TRANSMIGRATED AS A GHOST

After the wedding proper came a reception in another area of the building where the wedding was.

There were several dozens of tables set up around the room with seating assigned by status.

In the middle of the room was a large cleared-out space meant for dancing, and at the back of the large ballroom was a massive orchestra ready to play all manner of music.

To start, all the guests of the lowest status filtered in and found their seats with the head table being where Marcus and Mrazivý sat with the other members of the royal family.

Each table was outfitted with elaborate tablecloths and tableware of the finest quality.

Once everyone was seated, the king gave an opening toast and when he was finished the first course of the meal was brought out by an army of servants.

It was a light soup that used plentiful natural treasures as ingredients.

The taste was quite exquisite, and Marcus carefully analyzed it to figure out how to recreate it.

At a steady pace the next two courses came out with the second being a fish dish, and the third and main course starring a generous cut of meat from a rare grade beast called a cinder goat which inhabited areas around volcanoes.

Both dishes were exceptionally well done and despite the head royal chef having a cooking skill level lower than Marcus’, his experience as a chef shone through, and Marcus was certain he could not currently make something as amazing as the main course.

‘Just having a higher skill level does not always mean that you are better. I can tell that Koki has a better understanding of what spices and sauces to use to bring out the best flavors. His experience really is leagues ahead of mine. I wonder if now that we have finished up the special dungeon if I should really throw myself into learning everything I can about cooking?’ Marcus thought while savoring the dish before him.

Soon the main course had been finished by everyone and only those few that simply had very small appetites had not cleared everything off their plates.

Finally, it was time for dessert and a towering wedding cake that was even taller than Marcus was brought out.

For a few minutes the cake had everyone’s eyes on it as it was incredibly elaborate and ornately decorated.

If not for its perishable nature many even believed that it would be a work of art worth having as a center piece in their homes.

‘I had been able to push it to the back of mine up to this point. But how much must this wedding cost?’

As this thought passed through Marcus’ mind, his smile stiffened, and he imagined the piles of gold coins that must have been spent to make this wedding a reality.

It was to the point that Marcus was actually worried that Borealia might be heading towards financial ruin with all it had been spending on high quality arms after the Dread Burrower and demon attacks, as well as the revitalization of Tralenstein.

Carefully the cake was cut into several hundreds of even slices and passed out to each of the guests.

And when everyone had one, it was time for Marcus and Mrazivý to give a short thank you speech to everyone that had attended.

Then, as was customary, they took a piece from their slice of cake and fed it to each other.

This signaled the start of dessert, and along with the cake guests could order all manner of other confections such as ice cream, and even sweet alcoholic drinks.

Time seemed to go by quickly and the rather tame atmosphere began to become far louder as the sugar and increased amounts of alcohol entered everyone’s systems.

It was around this time after the majority of people had finished their desserts that the dancing was to begin.

The large orchestra that had been playing subdued music throughout the meal prepared to play the kingdom’s national song and Marcus and Mrazivý took center stage to begin the dance.

Many more guards seemed to appear around the entrances and exits at this point, and those that were paying attention understood why.

The last time Marcus and Mrazivý took center stage to dance, a number of insurgents attacked and even summoned multiple demons.

It was a huge blow to the royal family to allow something like that to happened at an event they were hosting, and this time security was at its maximum.

“Looks like many people are quite on edge. Do you think that some of our enemies are going to try and attack us again here and make a trend of it?” Mrazivý said as she faced Marcus and waited for the music to start.

“I highly doubt it. Last time the attack was orchestrated as a distraction to abduct Kalt and Frostine while the king, Gwyneira, and Boreas were gone. If anyone attacked right now, I imagine they would not last five seconds.” Marcus said as he nodded his head towards Boreas, Jaela, and Ardea who were standing off in a corner and trying to look inconspicuous.

“Well, if that is the case you will have to do your best to entertain me with the dance. If it gets dull, I might have to make it more entertaining by having a practice match with you right here. I still have not had the chance to try out my new supreme skill against you.” Mrazivý said with a playful smile.

With an exaggerated exasperated expression, Marcus responded, saying, “I suppose that I will really need to give this my all then. I do not think it would do well for our image if you came swinging at me with a sword just a few hours after we were married. Allow me to level up my dancing skill in preparation.”

With a few quick thoughts Marcus opened up his status and pumped his dancing skill up to level seven by expending one hundred eighty-nine skill points.

Was it a waste. Most certainly. Did he care in the moment. No.

