Ch 52: Wedding

AN - guys check the comment section for the pictures!

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Serena's POV

The veil was annoying.

No one told me that wearing it would feel like looking through frosted glass, but here I was, about to walk down the aisle, and I could barely see anything. Fantastic.

I turned to my side, hooking my arm through Grandpa Darius's.

Except—this wasn't my usual energetic, loud, exasperatingly dramatic grandpa. No, the man beside me right now wasn't the same person who sneakily gave Rodan candy before the wedding.

This was the Head of the Hunter Association Darius.

His posture was rigid, his gaze sharp, and his entire presence exuded authority. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was walking into a high-stakes negotiation instead of giving me away at my wedding.

I blinked. "Are you okay?"

His expression didn't change. "Of course."

'Uh-huh. Sure'.

The soft hum of music began, signaling our cue. The large doors in front of us slowly opened, revealing the wedding venue—simple, elegant, luxurious.

Through the blurred veil, I could make out the crisp white and gold decorations, the warm glow of candlelight, and the perfectly arranged flower petals leading up to the altar. It was beautiful. Everything I had hoped for.

And then I spotted Valerie.

Well, I assumed it was Valerie. The veil obscured my vision enough that I couldn't make out her face, but the stance—relaxed, confident, completely unbothered—was unmistakable.

And then I noticed the tuxedo.

I sighed internally. 'Of course'.

I had been hoping—just a little—that she'd surprise me by wearing something extravagant. Maybe something dramatic with lace, or an elegant wedding gown. But nope. Valerie had shown up in a perfectly tailored, infuriatingly good-looking white tuxedo.

'Annoying. Unfair. Very attractive'.

Grandpa Darius gave me a subtle nod, and we began walking.

As we made our way down the aisle, I could feel the weight of thirty pairs of eyes on me—friends, family, and a handful of hunters who probably came just for the food. There were quiet murmurs of approval, small smiles from familiar faces, and the occasional soft clap.

I did my best to keep my expression calm and composed, but my mind was screaming. 'Don't trip. Don't trip. If you trip, Valerie will never let you live it down'.

Finally, we reached the altar.

And that was when Grandpa Darius turned to Valerie, extending his hand for a handshake.

Valerie, always relaxed, took it without hesitation—only for her smirk to falter slightly when Darius's grip tightened.

"If you hurt her," Grandpa Darius said, his voice cool, calm, and utterly deadly, "not only will your hunter license be revoked, but I will personally ensure that you regret it."

The air around us shifted. For a moment, there was no cheerful wedding atmosphere—just the raw, authoritative presence of the man who led the Hunter Association.

To her credit, Valerie didn't flinch. Instead, she grinned.

"Understood, sir."

Darius held her gaze for another second, as if measuring her soul, before finally letting go of her hand and stepping back.

The second he turned away, Valerie leaned in slightly, smirking. "You look good."

I sighed, giving her an unimpressed once-over. "So do you. Though I was hoping for a dress."

She grinned wider. "I know. That's why I didn't wear one."

"I'm marrying a menace." I sighed in a defeated tone.

The priest cleared his throat, starting the ceremony. Everything went smoothly—so far, so good—until Rodan, our ring bearer, entered.

Rodan took his role very seriously.

He walked with the careful precision of a soldier carrying a sacred artifact, both hands gripping the small velvet box like it held the fate of the world. His little brows furrowed in deep concentration, and he moved slowly, deliberately, like one wrong step would set off a landmine.

I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.

Finally, he made it to us, carefully handing the box to the priest. Then, with a satisfied nod—like he had just completed the most important mission of his life—he walked back to his seat, chest puffed up with pride.

And then it was time for the vows.

I took a deep breath, shifting slightly as I held Valerie's hands.

"Valerie, you are the brightest, most infuriating person I have ever met."

Valerie laughed.

Not a soft chuckle. A full-on laugh at the altar.

I shot her a glare, but it only made her grin wider.

I pushed on, my voice dry. "From the moment you barged into my life—unapologetic, smug, and entirely too charming—I knew I was doomed."

She nodded approvingly.

I continued, pouring every ounce of sincerity into my words. And as I spoke, I saw her expression shift. The teasing faded, replaced by something softer, something warmer. And by the time I reached the end—"For as long as we live, for as long as you'll have me, I am yours."—her eyes were visibly misty.

I smirked. "Are you crying?"

Valerie sniffed dramatically. "Shut up."

Then it was her turn.

"Serena, from the moment I met you, I knew my life would never be boring again."

I groaned. "Of course you'd start with that."

She winked. "You were fierce, stubborn, and entirely too serious for your own good. So, of course, I made it my mission to annoy you until you smiled."

My eyes narrowed. "That's not a vow, that's a confession of your crimes."

The guests chuckled, but Valerie ignored them, continuing with a voice full of unwavering certainty.

Her words were both playful and deeply genuine, full of the love and dedication I had come to rely on. And as she reached the end—"Serena, you are my greatest adventure, my home, and the only person I want to grow old with. So get used to it—you're stuck with me forever."—I felt a warmth spread through my chest.

The priest smiled. "You may now kiss the bride."

Valerie snorted. "Wait, but we're both brides—who kisses who?"

I shot her a look that could kill. "Valerie."

She grinned, amused at her own joke, before finally lifting my veil and pressing a soft, lingering kiss against my lips.

Applause erupted around us. The moment was perfect.

And then—just like that—the celebration began.

I sighed. Time to survive a reception where Valerie will undoubtedly cause some kind of chaos.