Chapter 585
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Chapter 585
I always figured Id end up fighting for my life on the day of my wedding.
I just never thought itd be against my grandfather slash father-in-law, or that he would beat me black and blue without mercy.
Inwardly grumbling as I limp back downstairs with my family in tow, I do my best not to scowl or glare as Husolt hovers over me like a mother hen. His meaty hands brush the dirt and dust from my cloak before straightening my shirt collar and no doubt leaving dirty fingerprints and sooty nail marks as he goes. Theres a good lad, he rumbles, his expression twisted with uncertain concern now that he realizes he may have gone too far. Lookin sharp as ever, you are. Ah, got a little smudge on your cheek there. A fat thumb presses down on the growing bruise he mistook for dirt and my scowl breaks free, earning me a sheepish shrug from Husolt before he continues with his unhelpful ministrations. This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com
But, my father-in-law made plans it seems, for upon emerging from the staircase, he leads me away from his apartment where my beloved Mila awaits and down six or seven doors to Toktas apartment, where the taciturn Healer stands waiting in the doorway with his customary neutral expression. Behind him, his lovely wife, Khorijin, putters about the room and pretends shes not glaring in my general direction while Tenjin awkwardly stands around with nothing to do and Tursinai basks in the communal tension. I suppose they all heard about my attempted blackmail, but in my defence, stairs are the worst and I was already sweating enough after rappelling down five stories in twenty-odd kilos of armour. I may be a crippled Martial Warrior, but Im in pretty good shape for a regular human.
Hello sir, I begin, putting on my best smile for the grumpy Healer and his angry wife. Maam. Tenjin. Tursinai. Sorry about the whole... insinuating you had a shameful secret thing. My future father-in-law set a very strict time limit on the retrieval, and Im not sure I wouldve made it if I had to take the stairs. Turning to accept a giant red pocket from Mom, I hold it out with both hands for Tenjin to take and say, Please accept this token of thanks for being a part of my wedding ceremony.
No thanks is needed, my friend, Tenjin says, even as Tokta snaps up the red pocket and tosses it back to his wife, who catches it without pausing her glare. ...But I will gratefully accept it. Left unsaid is the I suppose, and we exchange pained expressions over shared hardships. We both know it was meant in good fun and were laughing the whole while, but everyone else is making such a big deal out of it. Mom even scolded me for being shameless, and I suppose I can see how it could get out of hand, but I could always just lie and say his dark secret is his penis is too big or something.
Hmph, Tokta grunts, taking me by the chin and turning my head this way and that. Old age is making you soft, he says, shooting a dry look at Husolt. Hardly a scratch on him. Be a waste of effort to Heal this.
Come now, Tokta, Husolt pleads, eyes darting down the hallway towards his apartment. Dont be playing around, not today. My girl will have my hide if I bring him back scuffed like he is, then my old wife will stomp on all over whats left. Did my best to keep all the bruises hidden, but the lad is a tricksy one he is. Slipped past my guard and almost stepped on my toes. Had to put him down harder than I meant to, so hurry up and fix him before someone comes looking.
Harder than he meant to. What a nice way of saying he bashed me in the face with his giant metal staff. Least I turned away in time, else he mightve broken my nose, but it cost me a few loose teeth which will need fixing. Thankfully, Tokta is only teasing and quickly takes care of my injuries, though I notice he leaves behind the bruised ribs from when Husolt jabbed me in the chest and the throbbing knee I got from banging against the wall on my way down the building. This stupid golden armour is more ornamental than serviceable, which wouldnt be an issue if it was Runic like the Legates, but no, mine is just plain vanilla steel gilded with a gold alloy. Not even pure gold, though it makes sense, since pure gold would dent real easy.
Then again, Runic Armour wouldnt even work on me, as evidenced by my experiments with Taduks Runic shields, so I suppose kitting me out in Runic gear wouldve been a waste of money.
After handing over another red pocket to Tokta as thanks for his help, I make my way over to Akanais with an exaggerated limp, just so I can see Husolt sweat a bit more. Im not really angry, just a little exasperated and annoyed that he couldnt go a little easier on me, since there was absolutely no way I couldve gotten the token in time without cheating. Also, that riddle wasnt fair, how am I supposed to pick which of my pets live and which ones die? Its impossible to give a good answer, and he didnt even give me enough information. Like, why couldnt my pets just jump off the crumbling ledge? The wildcats in particular can jump for impressive heights and distances, and the bunnies are no slouches either, not to mention the fact that my bears can climb better than most monkeys so they shouldnt be in too much danger from crumbling cliffs.
Now Im worried. Should I teach my pets to hold onto ropes with their mouths? Better yet, maybe I can teach them to climb a rope, though I have no idea if bunbuns can do that. Itd be best if I taught them all how to Cloud-Step, but even I dont know how, so thats a bust, unless little Blackjack learns on his own and teaches the rest of his fellow floofs...
The hypotheticals melt away as we arrive outside the door to Akanais apartment, with the large, red silk scarf tied in a fat knot hanging in front of it. Clearing his throat, Husolt intones, Falling Rain of the People, I, Husolt, invite you into my home, so that you might become a part of my family. With that said, he tugs the knotted scarf down and drapes it around my neck before opening the door and heading in first. Customs says I bow and follow inside, but all of a sudden, I find my mind blank and legs locked in place.
This is my wedding. Once I walk through the doors, Im technically married. The rest is just a formality, because this right here is the ceremony. Theres no turning back after this, no coming back from a mistake, so its do or die. Quite literally in fact, because if down the line, Mila discovers shes made a huge mistake and leaves me, theres a very good chance Husolt or Akanai will murder me in a fit of pique. I dont think Id even blame them for it either, because if Mila ever left me, it would be because I screwed up big time, which isnt all that hard to imagine considering Ive got another wedding on the calendar less than months from now, as well as a long list of hang-up, neuroses, physical, deficiencies, metaphysical ailments, and deep, dark secrets which I hope to never reveal.
Am I wrong to marry Mila without revealing who I really am? Im not even sure how I would explain it, or what I would do if word were to spread. Would I be burned as a witch? Or taken away to study? Would the Brotherhood want to know more, or would they see me as some sort of karmic aberration or something? What about my parents? How would they feel about it? I thought about this and more during this last week, and while I could twist the facts all I want, but at the end of it all, there were no certain answers. There are plenty of reasons to turn around and walk away right now, but only one to move forward.
I love Mila, and I am not strong enough to go through life without her by my side.
Is it selfish? Probably, but I cant help it. I want to be happy, even if Im not sure if I really deserve it.
