According to Greek custom, the man's relatives and friends should wait in the living room, ready to welcome the bride. But for the safety of King Davers's family, the welcome party should not be too large and too mixed. Therefore, it was agreed in advance, and the greeting procession waited outside the mansion.

So Cynthia met the family's servants and hired servants all the way from the living room to the door, standing by the side of the road with torches in hand, lighting the way for the couple and offering sincere blessings.

Out of the mansion, Cynthia's ears immediately rang with a huge cheer.

Through the hazy wedding dress, Cynthia saw figures all around, dancing and saying good things like "the bride is beautiful, the groom is handsome", and the open space in front of the mansion was lit with candles.

Amid the compliments, Patroclus led Cynthia aboard a four-horse cart.

Once in the carriage, Cynthia lifted her wedding dress.

Patroclus looked at her pretty face that was dressed up unusually delicate, and couldn't help but admire: "Cynthia, you are so beautiful!" More beautiful than Aphrodite! ——”

"Shhhh Cynthia hastened to remind him that the goddess was not very open-minded.

But having said that, Cynthia's heart was full of joy, and she grabbed Patroclus' hand tightly......

The teams that came to greet the relatives followed closely behind the carriage, automatically lined up in a long line, and in a "Let's go!" "Hit the road" and "Bring your torches!" With the shouting of the carriage, the carriage and the people following behind began to move forward slowly.

At this time, the musicians in the procession began to play the two-pipe flute and lyre, and the crowd sang the wedding hymn together.

Among these singing people are two special figures. They are Christoya and Agnes, Cynthia's mothers, and they have to accompany their daughter on the last leg of the wedding journey. But as the two princesses of the kingdom, their safety must be guaranteed. So they were at the front of the line, guarded by court guards.

They also carry torches in their hands, and the origin of these two torches is not simple, because they come from the hearth of the family, symbolically protecting the daughter's safe transfer from one family and one identity to another, and into another identity. Although the god of the hearth, Hesti, is not one of the twelve main gods, he has a very important position in the family life of the people.

Patroclus' home was on the outskirts of the southern city of Turiinan, so the procession had to travel east from the king's palace in the western part of the inner city, through Victory Square to the eastern side, then turn south, cross the large stone bridge of Clatty, exit the southern city, and walk along the river to reach it. It wasn't a close distance, and Christoya and Agnes hadn't traveled this far in years. This time, for Cynthia, they also fulfilled their responsibilities as mothers.

Such a long line of lights running through the city is naturally very eye-catching. The people kept coming when they got the news, and after blessing the newlyweds in the carriage and saluting the two princesses, they followed behind the procession. By the time they arrived at the stone bridge, the procession almost turned into a night parade for the whole city, which just shows that the royal family of Davers is deeply loved by the people.

On this night, the king's family and the people of Dioonia blended intimately together.

Informed by the guards that they were about to arrive at Patroclus' house, Christoya and Agnes looked at each other, and both breathed a sigh of relief, and invariably slapped their legs with their free left hands.

The carriage stopped, but the couple could not get out of it.

The two princesses walked forward.

Patroclus' dwelling was already decorated with garlands made of pomegranate, olive and laurel branches, as well as flowers of all colors. Piles of bonfires were lit in front of the houses, which were also brightly lit.

Patroclus's mother and other friends and relatives were waiting at the door, and they were shocked to see the huge procession (Patroclus's father had been invited to the palace for a feast). Then they hurried forward to greet the two princesses.

Christoya and Agnes return the salute to Patroclus' mother, and smile to comfort the nervous in-laws who are from a humble background: "We will be a family from now on!" ……”

Patroclus' mother said yes, trembling slightly as she lifted the torch.

Christoya and Agnes lit it with the torches in their hands with solemn expressions, and this completed the final handover.

In the traditional wedding of the Greeks, the entire torch passing process is essential. So, there is an old Greek saying that an illegitimate marriage is "a wedding without torches." However, in Dionia, newlyweds are legally married with Hera's blessing and registered at the town hall, and the wedding is just a sign of respect for tradition.

Patroclus, wearing a flower crown, led Cynthia and stepped out of the carriage.

Amid the cheers, Cynthia could still see the two mothers standing on the side of the road through the gaps in the fabric, despite wearing their wedding dresses.

