Chapter 702: The Promise Ceremony
Chapter 702: The Promise Ceremony
Inside the Beast King's Residence, Ethan and Lily sat together with the young lady sitting on Ethan's lap with her head resting on his shoulder.
The battle ended an hour ago, and everyone was being served refreshments before they started to talk about something very important.
Lily's mother, Leah, looked at her husband with a solemn expression. However, Seff held her hand, and gave it a light squeeze.
"It's fine," Seff said before shifting his gaze to his soon to be son-in-law.
Gilbert had the same expression as Leah, especially after he heard Joanne's introduction to her in-laws.
"My name is Joanne Valentin."
The family name, Valentin, was something that not many people dared to use because it was a name that had caused people many hardships in the past.
Even those who were born with that family name chose to change it, so that they wouldn't be implicated by the notoriety that it carried.
"Aren't you feeling anxious that your sister divulged your origin to us?" Seff asked with a smile. "What if we call off the marriage?"
"What's the problem?" Ethan inquired. "The last time I checked, my family name was Gremory."
"Uh-huh. Nice try, boy," Seff replied. "To think that my daughter's chosen mate is also the grandson of that person. The world is indeed full of surprises."
Catherine sipped her tea calmly as she listened to the exchange between Ethan and Seff.
At first, she told Ethan that it might not be a good idea to let his in-laws know about his true origin.
She was afraid that they would call off the wedding if they knew that her son was related to the person who once made the entire world tremble, just by having someone speak his name.
However, Ethan wasn't too bothered by it.
He said that the Beastkins liked to carry grudges, and not telling them the truth was akin to betrayal.
Even if they agreed to let Lily marry him, they would not forget the betrayal, and would carry it for generations to come.
Ethan also believed that Seff wasn't someone who would be intimidated by his background.
He was a person who sought the strong and powerful.
A person like him would only recognize the strong, and Ethan's Grandfather was the embodiment of the word strong.
Seff then glanced at Gilbert, and smirked.
"Well, let's set aside the matter of your biological family for now," Seff stated. "When you marry Lily, what surname will she be using?"
"Gremory," Ethan replied. "She will become Lily Gremory."
Agnes and Benjamin glanced at each other and smiled.
The two old people held each other's hand, and gave the child they raised a thumbs up in their hearts.
By allowing his wives to carry the Gremory name, it meant that their family name would prosper for years to come.
Catherine didn't look bothered by Ethan's answer. In fact, she believed that this was a good choice.
She didn't want Ethan to be persecuted because of a family that he had only reunited with recently.
She and her husband, Lleu, weren't so petty as to find fault in Ethan's decision.
As long as their bloodline would continue, they were more than happy to let him use the Gremory name. Especially if it meant that he would remain safe from harm.
Gilbert, on the other hand, sighed in relief because by having Ethan choose this route then Lilian wouldn't have to suffer.
On their way to Southshire, he had weighed the pros and cons of supporting his granddaughter becoming Ethan's lover.
Of course, if the old man knew that his granddaughter and Ethan had already done the deed, he would definitely tell the teenage boy to take responsibility or elseā¦
But, since he didn't know, he was still on the fence whether to support Lilian and Ethan's relationship or not, especially after learning Ethan's true origin.
However, the temptation of the Legacy Resonance was too hard to ignore.
With it, Eastshire could remain safe from harm as long as Ethan and Lilian would continue to grow more powerful as they grew older.
Also, the Valentin Family had hidden themselves from the secular world, and no longer meddled with its affairs.
Gilbert believed that as long as those who knew didn't say anything, the secret would remain a secret within their circle.
'I feel like I've suddenly become an accomplice to a crime I didn't do,' Gilbert thought before glancing at his granddaughter, who was looking at Lily with an envious gaze.
A glance was more than enough to tell him that Lilian really loved Ethan, and he was afraid that if their family got in her way, she would break all ties with them and elope with the young man.
She had already done something similar to that when she transferred to Brynhildr Academy without permission.
Since it already happened once, it was bound to happen again should they not support her relationship with the man she loved.
"We have already prepared the necessary arrangements for the wedding," Seff stated. "But, as is our custom, you are required to look for the gem that will be used for the ring."
The Beast King then glanced at Ethan's other lovers and smirked.
"Take note that we can make more than one ring as long as the gem you find provides sufficient material," Seff added. "We Beastkins also have the Promise Ceremony, which is similar to having an engagement ceremony in the Human Kingdoms.
"If you are committed to marrying these ladies, then I'll allow you to perform it on the same day as Lily's wedding.
"Although it is not the same as getting married, it is equivalent to making a promise to the Earth Goddess, that you also plan to fulfill your oath on becoming their future mate. Are you and your lovers fine with this arrangement?"
Ethan glanced at Luna, Chloe, Emma, Lilith, and Lilian before nodding his head.
He completely ignored Lyall, who was pointing at herself, while trying to get Ethan's attention.
After hearing the young man's reply, the ladies suddenly felt excited about the Promise Ceremony.
Although they weren't saying anything out loud, it didn't change the fact that they were envious of Lily's marriage with Ethan.
The Promise Ceremony was the closest thing they could have, so they were more than happy to participate in this event.
"Did you hear that?" Lyall whispered in Nicole's ears. "Ethan will definitely give me a Ring of Promise."
Nicole couldn't help but giggle because she saw how Ethan had ignored Lyall, who tried to catch his attention earlier.
Still, she was quite happy to see that the young man was able to ease the worries of his other lovers, and sincerely wished that all of them would find happiness in their decision to tie their destiny with the young man, who had the power to warm up her frozen heart.