Chapter 212: Chapter 211- Engagement

An engagement ceremony wasn’t anything grand in general. Just a gathering of people offering their blessings, sharing smiles, laughter, and a few light-hearted jokes before the rings were exchanged. That was all.

Adrian wasn’t nervous about the crowd. He never had been.

What made him uneasy was the weight of this moment—he was getting married. Truly, for the first time in his both lives. Or perhaps… in all his three lives. He had a feeling even Avirin had never walked this path before.

So yes, he was nervous.

He sat quietly in the room, dressed in a wine-red three-piece suit, carefully folding the pocket square with slow, steady hands.

His hair had been trimmed just this morning, combed neatly for a more polished, gentlemanly look. He had even taken off his glasses. A small change, but it made a difference.

In the mirror sat a proper Adrian—poised, composed… and barely fidgeting.

“You look presentable,” a voice came from behind.

Adrian chuckled, “Took me an hour. Would’ve been a shame if I didn’t.”

Adam grinned at his son, “It’s refreshing, seeing you nervous again. It’s been a while.”

He remembered the old Adrian—the one who used to hesitate, who often shrank back. But the man in front of him now was different. Ever since he woke up from that long sleep, Adam had watched him change. Adrian had grown into someone dependable—someone who knew where he was going and who he wanted to be.

Adrian’s voice was soft but steady. “Today, I’ll be making a promise. A vow… to never let her down. To always protect her smile.”

Adam gently placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’d better. Because if you ever make her cry…” he said with a teasing smile, “as Ariana’s uncle, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Adrian gave a wry smile. “Thanks for the warning.”

Adam laughed and leaned in to help adjust the pocket square. “Your mother must’ve been emotional… seeing you like this.”

Adrian didn’t say anything.

He just sighed, softly.

His mother…

She was the one he’d loved dearly. The one who taught him his first words, held his hand when he was still learning to walk. The one who cheered when he ran for the first time. Who wiped his tears when he fell, and told him, no, believed in him to get back up every single time.

She wasn’t here now. But he could still feel her presence, gentle and warm, like the memory of a lullaby.

Adrian held his father’s hand, which was on his shoulder, before telling him, “She is here with us, Father. So let’s not weep while remembering her and smile so as not to make her worried.”

The man slowly nodded before cupping his son’s cheek, “You have grown up well, son. I am proud of you.”

….

Soon, the duo made their way down to the ground floor and headed toward the back garden, where the guests had gathered.

There weren’t too many people—just close friends and a few relatives from both sides. And since the bride and groom were from the same family, the number was no more than thirty.

“Ah, how handsome.”

“That suit really suits you, Adrian.”

“You cut your hair? Looks much better now.”

Several guests greeted him warmly, and Adrian replied with polite smiles and a few kind words.

Then, Melissa stepped in front of him, looking stunning in a dark blue one-piece gown. She held out her hand and said with a soft smile, “Here,” as she handed him the ring box.

Melissa gave his shoulder a light pat and said, “You look charismatic.”

Adrian was in a good mood and responded with a genuine smile, “Thank you.”

Melissa paused, surprised for a moment by his warm reaction, then gave a small nod and stepped aside.

Adrian’s gaze shifted to his father-in-law, who was chatting with a few men nearby.

He walked over and greeted him, “Father.”

Victor turned to face him slowly, his expression calm. “You cut your hair. That’s good.”

Adrian scratched his neck with a sheepish smile. “Thought it was time for a change.”

“Your long hair looked better, bro,” one of his cousins teased with a grin.

Adrian simply smiled at him. Then he heard Victor say, “Come with me. I’ll introduce you to a few people.”

Adrian nodded and followed.

Victor led him to a group of three men, each holding a glass of what seemed to be wine, engaged in casual conversation.

“Sir Dyes, Mister Aron, Abby… this is my son-in-law,” Victor said.

