The Great Vampire General is a Girl! - Chapter 56

Valerie had never been this nervous before. She thought she would be the most relaxed person in all of this. It’s just an ordinary wedding. Almost everyone experienced it, whether noble or not.

But she noticed that her face was a little pale at the moment, luckily she was still wearing makeup so her anxiety wasn’t too obvious. She trembled as she took her father Arthur Dubois by the hand towards the altar. The Dubois family was not affiliated to any particular religion, they were arguably agnostics. But the Chastains worshiped the Goddess Demeter. That’s because Demetria’s cursed weapon has been passed down from generation to generation by their family.

Valerie didn’t understand, why would a vampire worship the Goddess of fertility? They eat neither cattle nor wheat. But Marchioness also explained that if their land was fertile and blessed, it means it was a gift for humans and animals. Healthy and happy humans and animals would give good blood to the vampire nation.

Finally they carried out the procession according to the teachings of the Florentia Goddess. Valerie was guided by her father walking towards the altar. Marriage should be a happy thing. Wasn’t she lucky enough to marry Raphael Chastain? At least he wasn’t an ordinary noble who was a little old and not very pleasing to the eye.

Arthur Dubois was not a bad parent, he was a high-ranking noble who was free to choose whoever would be Valerie’s husband. There was no way he would deliberately marry Valerie to a man she wasn’t commensurate with. In fact, Duke Dubois was very picky.

But Valerie also several times saw her friends had to marry a man who was much older. It did not match their image of the romance books they often read. There was an assumption from old-fashioned parents that older men will be responsible for their daughters. In addition, they usually give a large dowry.

It felt like a buying and selling practice, they married their daughters to old, well-to-do men for big dowry.

Valerie often hears, after marriage, a woman’s life will belong to her husband. She must obey all his words and orders and could only dress up with his permission. Of course, that was an outdated assumption. Raphael didn’t seem like an old-fashioned person. He even allowed Valerie to serve in the military.

Maybe her anxiety was caused by her getting tired easily if she socialized too long—now she was the center of attention. The Dubois family held their wedding in the garden. Veronica Dubois literally turned her already beautiful garden into a fairy tale that seemed unreal. The flowers were blooming even though it was not yet spring. It was said that Veronica asked Raphael to help with her Demetria sword to make the roses and tulips she planted bloom until their wedding day was over.

That was very practical, Valerie felt Raphael never expected his sword to be used for non-military affairs. But Duchess Dubois was good at spotting opportunities. If Raphael had not been a knight he might have gone around as a benevolent landlord and blessed the land of the peasants with fertility. Thinking about it made Valerie more relaxed. Of course it didn’t suit Raphael who was a formidable knight.

Valerie wore an ivory white dress with sequins that wasn’t too over the top. She was wearing a corset so it was a little difficult to move, let alone sit. She had to walk as gracefully as possible while enduring the pain of her heels, so that no one would see her like a wooden doll cursed to become a human. Her shoulders and back were slightly parted, still polite but making it hard for any man to blink. With that dress, Valerie’s perfect curves were clearly visible.

Her silver hair was also in a bun and a hair ornament studded with precious gems graced it elegantly without feeling overbearing. No doubt, thanks to the hard work of the best designers and makeup artists at Lapella—Valerie has become the most beautiful bride in the history of the Dubois family. Even the slightly narcissistic Veronica admitted it tearfully as she walked into her daughter’s dressing room. Veronica had to redo her makeup. Luckily Valerie was able to hold back her emotion so her tears didn’t spill.

Valerie remembers silly things about her parents. Including the times when she was angry with them and when they disappointed her. Valerie didn’t want to cry because she was moved, especially because she was sad because she knew that soon she would leave the Dubois Mansion. If her makeup spoiled, she had to do it again for four agonizing hours.

While stepping onto the altar, she looked at another angle. There were carved ice sculptures and crystal glasses piled high ready to be filled with blood. There was no human food, but the banquet table was set up to keep the appetite going.

