clearly different from the rest. She smiled warmly and introduced herself enthusiastically: "Welcome! I am Rin. Your mother-in-law. Sam's mother."
What she said only added to Hinamori's shock. She could not understand or believe what she heard. This young girl... was her fiancé's mother? How? But Rin gave her no time to think or ask. She took her by the hand with clear excitement and gently pulled her toward a group of other beautiful girls standing nearby. She introduced her to everyone with pride: "This is Hinamori! My son Sam's wife! The family's first bride!"
Warm smiles and a heartfelt welcome came from everyone. Hinamori remained silent and observant throughout the past days—a full week of adaptation and getting acquainted. What she had been exposed to and what she witnessed caused her one shock after another: a massive family completely isolated from the world; everyone was powerful—even the children trained in combat techniques; the mothers looked very young even though their sons were grown. Strange things. Illogical. A bit frightening.
But she began to accept it gradually as the days passed. Especially since every person in the family—from the oldest to the youngest—treated her very well, with warmth, kindness, and respect. No cruelty. No arrogance. Only a genuine welcome.
Hinamori looked at her husband, Sam, sitting beside her now during the celebration and smiled sincerely. He had also treated her very well throughout the week—respectful, kind, and patient, explaining the strange things to her quietly without pressuring her. She was certain internally that she would fall in love with him easily over time. Handsome, strong, kind, and respectful—everything a girl in this era could dream of.
Then she turned her head toward the head of the great hall. She saw the very young man sitting on the luxurious main chair reserved for the head of the family. He looked to be in his early twenties, with long, tied blue hair and cold, sharp blue eyes. Over the past few days, through whispers and explanations, Hinamori had understood that everything in this family started from him. He was the foundation. The father. The founder.
In fact, she had been deeply shocked when she first learned that this young man was her true father-in-law and Sam's father—the grandfather of her future children. How? He looked younger than Sam himself! But she understood it later after some vague explanations—family secrets, special techniques. She accepted it and stopped asking. She also noticed something important: there was always a cold, dominant, and terrifying invisible aura around him, yet it was clearly felt. It made everyone who stood before him automatically bow their heads in respect and fear, not looking at him directly for long. Even his grown sons spoke to him in low voices, with clear submission. Power. Absolute authority. Beyond question.
The feast and the great celebration continued throughout the night, from sunset until nearly midnight. This was the first true wedding in the long history of the Walt family. A special event. Unique. Worthy of celebration.
The women of the family—the twelve wives and their daughters—had prepared a massive and diverse feast: roasted meats of deer, cattle, and sheep; fresh fish from nearby rivers cooked in various ways; plenty of fruits—apples, grapes—some from the forest and some from the new batch sent by Ayato; rice cooked with spices; various vegetables; and fresh bread. Even some simple sweets made from honey and fruits were served. A long table full of food. A staggering amount.
Everyone ate, drank, and laughed. The little children played in the corners. The elder brothers exchanged jokes and stories. The mothers spoke enthusiastically about their coming future grandchildren! A warm, familial atmosphere.
And Dan himself watched everything in silence. A small smile played on his face.
His family was growing. Step by step.
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