Chapter 158: True Winner VIII
Chapter 158: True Winner VIII
After their moment of shared affection ended, Ophelia remained silent in Bahamut’s arms.
Her master, the man she loved, would soon become someone else’s husband. The truth weighed heavily on her, but she accepted it. Ophelia knew how remarkable he was and understood that he needed someone extraordinary by his side.
However, the uncertainty of what came next troubled her most. What if the man she loved, now another woman’s husband, forgot her?
‘I don’t want to be abandoned. At least… in some corner of his heart, I hope there will still be a place for me.’
Though she knew Bahamut’s feelings for her were genuine in the present, she couldn’t help but wonder what would happen once he built a family. Would she never again experience his love the way she did now? The future looked unclear from Ophelia’s point of view, filling her with a deep sense of unease.
Just as these thoughts overwhelmed her, Bahamut’s voice broke the silence.
“…I’ve been thinking.”
“Yes?” Ophelia asked, lifting her gaze to meet his.
His eyes held hers with a quiet sincerity. “I’ve been considering this for a while. No matter how much I think about it, this seems like the best thing I can do for you, Ophelia.”
Her heart tightened. “What do you mean?”With a hint of shyness, Bahamut leaned closer and whispered into her ear.
At his words, Ophelia’s pupils widened, and her cheeks flushed with sudden warmth.
***
Beneath a bright sky, Bahamut and Bertina stood together, speaking in soft, serious tones.
“Shall we go, my lady—no… honey?” he asked warmly.
“Yes. Let’s go,” Bertina replied, her voice tinged with rare shyness.
She wore a radiant white dress and veil, glowing like an angel descending from the heavens.
Each time Bahamut looked at her, he marveled at her beauty.
‘She… How is it possible that she’s so beautiful?’
Smiling, Bahamut held Bertina’s hand tightly as they made their way down the aisle. Familiar faces appeared around them—servants, employees, business partners—all of whom watched the couple with admiration.
Ahead of them, the podium awaited, along with the officiant who would conduct the ceremony. Standing to the side were Ophelia, Ashbel, Isolda, and Yuria, along with one other person.
Bahamut smiled as his gaze landed on them before turning his attention back to Bertina, standing beside him.
This was their wedding ceremony, a solemn moment when two people vowed to share their lives as husband and wife. Though he had spent months preparing both mind and heart, standing here now, Bahamut felt far more nervous than he had expected.
‘Marriage… I’m getting married. Haha, what a strange and awkward feeling.’
He glanced at Bertina, noting the slight agitation on her face. Despite her usual composure, it was clear that she, too, felt the weight of the moment. Though she had been through marriage before, the nerves were undeniable.
The sight eased Bahamut’s own tension. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, and in response, Bertina gave him a subtle smile—one that only he could recognize.
Their private exchange of affection was brief but significant. As the officiant finished his speech, it was time for the couple to exchange vows.
“Will the groom, Bahamut Fernandez, take Bertina Minerva as his wife, and swear to share in joy and sorrow, forever?” the officiant asked.
“Yes! I swear!” Bahamut declared, his voice bright with emotion.
At his enthusiastic response, Bertina blushed and hid her face behind her bouquet.
The officiant turned to her next. “Will Bertina Minerva support her husband and love him forever?”
“Yes, I swear,” she answered, relieved that she had spoken without faltering.
The officiant smiled approvingly. “Then, please seal your vows with a kiss.”
Bahamut and Bertina leaned in, their lips meeting in a deep, affectionate kiss. The earlier awkwardness melted away, leaving only the warmth of their love for each other.
As the kiss ended, Bahamut embraced Bertina and whispered, “I’ll make you happy. You and our children, too.”
Bertina chuckled softly, her heart full. She tightened her hold around him, savoring the moment.
Their gazes then drifted to the baby cradled in Isolda’s arms below the podium. The infant girl had blue hair like Bertina’s and sharp eyes resembling Bahamut’s. She looked around with curiosity, as if the grand event unfolding around her was a delightful mystery.
“Now, bride and groom, please march!” the officiant announced.
Hand in hand, Bahamut and Bertina descended the podium together. With the vows and kiss complete, Bertina tossed her bouquet into the air.
The bouquet arced gracefully through the sky before landing precisely in Ophelia’s arms.
Surprised, Ophelia stood frozen for a moment, clutching the flowers.
Bertina chuckled softly.
‘Now that I have what I wanted, good luck.’
Her gesture was not only a subtle mark of victory but also a small token of kindness toward a fellow woman in love.
Descending the steps with Bahamut, Bertina noticed Ophelia’s reaction—a flicker of surprise that quickly vanished. Ophelia bowed her head slightly, offering a respectful nod in return.
‘Perhaps… she’s a better person than I thought.’
Once the ceremony concluded, Bertina approached Isolda and gently took the baby from her arms. As soon as the child was back in her mother’s embrace, she nestled close, waving her tiny arms.
Bertina whispered softly to the baby, “You will be happy too, my sweet Veronica Fernandez.”
***
A hand moved swiftly, penning neat, deliberate words onto a white sheet of paper. With the final stroke, a period marked the end.
Thunk!
A seal was pressed firmly onto the wax, imprinting the mark of the emperor. This was no ordinary seal but one that carried the authority of the empire itself.
Holding the document carefully, Mina Roseveta Dragona—the Empress of the Dragona Empire—smiled quietly. There was an air of satisfaction about her, tinged with subtle intrigue.
“Now then… where shall I begin my dealings?” she murmured, her eyes glinting with ambition.
Sponsor Chapters at the Patreon Shop: Along with BuymeaCoffee.
The Shop section on Patreon can be used as a way to make a one-time-payment. I will be creating products in the Shop section with the title of the webnovels. It will only have an image as the product, but it will count as the payment for the Sponsored Chapters.
For example: You will buy the product with the title “Flower Stealing Master” to sponsor a chapter for the novel. As far as I know, you can buy the same product multiple times, so you should be able to sponsor as many chapters you want. I hope it was easy to understand.