I saw him.
I saw Brother standing at the altar.
This wasn't a dream… This wasn't my fantasy… This was reality.
While preparing for the wedding, a sudden, beautiful eclipse broke my concentration. Did Brother… really cause an eclipse just for our wedding? Did he cause a natural phenomenon to make our wedding all the more perfect?
Unable to hold back my jubilation anymore, I went to sneak a peek at the man who was going to marry me.
He looked so handsome! Like a Prince in a fairy tale! But this wasn't a nighttime tale, nor a dream… It was reality!
Even though he doesn't care for his appearance much, he'd put in the effort today to get all dolled up! His hair was waxed backwards, and his perfect face was enhanced with beautiful makeup. His sharp and defined cheekbones were so exposed that I wanted to run up and lick them immediately.
Although Brother was always impeccably dressed, he took it one step further this time. He wore a sharp three-piece tuxedo which highlighted his fantastic body. Broad shoulders, dense muscles and that criminally beautiful face!
When Brother was still lying on his hospital bed, he had androgynous features that made him look equally as feminine as he was a man. However, after becoming a Vampire and now a Progenitor, Brother became more masculine by the day. Fortunately, his growth stopped after reaching a certain balance, and he didn't look like a barbarian or a stereotypical bodybuilder.
Today… That handsome man is going to be bound to me forever.
Just thinking about it sends an electric shock all throughout my body. I wobbled, unable to keep my feet straight. All the emotions overwhelmed me all at once, making it impossible for me to keep my mind clear. And before my feet gave in and I fell down…
"Irina, are you alright?"
A familiar hand held me by the arm. I looked up at the woman who supported me and saw a dress similar to mine. White ivory dress with shining gems and an obsidian jewel located at the middle of her chest. A dazzling beauty that even got me distracted for a moment, giving me some time to regather myself.
That's right… I wasn't the only girl marrying the man of my dreams today.
"Ysabelle, I'm fine."
I shrugged off Ysabelle's worry with a grimace and bit my lip. This was supposed to be a perfect day, my perfect day. In my dreams, I would be the only one in Jin's arms as we nestled together and indulged in each other's warmth. We would fall in love over and over, becoming one inseparable entity with joy in our hearts. I would monopolise his time and attention, becoming the only person he had his eye on.
But unfortunately, my dream was only half-fulfilled.
I had to share this wondrous day with three other girls.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtI have come to peace with this fact; I really have! Brother even gave me the first wife title and promised to love and treasure me forever. But my mind couldn't help but wonder what could have been?
What if I had successfully hidden him away from their eyes and locked Brother in my basement? What if I had chained him up so he couldn't move, and he would have been forced to love me and only me? What if I made Brother… into mine alone?
No, that's selfish, Irina…
Even though I had to share my happiness with three other girls… Even though I had to share the one I loved most with them… I was content.
"Leave her be, Ysabelle." Lilith, who was also all dolled up, folded her arms and gave me a snide remark. "She can stay here if she wants. I'll snatch the position of the main wife away from her."
"What are you talking about?" I growled back. "I'm the first wife; you're just the spare."
"Jin only said that you'll be his first wife, but that doesn't mean he'll love you the most." Lilith chuckled.
"You…"
This bitch… Should I freeze her brain right this instant?
No, I'll be just playing into her hands. Keep calm, Irina. Keep calm… Today is your special day; I shouldn't let this bitch get under my skin. I puffed my chest out and proudly declared.
"It's fine. I'll still have the memory of you biting down your nails as I marry him first."
"Y-You…"
Lilith froze at that sentence. Haha, as expected. I knew that was hounding her this entire time. I was going to be the first to wed Brother, and Lilith just couldn't accept this fact.
"You've improved, Irina."
"Huh?"
Rosalyn, who had been silent this entire time, finally spoke her mind.
