The Lord of the Rings: Lords of Middle-earth.

Chapter 470 King and Queen Lagrange
"What? You seem quite surprised?" Thranduil smiled and poured himself a glass of fruit wine.

Roland glanced at it, feeling a little embarrassed. Good heavens, this was the first time he'd ever seen a banquet where guests had to bring their own drinks… Roland couldn't help but give Thranduil a thumbs up in his mind: "Dude, you really understand me! You're the smartest one here! You know how incredibly poor I am…"

"Bang bang bang!" One after another, magical firework shells slowly rose into the air and suddenly burst into various colors of light and shadow, indicating that the wedding was about to begin.

“Your Highness, everything is ready!” Caslo walked in and bowed with his hand on his chest.

“Well then, please step forward and join me in witnessing this happy and sacred moment!” Roland extended his hand to invite the kings.

"Of course, it's our honor!" came a somewhat aged voice.

“Hey! Gandalf, I thought you were gone!” Roland said with a smile.

“Well, your words would be more credible if you didn’t have someone watching me,” Gandalf teased with a smile.

"That's because I was afraid of not being able to entertain you properly! A distinguished guest like you needs to be entertained at all times." Roland wasn't embarrassed at all. Anyway, he had openly sent people to keep an eye on the Sword Saint. He didn't think he could hide it from Gandalf. Members of the White Order are valuable, and what's even more valuable is that he has the Ring of Fire, one of the Three Rings of the Elves.

Although Gandalf, wielding the elven artifact, was only a fourth-tier grey wizard, his strength was not much weaker than that of the white wizards. However, Roland always deeply regretted Gandalf's choice of profession. Who made such a fine swordsman become a white wizard...?

"Greetings, Your Highnesses!" Nyx's graceful entrance instantly drew everyone's attention. Despite the intense gazes, Nyx remained unfazed, confidently stepping down and taking Roland's arm with practiced ease, as if she had rehearsed it a thousand times.

"Oh! Your Majesty, my beautiful Queen!" Bard was the first to react and quickly gave a graceful bow.

“Greetings, Your Majesty!” Thranduil said, patting his chest.

"Hey, King Roland, you have good taste!" Bai Yi walked to the other side and quietly nudged Roland with his elbow.

"I've always been proud of my discerning eye and exceptional luck!" Roland boasted, making no mention of his "good luck" of winning nine out of ten prizes in his daily sign-in lottery.

……

"This carriage must be very expensive, right?" Nyx carefully held the carriage, which was exuding the scent of pine. This carriage, which had only been completed a few days ago, was the only private carriage in the entire kingdom. The others were all in Ruhr's caravan. Roland couldn't help but feel a bit grateful and guilty towards Ruhr, after all, on this day when the mountains were blocked by heavy snow, Roland had once again sent Ruhr and his men to the south.

"It's alright. Judging from your appearance, people who don't know better would think that the royal family is so poor that they can't afford to ride in a carriage!" Roland said with a smile.

Caslo, who was driving Roland's carriage, secretly covered his face. It's true that the royal family is so poor that they can't afford to ride in a carriage. As Caslo was lost in thought, he suddenly found himself being pushed aside.

"Make way!" Knight Ravian, wielding a long sword and golden horse, occupied half of the coachman's space.

"You?" Caslo was completely bewildered. He wasn't the one driving!

“As our Grand Duchess is getting married, it is my duty as her guardian knight and retainer to ensure her safety,” Ravian said casually, ignoring Caslo.

"..." Caslo blinked, knocked on the back of the carriage, and looked at Roland and Nyx with pleading eyes. "Fine, you two can be together then." Roland shook his head. There was no need to be so clear on such a joyous occasion. No matter how troublesome Lavian was, as long as Nyx married him, wouldn't she still be a loyal retainer?
"Lavian!" Nyx gave Lavian, who had forced his way into the car, a playful glare.

“Your Highness, this is for your safety. I represent the Grand Duchy of Nyx…” Lavian sighed, then hung a bauhinia flag of the Grand Duchy of Nyx high on the flagpole of the carriage.

Nyx was taken aback by these words, then slowly sat back down, her eyes already slightly red. Yes, although she possessed the title of Grand Duchess Nyx, she was at a natural disadvantage as a lone figure without the backing of the duchy. After all, without the support of the bride's family at the wedding, what would others think? Nyx dared not think about it.

The Grand Duke banner that Lavian hung for Nyx was more like a declaration that although Nyx did not have a powerful maternal clan as a backing, he was still an ancient nobleman with a group of loyal and brave retainers!
Nyx remained silent. Although Roland didn't care whether Nyx had a powerful maternal clan, nobles needed to maintain their dignity, and Lavian's action was precisely to preserve Nyx's dignity.

"Clatter, clatter!" The crisp sound of hooves rang out as fifteen elegantly dressed Bauhinia Knights followed Roland and Nyx's carriage, seeing them off. They carried fluttering Bauhinia banners on their shoulders, and the residents along the way pointed and whispered among themselves.

"It's Grand Duke Nyx!"

"They are knights from the Grand Duke's family!"

"Oh! By the Dragon God! Members of the Cross Bauhinia Knights! They are so majestic and powerful, comparable to the King's Holy Knights!"

"The Grand Duke is certainly dignified!"

Nix listened intently inside the carriage, and when she heard the people's chatter, she couldn't help but smile...

"What? Listen to how the people praise my queen?" Roland chuckled, playfully flicking Nyx's pert nose. He could easily sense Nyx's unease. Before this, aside from the high-ranking officials, no one knew that Grand Duke Nyx was the chosen queen. Nyx didn't want to be branded as someone who interfered in politics arbitrarily; after all, before becoming queen in name only, meddling in the kingdom's politics was illegal. (Not counting her own fiefdom; within her fiefdom, heaven is the boss, and she's second in command!)
Nyx, who had been unsure whether the people supported him, finally felt relieved after hearing their admiring discussions.

……

“We’ve arrived, Your Highness!” Caslo eagerly opened the car door on Roland’s side, while Lavian, not to be outdone, opened the door for Nyx. Their eyes met briefly in the air before quickly looking away.

"..." Roland was somewhat amused and exasperated. The two lords were discussing marriage, yet their subordinates couldn't stand each other. If he had to translate their exchange of glances, it would probably be something like...

"What are you?"

"Hey, why are you?"

"Why don't you take another look?"

"What can you do to me if I just look at you?"

The two of them were essentially thinking the same thing.

"Your Highnesses, please come forward!" A solemn voice rang out in the plaza that had been prepared in advance, and the crowd that had gathered together made way to reveal the speaker.

"Holy crap!" Roland's eyes widened in disbelief. Good heavens! He never expected that the emcee for his wedding would be this kind of thing.
(End of this chapter)