My feet carry me through the doorway and Mila is all I can I see, not because shes right in front of me, but because my mind will not register anything or anyone else. There she sits with her feet together and hands resting over her knees. Prominently displayed on her fourth finger is the wedding band I gave her last week, nestled in her dainty but formidable fists which are balled up to keep from fidgeting with her long, clingy dress. A red silk affair embroidered with golden clouds and phoenixes, the dress is a sleeveless, high-necked affair that hugs her body tight all the way down until flaring out around her ankles. Golden phoenix bangles adorn her wrists, and a sheer silk stole is draped neatly around her bared shoulders, covering her pale, freckled skin without obscuring it in any way, shape or form. Her lovely, lustrous hair hangs down in fiery ringlets and is held in place by an ornate red and gold tiara, from which hangs a veil of stringed beads of red and gold which hides her lovely face. Despite this, I can still imagine the surly scowl shes directing at her hang-dog father whos taking his seat, no doubt knowing hes being silently berated for taking so long, and my cheeks feel ready to burst from my unrestrained smile.
There sits my beloved wife, Mila.
Prompted by Moms Sending, I finally remember what Im supposed to do next, except my tongue feels ten times too large to speak. Looking around the room like a lost puppy, I finally take in the rest of the beautiful decorations, not to mention the veritable horde of dressed animals lingering about, including sweet Mama Bun thumping at my feet, looking oh-so-adorable with her fake-flower headband perched atop her nubby horns. It had to be fake because she kept eating the flowers, but this is not the time or place to cuddle my floofs as there are things to be done. With the Heavens as my witness, I begin, removing the decorative silk knot from around my neck and presenting it to Mila with a bow, I, Falling Rain, ask Sumila to accept my love and devotion. Take this string so that our fates may be tied as husband and wife, from this breath, until my last.
Milas hands reach for the knot before Im even done asking, her palms under mine as she stands with me. I, Sumila of the People, she begins, and I can almost make out her bright, burning eyes from behind the beads, Accept Falling Rain as my Husband, from this breath until my last.
A staff strikes the ground and I finally notice Monk Happy, beaming as he stands off to one side in full Brotherhood regalia, with bright yellow and orange monk robes as well as a bronze, mohawked headpiece. This monk bears witness to this union on behalf of the Heavens, he begins, in the soft cadence of ritualized speech. Let it be known that from this day forward, Falling Rain and Sumila of the People, are now husband and wife. May the Heavens bless their union and...
If thats the biggest problem we have at years end, then Id say thats worth celebrating.
You make a good point, Zian says out loud, before Sending, Colonel General Nian Zu thinks theyre preparing for another big attack, and I dont see any reason to disagree. Problem is, we dont know where, though Sinuji is likely due to its central location, weak defences, and the knowledge that there will not be a second fire-trap to even the odds.
Damn it. This is too soon. I may have something in the works, but I still need time to test the product, iron out the details, train workers, purchase materials, arrange supply lines and all that. Zians curiosity is evident, but he refrains from asking questions and simply nods, trusting that I will do what I can. Truth is, theres not much either of us can do to enact change on a large scale, because despite our lofty statuses, were still small fish when it comes to the war. Hows the Colonel Generals pet project coming along?
...poorly at Sinuji, Zian replies, shaking his head, but BoShui has found great success further north in DangDon. The irregulars fare better with walls to stand upon, but theyre utterly useless once the cavalry reach them.
The irregulars. A nice name to call a cadre of condemned criminals drafted into war, but Nian Zu was adamant we not risk the lives of good Imperial citizens on the battlefield. Of course theyre useless, I mutter, knowing Mila is keeping quiet just to be polite. Theyre not Martial Warriors, just regular people armed with spears and crossbows. They need to be better protected.
Zian nods, followed by a shrug. Ive done my best to keep them safe, but there is only so much I can do while also ensuring they hold the line and dont fill my soldiers backs full of bolts. Then it becomes especially difficult once the Defiled mark the irregulars as both easy target and dangerous threat.
Thats why volunteers would have been better, because then youd only get the bravest and most patriotic candidates amongst the civilians, but Nian Zu refused to listen to my advice. Well, theyll work better here in the Citadel, I say, picturing it in my head. Theres the outer wall, an unobstructed plaza, then a line of buildings that form the inner wall, which is not only higher than the outer wall, but also close enough for my repeating crossbows to unload on attackers without risk of friendly fire.
And with luck, maybe theyll have more support, though thats still up in the air.
This was the crux of Nian Zus controversial proposal, to bring in condemned criminals and slaves to help bolster the Imperial Armys numbers. He understands the beauty of ranged warfare, and knows that bows and crossbows firing over the lines of defending soldiers add so much more killing potential. Problem is, Nian Zu wasnt kidding when he said itd be controversial. Even with the Legate hammering it through and paying a quarter of the costs out of pocket, there was a lot of pushback on the issue and not all of it was ridiculous as I expected. Civilians scare more easily than Martial Warriors, meaning troops and officers are needed to keep them in line, because in the heat of battle, hard-pressed soldiers wont stop to check whether their fleeing comrade is a Martial Warrior before panicking and setting off a chain rout. Theres a whole host of other problems too, including Tainted civilians infecting the regular troops and bringing down morale, as well as logistical issues like the fact that vanilla humans cant march seventy-five kilometres a day like Martial Warriors can. Twenty kilometres while carrying a full load is about all you can ask for from professionally trained civilians, but its not as simple as giving them wagons. You cant have slaves and criminals riding in comfort while hard-working soldiers slog through the mud, so theres really no good solution.
To fix this, Ive been recruiting and training my own private army of civilian crossbowmen who are meant to fight from fortified positions only. I dont have a military rank anymore, which means I technically shouldnt be raising troops, but I found a nifty little loophole. Technically, soldiers, by definition, are Martial Warriors, and regular civilians bearing arms are just militia, and there are no laws against training a local militia, nor are there limitations to equipping them, because who cares about civilians with weapons? Ive had Bulat and Jorani running things on that front, and thus far, their efforts have been constrained to my beet farms, which amounts to two-thousand fighting aged males who have enough training to load and loose crossbows with only minimal risk of killing friendlies. Not the best results for six weeks of work, but with a little luck and a lot of War Bond money, Ill be able to expand my civilian militia efforts greatly, with only minimal effort.
Zians quiet cough brings me out of my thoughts and back to the present, just in time to see Ral emerge victorious from the speed-eating competition and ask for more hard-tack. Laughing along with the crowd, I turn to my greatest rival-turned-friend and raise an eyebrow in question, wondering what it could be that he needs to get off his chest. My mother would like to know, Zian hesitantly Sends, which brings up all sorts of wrong signals, If you have any more unstamped War Bonds, and if theyre for sale.
Nice. The more business-savvy people who see the value in War Bonds, the more relieved I am, because I really need this to work. Its not printing money, but its the next best thing, and my next plans will need a hell of a lot more capital than I can raise on my own. I can give you nine more, but thats all, because Ill be auctioning them in batches of ten and cant be seen favouring any one person by giving them more. What you could do, however, is...
