Nickan could sense Sengoku's surprise, though his face remained impassive. Enora was more direct than expected, addressing the arrangement with pragmatic acceptance rather than the timidity often found in royal brides.
"Do you truly possess dragon arts that are indestructible?" asked princess Enora, her eyes reflecting a mixture of skepticism and fascination.
"Of course! Wanna see?" Sengoku replied with unmistakable confidence, a hint of challenge in his voice.
Silence fell between them. Nickan could feel Sengoku's mind racing, calculating the implications. How much did she know?
Enora broke the silence, her posture straightening slightly. "I've studied the ancient texts since childhood," Enora explained. "The legends of dragonslayers who became more than human. Most dismiss them as myths, but I've always believed there was truth behind the stories."
Sengoku studied her for a long moment, then made a decision. He extended his hand, palm up, and allowed the scales to emerge – just on his palm, a controlled demonstration of his power. The iridescent scales caught the light from nearby windows, glinting with an otherworldly shine that marked them as something beyond ordinary armor.
Enora's eyes widened, but not in fear. She reached out, hesitating just above his palm. "May I?"
Sengoku nodded. Enora then touched the scales gently, tracing their pattern with her fingertip. The reverence in her touch was unmistakable, like a scholar finally discovering a long-sought artifact.
"Extraordinary," she whispered. "The texts described this, but seeing it..." She looked up, meeting his gaze with newfound intensity. "Show me more."
Sengoku withdrew his hand, the scales receding beneath his skin in a fluid motion that still fascinated Nickan despite having witnessed it before. "You can see as much you want after we get married," he stated, his tone carrying both promise and condition.
Enora's cheeks blushed, the sudden color contrasting with her previous scholarly composure. "Understood!" she replied with unexpected humility, lowering her gaze momentarily.
"So do you accept me as your husband?" Sengoku asked directly, wasting no time with further courtship.
"I'll let my father know!" Enora replied before turning to leave, her pace slightly quickened.
Sengoku nodded, watching her depart with an expression that Nickan couldn't quite decipher. Was it satisfaction? Anticipation? Perhaps something more calculated?
A while later, after being summoned by royal messenger, Sengoku stood before the king. He bowed deeply and spoke with unexpected deference. "Your majesty! Thanks for listening to my request so early and letting me meet your daughter in private for marriage."
Nickan felt like his stomach would burst out laughing as of all people, Sengoku was the one being so modest which was unnerving. This warrior who had conquered kingdoms and collected wives like trophies was suddenly playing the part of a humble suitor.
The king replied with a dismissive gesture. "Stand up! You're royalty and royalty need not bow, besides, you're the strongest of all in this room so making you bow would be further insult to this old man."
Sengoku straightened, assuming a more natural stance. "Thanks for the compliment! If I may, your majesty Enor, is princess Enora ready for marriage with me?"
King Enor's weathered face carried the weight of a father's concern as he spoke. "She agrees and it seems you also do, but she's my only daughter so I hoped to see her nurture more in front of my eyes before giving her hand in marriage but sadly a maiden in love cannot be kept behind walls."
Nickan thought so what he read was true, Enora really fell in love with Sengoku who was a trash of a man that made Nickan think are all girls like this, then he remembered about Airi, will she be the same and marry a douchebag in real world like Sengoku. The thought troubled him more than he expected – this fictional world suddenly feeling uncomfortably close to his own reality.
Sengoku spoke up and said with practiced sincerity: "I'm grateful that she thinks the same way."
King Enor stood up from his ornate throne and gestured for Sengoku to approach. Upon coming closer, King Enor took his daughter's hand – Enora having entered silently from a side chamber – and placed it on Sengoku's hand, sealing the deal of marriage in the traditional manner of the kingdom.
Sengoku looked at Enora with what appeared to be genuine affection, catching Nickan off guard.
"Time for a celebration," he declared with enthusiasm.
"Obviously," King Enor replied with a broad smile, "tonight will be a feast for the entire kingdom."
Sengoku appeared genuinely happy, which Nickan found kind of fake as above all he thought Sengoku's plan was humping princess Enora – adding another conquest to his collection rather than forming any meaningful bond.
King Enor told Sengoku to rest for now and get ready by evening for the celebration, to which he complied with a respectful nod before leaving the royal chamber.
Upon entering his assigned quarters, Sengoku found his six wives waiting patiently. One of them, Ruzu – the first he had married three years earlier – stepped forward anxiously. "How did it go? Are we having princess Enora as your seventh wife?"
Sengoku was silent but soon with a self-satisfied laugh replied simply: "Hmm."
The other wives immediately erupted in excitement and hugged Sengoku, sharing his triumph. Nickan kinda felt like what's wrong with the women of this story as they are about to have another concubine but instead of getting angry they are happy and excited. In what world would wives celebrate the addition of another woman to their husband's collection? The dynamics baffled him completely.
Before Nickan could think further on this peculiarity, Sengoku spoke up and told them to take preparations for the evening's ceremony.
The wives dispersed quickly, each knowing their role in preparing for the addition of a new sister-wife.
As evening approached, the royal palace transformed for the occasion. The grand hall gleamed with polished marble and ornate gold decorations that had been installed specifically for this event. Banners bearing both Sengoku's dragon emblem and the royal crest of King Enor's family hung from the vaulted ceiling, symbolizing the union of two powerful lineages.
