Forever Hold Your Peace?

"She's wearing black?"

"Her father isn't escorting her? Only two little girls?"

"It seems the rumors are true, this must be the poor girl's last rebellion."

Despite what was said, Madeleine was like the purest lily. She was untouched, untainted. Her beauty couldn't be described with words. Even her slightly pale appearance couldn't manage to dull her to the point of flaws. Even in sickness, she was a celestial goddess.

Her gaze was expressionless, and her steps were firm. Although her body imperceptibly trembled as she began to lose more and more control of herself, she knew she had to keep it together. At the very least, she refused to disgrace Dyon.

The Sapientia family gazed at her with bright smiles on their faces, but she didn't spare them a glance as she continued walking along her solemn path.

"Our goddess is truly strong," praised Jessica.

"She doesn't deserve this, she deserves me. I can make her happy," Muttered Hashim.

"I've changed my mind, even if it means war, I'll directly kill Akihiko," Spoke Lehabim, gripping his fists tightly.

"Yea right, your master would stop you before you could even do that. Do you think the Essence Gathering realm is a joke?" Spoke Orbis sarcastically, "You all should find a single lady like I have with my love."

"Who's your love!?"

As the geniuses were warring in hushed tones, Madeleine had made it to wide stairs. The coliseum was silent as her delicate and lonely footsteps made it to the top. Delia and Meiying were like ghosts following her, they stood silently to the side as the Sapientia family head could only smile bitterly as he saw his daughter's attitude.

He thought that when she had agreed to stop fighting this that she would feel good about being cured. But, it seemed he was too naïve. She had never done this for herself or him, she did this so she could live and repay a debt to that dead boy.

Pillar Family Head Kami stood at the podium as a witness. Once he saw that Madeleine had made it and hadn't caused too much of a scene, he breathed a sigh of relief.

His voice boomed, entering the ears of everyone there.

"Today we've come together to collect the Sapientia family and Kami family as one. In consideration for the Big Sect tournament, the new soon to be husband and wife pair have decided on a shorter, but elegant, ceremony.

"Although this is usually done in private, we want you all to be witness to their holy union. As such, the marriage licence will be signed here and now," Kami waved his hand.

A group of servants came out of the back room with a podium that had a thick piece of parchment on it in addition to a feathered pen.

"Little Madeleine, soon we'll be as father and daughter. As a woman marrying into the Kami family, you should follow our traditions as well. The Kami God Clan places the utmost importance on bloodlines, particularly the god level blood. As you all know, my son has awakened his god blood to 20%! Which is even comparable to geniuses in the main branch!"

The crowd filled with murmurs.

"He's so powerful?

"Maybe he does deserve to marry lady Sapientia."

The geniuses of the big sects grit their teeth and endured.

"As such, it is customary for Kami God clan marriages to seek acceptance of the ancestors by signing the marriage contract in blood. Only a finger prick will be necessary. After the couple has finished, we can begin the festivities. After a proper feast, the tournament will begin!"

The crowd watched on as Akihiko picked up the feathered pen and pricked his finger, signing his name in blood. The parchment began to resonate with the heavens, as though Akihiko's blood was bestowed by the heavens themselves.

"Haha, as expected of the Kami Sect's seeded genius. The contract isn't even complete, yet he's already gained the acceptance of the ancestors," Big Sect elder Kami boomed from the box lookout.

Akihiko passed the pen to Madeleine with a gentle look in his eyes, but Madeleine's face couldn't help but flash with disdain as she noticed the hints of lust in his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady her trembling body. Although her face was incomparably calm, her heart was a raging storm of emotions. Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes as she couldn't seem to steady her hand to draw blood.

Many of those who sympathized with Madeleine couldn't help but sigh.

Just as Madeleine was about to give up and use a bigger target than the tip of her finger, a light voice rang out that made the tears she was holding back spill over as wave after wave of emotion hit her.

"Hold on, wait wait. Can we talk about this for a second? I know you want this whole streamlined wedding thing, but what kind of marriage doesn't ask what the crowd thinks first?

"I don't know about the Martial World, but in the human world we have a place called Las Vegas, you can think of them as the king of streamlined marriages. And even they ask if someone wants to speak or forever hold their peace.

"And here I was counting on the Kami family to follow proper protocol. I had so much faith in you fucks that I almost let my woman be married to some loser. Imagine the laughing stock I'd be if that happened?"

The sarcasm dripping from the voice was obvious for all to see. In fact, it wasn't like this voice was exactly incorrect, the Kami and Sapientia Clan had tacitly decided not to ask for dissenting opinions, knowing that the seeded youths in the crowd were still so rowdy. However, everyone had chosen to ignore this for fear of offending two massive Clans.

Just who was bold enough to say these things?! We're they tired of living?!