After much greeting, drinking, laughing, and cavorting, the fun and games portion of the ceremony is finally over and done with as Mila and I find ourselves swamped by well-wishers arriving to congratulate us on our marriage. Its not just my friends, but Milas as well, including a whole bunch of Sentinels I recognize, but am not so close with. The soldiers of my retinue are also here, including the Sentinels who were there with me in Sinuji. Charoks friends Agadei, Kiril, Hadai, and Tuya all greet me with a clap on the shoulder, while Tomor and Mugi hug me tight. Altan does too, but only a brief hug, as hes still a little spooked from the homo-erotically charged Spectre Cleansing which took place in Sinuji. Maral and Gansun have big smiles for Mila and curt nods for me, while Orgaal is already reeking of drink after getting a jump start on the festivities. Jigari and Abjiya are here too, looking closer than usual, and I cant help but think love is in the air.
Best of all, Yan, Lin-Lin, Luo-Luo, and the rest of my loved ones have arrived, including Taduk and Grandpa Du who look equally sulky at not being included in the ceremony. By this point, I have shared so many drinks, I can barely stand straight, but I still hoist a cup to the two grumps as thanks, which does plenty to alleviate their scowls and leaves my wife and I free to greet my future wives. Already holding Milas hand, I pull Lin-Lin close so she can hug my waist and take Yans hand before realizing I have nothing to offer Luo-Luo, but Mila and Yan catch on and bring her into the circle. Listen, I begin, trying my best not to slur during such a dignified moment. Today is my wedding with Mila. Its too late for her, shes my wife and Ill never let her leave. My blushing bride elbows me in the ribs hard enough to feel it through the thick armour, which reminds me I need to be careful later tonight. Its not too late for the rest of you though.
Not this again. Rolling her eyes, Yan shakes her head and says, I dont envy you this job, Mila. Youll have to teach him how to be a proper husband all by yourself.
Dont you dare abandon me in this time of need. Even though I cant see her face, I can tell shes scowling underneath the beads, with no hint of a smile at all. Shes serious about this, dead serious, even though Yan is clearly teasing. I cant handle him on my own. Mother knows what sort of trouble hell get into without all of us to keep him in line.
The girls all share a laugh and I thank my lucky stars for finding so many lovely and loving women, while still feeling a little conflicted about having a harem. I really, really, really want one, but its still scary now that its almost here, because I love all of them, and I want the best for my wives, but the best would be one man wholly devoted to keeping them happy, which is at odds with my dream of a harem. Complicated stuff, and I have no idea how to get around it, but once again, I go with my selfish desires and dont try to convince any of them to leave anymore.
Bidding Yan, Lin-Lin, and Luo-Luo farewell, I watch them collect all my pets away, including a wide-eyed Mama Bun struggling to free herself from Lin-Lins grasp, but my little wifey is relentless. Poor Mama Bun, she just wants to spend all her time with me, but today is Milas day, and I must reserve all my love and affection for her. Tearing my eyes away from Mama Bun, I bring my beautiful bride over to board our rickshaw, which is hitched to Mafu and Atir who look absolutely darling in their adorable silken outfits. With every eye upon us, its impossible to steal a kiss or cuddle, but at least I can freely embrace her from the side as we stand and wave to the crowd. Hello, beautiful wife, I say, whispering into her ear as we set off to distribute food and red pockets throughout the city. Sorry about using our wedding to my political benefit. This is supposed to be your big day and all, but youre going to hear me talk about War Bonds a lot today, because the first auction will be in three days when the Master of Coins seal arrives, and I want everyone to be ready and excited.
You apologize far too much, Husband, Mila replies, and I can sense the love and reproach intermingling in her use of the appellation. This is our big day, and if this benefits you, then I am supportive of it, because what benefits you, benefits me. You and I are a household now, our own little separate family. Never before have I hated this custom of absolutely no shows of public affection, because it is all I can do to keep from kissing Milas cherry-red lips. Besides, she adds with a distracted look in her eyes, hopefully struggling with the same pressing issues as me, We had our ceremony already. We are husband and wife now, and nothing else matters. Her voice grows husky as she leans into my embrace and Sends, Now Im just waiting for tonight. Im certain Ive solved my... issue, and you should be in no danger at all.
Arousing as this sentiment is, Im also mildly terrified too, which for some strange reason, only arouses me even more. Well, not so strange when you think about, because the signs were all there from the start. Ive always had a bit of a sadistic streak, but one cant overlook my blatant masochist tendencies, so a restrained wife who might possibly injure me just checks all my boxes. Heh. Wife. It still feels weird to call myself someones husband, but its true.
I, Falling Rain, am a happily married sadistic masochist, with a beautiful, loving wife, who hopefully will not physically cripple me on our wedding night.
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 585
I always figured Id end up fighting for my life on the day of my wedding.
I just never thought itd be against my grandfather slash father-in-law, or that he would beat me black and blue without mercy.
Inwardly grumbling as I limp back downstairs with my family in tow, I do my best not to scowl or glare as Husolt hovers over me like a mother hen. His meaty hands brush the dirt and dust from my cloak before straightening my shirt collar and no doubt leaving dirty fingerprints and sooty nail marks as he goes. Theres a good lad, he rumbles, his expression twisted with uncertain concern now that he realizes he may have gone too far. Lookin sharp as ever, you are. Ah, got a little smudge on your cheek there. A fat thumb presses down on the growing bruise he mistook for dirt and my scowl breaks free, earning me a sheepish shrug from Husolt before he continues with his unhelpful ministrations. This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com
But, my father-in-law made plans it seems, for upon emerging from the staircase, he leads me away from his apartment where my beloved Mila awaits and down six or seven doors to Toktas apartment, where the taciturn Healer stands waiting in the doorway with his customary neutral expression. Behind him, his lovely wife, Khorijin, putters about the room and pretends shes not glaring in my general direction while Tenjin awkwardly stands around with nothing to do and Tursinai basks in the communal tension. I suppose they all heard about my attempted blackmail, but in my defence, stairs are the worst and I was already sweating enough after rappelling down five stories in twenty-odd kilos of armour. I may be a crippled Martial Warrior, but Im in pretty good shape for a regular human.
Hello sir, I begin, putting on my best smile for the grumpy Healer and his angry wife. Maam. Tenjin. Tursinai. Sorry about the whole... insinuating you had a shameful secret thing. My future father-in-law set a very strict time limit on the retrieval, and Im not sure I wouldve made it if I had to take the stairs. Turning to accept a giant red pocket from Mom, I hold it out with both hands for Tenjin to take and say, Please accept this token of thanks for being a part of my wedding ceremony.
No thanks is needed, my friend, Tenjin says, even as Tokta snaps up the red pocket and tosses it back to his wife, who catches it without pausing her glare. ...But I will gratefully accept it. Left unsaid is the I suppose, and we exchange pained expressions over shared hardships. We both know it was meant in good fun and were laughing the whole while, but everyone else is making such a big deal out of it. Mom even scolded me for being shameless, and I suppose I can see how it could get out of hand, but I could always just lie and say his dark secret is his penis is too big or something.
