Eileenburg (22)
Engagement (2)
The engagement between Grand Duke Sway and Lady Ellen was simultaneously published in the gossip section and the Sun City Monthly. The entire Ellen Castle was bustling with preparations for Ellen's wedding, while the two involved, Grand Duke Sway and Ellen, were surprisingly relaxed. They continued with their lives as usual, the gossip section reporting on Grand Duke Sway's latest hunt and speculating whether the game had been sent to Ellen Castle. In reality, the two hadn't seen each other since their last meeting; the two butlers handled the wedding arrangements, while Xiao Wei took care of all of Ellen's trivial matters.
Following the dahlia crown, a momentous event occurred in Suncity: Princess Danes married Lord Fonsey. The carriage she rode in, which departed from Derek's Palace, was said to be entirely crafted from silver thread and crystal, its entire body shimmering and adorned with various gemstones. Princess Danes stood atop the carriage, like a jewel herself, her gown a pearl-embroidered blouse. She was enveloped in a shimmering white jewel glow, and no one could take their eyes off her. Years later, Princess Danes' name was forgotten, but the memory of that lavish wedding, that magnificent carriage, and that pearl-embroidered blouse remained vivid in the minds of Suncity.
Since Ailian confirmed her engagement, Mi no longer hid her identity. Sometimes she would disappear into thin air in front of Ailian. Ailian would smile and stare in a certain direction of emptiness, waiting for Mi to reappear and stare at her in confusion. Ailian would explain, "Mi, long-lived beings don't see the world with their eyes; we feel the world with our hearts."
"Do you know that I don't even exist?" Mi had never understood what the witch body was; she always felt that she was just a wisp of air.
"How could that be?" Ailian still held onto her, who was hidden in the void. Even though she had shut down all her consciousness and severed her connection with this world, Ailian could still know where she was.
"Is it only you who can find me, or are there other people who can find me?" Mi suddenly became afraid, worried that the almost isolated witch forest might also be discovered.
“Only me, Mi, only me,” Ailian said, hugging her. “Time, space, and dimensions have no meaning for long-lived species.”
“But you still need your destined one to come to you.” Mi felt somewhat relieved; the witch’s self-isolation was safe until she encountered the long-lived species. Perhaps it was precisely because of this characteristic of the long-lived species that the world was riddled with holes, and everyone wanted the long-lived seed.
Ellen's wedding is scheduled for Juneteenth this year. Completely unlike Princess Denise, she doesn't want a grand wedding or luxurious carriages. Grand Duke Sway and Lady Ellen's wedding will take place during Juneteenth, coinciding with the weddings of all the young men and women of Sun City. Grand Duke Sway's wedding is only a month away from Princess Denise's wedding. Normally, two weddings in quick succession would keep the Royal Ministers extremely busy, but Ellen has decided to participate in the Juneteenth weddings with the citizens of Sun City. The gossip and the Sun City Monthly Report simultaneously report this news. To coincide with the weddings of Grand Duke Sway and Lady Ellen, the Lord of Sun City has suddenly become incredibly busy, and Sun City is suddenly overflowing with young people of marriageable age, all ready to start new families.
Mi spent all her time with Eileen, and the two of them avoided the bustling crowds of Eileen Castle, playing in the lotus lake and setting up hammocks in the woods. Mi also built a two-story cabin for Eileen under that huge pine tree, where the two of them would watch the stars on bright nights.
"Why is the blue moon always round?" Mi climbed up to the wooden house. She built a wide platform on the second floor of the house, which could be folded up to form an eave. As long as there was no wind or rain, they could lie on the platform and watch the stars and the moon.
Ailian stared at the blue moon for a long time before saying, "The blue moon isn't actually round. It just looks round because it's so far away from the Flower Kingdom."
"In my hometown, they say the moon has its phases, sometimes it's just a small crescent."
"Was it glowing and you didn't see it?" Ailian glanced at Mi. "Or are their eyesight bad?"
“The moon where we live doesn’t emit its own light; it just reflects the sun’s light, and sometimes the sunlight is blocked.” Mi took out Ailian’s small mirror, held up her hand to block the light of the blue moon, and showed her half a bright mirror.
"Mi, you must remember that you are always shining. You are not the moon, which needs the sun's light to be seen."
"Miss, you need to try on the dress to see if it fits." Xiao Wei stood under the treehouse. Since the treehouse was built, Ai Lian often didn't go back to her dormitory at night. With the wedding approaching, the dress had been delivered two days ago, but Ai Lian hadn't tried it on yet.
"Come on, let's go look at dresses." Eileen pulled Mi back to Eileen Castle. In Eileen's room, a white, pearl-embellished dress hung on a rack, its long train swaying gracefully in a fan shape. The light reflected from the dress stung Mi's eyes. Watching Eileen change into the fitted dress, radiating beauty, she couldn't resist turning away.
"Miss, this part still needs some alterations." Xiaowei gestured to the tailor, pointing out where the alterations were needed, while holding up her skirt.
"Do the sleeves have to be this long?" Xiaobai asked, looking at the sleeves that were already covering the entire back of her hand.
“Alright, then Grand Duke Swei will be holding Miss’s hand as she enters, and Miss’s hand cannot be seen by anyone.” Xiao Wei took out a pair of gloves. “Miss, try on these gloves.”
