168 Wedding

Thrud and Yulina stared at Arkhan intensely, their eyes gleaming like hungry wolves eyeing a piece of meat.

Artoria lowered her head, anxiously fidgeting with her fingers.

Nidhogg crossed her arms, looking indifferent, even yawning out of boredom.

Morgan smiled at Arkhan, her eyes filled with warmth.

"Alright, I've decided."

Arkhan spoke solemnly, then lifted his head and gazed at each of the five women. Soon, he raised his finger and pointed forward.

"It's you."

Everyone followed his pointing finger, their eyes converging on—

Nidhogg!

"What?!" Nidhogg looked bewildered, pointing at herself. "Me?"

"Yes, it's you." Arkhan nodded.

After careful consideration, he felt Nidhogg was the most suitable choice.

Yulina couldn't reveal herself due to her identity—being the wife of the king and a creature that fed on humans would surely cause panic among the people.

Artoria, having the deepest and longest relationship with him, was considered more like a sister and student. Moreover, the throne would eventually return to her. Making her the queen would complicate matters for the future succession.

Morgan was a good choice for a queen—smart, elegant, and with a motherly aura. However, marrying his own sister just felt odd to him, something he couldn't fully accept.

That left Thrud and Nidhogg as the remaining options.

Honestly, Thrud was a more fitting choice than Nidhogg. She was gentle, considerate, intelligent, and a quick learner in everything except cooking. Yet, Arkhan knew her unwavering loyalty was mainly due to his Primordial Rune.

Thrud, the sole survivor of Ragnarok, roamed Valhalla for millennia until his appearance gave her a reason to continue existing. But it wasn't him she cared about; it was his identity as the inheritor of the Primordial Rune.

Her willingness to do anything for him stemmed from a simple thought—My Lord is in trouble, so I must help him.

It wasn't what he wanted, so he chose Nidhogg.

Though he once joked with Nidhogg about calling her 'Mom', in reality, he only inherited her power. From a blood and parenting standpoint, they weren't truly mother and son, unlike the fundamental difference in his relationships with Morgan and Artoria.

Furthermore, after spending so much time with her, he sensed a slightly different emotion towards her from within himself.

"Wait... Why me?! I just came to watch the show..." Nidhogg stepped back and a hint of panic appeared on her face.

She had only agreed to Morgan's proposition out of curiosity, thinking she could enjoy watching Arkhan's predicament. How did it end up like this?!

"Oh? So, are you saying you disagree?" Morgan's lips curled up in a graceful arc. "Well then, Arkhan, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do. Sorry, but it seems this won't have a resolution this time. But don't worry, I'll arrange a bride selection event for you soon. You'll surely find a woman you like."

With that, she turned and walked away.

"Wait a minute." Arkhan stopped Morgan, then turned to Nidhogg with an earnest expression. "Nidhogg, are you really planning to reject me?"

"I... I..."

Nidhogg's eyes dodged, her heart pounding.

'Was I really just here for the show?'

'Then why, when I heard he would get married, did I feel a strange sense of panic and discomfort?'

'Do I really want to reject him?'

'Then why... when he said he chose me, I... feel a sense of joy?'

'What should I do...?'

Memories of the past surged into Nidhogg's mind like a tidal wave. From the first meeting in the mental world to later escaping from the Norse Realms, scenes flashed before her like a revolving lantern, until finally, only those black eyes remained.

The warmth of being fully accepted for who you are, the joy of carefree conversations untouched by fear or judgment, and relishing the sweet companionship of having someone there accompanying you—these were emotions she had never known until he stepped into her life.

Now, she wasn't alone.

'Ahh... I see...'

'Once, my world was shrouded in darkness, everyone regarded me as the embodiment of doom, the destination of death, an ominous curse, and a cage of despair. They feared me, hated me, loathed me.'

'But you were different. You never rejected 'death' and told 'death' what it truly meant to 'live'.'

'You are the only one who bestowed 'life' upon 'death'.

'Meeting you was truly the luckiest thing in my life.'

'Is it greed? But I really want more from you...'

Nidhogg was lost in thought and soon realized her honest feelings and what significance the human named Arkhan was for her.

After a while, she finally opened her mouth.

"I... I promise you."

===

The news of the King of Camelot's wedding hit Britain like a bomb on the sea, causing waves that engulfed the entire country.

People speculated about the woman chosen by the king, wondering what kind of person she was. Despite their inquiries, all they could get was her peculiar name—'Nid'.

In Camelot, the people cheered on the streets, not caring about the queen's identity. To them, the revered king had finally found his other half, a reason to celebrate.

Ferguson finally lifted the burden he had been carrying, revealing a long-lost smile on his old face.

Two months later, the wedding took place as planned. Representatives from various nations arrived with lavish gifts. Even the King of Ireland sent an envoy, making the event grander than the coronation ceremony.

Inside the church, adorned guests sat in their seats. Bright light filtered through the stained glass, casting a myriad of colors, and creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

Tristan stood in a corner, playing his harp. A golden-haired woman sat closest to him, her eyes filled with love as she gazed at him.

"Hey, man... Is marriage really such a terrifying thing?" Kay, sitting in the front row, whispered to Lancelot.

"Why would you say that?" Lancelot replied and looked at Kay with confusion.

"Then why is his hand shaking so badly?" Kay pointed with his chin towards Arkhan standing at the pulpit. "I've never seen him so nervous before."

"Well... Even if you ask me, I don't know how to answer that." Lancelot scratched his head awkwardly.

"Stop pretending, I've heard it all. The princess is named Elaine, right?" Kay rolled his eyes, a hint of envy on his face. "Damn lucky bastard, why can you encounter such good fortune?"

"Ahaha..." Lancelot could only awkwardly scratch his head and give a sheepish smile.

Meanwhile, on the other seat.

"Are you feeling down?" Merlin asked while looking at Artoria beside him.

"Not really..." Artoria shook her head while gazing ahead. Her eyes softened as she watched the nervous Arkhan. "He is my brother and my teacher, guiding me in life. No matter what happens, as long as he finds happiness, I'm happy."

"You've always been like this, always focusing on others' happiness and never on yourself..." Merlin sighed and his hand brushed through Artoria's golden hair. "Do you know you're living a very tiring life?"

"No choice. Maybe from the day I was born, I was destined to be this way..." Artoria smiled calmly.

Merlin looked at Artoria with a complex expression.