Hmph, Tokta grunts, taking me by the chin and turning my head this way and that. Old age is making you soft, he says, shooting a dry look at Husolt. Hardly a scratch on him. Be a waste of effort to Heal this.
Come now, Tokta, Husolt pleads, eyes darting down the hallway towards his apartment. Dont be playing around, not today. My girl will have my hide if I bring him back scuffed like he is, then my old wife will stomp on all over whats left. Did my best to keep all the bruises hidden, but the lad is a tricksy one he is. Slipped past my guard and almost stepped on my toes. Had to put him down harder than I meant to, so hurry up and fix him before someone comes looking.
Harder than he meant to. What a nice way of saying he bashed me in the face with his giant metal staff. Least I turned away in time, else he mightve broken my nose, but it cost me a few loose teeth which will need fixing. Thankfully, Tokta is only teasing and quickly takes care of my injuries, though I notice he leaves behind the bruised ribs from when Husolt jabbed me in the chest and the throbbing knee I got from banging against the wall on my way down the building. This stupid golden armour is more ornamental than serviceable, which wouldnt be an issue if it was Runic like the Legates, but no, mine is just plain vanilla steel gilded with a gold alloy. Not even pure gold, though it makes sense, since pure gold would dent real easy.
Then again, Runic Armour wouldnt even work on me, as evidenced by my experiments with Taduks Runic shields, so I suppose kitting me out in Runic gear wouldve been a waste of money.
After handing over another red pocket to Tokta as thanks for his help, I make my way over to Akanais with an exaggerated limp, just so I can see Husolt sweat a bit more. Im not really angry, just a little exasperated and annoyed that he couldnt go a little easier on me, since there was absolutely no way I couldve gotten the token in time without cheating. Also, that riddle wasnt fair, how am I supposed to pick which of my pets live and which ones die? Its impossible to give a good answer, and he didnt even give me enough information. Like, why couldnt my pets just jump off the crumbling ledge? The wildcats in particular can jump for impressive heights and distances, and the bunnies are no slouches either, not to mention the fact that my bears can climb better than most monkeys so they shouldnt be in too much danger from crumbling cliffs.
Now Im worried. Should I teach my pets to hold onto ropes with their mouths? Better yet, maybe I can teach them to climb a rope, though I have no idea if bunbuns can do that. Itd be best if I taught them all how to Cloud-Step, but even I dont know how, so thats a bust, unless little Blackjack learns on his own and teaches the rest of his fellow floofs...
The hypotheticals melt away as we arrive outside the door to Akanais apartment, with the large, red silk scarf tied in a fat knot hanging in front of it. Clearing his throat, Husolt intones, Falling Rain of the People, I, Husolt, invite you into my home, so that you might become a part of my family. With that said, he tugs the knotted scarf down and drapes it around my neck before opening the door and heading in first. Customs says I bow and follow inside, but all of a sudden, I find my mind blank and legs locked in place.
This is my wedding. Once I walk through the doors, Im technically married. The rest is just a formality, because this right here is the ceremony. Theres no turning back after this, no coming back from a mistake, so its do or die. Quite literally in fact, because if down the line, Mila discovers shes made a huge mistake and leaves me, theres a very good chance Husolt or Akanai will murder me in a fit of pique. I dont think Id even blame them for it either, because if Mila ever left me, it would be because I screwed up big time, which isnt all that hard to imagine considering Ive got another wedding on the calendar less than months from now, as well as a long list of hang-up, neuroses, physical, deficiencies, metaphysical ailments, and deep, dark secrets which I hope to never reveal.
Am I wrong to marry Mila without revealing who I really am? Im not even sure how I would explain it, or what I would do if word were to spread. Would I be burned as a witch? Or taken away to study? Would the Brotherhood want to know more, or would they see me as some sort of karmic aberration or something? What about my parents? How would they feel about it? I thought about this and more during this last week, and while I could twist the facts all I want, but at the end of it all, there were no certain answers. There are plenty of reasons to turn around and walk away right now, but only one to move forward.
I love Mila, and I am not strong enough to go through life without her by my side.
Is it selfish? Probably, but I cant help it. I want to be happy, even if Im not sure if I really deserve it.
My feet carry me through the doorway and Mila is all I can I see, not because shes right in front of me, but because my mind will not register anything or anyone else. There she sits with her feet together and hands resting over her knees. Prominently displayed on her fourth finger is the wedding band I gave her last week, nestled in her dainty but formidable fists which are balled up to keep from fidgeting with her long, clingy dress. A red silk affair embroidered with golden clouds and phoenixes, the dress is a sleeveless, high-necked affair that hugs her body tight all the way down until flaring out around her ankles. Golden phoenix bangles adorn her wrists, and a sheer silk stole is draped neatly around her bared shoulders, covering her pale, freckled skin without obscuring it in any way, shape or form. Her lovely, lustrous hair hangs down in fiery ringlets and is held in place by an ornate red and gold tiara, from which hangs a veil of stringed beads of red and gold which hides her lovely face. Despite this, I can still imagine the surly scowl shes directing at her hang-dog father whos taking his seat, no doubt knowing hes being silently berated for taking so long, and my cheeks feel ready to burst from my unrestrained smile.
There sits my beloved wife, Mila.
Prompted by Moms Sending, I finally remember what Im supposed to do next, except my tongue feels ten times too large to speak. Looking around the room like a lost puppy, I finally take in the rest of the beautiful decorations, not to mention the veritable horde of dressed animals lingering about, including sweet Mama Bun thumping at my feet, looking oh-so-adorable with her fake-flower headband perched atop her nubby horns. It had to be fake because she kept eating the flowers, but this is not the time or place to cuddle my floofs as there are things to be done. With the Heavens as my witness, I begin, removing the decorative silk knot from around my neck and presenting it to Mila with a bow, I, Falling Rain, ask Sumila to accept my love and devotion. Take this string so that our fates may be tied as husband and wife, from this breath, until my last.
Milas hands reach for the knot before Im even done asking, her palms under mine as she stands with me. I, Sumila of the People, she begins, and I can almost make out her bright, burning eyes from behind the beads, Accept Falling Rain as my Husband, from this breath until my last.
A staff strikes the ground and I finally notice Monk Happy, beaming as he stands off to one side in full Brotherhood regalia, with bright yellow and orange monk robes as well as a bronze, mohawked headpiece. This monk bears witness to this union on behalf of the Heavens, he begins, in the soft cadence of ritualized speech. Let it be known that from this day forward, Falling Rain and Sumila of the People, are now husband and wife. May the Heavens bless their union and...
If thats the biggest problem we have at years end, then Id say thats worth celebrating.
