"Oh my goodness, I already suspected he had a good face because he's the main character," Lyra thought, her eyes almost unable to leave the man's figure. "But I didn't expect him to be this handsome..."

 

Keith's face was much more alive now than anything she had ever imagined while reading the novel, his jawline was sharp, his sapphire eyes were sharp and sparkling, although there were slight bags under his eyes, it didn't affect his appearance at all.

 

His neat and perfectly arched eyebrows added an elegant impression to his face. His nose was pointed and his lips were thin, forming a slight smile that looked graceful but held a depth of emotion. His skin was pure white, adding to his noble impression. Overall, his face reflected a handsome, dignified, and charismatic figure, with a touch of grace and mystery that made him even more attractive. He looked like an intelligent and dignified young noble.

 

Lyra then closed her eyes, her head shaking quickly, trying to get rid of thoughts that shouldn't appear in such an important moment. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her slightly too fast heartbeat, then opened her eyes again. She then continued her steps, climbing a few small stairs, until finally she stood beside the man at this moment. Lyra glanced at Keith, tracing the details of the man's face from the side, she was fixated for a moment, unaware that she was staring for too long.

 

Suddenly, the sound of a clinking blue floating board returned, in front of her, Lyra's eyes reflexively widened.

 

[Notification: Guest successfully met the main character for the first time, as a reward we provide gifts to support the guest in the future.]

 

Before she could read the writing on the blue board, her eyes unconsciously returned to the man beside her. Right above the man's head, something shining appeared, showing the number 0%, like the blue board in front of her but in a different form.

 

Lyra kept staring at something that looked like a hologram board. She blinked several times, as if trying to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. But the 0% remained clearly displayed in the air. What does this number mean? Why does it only appear above Keith's head? Her mind began to fill with questions she had no answers to.

 

However, suddenly the sound from the blue board was heard again, they displayed several new notifications in front of Lyra at this moment.

 

[Notification: We provide a hologram indicator that can detect a person's feelings to the guest.]

 

[Notification: Guest can now see the main character's affection development towards them in percentage form.]

 

[Notification: We fully support the guest. Keep moving forward, and build meaningful relationships.]

 

Lyra swallowed slowly, her hands trembling slightly as she held the bouquet of flowers that almost fell from her grasp. Her eyes still occasionally glanced at Keith, and the 0% that now seemed to mock her above the man's head. Someone standing in front of them, a man in a formal white ceremonial robe cleared his throat softly, his voice loud enough to be heard by those present in the wedding hall at this moment.

 

"Excuse me, Lady," he said in a calm but warning tone. "I know you like your partner, and that's a good thing. However, if you keep glancing at him as if to devour him alive, this wedding ceremony will not begin."

 

Some of the attendees chuckled, holding back amusement, while Darian, who was in the guardian of the bride's seat, bowed his head for a moment at what his daughter had done, he knew that this wedding was eagerly awaited by his daughter but he didn't expect his daughter to do this. Lyra's cheeks flushed for a moment, she immediately stood up straight, her gaze fixed straight ahead, taking a deep breath while trying to calm herself. Meanwhile, Keith did not respond at all, his expression remained focused straight ahead with a flat expression.

 

"Alright, it seems we should start..." the voice of the man leading the ceremony became clearer. "Ladies and gentlemen, today is the day of the union of two destined souls, and the union between two families that will lead us to a better future. This is the awaited moment, the moment when a lifelong promise is given, and sincere love binds two hearts into one."

 

All eyes were on the couple, while Lyra stood beside Keith, looking at him with an inexplicable expression. Although the words sounded beautiful, to her they sounded like a threat.

 

" Keith Hale," the voice of the Ceremony Leader was heard again. "Are you willing to accept Celestia Edeviene as your life partner and accompany her in happiness and sorrow throughout your life?"

 

Keith was silent for a moment, his eyes shifting as if avoiding the gaze of the woman beside him at this moment. For a moment, a flicker of doubt appeared on his face, but there was no other choice, he just nodded with a flat expression.

 

"Yes, I do." He said in a flat voice.

 

The Ceremony Leader nodded for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Lyra. "Celestia Edeviene," the Ceremony Leader said in a deep and meaningful voice. "Are you willing to accept  Keith Hale as your life partner and accompany him in happiness and sorrow throughout your life?"

