Elion pulled the collar of his sleek black coat more comfortably around his body.

’Wow, they got my measurements remarkably accurate. It is a wonder how they managed to make this in a single day.’

Between his habit of tearing his clothes during battles in the bloodline trials and the recent changes to his physical build, it had been quite some time since Elion had worn anything that fit him properly.

The formal attire he currently wore was also exceptionally well designed.

The seamstress employed by the Chronos royal family was clearly talented.

That became even more apparent when Elion moved his gaze away from himself and looked toward the beautiful petite woman standing before him.

While his attire was entirely black, Celeste’s red one-piece dress was an even more magnificent creation.

It was made from shimmering silk that hugged her small frame perfectly, with carefully defined seams that had been stitched together without a single visible flaw.

The dress stretched all the way down to her feet, its lower edge sweeping lightly across the floor, while a slit ran along one side and rose elegantly toward her thigh.

Two thin straps held the dress against her shoulders before crossing behind her and leaving the expanse of her extremely pale back exposed.

At the front, the straps flowed smoothly into the fitted upper portion of the dress, gently embracing and accentuating her small, delicate chest.

In a rare change from her usual appearance, Celeste had styled her white hair into several spiraling braids that joined together to form a single ponytail, which fell across the left side of her shoulder.

A beautiful silver hairpiece held everything neatly in place.

She had clearly put a great deal of effort into her appearance today.

Her lips were painted a darker shade of red than usual, while a faint touch of blush added a hint of color to her incredibly pale cheeks.

But that was hardly surprising.

After all, today was a very special occasion.

Elion stared at her for several moments, his smile gradually softening. "You look beautiful..." he whispered.

Looking down at her from his height, she appeared incredibly small, barely reaching his chest, and even that was only because of the stiletto heels she wore today.

Celeste smiled and silently mouthed a thank you, careful not to speak since they were standing together on a raised platform before a sizeable crowd.

After delivering a rather lengthy speech, the handsome monarch finally turned away from the gathered witnesses and addressed the young couple.

He gave Celeste a loving smile, while Elion received a firm nod of approval.

"It is time to say your vows," Lucius said softly.

Celeste would speak first, then Elion would go next.

The crowd fell completely silent.

These were not vows created by the couple themselves, nor were they long declarations of love.

They were ancient words that every vampire couple was required to recite before their betrothal could be recognized.

Their true origins had long since been forgotten, and much of their meaning remained deliberately cryptic, but tradition demanded that the woman speak first.

Celeste turned toward Elion and held out her pale hand, and he accepted it without hesitation.

Her crimson eyes remained fixed upon his as she began to speak. "Beneath the moon that remembers every wound, I offer neither chain nor crown."

Her voice carried clearly across the courtyard.

"I offer the silence between heartbeats, the shadow beneath blood, and the path that returns when all other roads are lost."

The air around the platform seemed to grow still as a steady current of mana began to gather around the couple.

Celeste tightened her fingers around his. "If night should swallow my name, let yours become the voice that calls me home."

She lowered her head slightly.

"By blood freely given and fate freely chosen, I stand before you unbound, yet unwilling to turn away."

A faint crimson glow appeared around their joined hands, slowly forming a vague construct that couldn’t yet be recognized.

This signaled that the first half of the ancient vow had been accepted.

Lucius turned toward Elion. "Answer her."

Elion looked down at Celeste before reciting the words he had been taught earlier that morning.

"Beneath the moon that judges neither beast nor man, I accept neither servant nor possession."

His voice was calm and steady.

"I accept the hand offered without chains, the shadow that walks beside mine, and the name entrusted to the dark."

The crimson construct around their hands grew brighter, becoming more physical, before forming something that resembled a blurry chain.

"If dawn should steal your path from sight, let my blood become the mark that guides you home."

Elion gently raised her hand as the crimson chains became more and more corporeal, binding their hands together.

"By strength never turned against you and loyalty never taken by force, I stand before you unbound, yet unwilling to let you walk alone."

For a brief moment, the chains surrounding their hands flared, creating a blinding flash of crimson that had everyone shielding their eyes from its light.

After a moment, it faded into their skin, fading completely out of sight without leaving any mark whatsoever.

A powerful crimson pulse radiated from the two of them, spreading out into the air outside before fading away as well.

The courtyard remained silent until Lucius finally spoke. "The night has heard."

Lilith continued stepping forward from within the congregation and taking her place beside him. "The blood has remembered."

Lucius looked between Celeste and Elion. "And the path between them has been recognized."

Only then did the gathered vampires lower their heads in acknowledgment. The ancient vows had been completed.

Elion took the opportunity to retrieve a familiar ring from the inside pocket of his jacket.

Celeste had returned it to him after Lucius suggested that he place it upon her finger during the formal betrothal, and that moment had finally arrived.

Elion gently took her hand and slipped the Heavenly Petal onto her ring finger.

The ring shimmered briefly before adjusting itself around her finger once again, fitting her perfectly.

From that moment onward, Celeste Chronos and Elion Nova were formally betrothed.

A thunderous round of cheers and applause erupted from the crowd, including Mira, Aria, Isla, Tessa, and Zenith, who watched the newly betrothed couple from among the gathered witnesses.

Celeste’s crimson eyes remained fixed upon the ring for several moments, watching the Heavenly Petal shimmer beneath the pale light.

Although she had already worn it before, having Elion place it upon her finger in front of her family and people gave the ring an entirely different meaning.

It was no longer merely a precious gift. It was now a symbol recognized by the entire Vampire Clan.

Celeste slowly lifted her gaze toward Elion.

The cold and dignified princess who had stood so calmly throughout the ceremony was nowhere to be seen.

In her place was a young woman wearing a bright smile that caused many among the gathered vampires to stare in disbelief.

Elion returned her smile.

"Well?" he asked quietly. "Are you satisfied?"

Celeste moved closer, resting one pale hand against his chest. "For now."

"For now?" Elion repeated. "That sounds rather greedy."

"It means you still owe me a proper wedding."

"That is fair."

Lucius stepped forward and raised one hand, gradually calming the cheering crowd.

"The vows have been spoken, the ring has been given, and the path between them has been recognized," he declared. "From this day forward, Elion Nova shall be acknowledged as the betrothed of Princess Celeste Chronos and the future prince consort of Dreadmoor Hollow."

Another round of applause erupted.

Several of the young nobles who had challenged Elion the previous evening joined in more enthusiastically than the rest, though the bruises and bandages covering their bodies made their support appear slightly forced.

Valerian stood among them with one arm wrapped tightly against his chest while looking up at Elion with respect.

All it took him was one beating to look at Elion differently. Now, Elion was someone he respected and looked up to.

In his eyes, Elion deserved nothing less for the dominant display he had put up against the very best of them yesterday.

When Elion’s gaze briefly passed over him, the young vampire lowered his head respectfully. He held no resentment whatsoever in his heart.

There was no one more deserving to be with their Princess than Elion. If anyone dared say otherwise, Valerian might even beat them up himself before they even made it to Elion.

And that is the story of how one of Elion’s generals was born.