In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Side Story, Chapter 21

On the meadow overlooking the blue sea, white fabric fluttered in the gentle sea breeze.
The outdoor wedding venue, decorated in off-white and white according to Lorraine’s taste, was more than enough to draw everyone’s admiration.
True to the East’s strong family ties, hundreds of guest seats were already filled to the brim with people.
As Perez, my grandfather, and the rest of the Lombardi family entered the wedding hall, the curious gazes of the guests gathered.
Accustomed to being the center of attention wherever we went, we weren’t particularly bothered as we searched for our seats when a Luman family attendant approached us.
“Welcome. Please take this flower and sit in the front seats of honor.”
The white flower, resembling a rose, handed to each person was a Kalika, the symbol of the Luman family and a native flower of the region.
Looking around, all the guests held a single Kalika.
“Shall we go to our seats?”
Perez said to the entire party.
Our seats, as the attendant had said, were directly in front of the platform where the bride and groom would stand.
I glanced sideways, trying my best not to step on the white cloth laid out in the aisle through which the couple would enter.
Perez was walking right beside me.
His hair, half-revealing his forehead, swayed with his steps.
This feels a little strange.
Walking together down the aisle meant for the bride and groom.
“Ahem. I think it’s over there.”
I cleared my throat, feeling awkward, and pointed to the empty white chairs.
We seemed to be the last guests to arrive, as the wedding began shortly after.
Traditional Eastern wedding music began to flow from afar, and the Luman Patriarch, dressed in a long-sleeved, flowing beige uniform, ascended the platform.
And then.
“Wow—”
“Beautiful…”
Exclamations flowed from various parts of the guest seating.
Avinox and Lorraine had appeared beneath an arch lavishly adorned with small white wildflowers, not Kalika.
The man and woman who would soon be husband and wife were harmonious.
There was no other word that could perfectly describe the two of them.
Avinox, beaming with a bright, sun-like smile, and Lorraine, smiling shyly by his side.
The two seemed to be born for each other.
Rustle, rustle.
Subtle imprints were left on the white silk laid on the meadow as the prospective bride and groom walked.
In everyone’s solemn silence, Lorraine and Avinox finally stood before the Luman Patriarch.
Indith Luman, who had been watching them with unconcealed delight for a moment, began to speak.
“Today, in the presence of so many, Avinox Luman and Lorraine Lombardi have come to pledge to be lifelong companions.”
Throughout the short but joyful wedding speech, Indith Luman, the Patriarch, smiled so broadly.
The long scar on his chin twitched uncontrollably, oblivious to decorum.
“This is the only bottle of wine in the world.”
After the speech, the Luman Patriarch held up an unlabeled wine bottle and said.
“It is a wine that I, his father, personally brewed in the year Avinox was born. It was precisely for this day.”
The wine bottle was opened in Indith Luman’s large hand, and the red wine was poured into two small glasses.
“When the two of them drink this wine together, Lorraine Lombardi and Avinox Luman will become husband and wife under a sacred vow.”
The two glasses were then handed to Avinox and Lorraine.
From my seat in the front row, I could see Lorraine’s trembling fingertips.
She was nervous.
In a way, it was natural.
The number of guests didn’t matter.
How could one not tremble at the moment of pledging a lifetime to another person?
I silently clenched my fists, wishing Lorraine well.
Avinox, who had gazed at Lorraine with deep eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering, made his vow first.
“Lady Lorraine, I promise to be by your side so that you may smile your entire life.”
The wine in the glass disappeared in one gulp.
Now everyone awaited Lorraine’s vow.
Her face slightly flushed, she exhaled briefly and then spoke.
“On the day my life ends.”
It was a small but clear voice.
“I wish to lie beside Sir Avinox.”
With trembling hands, Lorraine tilted the glass and patiently emptied all the wine.
The final stage of the wedding vow was for the Luman Patriarch to place a wreath made of Kalika flowers on their heads.
It was the Patriarch’s blessing bestowed upon the two embarking on a new journey in life.
As the two wreaths found their places, the Luman Patriarch solemnly proclaimed.
“I hereby declare Avinox Luman and Lorraine Lombardi to be husband and wife.”
