Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Otti/Gui is so beautiful, so...

The kiss was like a dragonfly skimming the water, and it ended in an instant.

Amid the cheers in the church, Audrey was startled and touched her lips belatedly.

If it weren't for the familiar scent of cedar lingering on her nose, she would have thought it was an illusion.

When I looked up again, I saw Hermann with a blank expression, as if he was just completing a business task.

Audrey lowered her eyes, then quickly smiled, acting as if nothing had happened.

-

After the wedding ceremony, guests gathered at Winston Manor for the wedding banquet.

As a new upstart in Kent, many people came to support Hermann. The Principality of Ceylon values ​​decency, and even rivals like the Brusen family would send blessings and gifts on the wedding day.

Greta had already arranged for the cooks to prepare for this grand dinner. She wasn't good at socializing, so she could only do her best to handle the logistics. The table work was left to Norman and his wife.

Although his status as a down-and-out baron prevented him from reaching Mellenwick, his Norman family's ancestral wealth and influence meant Edward possessed the magnanimity and refinement to handle the merchants of Kent. As for the ladies, Jenny and Anna, raised under the influence of their country squire fathers, were trained to handle entertaining guests as a fundamental skill.

For a moment, the entire wedding banquet was very lively and harmonious.

Mrs. Moore, who was originally invited to help, felt inferior when she saw how relaxed the bride's family was.

Knowing that her skills were useless, she began to enjoy Chef Herslan's dinner with peace of mind, secretly praising him.

It turns out that marrying a daughter of a noble family does have its advantages.

Regardless of the Norman family's status in the real aristocratic circle, in Kent County, having such an eloquent and elegant relative has already raised the image of the White family to a higher level.

The Blossom family, who were eager to see the joke, had their wish dashed, and Lisa was almost gritting her teeth.

Back then, old Brusen had gone to great lengths to marry his granddaughter to the Earl of Brunswick, and this fact made Lisa the most enviable rich girl in Kent to this day.

But tonight, with the Norman family as a backdrop, the businessmen more or less understood a truth.

Titles are important, but practical support is more crucial.

The Earl of Brunswick's estate was more prestigious than the Norman family, but at the wedding banquet, the groom's family's disdain and arrogance towards the merchant guests was palpable. They weren't as welcoming as the Normans, and even showing up to say hello was only at Lisa's insistence.

With such a sharp contrast, the businessmen were generous in praising the Norman family, while secretly belittling Lisa - you all exchanged money for titles, look at you, and then look at them!

Audrey was relieved to have her family outside to help her.

Now all the newlyweds had to do was an opening dance and a glass of port wine!

Hermann took the bride's hand and walked to the dance floor, and he could clearly feel that she was very stiff.

He didn't know that Audrey was hypnotizing herself crazily, and the audience around her were all cabbages!

She danced the entire dance with a blank mind and didn't even know if she stepped on Hermann's foot!

When the dance ended, Audrey felt relieved and ran away while no one was paying attention, grabbing her skirt.

Fortunately, the guests had already spontaneously started spinning on the dance floor, and waves of cheerful laughter and music were like waves lapping against Winston Manor.

The music gradually faded away. Audrey closed the door to the terrace. The cool evening breeze blew her skirt.

Her attention was quickly drawn to the people in the yard downstairs.

"What are you looking at?"

A cold voice sounded behind him.

Hermann didn't like to waste time on ineffective communication unless necessary.

It’s a grand wedding, but it’s not just the bride who is tired.

Now he has become the object of everyone's flattery. Instead of listening to flattery all night, it is better to find a quiet place to relax.

Just as he was about to leave, a familiar figure beside him quickly slipped towards the terrace. He subconsciously caught up with it and saw the bride's back.

In the night, her snow-white gauze skirt fluttered in the wind. She leaned against the terrace railing, her profile bathed in the moonlight.

Audrey turned around, her eyes brightening. She smiled and pointed at him, "Look! Those are the villagers who sent me blessings during the day! The kind-hearted Mrs. Cooper must have specially prepared a banquet for them!"

Hermann looked in the direction of her finger.

There were several long tables downstairs, with fine wine and delicious food on them. Dozens of villagers sat around enjoying the food, clapping their hands and singing blessing songs.

Amid the singing, the lively little beggar performed a dance in front of the crowd, and everyone cheered, "Great! One more!"

Soon, the little beggar pulled up a shy boy from the audience and pushed him to dance with a smile.

The boy looked like a young adult, with red hair and freckles on his face. He blushed with embarrassment amid the crowd's cheers.

Herman looked away, not finding it interesting at all.