Thousands of enchanted candles floated throughout the space, their flames changing color to match the mood of the music that filled the hall. Court musicians played traditional wedding melodies on crystal harps and silver flutes, creating an atmosphere of ethereal beauty.
The guests represented nobility from all seven kingdoms, having arrived with impressive speed at the news of this unexpected union. They filled the hall in their finest attire, eager to witness the marriage of the realm's most eligible princess to the legendary dragonslayer warrior.
Sengoku wore a formal blue suit which was rich in embroidery, the thread seemingly made of actual gold that caught the light with every movement. He walked to the stage with his six wives, who were wearing beautiful clothes as well, each in a color that complemented without outshining the groom's attire. They moved with practiced grace, having performed this ceremony six times before.
The crowd's reaction was immediate – cheers erupted as Sengoku took his position at the center of the ceremonial stage. The royal attendants had outdone themselves with decorations – rare flowers from all seven kingdoms adorned every surface, their combined fragrance subtle yet intoxicating.
Golden braziers burned with flames that released no smoke, only a pleasant warming effect that made the vast hall feel intimate despite its size.
The feast prepared for the occasion showcased the kingdom's wealth and culinary expertise – fifty tables stretched across the adjoining banquet hall, laden with delicacies from every region. Roasted meats seasoned with rare herbs, seafood preserved through magical means to maintain freshness despite the distance from the ocean, and wines aged in the royal cellars for generations – all served by an army of attendants in matching ceremonial garb.
Nickan for the first time enjoyed a royal marriage experience though not in real life, but through reliving in a book's story at the very least. The grandeur exceeded anything he had imagined, making modern weddings seem pale and uninspired by comparison. Magic enhanced every aspect – from the floating lights to the ever-filling goblets that ensured no guest's cup remained empty.
The ceremony itself was surprisingly brief but meaningful. The kingdom's high priest, an elderly man whose white robes were embedded with protective runes, presided over the exchange of vows beneath an arch of enchanted flowers that bloomed and changed colors in response to the emotional intensity of the moment.
Amid the celebration, Sengoku later on put a ring on princess Enora's finger, finalizing their union. Nickan was surprised by the ring as it was unlike anything he had ever seen – the biggest blue diamond he had observed in his entire life. It seemed to contain its own light source, glowing from within with an intensity that suggested magical properties beyond mere decoration.
Enora and Sengoku kissed, and then Sengoku took Enora in his embrace for a long moment, their kiss deepening as the crowd's approval surrounded them. The whooping of people filled the marriage chamber, celebrating the union of two powerful houses with uninhibited joy.
The feast continued well into the night, with entertainments ranging from court dancers performing traditional tales to displays of harmless magic from the court wizards.
Whenever Sengoku and Enora interacted, Nickan noticed a genuine spark between them that contradicted his initial assumptions about Sengoku's motivations.
Even more puzzling was the behavior of Sengoku's other wives, who surrounded Enora not with jealousy but with sisterly affection, offering advice in whispers that made the princess laugh and blush in turn. They treated her as a welcome addition rather than a rival, forming a protective circle that suggested genuine care.
"Why are they so accepting?" Nickan wondered as he observed this dynamic. In his world, such arrangements would be met with jealousy and conflict, not celebration and inclusion. Was there something about this world's culture he was missing? Or perhaps something about Sengoku himself that inspired such devotion?
The celebrations continued even after the formal ceremonies concluded, with the feast now truly becoming the people's celebration.
Servants opened the palace gates to allow common citizens to partake in the abundance, a tradition that had endeared the royal family to its subjects for generations.
As the night progressed, Sengoku and Enora circulated among the guests, accepting congratulations and gifts. Nickan noticed how Sengoku's hand rarely left Enora's, and how his eyes followed her with an intensity that seemed different from his interactions with his other wives. Was there something special about this seventh bride? Something beyond her knowledge of dragon arts?
King Enor watched the proceedings with a mixture of pride and melancholy, the natural response of a father seeing his only daughter married. His advisors surrounded him, already discussing the political implications of this union and the strengthened position it gave their kingdom in relation to its neighbor Dark domains.
Nickan remained immersed in the experience, wondering what significance this seventh marriage would hold for Sengoku's story. There seemed to be more to Enora than met the eye – her knowledge of dragon arts suggested a deeper purpose than mere political alliance. And Sengoku's unusual interest in her scholarly nature hinted at motivations beyond simple conquest.
As midnight approached, following tradition, the royal couple prepared to retire to their chambers. The king's guards formed an honor corridor, their ceremonial spears raised to create an arch beneath which the newlyweds would pass. Sengoku's six wives preceded them, according to custom, scattering rare flower petals that seemed to dissolve into sparkles of light when they touched the ground.
The crowd's excitement reached a new peak as Sengoku and Enora passed through this corridor, disappearing into the private wing of the palace where they would spend their first night as husband and wife. The celebrations would continue until dawn, but the main event had concluded.
Nickan found himself both fascinated and troubled by what he had witnessed. The customs and values of this world were so different from his own, yet there was an undeniable beauty to the ceremonies and traditions. He couldn't help but wonder what future chapters would bring – would Enora prove to be just another conquest for Sengoku, or would she somehow change the course of this story in unexpected ways?
As this chapter in Sengoku's tale came to a close, Nickan realized he was more invested in these characters than he had intended to be.
Despite his moral objections to many aspects of this world, he couldn't deny his curiosity about this strange and fascinating story of dragons, power, and the human heart.