You make a good point, Zian says out loud, before Sending, Colonel General Nian Zu thinks theyre preparing for another big attack, and I dont see any reason to disagree. Problem is, we dont know where, though Sinuji is likely due to its central location, weak defences, and the knowledge that there will not be a second fire-trap to even the odds.
Damn it. This is too soon. I may have something in the works, but I still need time to test the product, iron out the details, train workers, purchase materials, arrange supply lines and all that. Zians curiosity is evident, but he refrains from asking questions and simply nods, trusting that I will do what I can. Truth is, theres not much either of us can do to enact change on a large scale, because despite our lofty statuses, were still small fish when it comes to the war. Hows the Colonel Generals pet project coming along?
...poorly at Sinuji, Zian replies, shaking his head, but BoShui has found great success further north in DangDon. The irregulars fare better with walls to stand upon, but theyre utterly useless once the cavalry reach them.
The irregulars. A nice name to call a cadre of condemned criminals drafted into war, but Nian Zu was adamant we not risk the lives of good Imperial citizens on the battlefield. Of course theyre useless, I mutter, knowing Mila is keeping quiet just to be polite. Theyre not Martial Warriors, just regular people armed with spears and crossbows. They need to be better protected.
Zian nods, followed by a shrug. Ive done my best to keep them safe, but there is only so much I can do while also ensuring they hold the line and dont fill my soldiers backs full of bolts. Then it becomes especially difficult once the Defiled mark the irregulars as both easy target and dangerous threat.
Thats why volunteers would have been better, because then youd only get the bravest and most patriotic candidates amongst the civilians, but Nian Zu refused to listen to my advice. Well, theyll work better here in the Citadel, I say, picturing it in my head. Theres the outer wall, an unobstructed plaza, then a line of buildings that form the inner wall, which is not only higher than the outer wall, but also close enough for my repeating crossbows to unload on attackers without risk of friendly fire.
And with luck, maybe theyll have more support, though thats still up in the air.
This was the crux of Nian Zus controversial proposal, to bring in condemned criminals and slaves to help bolster the Imperial Armys numbers. He understands the beauty of ranged warfare, and knows that bows and crossbows firing over the lines of defending soldiers add so much more killing potential. Problem is, Nian Zu wasnt kidding when he said itd be controversial. Even with the Legate hammering it through and paying a quarter of the costs out of pocket, there was a lot of pushback on the issue and not all of it was ridiculous as I expected. Civilians scare more easily than Martial Warriors, meaning troops and officers are needed to keep them in line, because in the heat of battle, hard-pressed soldiers wont stop to check whether their fleeing comrade is a Martial Warrior before panicking and setting off a chain rout. Theres a whole host of other problems too, including Tainted civilians infecting the regular troops and bringing down morale, as well as logistical issues like the fact that vanilla humans cant march seventy-five kilometres a day like Martial Warriors can. Twenty kilometres while carrying a full load is about all you can ask for from professionally trained civilians, but its not as simple as giving them wagons. You cant have slaves and criminals riding in comfort while hard-working soldiers slog through the mud, so theres really no good solution.
To fix this, Ive been recruiting and training my own private army of civilian crossbowmen who are meant to fight from fortified positions only. I dont have a military rank anymore, which means I technically shouldnt be raising troops, but I found a nifty little loophole. Technically, soldiers, by definition, are Martial Warriors, and regular civilians bearing arms are just militia, and there are no laws against training a local militia, nor are there limitations to equipping them, because who cares about civilians with weapons? Ive had Bulat and Jorani running things on that front, and thus far, their efforts have been constrained to my beet farms, which amounts to two-thousand fighting aged males who have enough training to load and loose crossbows with only minimal risk of killing friendlies. Not the best results for six weeks of work, but with a little luck and a lot of War Bond money, Ill be able to expand my civilian militia efforts greatly, with only minimal effort.
Zians quiet cough brings me out of my thoughts and back to the present, just in time to see Ral emerge victorious from the speed-eating competition and ask for more hard-tack. Laughing along with the crowd, I turn to my greatest rival-turned-friend and raise an eyebrow in question, wondering what it could be that he needs to get off his chest. My mother would like to know, Zian hesitantly Sends, which brings up all sorts of wrong signals, If you have any more unstamped War Bonds, and if theyre for sale.
Nice. The more business-savvy people who see the value in War Bonds, the more relieved I am, because I really need this to work. Its not printing money, but its the next best thing, and my next plans will need a hell of a lot more capital than I can raise on my own. I can give you nine more, but thats all, because Ill be auctioning them in batches of ten and cant be seen favouring any one person by giving them more. What you could do, however, is...
After much greeting, drinking, laughing, and cavorting, the fun and games portion of the ceremony is finally over and done with as Mila and I find ourselves swamped by well-wishers arriving to congratulate us on our marriage. Its not just my friends, but Milas as well, including a whole bunch of Sentinels I recognize, but am not so close with. The soldiers of my retinue are also here, including the Sentinels who were there with me in Sinuji. Charoks friends Agadei, Kiril, Hadai, and Tuya all greet me with a clap on the shoulder, while Tomor and Mugi hug me tight. Altan does too, but only a brief hug, as hes still a little spooked from the homo-erotically charged Spectre Cleansing which took place in Sinuji. Maral and Gansun have big smiles for Mila and curt nods for me, while Orgaal is already reeking of drink after getting a jump start on the festivities. Jigari and Abjiya are here too, looking closer than usual, and I cant help but think love is in the air.
Best of all, Yan, Lin-Lin, Luo-Luo, and the rest of my loved ones have arrived, including Taduk and Grandpa Du who look equally sulky at not being included in the ceremony. By this point, I have shared so many drinks, I can barely stand straight, but I still hoist a cup to the two grumps as thanks, which does plenty to alleviate their scowls and leaves my wife and I free to greet my future wives. Already holding Milas hand, I pull Lin-Lin close so she can hug my waist and take Yans hand before realizing I have nothing to offer Luo-Luo, but Mila and Yan catch on and bring her into the circle. Listen, I begin, trying my best not to slur during such a dignified moment. Today is my wedding with Mila. Its too late for her, shes my wife and Ill never let her leave. My blushing bride elbows me in the ribs hard enough to feel it through the thick armour, which reminds me I need to be careful later tonight. Its not too late for the rest of you though.
Not this again. Rolling her eyes, Yan shakes her head and says, I dont envy you this job, Mila. Youll have to teach him how to be a proper husband all by yourself.
Dont you dare abandon me in this time of need. Even though I cant see her face, I can tell shes scowling underneath the beads, with no hint of a smile at all. Shes serious about this, dead serious, even though Yan is clearly teasing. I cant handle him on my own. Mother knows what sort of trouble hell get into without all of us to keep him in line.
The girls all share a laugh and I thank my lucky stars for finding so many lovely and loving women, while still feeling a little conflicted about having a harem. I really, really, really want one, but its still scary now that its almost here, because I love all of them, and I want the best for my wives, but the best would be one man wholly devoted to keeping them happy, which is at odds with my dream of a harem. Complicated stuff, and I have no idea how to get around it, but once again, I go with my selfish desires and dont try to convince any of them to leave anymore.