Greta is keen on helping the poor and needy, but he has no extra kindness, and is not interested in appreciating a group of people who are drowning in the river of poverty and not trying to save themselves, but are numb to it and only care about the happiness in front of them.

He glanced at Audrey subtly, but the latter didn't notice. Her eyes sparkled and she even cheered along with them: "Come on! Come on!"

Hermann scoffed.

He is timid when dancing himself, but he is very enthusiastic about cheering others.

The freckled boy's cheeks were red as blood. Amidst the kind calls, he took a deep breath, mustered up the courage to stand in front of a young girl, and invited her: "Can I...can I ask you to dance?"

The girl lowered her head shyly, but placed her hand in his palm.

There was a brief silence among the crowd, and soon the cheers were off the roof!

"Good job! Kevin!"

"Blessings to you! Happy couple!"

…

Everyone sang the blessing song in tacit understanding, and some spontaneously tapped their cups to accompany the singing. Amid the singing, the freckled boy took the girl's hand and danced a waltz.

On the terrace, Audrey covered her mouth and said, "Wow! Are they a couple?"

Quickly, as if to answer her guess.

When the song ended, the boy knelt on one knee.

The little beggar brought a small box and some freshly picked wild flowers.

The girl's eyes were filled with tears as she looked at the boy in disbelief as he opened the small box. Inside lay a simple silver ring.

For the poor commoner, this ring was precious enough. It sparkled in the dark night, as beautiful as the bunch of dew-covered wild flowers.

Audrey stared at the scene in amazement, "Oh, how romantic."

Hermann frowned barely perceptibly and looked at her ring finger - the ruby ​​wedding ring he had given her was enough to buy tens of thousands of silver rings.

He didn't understand why his bride had such an envious expression on her face. Wasn't he giving her enough?

Downstairs, the proposal ceremony continued. The boy stuttered as he recounted the story of their acquaintance, and everyone fell silent. His words were free of flowery embellishments, simply telling the story of an ordinary young man and woman who met and fell in love.

Finally, he whispered, "Will you marry me?"

The sentimental fat aunt's eyes turned red, the uncle smiled and clapped his hands, and the little beggar smiled and shouted, "Promise him! Promise him!"

Everyone spontaneously picked up beautiful wildflowers and threw them to the man and woman in the center: "Promise him! Promise him!"

Looking at the rain of flowers all over the ground, Audrey choked up and said, "It's so touching."

Herman had a blank expression on his face and took out his handkerchief: "..."

Audrey took it and wiped her eyes. Soon, she thought of something and ran back to the banquet hall with her skirt in hand. She rushed back quickly with a bouquet of flowers in her hand.

"Hermann! We should give our blessings too!" Audrey shook the bouquet in her hand and suddenly shouted over there, "Hey! Look here! Catch it!"

Everyone was attracted by her voice and stood up in surprise: "Oh! That's Miss Norman! Oh no... now it's Mrs. White!"

"Mrs. White! Thank you for your hospitality!"

"Hey! Happy wedding! Beautiful bride!"

"Oh! You and Mr. White look so well matched! Bless you both!"

"You're so lucky to have Mr. and Mrs. White witness your proposal, Kevin!"

…

Everyone cheered.

"Can you please give your attention back to the girl you proposed to?" Audrey laughed and threw the bouquet to the girl.

The bouquet of rosemary, a symbol of eternity, drew a parabola in the air and landed smoothly in the arms of the girl with a look of astonishment on her face.

She looked up and saw Audrey waving at her on the terrace, her eyes filled with a warm smile. "I wish you happiness forever! Whether you agree to that boy or not!"

The girl was stunned, staring at the precious bouquet in her hands.

The bouquet that witnessed the wedding symbolizes the bride's luck, and the generous lady chooses to pass it on to a stranger, just to wish the other person happiness, no matter what she chooses.

Herman was also stunned for a few seconds.

In his opinion, a marriage without material support will never have a good outcome.

What is a silver ring? It is just a cheap promise that earns only a momentary tear and touch of emotion.

Girls often fall for this kind of emotion and hastily commit their lives to it.

Isn’t my new wife, Ms. Norman, such a sentimental girl?

A moment ago, he really thought that she would follow the others and urge the girl to agree to the proposal.

But I never expected that her answer would be so unexpected.

Audrey, oblivious, smiled and shouted, "Make your own choice, beautiful lady!"

The girl took a deep breath. The bouquet of rosewood seemed to give her the strength to calm down and give her room to think rationally instead of being immersed in a momentary illusion.

She looked into the boy's clear eyes and recalled every detail of their past. Although he was dull, he was honest and kind. He would hand over his salary to her and secretly save money to buy her gifts. They were poor, but they would cheer each other up and work hard to make money...

