Chapter 578: Tradition Of The Hartwell Family
"Drink up, eat up, and enjoy the feast!" Ramza raised his mug and the other villagers followed suit. "Cheers!"
"""Cheers!"""
After the Etherion Challenge ended, a feast was held in order to celebrate Alex’s victory. But that wasn’t the real purpose of the celebration feast.
This was Ramza’s compensation to everyone who had needlessly suffered the traumatic experience earlier that day.
Alex and Lavinia were assigned the seats of honor. Secretly holding hands under the table, they looked at everyone enjoying the feast.
"Here, drink a bit." Roselia poured Alex a fruit beverage that contained a little bit of alcohol. "It will warm up the body."
"I’m still underage." Alex said apologetically.
"This is a special occasion, and the alcohol content of this beverage is very low," Roselia replied. "In fact, it is what the ladies drink on celebrations like this. Isn’t that right, My Lady?"
"Yes." Lavinia nodded. "Try it, Alex. It’s good."
She had started sipping this fruit juice a while ago. Based on how she looked, she was far from being drunk.
In the end, Alex accepted Roselia’s drink and took a sip.
"It’s not bad," Alex said. "Actually, it’s really good."
"Right?" Lavinia smirked. "Cheers."
"Cheers." Alex raised his glass and clinked it with Lavinia’s.
Now that he had completed the challenge, the Hartwell Family would no longer oppose his relationship with Lavinia. Not that they had the intention to turn him down in the first place.
After drinking for nearly half an hour, the villagers started to sing so folk songs that had been passed down for generations.
Alex was in the mood to join them, so he stood up and raised his drink.
"Allow
to offer a song for this special occasion!" Alex declared.
All the noise from inside the village plaza ca to an abrupt halt. A deafening silence descended upon everyone, lasting for a few seconds, as their brains tried to process their Oathkeeper’s words.
Alex singing = Death.
If Alex sings = Everyone will Die.
Everyone will die = If Alex sings.
This conclusion had already been cented in everyone’s mind. The mont Alex started to take a deep breath in preparation, ti seed to slow down.
Everyone entered a fight or flight mode. A glance was enough for them to see that their Oathkeeper’s face was flushed, which ant that he might be drunk right now.
Drunk singers usually sang just fine. At worst, they might be a bit off-key and way too loud.
But regardless of whether Alex was drunk or not, his singing deserved to be banned in Etherion Village for the rest of eternity.
Ramza, Cairo, and Vega all lunged at the young man so swiftly that they managed to exceed the speed of sound.
"Alex, my boy! You don’t have to sing," Ramza exclaid heartily as he patted the young man’s shoulder. "You already have a great singing voice. Give others a chance, okay?"
"That’s right, Alex," Cairo said calmly. "Actually, we have a tradition here in the Clawford Tribe. Those who are engaged to the Hartwell Family are not allowed to sing until they get married."
Lavinia blinked. "We do?"
""We do!""
Vega, Selena, and Ramza replied at the sa ti.
Ramza coughed lightly. "It’s indeed a rather ancient tradition but must nonetheless be followed without fail. But don’t worry. This tradition is not that restrictive.
"Alex can sing anywhere he likes as long as it’s not within the territory of the Clawford Tribe. Isn’t that right, everyone?!"
"""That’s right!"""
The villagers supported their Lord, for all of them had just realized how much they wanted to see tomorrow’s sunrise.
They didn’t give a damn if Alex sang sowhere else. After all, that would no longer be their problem.
The Catkins did have so sympathy for the poor souls that would be subjected to Alex’s singing. It’s just that his talent was so imnse that they preferred for this misfortune to land on soone else’s head instead!
"Oh!" Alex nodded, eager to learn about the Clawford Tribe’s way of life. "In that case, then I should just sing after I marry Lavinia." He then sat down once more and continued to eat and drink. "Look forward to my song after we are married!"
Everyone in the village wiped the beads of sweat on their foreheads because they had narrowly escaped death. But for how long?
To think that their Oathkeeper had such a hidden talent... He should just keep it hidden! Forever!