Her eye circles suddenly started to turn red again.

Christoya stepped forward to hug her and whispered in her ear, "Remember what I said. ”

Cynthia nodded vigorously, she didn't dare to open her mouth, for fear that she would cry when she spoke.

Agnes also stepped forward to hug her and blessed her heartily: "Child, live well with Patroclus!" Hera will bless you! ”

Cynthia still nodded.

Patroclus also stepped forward to salute.

The two princesses accepted it calmly.

Christoya also said a little seriously: "Cynthia will be handed over to you, treat her well!" ”

Patroclus claimed yes, and then led Cynthia to the house, surrounded by friends and family, to the hearth, which was a symbolic center of the family.

Guests tossed prepared nuts to the couple.

At the same time, Patroclus's mother handed Cynthia a red date and a piece of cake traditionally made with sesame seeds and honey, both of which symbolize fertility.

Cynthia lifted her wedding dress slightly and ate them, which means that Cynthia has become a member of the family.

With the blessings of the guests, Patroclus took Cynthia into the wedding room and couldn't wait to pull her to the bedside, wanting to help her take off her wedding dress quickly.

"Outside...... Also ...... outside Someone else ......," Cynthia said shyly.

Rest assured, with Stephoros guarding outside, no one dares to come in. ”

"Stephoros? Will he and Gitia be getting married soon? Cynthia asked curiously.

"Today is our wedding, why care about them." At Cynthia's screams, Patroclus carried her to the bed......

Outside, friends and relatives sang wedding hymns in the highest voices, working together to scare away the evil spirits.

Soon, a huge send-off procession outside the residence also joined.

Magnificent singing resounded throughout the night in Turii......

……………………………

At the same time that almost the whole city was giving the wedding to Princess Cynthia of Dionia, the senators of the Senate gathered at the palace of Dionya to attend the banquet held by King Davers in the name of the wedding.

Davos spent his own money to set up nearly a hundred tables to fill the entire palace hall, and made his son Croto Katas the head of the banquet, directing his men and servants to serve the senators.

For the first time in more than a decade, Davers had hosted all the senators, and he took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the Senate for all these years of service to the kingdom. It was also the first time that his eldest son, Crotokatax, had appeared alone in front of the highest officials of the kingdom on such an informal occasion.

Under the deliberate arrangement of Davers, and the deliberate flattery of the senators, the atmosphere of the banquet was very warm and lasted until late at night.

Many senators were drunk, especially Patroclos's father, Pariondoros, as one of the protagonists of this banquet and the only guest of honor who was not a senator, he faced every senator who came to toast and congratulate, of course, he couldn't refuse, and he kept drinking glass of wine, and soon got drunk and vomited.

And with the authority of Davers, which patriarch dared to force him to drink, so when the banquet was over, he remained sober. As for Crotocatatz, who was still a minor, the senators were too embarrassed to let him drink, so he didn't drink a dive.

Seeing off the guests, Davers took Croto Katazques, escorted by the palace guards, and walked home.

The palace and the mansion, one at the foot of the hill and the other at the top of the hill, are only 80 meters apart and are connected by a wide and smooth avenue.

On this night, the moon and stars are sparse and the climate is cool. The slightly drunk Davers walked on the gently sloping avenue, surrounded by silence and a gentle river breeze.

He turned his head to look at his son beside him: "Why are you still angry?" ”

"Father, those patriarchs from Dawny are scolding you with drunkenness, aren't you ready to punish them even further?" Crotto Kataks said puffingly.

"So what do you say you should do? Are they flogged or imprisoned? Davers smiled and reassured: "They are drunk, drunk and drunk, they can be forgiven." ”

Crotokatuques said worriedly, "But I can see that they are resentful of you, and I am worried that they will ...... you."

"I have the protection of the palace guards, the surveillance of Aristiras, and the whole city of Turiyi under my control, what can a few leaders of the newly converted Daoni do?" Davos smiled freely, he was a little moved by his son's concern, patted him on his still immature shoulder, and said earnestly: "What's more, we just occupied people's land and took away their people, don't we allow people to get angry and dissipate their anger?" Child, you have to learn to control yourself, don't get angry easily, anger will make you lose your mind, and others will catch you on your weaknesses......"