These beautiful qualities are far more touching than a romantic proposal ceremony, and they lay the foundation for a happy marriage.

Facing the boy's sincere gaze, the girl took a deep breath, smiled and nodded: "I do."

The crowd cheered and applauded loudly!

"Congratulations!"

“Bless you!”

Amid the cheers, the freckled boy Kevin excitedly spun around with his fiancée in his arms.

The girl's cheeks flushed red. She pushed the boy aside and looked out onto the terrace. She mustered up the courage to smile and said, "Mrs. White..."

"Just call me Isabel!" Audrey waved happily.

"Miss Isabel..." the girl shyly raised the wildflowers, "Thank you for your generosity and blessings. May I invite you and your husband to dance with us?"

Audrey was stunned. Herman chuckled and looked at his wife jokingly, as if to say, "Let's see what you can do."

Audrey smiled awkwardly, "Uh... I'm not good at dancing."

"Come on! Miss Norman!" The old acquaintance, the little beggar, still called out the original name, winking playfully, "We are not as particular as the people inside. We just dance casually! Come and join in the fun!"

"Welcome to you, beautiful bride!"

"Yes! Please allow us to give you our best wishes!"

"Oh! If the wedding car hadn't stayed so short, we would have sung even better! Please give us another chance to perform!"

…

Everyone chatted back and forth, joking in a friendly manner.

Audrey couldn't resist their enthusiasm and had to agree.

Before leaving, she grabbed Hermann and took him away without saying anything.

"Please don't leave me alone to embarrass myself!" Audrey muttered softly, using him as a shield in front of her.

Herman: “?”

Even when he stood in front of everyone, the silver-haired man's face remained icy: "I won't jump..."

Before she could finish her words, she was pushed into the crowd by the enthusiastic fat lady, taking Audrey with her.

When we came to our senses, everyone was already standing in a circle, holding hands, singing and dancing in the same direction!

Aunt Fat is a well-known folk artist in the town with a loud and clear voice. She started singing a blessing song and everyone followed suit, surrounding the unmarried Kevin and his wife and singing and dancing.

The young couple danced in the center with blushing faces. The girl suddenly pulled Audrey, and Audrey subconsciously pulled Hermann, and the two stood in the circle together.

Everyone's enthusiasm grew: "Mr. White! Invite your bride to dance under the moon!"

It is a custom in Kent to dance under the moon near the full moon to receive divine blessings.

"I...I can't."

Audrey smiled and waved her hand, glancing at Herman awkwardly.

"It's not difficult at all! Look at us!" The girl also joined in the lively atmosphere and showed it off with her fiancé.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the simple skirts spun and fluttered in the air. The two looked at each other and soon lowered their heads in shyness. It was obviously a simple dance, but because of the affection in their eyes and the melodious singing around them, it seemed extremely beautiful.

Audrey watched intently, a tiny desire igniting in her heart. She glanced at Herman quickly, then quickly lowered her head.

Mr. Silver Hair certainly didn't miss this.

He was always watching her.

I saw the cold moonlight shining on her profile, I saw her in a daze, I saw the gleam in her eyes.

He probably understood what she was expecting.

It was not the priceless ruby ​​wedding ring, nor the grand wedding banquet in the castle, but the bouquet of wild flowers that the boy handed to the girl and the sincere affection in his eyes.

Even though it was a cheap thing that could be found everywhere in his eyes.

A slender hand appeared in front of her, accompanied by a cold voice: "Come on."

Audrey was startled, "You're going to ask me to dance."

Herman had a blank expression on his face. He looked up at the night sky and said, "Because the moonlight is still beautiful tonight."

Audrey was stunned, but soon smiled and happily shook his hand: "Okay!"

The warmth spread from the palm of his hand to his cold fingertips.

Everyone applauded, some cheered, some sang, and they spontaneously formed a circle, surrounding the newlyweds in the middle.

In the moonlight, Hermann put his hand on his wife's soft waist.

Perhaps it was because the atmosphere was so wonderful that Audrey felt a sense of relaxation she had never felt before, and she danced wholeheartedly to Hermann's steps.

Her face was reflected in the silver-gray eyes.

He had read very few romantic poems in the first half of his life. At this moment, he inexplicably recalled a line he had heard by chance.

——The rose is so beautiful that I can no longer hear the trembling of the dragonfly in my heart.

-----------------------

The author has something to say: The last quote is from Akhmatova's poem "Prey"

Let the two couples be sweet for a while, and then the plot will quickly follow.

I originally wanted to finish writing my sister’s pair, but my hand speed just couldn’t keep up, haha.