Chapter 168

[Third Person's PoV] 

Rose squinted her eyes as she felt the sun beam hitting her face directly. She was lying in bed and began feeling around her surroundings.

She woke up and looked around, "Cid?" she muttered, not seeing him in bed with her. As she looked down sadly, she found a ring right in the middle of his pillow.

Rose's eyes widened, and a large smile spread across her face as she looked at the ring. She picked it up and was prepared to slide it down her ring finger until she stopped herself as an idea came to mind.

She laid back on the bed and lifted her hand to the ceiling, viewing how the ring looked. She covered herself in her blanket and kicked around while giggling.

She then laid sprawled out and sighed in happiness. She kissed the ring before tightening her fist, her expression turning serious as she muttered, "I will not hesitate anymore. I know what has to be done."

Just then, Rose heard a knock on her door. "Princess? Are you awake? It's time to get ready, your wedding is in a few hours."

Rose looked around and smelled the air, breathing a sigh of relief upon realizing Cid had cleaned everything before leaving.

"Yes… I'm awake," Rose responded to the call.

...

Cid was in an open-air hot spring, where Celeste was seen struggling as she moved around in the water.

Apart from Cid and Celeste, they were accompanied by Epsilon, Alexia, Sherry, Victoria, and Aurora, who was cheering Celeste on.

Alexia looked at Cid and asked, "So, did you come up with a plan as to how we're going to save Rose? Her wedding is today…"

"Nope," Cid casually said as he began holding Celeste by the stomach, teaching her how to swim.

"Huh? So are we just going to watch Rose– What are you planning?" Alexia asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Hm?" Cid asked, pretending to be clueless.

"You wouldn't be this nonchalant about what was happening with Rose if you weren't planning something. I've known you long enough now to confidently say that you have a bit of a possessive side when it comes to your women," Alexia explained. "Which, although I don't want to admit it, is a very cute side you have."

"Cute?" Cid asked amused before shaking his head. "Anyways, I really mean it when I say I don't have anything planned to save Rose… Rose is the one who's going to be saving herself."

"Is she going to call off the wedding on her own?" Sherry asked, with only the top half of her face visible, her hair styled in two messy buns.

"She's a member of your squad. What do you think is going to happen?" Cid asked both Alexia and Sherry.

Alexia put a hand over her chin, "I like to believe Rose and I are similar in many ways. So by that logic, she would do what I would have done if I wanted to escape the marriage and expose Asshat's schemes at the same time. She would wait until everyone was gathered and by the altar before saying no at the end and facing him right then and there."

"Bingo," Cid said, snapping his fingers at her, making a finger gun.

"So, what then? Are we just going to go and give our support?" Alexia asked in confusion.

"Yup. And we better get ready, the wedding is about to start soon," Cid nodded as Celeste was sprawled out in the water like a starfish, too afraid to move as even the smallest mishap could cause her to go into the same situation as when they began.

…

Later in the night, fireworks rang out as many people gathered by the castle to celebrate Rose's wedding. Although there were some outside who weren't very happy with the arrangement, they began protesting just outside.

Asshat was in his room, dressed elegantly in all white, his hair combed neatly as he stared at the small red box in his hands.

'Just a little while longer and this artifact will officially belong to me. Although there were definitely some unforeseen circumstances, I had no problem using that foolish woman to turn the king into my puppet. 

How would I have guessed he would risk his own well-being to change the ownership of the 'Inheritor Ring' from himself to Rose? 

Luckily, Sir Mordred informed me that in order to become the owner of the Ring, I will need to marry Rose and integrate my blood into the Royal Family. 

I can't deny that's how I expect an artifact to behave, but that doesn't mean I have to really like it. But regardless of the means of which I obtained it, it will all be worth it in the end…'

"Since I too, will be One of the Rounds," he said out loud and opened the box.

He blinked rapidly as he looked at the empty box. He closed it back up and opened it again, "Since I too, will be One of the Rounds." He closed it once more, finding it still empty. He took a deep breath.

"One of the Rounds!" he said, opening it again to find it empty. He repeated the notion a few times before he began freaking out, patting himself all over trying to find it.

'Where did it go?! I couldn't have lost it now. Shit, shit, shit. I still have the box, which means some bastard must have taken it out of the box and returned it to me without me even realizing who it could have been!'

A holographic video appeared behind him, calling out his name, "Perv Asshat."

Asshat stood up straight hearing the voice and gulped loudly. He slowly turned around. "Lord Mordred!" he responded upon seeing who it was.

The holographic video was of a man with long wine-colored hair, wearing a white and gold suit of armor with a purple cape as he leaned on his hand, resting his cheek. "Rejoice, Perv. The arrangements have been completed on this end. Once the ceremony is over, the 12th seat of the Rounds will be yours," he said with a cunning smirk.

"Yes, sir."

"Do not disappoint me, Perv Asshat," he said, his smirk turning into a serious expression.

"Worry not, Lord Mordred," Asshat replied with a bow, sounding confident, but in reality, he bowed to hide his frightened and anxious expression.

As the projection ended, he plopped to the floor. "I'm so dead," he muttered to himself with a lost and scared look.

...

*Wedding Music*

The door to the altar opened, exposing Rose in her beautiful white wedding dress. Behind her, two rows of perfectly lined maids stood.

As Rose appeared, the music intensified. As she walked down the aisle, she saw everyone present.

Her eyes widened slightly as she saw Cid sitting in one of the seats, wearing a black suit with his hair combed back. And he wasn't alone. To his left were Alexia and Sherry, both wearing beautiful dresses.

To his right were Aurora and Epsilon, while Victoria sat behind him with a slight pout.

As she continued walking, she saw that on Cid's lap was Celeste, sitting in a cute and fluffy purple one-piece dress, her hair tied in pigtails with large ribbons.

Rose smiled slightly as she saw Celeste's eyes sparkle like stars, looking at her in awe and waving. Rose chuckled and gave a little wave back before facing forward. Her expression turned serious as she went and stood next to Perv Asshat at the altar, completely ignoring her mother.

The priest went on with the ceremony. "In sickness and in health, in poverty and wealth, do you, Perv Asshat, vow to love and cherish each other?"

"I vow," Asshat said with a nod and a smile, a tiny drop of sweat running down the side of his face.

"And to the bride, Rose, do you vow to love and cherish Perv Asshat?"

Rose didn't hesitate as she denied, "I do not. He is by no means the man I love. And he will never even come close to the one I give my heart to," she said with a smirk.

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