The three men turned to Adrian with polite smiles. The one introduced as Aron spoke first, “I’ve heard your name quite a lot—especially after your performance in the Arcane Anvil Cup.”

“Oh, so he’s the one you mentioned? The guy connected to the Vermillion family?” Abby asked, raising a brow.

“It’s quite impressive to have ties with them,” Dyes added. “The Vermillion family commands a lot of respect in society.”

Adrian replied with a warm smile, “Well, my work lets me meet a lot of people. The Vermillion family just happens to be one of those connections.”

Victor smiled faintly, pleased to see that Adrian didn’t need his help to carry the conversation. He had come out of his shell recently, becoming someone who could speak with confidence.

And it wasn’t just that—people had begun to recognize him. His name was now known across the continent as one of the finest Runesmiths of his generation.

The conversation went on for a while.

Most of the questions directed at Adrian were about his stance on the current conflicts and whether he planned to join the Vermillion family or serve the Valmoran nation.

Adrian, as always, didn’t hide his intentions. He shared his honest decision—to continue being a teacher.

Just then, heads began to turn. Soft gasps rippled through the crowd.

Adrian followed their gaze and felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of his bride.

Ariana stood at the entrance, dressed in a stunning red gown that flowed like silk with every step she took. The rich color brought out the warmth in her skin and made her presence impossible to ignore.

Her hair was tied up in a neat bun, but a few soft strands had been left loose, gently framing her face and giving her a graceful, almost dreamy look. A pair of delicate earrings sparkled just below her ears, catching the light as she moved.

Her eyes searched the crowd for a moment before landing on Adrian—and in that instant, she looked nothing short of breathtaking.

Like a flame wrapped in elegance.

No word traveled between before Adrian stepped toward her.

Everyone watched in quiet awe as Adrian stepped toward her and gently extended his left hand.

Ariana, her smile glowing brighter than ever, placed her hand in his—only to feel the soft warmth of his lips press against her skin.

“No words could ever describe how I feel right now,” Adrian said, looking into her eyes. “You look absolutely stunning, Aria. I can’t take my eyes off you.”

She grinned and stepped closer, holding both his hands in hers. “That was the whole idea. I wanted all your attention today.”

“Well, you’ve got it,” he replied, his smile soft and full of wonder.

Ariana had always been the kind of beauty that turned heads—charming, confident, and effortlessly dazzling. But tonight, she was something else. She looked like a fiery fairy—radiant, bold, and impossible to look away from.

They both soon made their way toward the stage, Adrian gently leading Ariana by the hand.

The crowd remained silent, all eyes fixed on the pair. There was something about the way they walked—calm, steady, and sure—that made it feel like time had slowed down just for them.

On the stage, the parents of both the bride and groom stood waiting, smiles on their faces and pride in their eyes.

Adrian helped Ariana take the small step up, his hand never leaving hers.

The officiator stepped forward, a kind elderly man with a deep voice, and said, “Today, we gather not just to witness a promise, but to celebrate two hearts choosing each other in this life.”

He then looked at Adrian. “You may present the ring.”

He opened the box and carefully took out a slender, elegant ring. A gentle breeze stirred as he took Ariana’s hand.

“Ariana,” he said softly, his voice clear, “With this ring, I promise to walk beside you—not ahead, not behind, but always with you.”

He slid the ring onto her finger, and soft murmurs of admiration swept through the crowd.

Ariana smiled so brightly it made Adrian’s chest tighten. Then she turned to take her own ring, which had been with her mother. Her hands were steady, her eyes glowing.

“Adrian,” she said, her voice warm and steady, “With this ring, I promise to stand by you—not only in joy, but even when things are hard. No matter what comes, I choose you.”

She gently slid the ring onto his finger.

No words could describe what he was feeling at the moment.

Happiness, excitement and peace.

He was officially engaged to Ariana.

His first love was now his fiancée.

°°°°°°

A/N:- Sorry, only one Chapter today.

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