 

Lyra was silent for a moment, her shoulders trembling slightly at this moment. For her, whatever answer came out of her mouth at this moment was not just an ordinary vow, but a promise that she should keep for life, a promise she had made in a previous life. Her face looked a little pale, feeling the heavy burden of those words.

 

In her heart, a fear emerged, a bitter memory of a previous marriage that ended in a way she never expected. She had promised, like this, in another life, but the reality she faced ended in bitterness. The marriage that should have been a symbol of happiness simply unraveled.

 

She then snorted for a moment, as if trying to shake off all the haunting thoughts. For her at this moment, she couldn't follow her feelings, she had to do it, otherwise she would be stuck in this novel forever, in a soft voice, almost a whisper, Lyra answered, "I... I do."

 

The ceremony leader smiled slightly, as if relieved that the wedding ceremony could continue. However, in Lyra's heart, the feeling of burden and anxiety grew stronger. Although she had uttered those words, it was as if something prevented her heart from truly calming down. The promise felt so big, so final, and, honestly, terrifying.

 

The ceremony leader continued, his voice breaking the silence that surrounded them. "With that, we will proceed to the next part of this ceremony."

 

Lyra bowed her head slightly, her hands still gripping the bouquet of flowers tightly. Meanwhile, Keith remained silent, his gaze fixed straight ahead. However, Lyra could not avoid the feeling of loneliness that began to creep into her. Although they were in the same place, in the same marriage, there was a widening sense of distance between them.

 

With a slightly deeper voice, the ceremony leader continued, "Now, please, the bride and groom to exchange rings as a sign of an inseparable bond."

 

Keith then took the ring box that had been provided on the table beside him and took out the ring from the small box. He then slowly placed the ring on Lyra's ring finger, their eyes met for a moment. Lyra saw the expression on his face for a fleeting moment, perhaps a little tired or just wanting to go through this as it was.

 

Not long after, the ring was perfectly placed on Lyra's finger, she then did the same. Lyra took another ring and intended to slowly put the ring on Keith's hand. Before the ring was fully on Keith's fingers, he quickly pulled his hand away.

 

Lyra could only smile, her forehead twitched slightly but in her mind she muttered, "Why could Celestia like someone like this?!"

 

The ceremony leader, feeling that everything was going smoothly, finally told Keith to proceed with the final part of the ceremony with a kiss as a sign of their bond. With a voice full of conviction, he said, "Lord Keith, now it is time to kiss Lady Celestia as a sign of the validity of this marriage."

 

All eyes were on them both, Keith, who was already standing beside Lyra, finally bowed closer to her slowly. However, instead of bringing his face closer to kiss Lyra's lips as expected, he placed his hand on Lyra's forehead and kissed the back of her hand. All the guests present were silent for a moment, some people seemed surprised by the action.

 

Lyra herself felt confused and surprised, Darian who was in the guardian of the bride's seat gritted his teeth, his forehead furrowed as if he did not accept the treatment his daughter received, but if he followed his ego, the marriage that his daughter had been waiting for would be in vain, until finally he chose to do nothing.

 

The ceremony leader seemed surprised, perhaps confused by what happened, but still continued with the formal sentence. "This marriage has been legalized. May the bride and groom live happily ever after."

 

"Lastly, to the groom, please write your name and the bride's name on this document as a legal form of the bond in imperial regulations," the ceremony leader said in a dignified voice, presenting the marriage document that was ready on the table.

 

Keith stepped forward, taking the pen from the ceremony leader's hand. He looked at the document with a little confusion. His hand holding the pen seemed firm, but his eyes paused for a moment, as if he was thinking of something much deeper.

 

He then wrote his full name on the first line of the document. Although the strokes produced by the ink were thick, his handwriting looked neat. Lyra then took the quill pen next to the document.

 

She almost wrote her real name on the document before finally opening her eyes wide, as if surprised she almost wrote the name Lyra Martha on the document. She quickly changed the letter L to C, the result was that at the beginning of the name, both letters clearly overlapped each other.

 

The ceremony leader took the document back, then held it high so that everyone present could see.

 

"With both names written and the official ceremony completed, then with this, in the presence of witnesses, family, and the law of the Empire, the marriage between Keith Hale and  Celestia Edeviene is declared valid."