Bidding Yan, Lin-Lin, and Luo-Luo farewell, I watch them collect all my pets away, including a wide-eyed Mama Bun struggling to free herself from Lin-Lins grasp, but my little wifey is relentless. Poor Mama Bun, she just wants to spend all her time with me, but today is Milas day, and I must reserve all my love and affection for her. Tearing my eyes away from Mama Bun, I bring my beautiful bride over to board our rickshaw, which is hitched to Mafu and Atir who look absolutely darling in their adorable silken outfits. With every eye upon us, its impossible to steal a kiss or cuddle, but at least I can freely embrace her from the side as we stand and wave to the crowd. Hello, beautiful wife, I say, whispering into her ear as we set off to distribute food and red pockets throughout the city. Sorry about using our wedding to my political benefit. This is supposed to be your big day and all, but youre going to hear me talk about War Bonds a lot today, because the first auction will be in three days when the Master of Coins seal arrives, and I want everyone to be ready and excited.
You apologize far too much, Husband, Mila replies, and I can sense the love and reproach intermingling in her use of the appellation. This is our big day, and if this benefits you, then I am supportive of it, because what benefits you, benefits me. You and I are a household now, our own little separate family. Never before have I hated this custom of absolutely no shows of public affection, because it is all I can do to keep from kissing Milas cherry-red lips. Besides, she adds with a distracted look in her eyes, hopefully struggling with the same pressing issues as me, We had our ceremony already. We are husband and wife now, and nothing else matters. Her voice grows husky as she leans into my embrace and Sends, Now Im just waiting for tonight. Im certain Ive solved my... issue, and you should be in no danger at all.
Arousing as this sentiment is, Im also mildly terrified too, which for some strange reason, only arouses me even more. Well, not so strange when you think about, because the signs were all there from the start. Ive always had a bit of a sadistic streak, but one cant overlook my blatant masochist tendencies, so a restrained wife who might possibly injure me just checks all my boxes. Heh. Wife. It still feels weird to call myself someones husband, but its true.
I, Falling Rain, am a happily married sadistic masochist, with a beautiful, loving wife, who hopefully will not physically cripple me on our wedding night.
Chapter Meme
Chapter 585I always figured Id end up fighting for my life on the day of my wedding.I just never thought itd be against my grandfather slash father-in-law, or that he would beat me black and blue without mercy. Inwardly grumbling as I limp back downstairs with my family in tow, I do my best not to scowl or glare as Husolt hovers over me like a mother hen. His meaty hands brush the dirt and dust from my cloak before straightening my shirt collar and no doubt leaving dirty fingerprints and sooty nail marks as he goes. Theres a good lad, he rumbles, his expression twisted with uncertain concern now that he realizes he may have gone too far. Lookin sharp as ever, you are. Ah, got a little smudge on your cheek there. A fat thumb presses down on the growing bruise he mistook for dirt and my scowl breaks free, earning me a sheepish shrug from Husolt before he continues with his unhelpful ministrations. This chapter is updated by novelbiin.comBut, my father-in-law made plans it seems, for upon emerging from the staircase, he leads me away from his apartment where my beloved Mila awaits and down six or seven doors to Toktas apartment, where the taciturn Healer stands waiting in the doorway with his customary neutral expression. Behind him, his lovely wife, Khorijin, putters about the room and pretends shes not glaring in my general direction while Tenjin awkwardly stands around with nothing to do and Tursinai basks in the communal tension. I suppose they all heard about my attempted blackmail, but in my defence, stairs are the worst and I was already sweating enough after rappelling down five stories in twenty-odd kilos of armour. I may be a crippled Martial Warrior, but Im in pretty good shape for a regular human. Hello sir, I begin, putting on my best smile for the grumpy Healer and his angry wife. Maam. Tenjin. Tursinai. Sorry about the whole... insinuating you had a shameful secret thing. My future father-in-law set a very strict time limit on the retrieval, and Im not sure I wouldve made it if I had to take the stairs. Turning to accept a giant red pocket from Mom, I hold it out with both hands for Tenjin to take and say, Please accept this token of thanks for being a part of my wedding ceremony. No thanks is needed, my friend, Tenjin says, even as Tokta snaps up the red pocket and tosses it back to his wife, who catches it without pausing her glare. ...But I will gratefully accept it. Left unsaid is the I suppose, and we exchange pained expressions over shared hardships. We both know it was meant in good fun and were laughing the whole while, but everyone else is making such a big deal out of it. Mom even scolded me for being shameless, and I suppose I can see how it could get out of hand, but I could always just lie and say his dark secret is his penis is too big or something.Hmph, Tokta grunts, taking me by the chin and turning my head this way and that. Old age is making you soft, he says, shooting a dry look at Husolt. Hardly a scratch on him. Be a waste of effort to Heal this.Come now, Tokta, Husolt pleads, eyes darting down the hallway towards his apartment. Dont be playing around, not today. My girl will have my hide if I bring him back scuffed like he is, then my old wife will stomp on all over whats left. Did my best to keep all the bruises hidden, but the lad is a tricksy one he is. Slipped past my guard and almost stepped on my toes. Had to put him down harder than I meant to, so hurry up and fix him before someone comes looking.Harder than he meant to. What a nice way of saying he bashed me in the face with his giant metal staff. Least I turned away in time, else he mightve broken my nose, but it cost me a few loose teeth which will need fixing. Thankfully, Tokta is only teasing and quickly takes care of my injuries, though I notice he leaves behind the bruised ribs from when Husolt jabbed me in the chest and the throbbing knee I got from banging against the wall on my way down the building. This stupid golden armour is more ornamental than serviceable, which wouldnt be an issue if it was Runic like the Legates, but no, mine is just plain vanilla steel gilded with a gold alloy. Not even pure gold, though it makes sense, since pure gold would dent real easy. Then again, Runic Armour wouldnt even work on me, as evidenced by my experiments with Taduks Runic shields, so I suppose kitting me out in Runic gear wouldve been a waste of money.After handing over another red pocket to Tokta as thanks for his help, I make my way over to Akanais with an exaggerated limp, just so I can see Husolt sweat a bit more. Im not really angry, just a little exasperated and annoyed that he couldnt go a little easier on me, since there was absolutely no way I couldve gotten the token in time without cheating. Also, that riddle wasnt fair, how am I supposed to pick which of my pets live and which ones die? Its impossible to give a good answer, and he didnt even give me enough information. Like, why couldnt my pets just jump off the crumbling ledge? The wildcats in particular can jump for impressive heights and distances, and the bunnies are no slouches either, not to mention the fact that my bears can climb better than most monkeys so they shouldnt be in too much danger from crumbling cliffs. Now Im worried. Should I teach my pets to hold onto ropes with their mouths? Better yet, maybe I can teach them to climb a rope, though I have no idea if bunbuns can do that. Itd be best if I taught them all how to Cloud-Step, but even I dont know how, so thats a bust, unless little Blackjack learns on his own and teaches the rest of his fellow floofs...The