Inheriting a Lost Bloodline, My First Task is to have heirs?!
Chapter 347 - 347 - Athanoviya's Marriage Ritual (Part 3)

Once I arrived, the marriage ritual started immediately. It seems that I am the only one who was yet to arrive at the event. Aurum, Helios, Calyx, Xenos and Yren are all waiting in the hall wearing their best attires I've seen them since we met. As my gaze landed on each of them, they all looked away with blushed and nervous faces.

I really can't blame them since I also don't wear such extravagant attire on normal days. You can also add the fact that the face I am sporting as of now is amazing. I know that it will take some time for them to get used to seeing me like this.

I simply smiled in amusement at their reactions to my real countenance. They can't even hide the awkwardness they were feeling due to the way I speak to them while in this identity. I have to act the part so I have to speak in a regal and formal manner, something that these guys never saw me doing before.

The royal palace attendant hurriedly ushered the six of us towards the front of the hall. I was asked to stand on the man's right side. Aurum was asked to stand on his left side while the other four will stand behind him in a semi-circular arrangement. Even in this marriage, they made it a point that the ranks are clearly observed. The main husband is in front and the concubines that were brought in as part of the dowry were at the back.

The ritual itself was nothing much to talk about. It was definitely not the romantic or cheesy sort. There was no crying out of happiness, just the officiating officer reading a long string of laws. He asked several questions then we simply have to give our agreement to comply. It did not even last half an hour.

There was another grand dinner after the marriage ritual. It was not as festive as the night before but the food looked very expensive. After the dinner, the guests returned to their assigned rooms.

As for me, my now husbands and my in-laws, we went to the empress' drawing room for another meeting. The attendant that governs the rituals was with us to discuss the next things on the checklist.

I thought that we can finally breathe and rest from all the tedious rituals and customs but it seems that we have not gone to the final part just yet. As the ritual attendant explained the last part, I can't help but furrow my eyebrows at what they were requiring me to do.

To put it simply, I can only be declared as officially married to my men once we have consummated. It was like an assurance that both parties can no longer take back their agreement on the marriage since everything has been said and done.

I do understand that it is part of the whole process of being married but I just find it weird that I was required to do it with all five of them as soon as possible. They explained that it was a special case for princes since they have concubines as part of their dowry. Aurum had the most number of personal attendants out of all the princes since he was previously the crown prince. You can say that I was lucky since I got five in one deal and unlucky at the same time for the same reason, depending one's point of view that is.

Now I finally realized why they asked me to take a 10-day leave from the academe. The first day was the evening of the celebration banquet while the second day was the marriage ritual itself. The rest of the days will then be allotted in making sure that I get to complete the last step of the Athanoviyan marriage ritual which was the consummation of the couple. Since I have five men, I will have to do it with each of them hence the number of days that I needed to stay at the palace.

The night of the marriage ritual and the night after that will be spent with Aurum. He was allotted about two days since he was the main husband. This is also a way to give him a better chance of conceiving a child first before the concubines do.

The fourth day was then a rest for me since I have been working hard for a total of 4 days since the start of the ritual. The fifth and sixth nights will be spent on the first two concubines of my choosing, one for each day. The seventh day was another rest day to regain my strength and stamina. The eighth and ninth day was for the last two concubines, still one day for each. The final day was another rest day so I am in tip top shape before I come back to the academe.

I couldn't help but smile at the arrangement and concessions they have made for me so far. I also highly appreciate that they care about my health. It was just that they created the schedule based on a human body's limits which doesn't really apply to me. It's the thought that counts I guess. I can even do it for weeks at a time without rest based on my experience.

I stood up from my seat and approached the ritual attendant to request for a private conversation. All eyes are on me as they are understandably curious as to what I had to say that can't be heard by the rest of the people in the room. The attendant named Nazam looked scared for his life as I singled him out from the group and pulled him to one side.

Once we are a bit of a distance away from the others, for good measure, I also casted a soundproofing barrier around us. Once I am sure that only the two of us can hear it, I told him that I can complete the last step for all husbands without the need to rest in between. I then requested if it was possible to reduce my stay in the palace by three days by simply doing what I needed to do for 6 consecutive nights.

Upon hearing my request and all the things I said before it, Nazam widened his eyes in disbelief at first then his eyes shown some sort of enlightenment. This is why I like talking with smart people. He realized that I wasn't human so rest wasn't really needed in between.

After those few seconds of speechlessness, his eyes blinked a few times then his face started to blush gradually. He nodded quickly and stuttered in response, "I- I under- understand, your high- ness."

I smiled at him and winked once. His eyes widened again as I requested for him to keep my plans a secret. I will just visit whoever need to be visited at night within the next few days.

Nazam will be the one to confirm if the consummation was completed. To say it simply, he has a way to check if I have taken the purity of my husbands or we simply faked it and slept the night away. It was like a "No Return Policy" scheme. I don't have any intention of returning any of them though.

After we have discussed everything I needed to tell Nazam, I removed the soundproofing and walked back to my designated seat inside the drawing room. Everyone was looking at the ritual attendant's blushing face in confusion. Since the guy kept his silence, all the intense stares went to my direction afterwards.

I looked straight to each of their eyes and just gave a sweet smile. Aurum suddenly asked, "You just married us and you are already making another one blush. Are you flirting with Nazam?"

I laughed and raised a brow at him, "Since were married, these questions start again, huh? Which part did you see me flirt with him? Well, it's fine. I now have a way to punish you thoroughly whenever you spout nonsense." I smiled meaningfully at Aurum after the end of my comment.

Aurum looked at me in surprise as he sarcastically asked, "Are you threatening me in front of everybody in this room?"

I scoffed and replied, "Oh, that's not a threat. I am very serious. You will know how serious I am tonight."

His face looked irritated but at the same time embarrassed as his face turned red. I smiled sweetly again at the other people in the room. As for my other four husbands, they started snickering while looking at Aurum.

I spoke respectfully this time towards my in-laws, "I only clarified something about the next step of the ritual with Nazam since I had to stay 8 more days in the palace. I guess I was too direct in the way I asked my questions that I scared him unknowingly."

I addressed Nazam and said, "I do apologize if my question made you uncomfortable in any way. Thank you for being honest and also accommodating my request."

He blushed furiously again and replied, "You- You're welcome, your h- highness. Your request is very... Umm... simple and- does not disrupt the completion of the ritual."

The issue ended there without anyone asking for any specific details about my request. On my peripheral vision, I saw Yren mouthing something soundlessly to Aurum. If I read it right, he just said, "You're doomed".