Valerie took a deep breath, she and her father had almost arrived at the altar. There was waiting for Raphael Chastain who was wearing an elegant white coat. There was always a different charm whenever Raphael wore civilian clothes. He looked like he wasn’t Raphael the knight. Valerie forgot for a moment that he was the commander, she now only saw Raphael as an ordinary man. Her future husband. And they would soon make their relationship official.

“You look— beautiful,” Raphael whispered to her with his eyes occasionally looking the other way. But Valerie just nodded in response. After that, the religious leaders immediately continued the procession. Valerie didn’t listen to anything he said. She was too nervous and wanted everything to be over as soon as possible. Valerie felt that her back might have a hole in it from too many eyes staring at them.

“You may kiss the bride,” Valerie was still a little unfocused. When he noticed that Raphael’s face was approaching and he landed a kiss on her right cheek. Only then did Valerie come back to reality.

What? Why didn’t Raphael kiss her properly? This was a once in a lifetime wedding and Raphael wanted to make his wife remember that it was a less than perfect wedding procession?

She also heard disappointed groans from the guests. They may wish for something bolder and more romantic. Valerie and Raphael were an equally attractive couple. No one would be sick of seeing them put on more of a show at the altar. But Raphael was too rigid to the point that he was not willing to complete the marriage vows in a natural way.

Valerie couldn’t allow that. Just as Raphael was about to move away from her—Valerie grabbed him by the neck and closed her eyes. The girl gave the commander a peck on the lips who didn’t expect it at all. This was more unexpected than Shadows’ attacks, or any foe he’d ever faced.

But Raphael, who got carried away, closed his eyes too and let Valerie kiss his lips. To her, the first kiss was cold, soft as if she were kissing a cloud. Valerie had never touched a cloud, but maybe that was how it felt.

Raphael raised their level of intimacy by hugging his wife’s slender waist. This time, it was Valerie who didn’t expect it. It was not good for her heart. A touch more than that might make her faint from nervousness. Raphael might not be as stiff as he previously thought. Valerie pushed her husband’s body slowly and smiled at him awkwardly.

What Valerie had planned was just a quick peck on the lips, she didn’t expect Raphael to do more than that. The girl’s face was no longer pale but red with embarrassment. Raphael didn’t seem too comfortable with what he was doing either. He didn’t wipe his lips, as that would be considered disrespectful to the woman. But he touched his lips softly while looking at Valerie as if he was a Siren who liked to tempt men to join their dangerous game. His ears reddened, the excited cheers of the guests who were touched by the show had brought him back to logic.

“Why did you do that?” Raphael whispered as if scolding her.

The procession is over and the next event is dancing. Raphael also took Valerie’s hand away from the altar. Get away from trying not to be the center of attention.

“This is our wedding, If we don’t kiss, People will talk about it, they may think we don’t love each other or something,” Valerie grumbled quietly.

“I don’t want to apologize! You also seem to like it!” Valerie continued firmly.

She need not feel ashamed. The reason was clear. Raphael simply overreacted.

“Who said I liked it?” Raphael didn’t want to lose, his ears were still red.

“Oh, really..Why do you think I pushed you a little? You’re trying to stick your tongue in,” Valerie said seriously, although she was also embarrassed afterwards. Was she being too direct? She felt sorry to see Raphael who was now nervous as if he was defeated.

“It can’t be helped, I’m a man..therefore, you have to be careful with me, Valerie!” He whispered, still scolding her a bit.

“Why? What are you going to do?” Valerie asked innocently. Raphael gulped, affected by Valerie’s reaction like that, he turned around to get out of the way.

“Hey! sorry, I was just joking!” Valerie laughed as she tried to grab his hand. The commander stopped walking, and turned around again to look her in the eyes.

“Listen, Valerie Chastain. I’m a normal man who can lose my control. So restrain yourself, don’t joke that way..that’s if you still want to serve in the military long enough,” he reminded. Valerie still doesn’t really understand.

“What does that have to do with my career in the military?”

“If you get pregnant too soon, you should take a leave of absence from the military and take care of the children in Acheron. So if you’re smart, don’t joke about intimate things with me.. I could lose my control and touch you,” he asserted.