He already had a huge stockpile of skill points he had been saving up and felt that he could afford to use a few in order to amuse his wife.

Just a couple seconds later the music began to play, and as the sole couple on the dance floor began to dance.

For a few moments everyone watched with baited breathes wondering if something might happen, just like last time.

But soon it became clear that no idiots were going to attack the wedding.

Marcus and Mrazivý, with impeccable skills that had been honed in many classes, danced to the song that played and enraptured those that watched them.

There was no doubt that with their high skill levels they were some of the best dancers in the kingdom.

“Looks like all those lessons with the royal instructors paid off. I am just glad that all the scolding and getting hit with a stick weren’t for nothing.” Marcus said once the first song had ended.

With its compilation and the customary solo dance between the newlyweds complete, many others joined them on the dance floor.

For the next half hour customary songs played during noble and royal weddings resounded through the hall, and numerous people danced the formal dances taught in the kingdom.

It was at this point that Marcus could see that Mrazivý was starting to get bored.

‘Boreas, I think it is time. Would you go ahead and start the special arrangements we all worked on.’ Marcus said with telepathy

A smile on his face Boras retrieved a certain person from a circle of politicking nobles and took them to the front of the orchestra to lead it.

Many people gasped and looked on in bewilderment as this unknown person led the Grand Archmage of the kingdom, Aria Borealia to join the orchestra.

“Are you really insisting we do this? I am not sure how some of the guests will react to this music.” Aria said to Boreas with a bit of hesitation.

“Well, there are always some who push back against new things, but I image plenty of people will get into once they see Marcus and Mrazivý’s display. Anyway, I worked pretty hard on this along with Jaela, Lyra, and Marcus to make this. You received the blessing of music, so you should want to bring some new sounds into the world.”

Sighing, Aria could not fight back against Boreas and prepared to play a new type of music not heard in Borealia before.

“Marcus what is going on?” Mrazivý asked, noticing the mischievous look on his face and the movement around the orchestra.

​ “Just trying to keep things interesting. A song you have never heard is about to be played, so make sure to follow my lead.” Marcus said as he tightened his grip on Mrazivý and pulled her closer to him.

Not but a few seconds later did the new music begin to echo across the dance floor, and all of those that were residents of Mirrion looked confused.

It was not the usual classical style and was more upbeat and had a swing to it.

What was being played now was jazz music that those originally from Earth had painstakingly composed after putting their minds together and using all their memories to recreate what they could.

At the start no one danced to the music, unsure of what was going on. But soon enough, Marcus began leading Mrazivý with much faster movements than any of their dances from before.

Luckily with her high stats and dancing skill she was able to follow Marcus without making many mistakes and soon Lyra leading Quillon joined in as well.

Boreas swiftly took Jaela’s hands and danced with her since Gwyneira was not present.

The more people that participated the better to show everyone who was unfamiliar with what was going on.

Younger couples seeing the dance began to join in, spurred on by Lilia and Alaric joining despite not knowing exactly what was going on.

Other nobles with high dancing skills studied the movements of those that seemed to know what they were doing and after a few songs joined in as well.

Marcus and Mrazivý had started the dance, so it was obviously some new trend they must have been setting, and plenty of the attendees wanted to get in on it even if they were not positive about how to follow the movements of the dance.

What happened next was a bit of a mess, but it was clear that many people were having fun, and those that did not wish to participate stood on the side and simply watched.

“It seems you certainly prepared something interesting without my knowing.” Mrazivý said in between a break in the songs.

“Well, you always told me that you thought most of the formal dances we learned were a bit too slow for you to get into, so I brought some music and dancing from my world to life here. Though I would not have been able to do it without the others that also came from Earth. Each one of us had just a bit of different knowledge that we combined together. Thankfully it at least came out passable in comparison to what was on Earth.’

With a huge smile on her face, Mrazivý thanked Marcus for his consideration, and they danced together to a few more songs before going off to the side when the more classical pieces began playing again.

They were expected to do at least a bit of socializing and could not spend all their time dancing. Even if it would have been preferable to being propositioned by numerous nobles trying to get into their good graces.

Still, they understood how the politics of the kingdom went and made sure to evade any and all possible invitations that they could. Having no intention of getting involved with the inner workings of the kingdom.

Hours went by as they went around greeting everyone in attendance, until finally the reception began to wrap up.

The sun had long since left the sky once the last person had left, and Marcus and Mrazivý after a long time returned to their new chambers within the castle. That had been prepared especially for them now that they were formally married.