That was what everyone was thinking at the mont.
A few hours later, Alex could no longer hold his glass properly. He was dead drunk.
"It seems that Alex is not a heavy drinker," Ramza noted as he played with his beard. "Even the drinks made for the ladies are enough to knock him out."
Lavinia looked at her boyfriend, whose head was resting on her shoulder, and smiled faintly.
Alex was an incredible person. There were tis when she felt that he was too good to be true. Seeing this vulnerable side of him made her realize that he wasn’t perfect and had flaws and weaknesses just like everyone else.
Perhaps emboldened by her drink, Lavinia montarily forgot where she was and planted a kiss on Alex’s forehead.
When she realized what she had done, she hurriedly looked at her parents, her grandfather, and brother.
All four of them were not looking in her direction. Instead, they were busy chatting and drinking with each other.
This made her breathe a sigh of relief. Unbeknownst to her, her family mbers, Roselia, and a few other villagers had seen what she had done.
Still, they pretended that they hadn’t seen it to avoid embarrassing her.
"I think Alex should rest now," Ramza said a few minutes later. "Roselia, please take him back to the residence."
"Yes, Master," Roselia replied.
But just as she was about to carry Alex, Lavinia shook her head. To everyone’s surprise, she took the initiative to pick her boyfriend up in a princess carry.
The villagers whistled, laughed, and hooted after seeing their Princess take good care of her future husband.
Lavinia blushed a bit before hurriedly leaving the stage. Roselia followed a few steps behind her, acting as her bodyguard.
Although Diona was currently unconscious after hearing Alex’s singing for twenty minutes straight, they couldn’t rule out the possibility that there might be other individuals seeking to harm their Oathkeeper during his most vulnerable mont.
It was better to be safe than sorry.
Once they were safely inside the residence, Lavinia took Alex not to his bedroom, but to her own.
Roselia bowed respectfully before closing Lavinia’s door and left her Mistress to take care of her fiance.
"I didn’t know you’re a lightweight drinker," Lavinia said as she laid the young man down on her bed.
She took off his shoes, socks, and shirt to make him more comfortable.
Alex seed to be really tired because he started snoring lightly the mont his head touched the pillow.
But that was fine.
He had fought against soone who was stronger than him and managed to erge victorious. While his thod was... unconventional, Lavinia was relieved that he hadn’t been too injured during the challenge.
"Good night, Alex." Lavinia kissed the young man’s cheek before lying beside him.
She then hugged him and closed her eyes. Although they were in the sa academy, they rarely had the chance to do sothing like this.
This was because Lavinia had been too shy until recently. She hadn’t taken the initiative to tell Alex how she truly felt about him.
Among his lovers, Latifa and Evangeline were the most direct ones when it ca to love. They hadn’t hesitated to ask Alex to be with them so that they could share so intimate monts with him.
Lavinia also wanted so private ti with Alex.
Go on dates with him.
Study together.
Train together.
And simply be together.
"It’s fine," Lavinia said softly while hugging the young man tighter. "This ti, it will be different."
Sowhere in the forest, a young lady wearing a fox mask was standing on a tree branch while eyeing the Hartwell Residence.
"... That boy’s singing can even exorcise demons," the little Devil said with a shudder.
"What are you talking about?" Hia asked. "He’s an incredibly good singer."
"Girl, I am no doctor, but there is definitely sothing wrong with your ears. Are you sure that it’s not a side effect of our contract?"
"Hah... You just don’t appreciate good music."
The devil blinked once then twice before scratching his head. He was starting to wonder if the problem lay with him or the young lady guarding Alex from the shadows.
"Anyway, do what you want to do," the Devil said as he landed on the young lady’s shoulder and sat there. "I’ll keep watch."
"Thanks." Hia leaned on the tree and closed her eyes.
The darkness hid her from the watchful eyes of the Guardians of the Clawford Tribe.
Now that a certain fox lady was not around, she had the freedom to do what she wanted without having to worry about interference from those who held the young man close to their hearts.
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