In the quiet winter air, the clopping of hooves echoed down the cobblestone streets as the black gothic carriage housing the newly-wed pair entered the edge of the capitol city. The nationalized holiday left the streets abandoned as the windows were lined with excited denizens waiting for the royal couple to pass.

Each time the fleet of horses moved past a window rain of flower petals and grains fell, sprinkling the carriage and roadway with fresh color against the grayish-brown stones and pure-white blankets of snow otherwise painting the landscape. This procedure was matched the entire pathway from the city until the final stretch before the castle where the royal guard came out to show support, along with the many denizens waiting for the parade of carriages, cheering wildly as the royal black carriage passed, followed shortly by the ivory-white carriages of the nobles honored to be in the bridal party, and then the standard cedar, oak and cherry-wood colored carriages of foreign dignitaries following from ports to the castle.

Once inside the gated community, the sleek black horses gradually slowed their pace as they circled the castle three times before halting finally in the courtyard to the cheers of hundreds if not one thousand of alliance-members and Mazoku alike there to celebrate the joyous occasion.

In the center of the courtyard stood the figureheads of the ten noble families, minus Gwendel and Gunter who were within the bridal party. Gunter and Gwendel quietly exited their carriage to stand among the ranks as Conrad escorted Yuri beneath the cast-iron arch made for the ceremony.

"Upon hearing of the high-honor Shino-sama has presented in regards to your matrimony, it is our honor to recognize this noble marriage with the exchanging of rings and lighting of the blessed candle."

Julia's little brother approached his son, taking the candles which were then passed around the ten nobles, each putting their hands above the wick. Finally, upon reaching the von Bielfeld figurehead, the candles were lit under his maryoku. The candles melted past to expose two rings crafted with the highest of care, the flame glowing amber and blue as they crackled a miniature light-show of their own showering the rings with those magnificent sparks. The blue stone adorn in Yuri's ring was by-far the larger of the two stones, diamonds around it made sure no one questioned just how many carats went into the beautiful platinum ring, thirteen to be exact. Conrad's platinum ring also adorned a blue stone, surrounded by two amber stones and around them three diamonds on each side adding up to form a carat themselves, without being too high.

Yuri took the ring intended for Conrad from the dripping white wax, not an ounce of heat radiating through the metal as he seized it between his right index finger and thumb.

"This ring is the symbol of my eternal love, and a sign of the cycle of our immortal love, on this day I wish to acknowledge my husband, my love, my better self and swear to always strive to be worthy of that love that you show me." He slid the ring onto Conrad's finger.

Conrad smiled softly before taking the ring from the other candle, also without an ounce of heat to it. Holding it in his palm for a moment he warmed it before picking it up with his right index finger and thumb, slipping it onto Yuri's left ring-finger.

"This ring is a symbol of my undying love and oath to you, that no matter where in time or space we are, nor how near or far we are, we are always connected and you will always be in my heart, mind and eyes. My beloved, my better, my husband and my king I shall strive to be deserving of the gift you have bestowed upon me by giving me this honor to call you my husband."

The two embraced in an endearing hug before the two kissed, the chaste kiss began to turn into a slightly less civil one as a slip of tongue was put in.

"Wooohoo!" Yozak cried, giving his own cat-call.

Murata fixed his glasses before smirking, "You know there are children present, don't you Shibuya?"

Yuri pulled back before blushing, "Greta, please close your eyes for a few moments." Wolfram and Julia's brother clamped their hands over their respective children's eyes, the other hands used to brace the shoulders, even Beatrice had the blinders put on as the two continued to deepen the kiss for another several moments before breaking to the cheers of the crowd.

TBC.