Hellbound Heart

Chapter 377  Second wedding

Upon arriving in the Black Forest, Sebastian immediately noticed that the presence of the queen of witches was notably absent, prompting him to head directly to her house where Kyle had been staying the past two months since he fell into coma. As he approached, two witches who had been vigilantly standing guard outside promptly departed, acknowledging Sebastian's authority with their silent exit. The door creaked open, revealing Kyle lying on the bed.

Stepping closer, Sebastian's imposing figure loomed over Kyle. He initially looked down at him with evident concern, but something caught his eye, causing his brow to furrow in curiosity. "How long do you intend to sleep, Kyle? When did you wake up? And why are you still acting bedridden, fully awake as you are?"

At the sound of Sebastian's voice, Kyle's eyelids fluttered open, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He raised a finger to his lips, signaling Sebastian to lower his voice, his gesture belying a sense of calm and quiet amusement.

"The witches already left. Now answer me. You better not tell me you've been awake for a long time and just pretending until now so Lilith won't kick you out of her house. I'll punch you right now if that's the case. You don't know you're the reason why my grand wedding with Iza is still not happening."

Kyle's response was a gentle chuckle. "Relax, big brother. Honestly, I only woke up yesterday." He exhaled deeply, a frown touching his brows. "I had no idea I was out for so long."

Sebastian scrutinized him, concern etching his features. "You sure you're not hiding any discomfort? You look a lot weaker than I expected."

Shrugging weakly, Kyle admitted, "A tad drained. But it should only be a matter of time until I'm back in full form."

Sebastian's fingers grazed Kyle's wrist, feeling the weak pulse. "I can't believe you've been reduced to this," he murmured, his brows creasing. "I think Iza needs to check on you –" "I'm fine, brother." Kyle stared at Sebastian with serious and almost pleading look in his eyes, causing Sebastian to sigh. "

"And Zeke said, I will definitely regain my strength back in time." Kyle continued in a still serious tone before his expression changed again. "Speaking of which… Zeke left, right?"

"Yes," Sebastian replied, his voice dropping a notch. "And he took Alicia with him."

A long sigh escaped Kyle. His gaze, though clouded with a touch of sadness, returned to Sebastian with a resilient smile. "I guess we're on standby for their return. But as for me… Don't worry, I'll be back in the castle soon. I have a job to do, after all. For now though… please let me stay here a bit."

"I'm not planning to drag you out if you don't want to. As long you regain your strength, you can stay here however you want, I don't care." Sebastian said. With a soft smile, Kyle replied, "That's why you're my favorite brother right now. Go on, get your wedding plans rolling. I've unintentionally delayed them enough. My apologies for the inconvenience." Sebastian smirked. "Alright, I'm heading out."

"And brother," Kyle added, his voice softer, "keep my awakening between us for now."

Sebastian raised a hand in acknowledgment, silently promising discretion. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 …

With no time to spare, Sebastian had thrown himself into the frenetic whirl of wedding preparations as soon as he returned from the Black Forest. And just like that, the wedding day arrived almost too quickly.

Sebastian waited in a room with burgundy velvet and tapestries that muffled outside noises. The calming scent of cedarwood and amber filled the air as his anticipation grew. He looked down, brushing invisible lint from his immaculately tailored tuxedo, adjusting the fit for what felt like the hundredth time.

The faint sound of a clock's ticking provided a rhythmic heartbeat to the room. With every tick, Sebastian felt time pulling him closer to the special moment he had been waiting for. In his company was Azy, his best man. Azy had been watching Sebastian closely for a while now since they were left in this room by themselves.

"Uncle... why are you so nervous? Is there... something bothering you?" Azy's voice, tinged with concern cut through the silence.

Sebastian paused. A tender smile played on his lips as he caught his lip between his teeth, a gesture that betrayed his nervous excitement. "This is my and your aunt's big day, Azy," he said. Azy blinked. "But... isn't this your second wedding with her already?" Sebastian's smile broadened, softened by a sigh that carried unspoken stories. "Yes, you're right. But our first wedding..." His voice trailed off, as memories of that day surfaced — a ceremony that was devoid of warmth. "It was nothing like today. This is the first time I'm going to wed her properly, Azy," he confessed, the depth of his emotions evident in his eyes.

Azy fell silent.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. This is normal," Sebastian reassured him, gently patting the boy's hair. His voice carried a mix of reassurance and self-comfort, aimed as much at Azy as at himself.

Azy tilted his head. "So the first time... wasn't proper?"

Sebastian, noticing Azy's contemplative gaze, decided to open up a little more, feeling the significance of this moment not just for himself, but for this young soul who was watching him so intently.

"You see, Azy," Sebastian began, his voice softening, "sometimes in life, we get second chances to make things right. Your aunt Elle and I, we've been through a lot, and our first wedding... well, it wasn't what we truly desired. It was mostly dictated by circumstances."

Sebastian's eyes wandered to a distant point, back in time, to memories only he could see. "The first time, it was under circumstances far from ideal — more of duty and something else than of choice. Today, it's about choice, love, and a future we both want."

Azy nodded slowly. "So, it's like... it's more real this time?"

"Yes, exactly," Sebastian replied, his smile widening. A gentle knock sounded on the door. "Your Highness, it's time," called someone from outside.

Taking a deep breath, Sebastian stood up. He extended his hand towards Azy. "Shall we go make this day memorable?"

Azy took his hand, his eyes shining with pride and excitement.

As they walked toward the door, Sebastian felt a wave of calm assurance wash over him. The nerves were still there, fluttering in his stomach, but they were overshadowed by the overwhelming joy and excitement of what was to come.