The guests rose in unison and began to applaud.
Lorraine and Avinox, who had become a married couple after enduring many trials.
They walked out along the same path they had entered, now truly united as one.
“Congratulations, Lorraine.”
My grandfather said that and handed Lorraine a Kalika flower.
In the end, tears welled up in Lorraine’s large eyes.
But that was just the beginning.
Guests from all directions threw flowers onto the silk aisle.
It was as if a rain of flowers was falling from the sky.
The couple walked in step, step by step.
“Congratulations!”
“Congratulations!”
“May you live happily!”
As Lorraine smiled happily amidst the blessings of countless people, a Kalika petal landed on the corner of her eye.
“Lady Lorraine.”
Avinox, who had paused for a moment, reached out and gently removed the white petal.
“Pfft.”
“Haha!”
The two burst into laughter simultaneously.
“They’re alike.”
They say people who love each other deeply become alike.
Lorraine and Avinox had indeed become very similar.
Holding hands tightly amidst the falling white petals, the two smiled happily.

“The East is truly a place full of excitement.”
The reason I say this is because…
“The wedding lasts for three days, day and night.”
“The main ceremony alone is three days. If you include the after-party, it usually easily exceeds a week.”
Clerivan replied, looking as exhausted as I was.
The wedding vows were exchanged during the day.
Even though the sky had already darkened, the boisterous atmosphere showed no signs of dying down.
“Wow… They’re really serious about having fun.”
Just looking at the banquet hall prepared was enough.
I prided myself on having attended all sorts of boisterous banquets while living in Lombardi, but an Eastern wedding was on a different level.
Most of the guests who had attended the vow ceremony remained in their seats.
It was different from the Central region, where people talked quietly out of politeness.
They all seemed to be relatives, happily eating and drinking, laughing and chatting without a break.
And what about the banquet hall?
The banquet hall, with mountains of food piled everywhere, was bright and spacious, as if borrowing the midday sun.
This was because the large windows were fully opened, blurring the boundary between inside and outside.
“Oh, I’m tired.”
My feet were throbbing from having walked around dealing with people who were looking for me just a moment ago.
I found a suitable spot where I wouldn’t easily catch people’s attention and sat down.
“Then I’ll go have a few more conversations.”
“Okay, Clerivan. You do your best for me.”
I waved my hand at Clerivan, who gave a bitter smile with dark circles under his eyes, and then I was truly left alone.
But there was no loneliness.
“It’s really fortunate that Lorraine came to the East.”
I muttered to myself as I watched Lorraine, surrounded by many people and talking with Avinox in the distance.
I had worried that she might still feel out of place.
But it seems all my worries were unfounded.
Lorraine looked genuinely happy.
Here, Lorraine had found her home.
“It’s good to see.”
I had been watching Lorraine and Avinox for a long time when a familiar voice spoke to me.
“Lady Lombardi.”
“Ah, Lord Luman. It’s a beautiful wedding.”
“Thank you for the compliment. It’s all thanks to you, Lady.”
“Oh, no problem.”
“No, I mean it sincerely.”
Indith Luman said with a serious face.
“Lorraine’s safe arrival in the East, and the successful maintenance of Eastern trade to this extent, are all thanks to you, Lady. And I will never forget that you sent Lombardi scholars for the research this time.”
It’s true that I did all those things.
But still, such a respectful greeting from the Luman Patriarch, who is around my father’s age, is a bit embarrassing.
I changed the subject.
“Did you see the wheat field?”
“Ah.”
As soon as I mentioned the wheat field, the Luman Patriarch’s face lit up.
“Yes. The moment I saw the golden, ripe fields, I was ashamed to admit that I shed tears.”
Indith Luman chuckled heartily.
“To think that the people of the East will no longer starve…”
Aside from being Avinox’s father, Indith Luman was also a good Patriarch.
“You’ve suffered a lot by Chanton Sheshou’s side all this time.”
“Thank you. It’s all thanks to you, Lady.”
“There you go again.”
I awkwardly scratched my cheek, then, to change the subject again, I asked about someone who just caught my eye.
“By the way, Lord Luman.”
“Yes, speak.”
“Over there, who are those people?”