System's POV

Chapter 1510: After Story: Our Fairy Tale Has Just Begun [Part 2]

"Anyone else who objects?" James asked.

After seeing what happened to the Dragonkin Prince, the guests, including the troublemakers, quieted down.

Just as everyone thought the wedding would finally commence, a voice reached everyone’s ears.

"I object!"

From the entrance of the church, a young lady appeared.

Thirteen and James recognized her instantly, for she was the youngest of the Norns, Skuld.

The young lady then smirked before placing her hands on her waist.

"Zion, I think you’re forgetting someone," Skuld said. "Someone who should also be present on this special day."

The young lady then glanced at the musicians and clapped her hands.

"Music please!"

As if compelled by her words, the musicians started to play the wedding song "A Thousand Years."

Skuld then moved to the side of the aisle as she started to sing the song.

At that moment, a young lady wearing a bridal gown started to walk on the aisle, supported by Skuld’s sisters, Urd and Verdandi.

Thirteen took a deep breath when he finally recognized the young lady walking toward him.

It was none other than Tiona.

She had been with him ever since his First Wandering, and had faced many challenges alongside him.

Before the wedding day, Thirteen asked her to marry him as well. But Tiona refused. She said they didn’t need to get married to be together.

He didn’t know why she was being stubborn, but since he didn’t want to argue with her, he did his best to ask the right questions to understand why she didn’t want to marry him.

Persuaded by his insistence, Tiona finally gave in.

She said she wasn’t worthy to marry him, which made Thirteen frown. He tried to convince her, but the young lady wouldn’t budge.

On the night before the wedding, Tiona left a letter before disappearing.

She said she would be back after the wedding celebration was over.

Unfortunately for her, the Norns caught her. They also tried to convince her, but Tiona was truly being stubborn.

Because of this, they showed her Thirteen’s distressed expression after he woke up and saw that she was nowhere to be found.

But since this was a special day, he couldn’t possibly be selfish and cancel the wedding. In the end, Thirteen could only sigh in his heart as he pressed Tiona’s letter to his chest.

Seeing how sad her lover was, Tiona felt extremely guilty. She finally realized that her selfishness was making Thirteen sad.

In the end, she decided to return to his side. But on the way, the Norns stopped her.

"We can’t let you go like this," Skuld said in a serious tone.

"That’s right." Verdandi nodded. "You don’t even have a wedding dress. But don’t worry. We are your Fairy Godmothers. Let us handle this!"

"Just let us do our magic, okay?" Urd patted the young lady’s head. "Whether it be the past, present, and future, you and Thirteen’s other lovers must make sure that he lives a happy life. All of you deserve a happy ending."

As Tiona walked the aisle, she couldn’t help but wonder if it was truly proper for her to be here.

But when she saw Thirteen’s gaze that was filled with love and tenderness, she felt her heart melt and overflow with love for him.

When they finally arrived at the altar, the young man reached out to hold her hand. When Tiona accepted it, Thirteen pulled her close to him, hugging her tightly.

"I’m not letting you go, Tiona," Thirteen said softly. "So don’t leave me again. Promise me."

"I promise," Tiona replied. "And I’m sorry for being selfish."

The two hugged for a few minutes before they finally heard a light cough from James.

Thirteen and Tiona smiled before she took a step back to stand alongside Thirteen’s other lovers.

Erica and Shana nudged their shoulders, as if asking Tiona why she was late to her own wedding, which made the young lady only smile at their playfulness.

"Today, before Gods and Mortals, we cast aside all interruptions, all doubts, and all that seeks to stand in the way of this union."

James’ voice echoed across the hall, steady and commanding, carrying a weight that silenced even the faintest whisper.

"This is neither a mere ceremony bound by tradition, nor a fleeting promise spoken for the sake of formality."

He glanced at Thirteen, then at the women standing behind him. The old man smiled at him.

"This is a vow that will be etched into fate—err, destiny itself."

A brief pause followed, as James looked at his granddaughter, Stella, whose soul had temporarily merged with Fate.

The young lady was smiling, but that smile didn’t reach her eyes, which made James hurry to say the next part.

"Thirteen," James said, his tone turning solemn. "You stand here today, not as the Supreme Commander of the Alliance, but as the man who will share the rest of his life with the ladies who wish to stand by your side. You have chosen to love them, and they have chosen to love you in return."

"No matter how far the distance. No matter how long the wait, love will always find a way.

"It does not wither with absence, nor does it vanish with death. It is the thread that defies time, the flame that refuses to be extinguished."

Thirteen and Shana perked up a bit because the words that James was telling them sounded familiar.

They were not aware that the God of Ceremonies, Ceremion, who once married Thirteen and Shana in their past lives, had talked to James and handed him the script for today’s ceremonies.

He wanted to be the one to officiate their wedding, but it wasn’t meant to be. In the end, James agreed to the God’s request. Right now, he was looking down at them with a smile from the Celestial Realm.

Ceremion pressed his hands together and wished Thirteen and his lovers would have all the happiness the world had to offer.

"Even if you are parted by realms, even if centuries pass and lifetimes are reborn, this bond you forge today will remain. It will call to you across silence, across sorrow, across time and space. Remember this truth... love will never abandon those who believe in it."

James then spread his arms wide while looking at the young man with a solemn gaze.

"Thirteen, do you take their hands in marriage, knowing that you would share joys and sorrows with them until the end of time?"

"I do," Thirteen replied.

James then looked at the brides, scanning their faces before asking them a question.

"And do you ladies take his hand, knowing that the path you walk will not always be easy?"

""I do.""

James’ voice softened, but it carried even greater weight than before.

"All of you will be facing trials that test your hearts, situations that will try to pull you apart, and moments when fate—errr, destiny itself will stand against you. Will your bonds stay true and never waver in the face of these adversities?"

Thirteen looked behind him, and his wives all looked at him with a smile. The answer was very obvious, so they all answered at the same time.

"""We will."""

James smiled and pressed his right hand over his chest.

"Then let all who stand here today bear witness to your union that no God and no distance can sever. Husband and wife, bound not by chains but by choice."

The old man’s voice reverberated across the entire church, and touched the hearts of those who were watching it from their TV screens.

Even the Gods in the Celestial Realm couldn’t help but smile. Indeed, this was a union that none of them was willing to miss.