Pirate Kingship-Chapter 564 - 413: The Trial Marriage Convention, Beautiful Women Bring Trouble
Princess Perta Kapak, who was also the Night Demon Theresis Achebeir whose true identity had been glimpsed through the Sailing Logbook, sat on a stone bench in the garden.
The form-fitting gown woven from gold threads outlined her toned, graceful figure, creating a seductive curve that would send male hormones into overdrive. It revealed all that should be seen, selectively unveiled what should remain hidden, and was made even more enticing by what was merely hinted at.
She wore exquisite golden shoes inlaid with large pearls. With just a slight tilt of her leg, the muscles beneath her satin-smooth skin flowed like ripples of water.
It was as if the one sitting there was not an alluring beauty but a magnificent female leopard, freshly emerged from the woods—wild and dangerous.
The gown was adorned with gemstones only at crucial points, accentuating her opulence and noble aura, making her dazzlingly beautiful.
Under the unusually bright sunlight after the rain, everyone could see more clearly that this was undeniably a peerless beauty who, with a single glance, made one uncontrollably think of the bedroom.
She was the focal point of all the men, and even the women, present; beauty, after all, transcends gender.
GULP.
Even Atahualpa, standing beside Byron, audibly swallowed and subconsciously stepped forward.
Byron couldn’t help frowning. He worried this incognito Night Demon might stir up trouble, potentially causing issues for Atahualpa, his golden goose, and ruining everything. Thus, he had no choice but to follow closely.
As he drew nearer, he discovered that among the flowers blooming around her sat a bevy of noble young ladies, flaunting their beauty.
Though their attire was not as opulent as the Princess’s, it was still crafted from pure white alpaca wool and gold thread, adorned with gemstones, showcasing their extravagance.
Across a stone-paved path in the garden stood a group of unmarried young men, led by the Captain of the Guard, Xinji Roca.
No matter how composed they tried to appear, they couldn’t resist instinctively stealing glances at the Princess, whose allure was like an irresistible poison.
They had heard that guards who served in the Princess’s palace aged exceptionally quickly, as if greatly drained of their vitality. Yet, just one look at the Princess, whose beauty seemed to outshine even the sunlight, made them feel it would be no great loss to sacrifice ten years of life for a brief liaison with her!
The most romantic death they could imagine was dying in Princess Perta Kapak’s bed.
Some harbored the dark suspicion that the Princess’s former husband, supposedly killed in battle, might have met his end at the hands of the Totem Gods because this beauty had left him weakened the very next day.
Byron, however, was completely unmoved by this type of beauty, his gaze remaining clear.
From her aura, I’ve already determined that the Forbidden Book she possesses isn’t "Bloody Mary’s Gourmet Cookbook," "Book of Giant Insects," or "Blood Source Pilgrimage."
Nor did she suffer from the "Bloodthirst Syndrome" side effect common to other Night Demons, who relied on drinking human blood to maintain their immortality. Instead, she needed to consume something... unsuitable for children.
Perhaps "Succubus" is a more fitting description than "Night Demon."
Huh? What’s that...
Suddenly, Byron’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He noticed that as their group drew near, a pink mist began to emanate from "Princess Perta Kapak." This mist gathered above her head, forming the "Book of the Pink"—visible only to him—before descending like a filmy curtain to cover half the garden.
It enveloped the assembled men and women, along with their current location.
Byron immediately detected a sweet fragrance, reminiscent of a beauty’s natural scent, subtly masked by the garden’s floral aroma. Only a "Sword Saint" like him, who had comprehended "Divine Sight," could distinguish it.
Soon, everyone felt their collars tighten and their heartbeats quicken; they found it increasingly difficult to control themselves in the presence of this peerless beauty.
The "Princess," observing everyone’s reactions, let out a delightful laugh, as tantalizing as a feather stroking one’s heartstrings, and said, "TEE-HEE-HEE, since this is a Marriage Trial Ceremony, of course, we must try it personally to know if it’s suitable. Walda, you go first."
A tall, red-haired young woman beside her, already blushing with a dewy glint in her eyes at the sight of the virile young men opposite them, heard the "Princess’s" command. She quickly approached a youth she had her eye on, removed one of her shoes, and placed it at his feet. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
Then, like a startled fawn, she fled back.