"In the past… You would have fought Lilith in a heartbeat…"
"I can't be a brat forever, right?" I joked. "I'm going to be a wife soon."
"How mature…"
Rosa smiled like a mature elder sister. No, come to think of it, she was older than all of us. After she's absorbed Brother's essence, Rosa has become infinitely more vibrant and jovial. According to Brother, Rosa was always this way; it was just that her mind was constantly overloaded with information through her synchronisation with the World Tree and all plants.
Now that her vessel has expanded and she's learnt to control her powers much better, Rosa is now showing her true colours.
A friendly and warm older sister.
"It's good that you didn't fight… We're all marrying the same man, the man of our dreams… We shouldn't let anything disrupt this event… Besides…"
Rosa held both our hands, and my accelerated heartbeat gradually slowed down. I felt comfortable, as if I had returned to a mother's warm embrace feeling warm and fuzzy. It was an intoxicating feeling that I could easily get used to.
"We're going to be sisters soon… We should get along…"
"Y-You're right…"
Embarrassed, Lilith covered her blushing face and looked elsewhere. Similarly, I looked away and covered my cheeks. Rosa possessed the most Goddess-like features of the four of us, with her warm smile and motherly demeanour greatly enhancing her appearance. Even just by looking at her smile, I could feel my heart calming down.
Seriously, this girl is a vixen in disguise.
"Girls… It's time."
The moment we ended our juvenile argument, bells chimed, signalling the auspicious hour. My heart, which had calmed down, started to beat again rapidly, and my legs naturally gravitated towards the open cathedral door.
It's finally time!
"Let us go…" Rosa smiled and gestured for us to walk forwards, and when we finally got to the foot of the entrance, she let out an ethereal smile and said: "First wife, it's your cue."
"Y-yes," I stuttered a little but firmly steeled my nerves. Fortunately, Rosa also helped me by sending a current of calming energy up my arms and into my shivering brain.
"You can do this, Irina…"
"Rosa… Thank you."
Taking one deep breath in, I finally made my way into the open cathedral causing all of the guests to turn their heads. My ancient grandmother, Luminita, Variel, Brother's parents, Lilith's brother, Ysabelle's family, and even Rosa's grand-aunt were here. However, my attention wasn't on any of them.
It was on the handsome young man who smiled happily at the altar, eagerly anticipating my arrival.
It took everything in my power not to leap into his arms and hug him with everything that I'd got. I wanted to bring him into my embrace and force him to the ground at that very moment. I wanted… to love him again and again.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBut I restrained myself. I could do all that later tonight.
Now, it's time to make him mine.
"The bride, Lilith Everwinter, enters!"
Someone announced my name from the side giving me the signal to walk down the aisle.
As I passed down the numerous guests and the intricate designs of the cathedral, the enormity of the situation finally hit me. The memories I shared with Brother, the events that led up to this moment, the love that we shared and finally, the beauty of this event…
They were all made possible because of that handsome man.
No, that handsome God.
My muse, my love and now… my husband.
I couldn't hold back my smile as I tunnel-visioned in on the man who was waiting for me with a ring in his hand. I made my way up the marble floor and finally reached my Brother's side. I felt his happiness resonate with mine as he held my hand and kissed my forehead. Our hearts melted into one, and his lips parted only after many long seconds.
And when we separated, I saw a shy Brother looking away.
No… You can't do that, Brother.
How am I supposed to hold back when you show me such a face?
"Irina… We're about to be married."
"I know…"
"We're about to be married."
"I know…"
"You're going to be my wife."
"... I know!!!"
Elated, I'd almost leapt into his arms. Seriously, can this day get any better? Brother was about to begin the ceremony, but…
BOOOOMMMM!!!
A wave of magical energy torrented through the entire meadow, forcing my beautiful moment to be shattered. Brother, who had been intoxicated by my appearance, now had a sharp look on his face as he instantly glared outside with anger and wrath.
Ah… Why did I have to go and jinx it?