The two elderly patriarchs bickered back and forth, entirely unwilling to yield.
But everyone present could see the truth beneath the shouting.
For all of Old Mr. Lancaster's fierce scolding, he didn't actually step in to stop his precious granddaughter from being with the Blackwood Crown Prince.
And while the three Lancaster brothers bared their teeth and looked ready to drag Nicholas outside for a beating...
It was all posturing.
None of them physically intervened.
Because they all knew one undeniable fact.
Serena wanted this.
And that mattered more than anything else.
It also served as a silent acknowledgement from the Lancaster family regarding the union.
At the very least...
They recognized that Nicholas had the right to stand beside Serena.
Edward Lancaster stood in the crowd, his eyes slightly red as he watched his daughter and Nicholas together.
A bittersweet ache settled in his chest.
His precious girl had only just come home.
He hadn't even had enough time to dote on her, to make up for the twenty years they had lost, and already this Blackwood boy was eagerly staking his claim.
But...
His daughter liked him.
And the raw adoration in Nicholas's eyes whenever he looked at Serena was impossible to hide.
Edward let out a low sigh.
He reached out and pulled Catherine Vinton, whose eyes were equally red, into his embrace.
Tears spilled down Catherine's cheeks.
She looked at Serena, then at their tightly intertwined hands, feeling a mix of immense joy and deep reluctance.
"She just got back to us," she choked out softly. "I haven't loved her enough yet."
Edward rubbed her back gently, murmuring his comfort. "It's just a title for now. It's not an immediate wedding."
Catherine wiped her tears, her voice trembling. "But I can't bear to let her go." Edward felt the same heavy reluctance.
He sighed, suppressing the sour feeling in his chest. "Besides, the Lancaster and Blackwood estates are close. Even if they get married, we can see her whenever we want."
Catherine dabbed her eyes, looking at her daughter a short distance away.
Serena's expression remained characteristically cool.
But when she looked at Nicholas, there was a faint, unmistakable smile in her eyes.
It was subtle.
But it was genuine.
It came from her soul.
Catherine's heart melted completely. "As long as she is happy, nothing else matters."
Edward hummed in agreement. "Yes. Her happiness is all that matters."
The applause in the banquet hall remained enthusiastic.
The congratulatory cheers continued to roll through the room.
And Serena, standing at the epicenter of everyone's attention, remained aloof and perfectly composed.
Nicholas stood by her side, his fingers laced securely with hers.
One possessed an untouchable, majestic grace.
One exuded a radiant, commanding presence.
Despite their overwhelmingly dominant auras, they complemented each other flawlessly.
In that moment, an absolute certainty washed over the crowd.
The Lancaster Heiress had taken her throne.
The Blackwood Prince had submitted.
From this day forward, no one in Vaelion City would ever dare disrespect Serena Lancaster again.
...
The gala slowly approached its conclusion.
Serena, the undisputed star of the night, lounged lazily on a plush sofa. She held a glass of juice her coots demeanor showing not a hint of arrogance despite being the center of the universe.
Nicholas sat beside her.
His long, tailored legs were casually crossed, exuding an air of languid aristocratic charm.
Yet, his hand remained firmly locked with hers.
Their fingers were tightly intertwined.
He showed absolutely no intention of letting go.
Whenever he glanced at Serena, the affection in his eyes was impossible to conceal.
Jasper's teeth ground together. "Look at him, acting like a lovesick puppy."
Jerrick stated flatly, "He's an eyesore."
Julian pushed up his glasses, offering a polite but icy smile. "Endure it. He's only provisional For all we know, he'll be fired by next week."
Nicholas completely ignored them, focusing solely on holding Serena's hand and gently brishing his thumb across her slender fingers.