Atahualpa, jolted back to his senses by his "sister’s" sudden voice, noticed the puzzled expressions on Byron’s and Violet’s faces. He coughed lightly to mask his embarrassment and explained to them, "Humans represent the variables that change the world. A plentiful population and numerous believers are always a god’s greatest wealth. In the Sun Empire, no adult is permitted to remain unmarried or childless. Once women reach sixteen and men twenty, a collective pairing ceremony is held where they ’try out’ marriage. This is also known as the Marriage Trial Ceremony. Usually, eligible young men and women from nearby villages are gathered, and respected leaders randomly pair them. I’ve been so busy lately, I completely forgot the date. Today is the Marriage Trial Day for the nobility of Kahamaka City..."
Byron soon understood the intricacies of the Marriage Trial Ceremony.
To ensure a sufficient population, individual interests and desires were suppressed, all in service of the collective and the grand design of the Sun God, Inti.
At such grand events, young commoners had almost no autonomy, merely waiting to be assigned a spouse—a fate hardly better than a completely blind marriage.
The noble class fared much better. They needed to maintain the purity of their bloodlines, often through intermarriage with close relatives, to delay the dilution of their extraordinary bloodlines. Thus, they were usually familiar with their future spouses from an early age.
Furthermore, they took pride in marrying upwards. Marrying a woman of Divine Descent with a noble bloodline to improve their family’s lineage was a cherished aspiration.
Moreover, due to the existence of Extraordinary Power, women’s status was inherently not low. Whether a woman took a new partner after her husband’s death or led a promiscuous life keeping paramours, no one interfered, as long as no children resulted from these unions.
Consequently, noblewomen were highly sought after and enjoyed greater autonomy in the marriage market. They would select a favored candidate from multiple suitors and present him with one of her shoes.
If the man reciprocated, he would formally visit her home to seek her family’s approval. Then, he would place the shoe back on her foot, symbolizing his willingness to care for her for life.
For the following year, they could engage in all activities of a married couple. However, if no child was conceived, the betrothal could be dissolved at any time. Both parties could then remarry without hindrance, and their respective properties would remain separate.
The birth of a child, however, signified the end of the trial marriage. From that point on, unless one party died, the marital bond could not be broken. Chastity, therefore, was not highly emphasized.
The young man Walda had her eye on first glanced at the stunning "Princess," then at the Captain of the Guard, who held the highest status among all the men. Finally, mustering what little sense he had left and fearing the captain might strike him dead, he picked up the shoe and stepped forward to help the young lady put it on.
Then, he swept her up by the waist and carried her into one of the small, adjacent rooms, where maids already waited with golden bowls.
Fourth Order Mythical Creatures could exercise self-control, but others could not. Therefore, a large supply of rubber contraceptives was kept ready here.
Before long, sounds that would make one blush emanated from within.
The "Marriage Trial Ceremony" here was evidently more convenient than those held outside. If unsatisfied, one could emerge and immediately "try" again on the spot, and no one would find it amiss.
Presiding over such a scene clearly delighted the "Princess." The "Book of the Pink" above her head pulsed, exhaling pink mist and growing ever more vibrant. As its pages turned automatically, Byron keenly caught a keyword that seemed to be the name of a ritual—[Feast of Pleasure].
The Princess then murmured another string of names, "Kura, Tida...."
Soon, most of the young men and women had successfully paired up and disappeared into the small rooms for their trial marriages.
As for the "Princess," whose true form was that of a Night Demon, her pale golden eyes were practically dripping with seduction.
She removed one of her exquisite golden shoes and thrust it directly into the hands of Captain of the Guard Xinji Roca, her captivating gaze instantly ensnaring his heart.
"Princess!"
Captain Xinji Roca was clearly overwhelmed, his eyes instantly reddening. He had started from humble beginnings, a descendant with Divine Blood diluted over many generations. He had risen to his current position only through relentless courage and combat. Before a noble "Princess," he naturally felt a degree of inadequacy.
He hadn’t anticipated that their clandestine affair might actually be formalized today.
Does her giving me the shoe mean the noble Princess is truly prepared to marry me, not just take me for fleeting pleasure as before? Can I finally have children with her? I... I am different from the Princess’s other paramours!
He was well aware of the Princess’s chaotic private life, but he didn’t mind. As long as she was willing to bear his children, he wouldn’t prevent her from living as she pleased—or rather, he knew he couldn’t stop her from doing anything she wished. Perhaps many men who married into royalty throughout history had felt such helplessness.
However, before he could excitedly lift the Princess and officially embark on the grand duty of continuing his bloodline, he saw her suddenly sidestep his advance and remove the other golden shoe from her foot.
Turning her head, she cast a soul-enticing smile at Byron—who had merely been an onlooker beside Atahualpa—and expertly tossed the shoe... right at his feet!