hypotheticals melt away as we arrive outside the door to Akanais apartment, with the large, red silk scarf tied in a fat knot hanging in front of it. Clearing his throat, Husolt intones, Falling Rain of the People, I, Husolt, invite you into my home, so that you might become a part of my family. With that said, he tugs the knotted scarf down and drapes it around my neck before opening the door and heading in first. Customs says I bow and follow inside, but all of a sudden, I find my mind blank and legs locked in place. This is my wedding. Once I walk through the doors, Im technically married. The rest is just a formality, because this right here is the ceremony. Theres no turning back after this, no coming back from a mistake, so its do or die. Quite literally in fact, because if down the line, Mila discovers shes made a huge mistake and leaves me, theres a very good chance Husolt or Akanai will murder me in a fit of pique. I dont think Id even blame them for it either, because if Mila ever left me, it would be because I screwed up big time, which isnt all that hard to imagine considering Ive got another wedding on the calendar less than months from now, as well as a long list of hang-up, neuroses, physical, deficiencies, metaphysical ailments, and deep, dark secrets which I hope to never reveal. Am I wrong to marry Mila without revealing who I really am? Im not even sure how I would explain it, or what I would do if word were to spread. Would I be burned as a witch? Or taken away to study? Would the Brotherhood want to know more, or would they see me as some sort of karmic aberration or something? What about my parents? How would they feel about it? I thought about this and more during this last week, and while I could twist the facts all I want, but at the end of it all, there were no certain answers. There are plenty of reasons to turn around and walk away right now, but only one to move forward. I love Mila, and I am not strong enough to go through life without her by my side. Is it selfish? Probably, but I cant help it. I want to be happy, even if Im not sure if I really deserve it.My feet carry me through the doorway and Mila is all I can I see, not because shes right in front of me, but because my mind will not register anything or anyone else. There she sits with her feet together and hands resting over her knees. Prominently displayed on her fourth finger is the wedding band I gave her last week, nestled in her dainty but formidable fists which are balled up to keep from fidgeting with her long, clingy dress. A red silk affair embroidered with golden clouds and phoenixes, the dress is a sleeveless, high-necked affair that hugs her body tight all the way down until flaring out around her ankles. Golden phoenix bangles adorn her wrists, and a sheer silk stole is draped neatly around her bared shoulders, covering her pale, freckled skin without obscuring it in any way, shape or form. Her lovely, lustrous hair hangs down in fiery ringlets and is held in place by an ornate red and gold tiara, from which hangs a veil of stringed beads of red and gold which hides her lovely face. Despite this, I can still imagine the surly scowl shes directing at her hang-dog father whos taking his seat, no doubt knowing hes being silently berated for taking so long, and my cheeks feel ready to burst from my unrestrained smile.There sits my beloved wife, Mila. Prompted by Moms Sending, I finally remember what Im supposed to do next, except my tongue feels ten times too large to speak. Looking around the room like a lost puppy, I finally take in the rest of the beautiful decorations, not to mention the veritable horde of dressed animals lingering about, including sweet Mama Bun thumping at my feet, looking oh-so-adorable with her fake-flower headband perched atop her nubby horns. It had to be fake because she kept eating the flowers, but this is not the time or place to cuddle my floofs as there are things to be done. With the Heavens as my witness, I begin, removing the decorative silk knot from around my neck and presenting it to Mila with a bow, I, Falling Rain, ask Sumila to accept my love and devotion. Take this string so that our fates may be tied as husband and wife, from this breath, until my last.Milas hands reach for the knot before Im even done asking, her palms under mine as she stands with me. I, Sumila of the People, she begins, and I can almost make out her bright, burning eyes from behind the beads, Accept Falling Rain as my Husband, from this breath until my last. A staff strikes the ground and I finally notice Monk Happy, beaming as he stands off to one side in full Brotherhood regalia, with bright yellow and orange monk robes as well as a bronze, mohawked headpiece. This monk bears witness to this union on behalf of the Heavens, he begins, in the soft cadence of ritualized speech. Let it be known that from this day forward, Falling Rain and Sumila of the People, are now husband and wife. May the Heavens bless their union and... If thats the biggest problem we have at years end, then Id say thats worth celebrating. You make a good point, Zian says out loud, before Sending, Colonel General Nian Zu thinks theyre preparing for another big attack, and I dont see any reason to disagree. Problem is, we dont know where, though Sinuji is likely due to its central location, weak defences, and the knowledge that there will not be a second fire-trap to even the odds.Damn it. This is too soon. I may have something in the works, but I still need time to test the product, iron out the details, train workers, purchase materials, arrange supply lines and all that. Zians curiosity is evident, but he refrains from asking questions and simply nods, trusting that I will do what I can. Truth is, theres not much either of us can do to enact change on a large scale, because despite our lofty statuses, were still small fish when it comes to the war. Hows the Colonel Generals pet project coming along?...poorly at Sinuji, Zian replies, shaking his head, but BoShui has found great success further north in DangDon. The irregulars fare better with walls to stand upon, but theyre utterly useless once the cavalry reach them.The irregulars. A nice name to call a cadre of condemned criminals drafted into war, but Nian Zu was adamant we not risk the lives of good Imperial citizens on the battlefield. Of course theyre useless, I mutter, knowing Mila is keeping quiet just to be polite. Theyre not Martial Warriors, just regular people armed with spears and crossbows. They need to be better protected. Zian nods, followed by a shrug. Ive done my best to keep them safe, but there is only so much I can do while also ensuring they hold the line and dont fill my soldiers backs full of bolts. Then it becomes especially difficult once the Defiled mark the irregulars as both easy target and dangerous threat.Thats why volunteers would have been better, because then youd only get the bravest and most patriotic candidates amongst the civilians, but Nian Zu refused to listen to my advice. Well, theyll work better here in the Citadel, I say, picturing it in my head. Theres the outer wall, an unobstructed plaza, then a line of buildings that form the inner wall, which is not only higher than the outer wall, but also close enough for my repeating crossbows to unload on attackers without risk of friendly fire. And with luck, maybe theyll have more support, though thats still up in the air. This was the crux of Nian Zus controversial proposal, to bring in condemned criminals and slaves to help bolster the Imperial Armys numbers. He understands the beauty of ranged warfare, and knows that bows and crossbows firing over the lines of defending soldiers add so much more killing potential. Problem is, Nian Zu wasnt kidding when he said itd be controversial. Even with the Legate hammering it through and paying a quarter of the costs out of pocket, there was a lot of pushback on the issue and not all of it was ridiculous as I expected. Civilians scare more easily than Martial Warriors, meaning troops and officers are needed to keep them in line, because in the heat of battle, hard-pressed