The voices of Xiaowei and Xiaobai kept drifting in, making Mi restless in her room. She couldn't help but climb the acacia tree and peer through Ailian's window into the room. Ailian was now mature and beautiful, her white wedding dress a common style worn by brides in Sun City, adorned only with a few pearls, yet it made Ailian look stunning. A strange feeling washed over Mi. She had always felt detached from the entire Flower Kingdom, the only person who had briefly stirred her emotions being Bertram. After Bertram recovered, she no longer interfered with her, letting Bertram display her charm step by step. She could imagine the bloodshed Bertram would unleash in the Derek Palace, but she always felt it was all irrelevant to her. Ailian decided to marry, and Mi only felt sorry for her; she had only received a marriage in name only. She even advised Ailian to actively pursue a second spring after Grand Duke Sway's death. Even today, the image of Ellen's wedding dress still stings her eyes. The thought of the frail Archduke Sway leading Ellen by the hand into the wedding hall causes her heart to ache. Just like now, with Ellen in her wedding dress, she desperately longs for him to be the one leading Ellen into a new chapter in her life.
Mi could no longer bear to watch. She left Eileen Castle, shutting off all her thoughts, and ran blindly over the city of Sun City. When she finally stopped, exhausted, she found herself on the banks of the Flower River. Under the blue moon, the entire Flower River resembled a bright ribbon, guiding her in an unknown direction.
Mi sat blankly by the Huajiang River. The water flowed gently, and a light breeze blew. For the first time, Mi felt lost. She finally understood what that unfamiliar emotion in her heart was. For three years at Ailian Castle, Mi had only seen herself through Ailian's eyes. She thought she had only felt Ailian's emotions, her infatuation, and her affection. Ailian was completely different from Anna. Her pure passion wasn't something trained; the attachment in her eyes was instinctive. Mi had always thought it was because she had lost her mother too early. No matter what Ailian said, she always felt she was raising a curious child. She didn't know when that feeling had changed.
Eileen had always trusted, supported, and agreed with her wholeheartedly, leading Mi to believe that Eileen was omnipotent. Mi received an unprecedented sense of affirmation from Eileen, as if she were the center of the world. She saw her own radiance reflected in Eileen's eyes; she realized Eileen was better than anyone else, and didn't have to learn to be considerate, restrained, or submissive from a young age just because she was a woman. If it weren't for Fried's arrival, Mi would have been willing to remain forever immersed in this dream. Now, reality has once again shattered her illusions: Eileen is about to marry another man, and there's nothing she can do.
Mi took out the witch's headband, letting the gray ribbon slip from her hand and curl into a shadowy ball at her feet. She finally understood what the elders meant when they said witches had no gender. She had always denied her feelings for Ailian simply because she believed she was a woman and incapable of possessing another woman. In reality, she was insanely jealous, and she didn't even dare let Ailian know her emotions, because she couldn't bear the responsibility for Ailian's future, nor could she guarantee that Ailian would stay in the Flower Kingdom forever. Even now that she understood her feelings, she still wanted to return to Blue Star. Now she desperately wanted to go back to Blue Star, back to her little home, to escape everything in the Flower Kingdom. She didn't know how to face what was to come.
Mi stayed by the Huajiang River until dawn. Bright, colorful clouds filled the sky, the sunlight so dazzling it almost brought tears to her eyes. Mi secretly visited Bai Cuisi again. Bai Cuisi had grown into a beautiful and healthy young woman, surrounded by many young men who fawned over her. These hostages, if they found marriage partners in Taiyang City, the king would officiate their weddings and even provide them with a living room in the palace, as long as their parents were still the lords of Lin City. Once a new lord took over, they would be sent back. Having grown up in the bright lights and revelry of Taiyang City, how would they face life in Lin City?
Mimi wandered through Derek Palace with almost no restraint, even hoping to be arrested as the Grand Duke Sway's captain of the guard had suggested. She found herself in the Derek Gallery, where she encountered Mrs. Aldrich again in a dimly lit room.
“My dear niece, your time is running out.” King Derek’s face was grim, and he was barely able to contain his rage.
“Your Majesty, Elean, Elean hasn’t come out. I’ve prepared different men.” Mrs. Aldrich was covered in sweat, her forehead glistening with oil. “Elean won’t come out, and those men can’t get in.”
"Fool, that old woman is the one destined for you. I told you to catch her. Go and bring her to me." Derek grabbed the wine jug beside him, poured a large glass of red wine, and gulped it down. He drank it too fast, and the wine made him cough.
“If she doesn’t come out, the area around Ellenburg is full of Adventurers’ Guild members.” Mrs. Aldrich couldn’t help but shrink back in her chair.
"Fool." Derek smashed his glass against Mrs. Aldrich's head, the red wine sliding down like blood. Pointing at Mrs. Aldrich's head, Derek said, "Who are you? You're my niece. If others can't get into Eileen Castle, you can't either!"
"Yes, yes, I'll go tomorrow."
What reason will you give for going?
“A gift for Eleanor.” Mrs. Aldrich removed the royal-labeled floral ring from her plump finger. “This.”
“You’re not too stupid. Remember to bring a few more people.” Derek took out another wine glass and poured a glass for Mrs. Aldrich. “My dear niece, you should know that the miracle drug has been successfully developed. No amount of gold could buy you anything. Don’t be stingy. Send some generous gifts over. I don’t want to hear any more news of your failure.”
"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I have already prepared the necessary manpower."
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