soldiers wont stop to check whether their fleeing comrade is a Martial Warrior before panicking and setting off a chain rout. Theres a whole host of other problems too, including Tainted civilians infecting the regular troops and bringing down morale, as well as logistical issues like the fact that vanilla humans cant march seventy-five kilometres a day like Martial Warriors can. Twenty kilometres while carrying a full load is about all you can ask for from professionally trained civilians, but its not as simple as giving them wagons. You cant have slaves and criminals riding in comfort while hard-working soldiers slog through the mud, so theres really no good solution.To fix this, Ive been recruiting and training my own private army of civilian crossbowmen who are meant to fight from fortified positions only. I dont have a military rank anymore, which means I technically shouldnt be raising troops, but I found a nifty little loophole. Technically, soldiers, by definition, are Martial Warriors, and regular civilians bearing arms are just militia, and there are no laws against training a local militia, nor are there limitations to equipping them, because who cares about civilians with weapons? Ive had Bulat and Jorani running things on that front, and thus far, their efforts have been constrained to my beet farms, which amounts to two-thousand fighting aged males who have enough training to load and loose crossbows with only minimal risk of killing friendlies. Not the best results for six weeks of work, but with a little luck and a lot of War Bond money, Ill be able to expand my civilian militia efforts greatly, with only minimal effort.Zians quiet cough brings me out of my thoughts and back to the present, just in time to see Ral emerge victorious from the speed-eating competition and ask for more hard-tack. Laughing along with the crowd, I turn to my greatest rival-turned-friend and raise an eyebrow in question, wondering what it could be that he needs to get off his chest. My mother would like to know, Zian hesitantly Sends, which brings up all sorts of wrong signals, If you have any more unstamped War Bonds, and if theyre for sale.Nice. The more business-savvy people who see the value in War Bonds, the more relieved I am, because I really need this to work. Its not printing money, but its the next best thing, and my next plans will need a hell of a lot more capital than I can raise on my own. I can give you nine more, but thats all, because Ill be auctioning them in batches of ten and cant be seen favouring any one person by giving them more. What you could do, however, is...After much greeting, drinking, laughing, and cavorting, the fun and games portion of the ceremony is finally over and done with as Mila and I find ourselves swamped by well-wishers arriving to congratulate us on our marriage. Its not just my friends, but Milas as well, including a whole bunch of Sentinels I recognize, but am not so close with. The soldiers of my retinue are also here, including the Sentinels who were there with me in Sinuji. Charoks friends Agadei, Kiril, Hadai, and Tuya all greet me with a clap on the shoulder, while Tomor and Mugi hug me tight. Altan does too, but only a brief hug, as hes still a little spooked from the homo-erotically charged Spectre Cleansing which took place in Sinuji. Maral and Gansun have big smiles for Mila and curt nods for me, while Orgaal is already reeking of drink after getting a jump start on the festivities. Jigari and Abjiya are here too, looking closer than usual, and I cant help but think love is in the air.Best of all, Yan, Lin-Lin, Luo-Luo, and the rest of my loved ones have arrived, including Taduk and Grandpa Du who look equally sulky at not being included in the ceremony. By this point, I have shared so many drinks, I can barely stand straight, but I still hoist a cup to the two grumps as thanks, which does plenty to alleviate their scowls and leaves my wife and I free to greet my future wives. Already holding Milas hand, I pull Lin-Lin close so she can hug my waist and take Yans hand before realizing I have nothing to offer Luo-Luo, but Mila and Yan catch on and bring her into the circle. Listen, I begin, trying my best not to slur during such a dignified moment. Today is my wedding with Mila. Its too late for her, shes my wife and Ill never let her leave. My blushing bride elbows me in the ribs hard enough to feel it through the thick armour, which reminds me I need to be careful later tonight. Its not too late for the rest of you though. Not this again. Rolling her eyes, Yan shakes her head and says, I dont envy you this job, Mila. Youll have to teach him how to be a proper husband all by yourself.Dont you dare abandon me in this time of need. Even though I cant see her face, I can tell shes scowling underneath the beads, with no hint of a smile at all. Shes serious about this, dead serious, even though Yan is clearly teasing. I cant handle him on my own. Mother knows what sort of trouble hell get into without all of us to keep him in line.The girls all share a laugh and I thank my lucky stars for finding so many lovely and loving women, while still feeling a little conflicted about having a harem. I really, really, really want one, but its still scary now that its almost here, because I love all of them, and I want the best for my wives, but the best would be one man wholly devoted to keeping them happy, which is at odds with my dream of a harem. Complicated stuff, and I have no idea how to get around it, but once again, I go with my selfish desires and dont try to convince any of them to leave anymore. Bidding Yan, Lin-Lin, and Luo-Luo farewell, I watch them collect all my pets away, including a wide-eyed Mama Bun struggling to free herself from Lin-Lins grasp, but my little wifey is relentless. Poor Mama Bun, she just wants to spend all her time with me, but today is Milas day, and I must reserve all my love and affection for her. Tearing my eyes away from Mama Bun, I bring my beautiful bride over to board our rickshaw, which is hitched to Mafu and Atir who look absolutely darling in their adorable silken outfits. With every eye upon us, its impossible to steal a kiss or cuddle, but at least I can freely embrace her from the side as we stand and wave to the crowd. Hello, beautiful wife, I say, whispering into her ear as we set off to distribute food and red pockets throughout the city. Sorry about using our wedding to my political benefit. This is supposed to be your big day and all, but youre going to hear me talk about War Bonds a lot today, because the first auction will be in three days when the Master of Coins seal arrives, and I want everyone to be ready and excited.You apologize far too much, Husband, Mila replies, and I can sense the love and reproach intermingling in her use of the appellation. This is our big day, and if this benefits you, then I am supportive of it, because what benefits you, benefits me. You and I are a household now, our own little separate family. Never before have I hated this custom of absolutely no shows of public affection, because it is all I can do to keep from kissing Milas cherry-red lips. Besides, she adds with a distracted look in her eyes, hopefully struggling with the same pressing issues as me, We had our ceremony already. We are husband and wife now, and nothing else matters. Her voice grows husky as she leans into my embrace and Sends, Now Im just waiting for tonight. Im certain Ive solved my... issue, and you should be in no danger at all.Arousing as this sentiment is, Im also mildly terrified too, which for some strange reason, only arouses me even more. Well, not so strange when you think about, because the signs were all there from the start. Ive always had a bit of a sadistic streak, but one cant overlook my blatant masochist tendencies, so a restrained wife who might possibly injure me just checks all my boxes. Heh. Wife. It still feels weird to call myself someones husband, but its true.I, Falling Rain, am a happily married sadistic masochist, with a beautiful, loving wife, who hopefully will not physically cripple me on our wedding night.Chapter Meme
