812 - Tide and Wind (2/2)
But at the very moment, Christine's expression changed abruptly and she rushed over to Mary. The sound of the Knights of the Round Table unsheathing their swords rang out continuously. A group of knights wearing power armor appeared from God knew which corner, using their own body to shield Mary, guarding her carefully.
Bang!
”Hey!” With a cheerful shout, the thing that fell from the sky landed beside Mary, producing a dull echo and causing dust particles to fly around.
As the crowd watched on in shock or in alarm, it seemed that the light from a wisp of flame was emerging from the dust.
As they watched on, the empress of the winged people descended from the sky, as solemn as the fierce fire of the Armageddon. Her red dress fluttered in the wind, not a speck of dust on it.
However, she held snacks in her hand, stuffing her mouth full.
As if she didn't notice the unusual atmosphere around her, she deftly reached out and tugged on the sleeves of the man in front of her. ”Ye Qingxuan, Ye Qingxuan, is there anything to eat? I am hungry.”
Ye Qingxuan's expression twitched as he looked at the big bag of snacks in her arms, speechless.
Then only did the winged people who had been chasing after their empress and flying down from the sky arrive, albeit late. Once Caligula landed and saw the goddamn situation, he couldn't help but feel his vision darken.
We're finished.
He slapped his forehead and reluctantly went over to the Anglo delegation to apologize in a thick-skinned manner.
But his empress still didn't realize anything, and she was asking the host of the wedding about the menu. ”Ye Qingxuan, Grandpa said that there's roast penguin for dinner, is it true?”
Ye Qingxuan was stunned and looked back at Watson. ”Do we actually have that?”
”...Just assume that we do.”
Watson also felt very complicated. He could only lean closer, lower his voice and say, ”I will ask someone to tell the kitchen later, at most, just ask someone to summon one to kill and eat.”
”...” Ye Qingxuan's expression was twitching, and he could only hope that no mass food poisoning would occur at his wedding dinner.
”Marriage ceremonies is so troublesome for you all.” Elsa looked at the surroundings, shook her head and sighed. ”Our marriage ceremonies all just consist of treating everyone dinner in the evening, then carry the bride away and go straight to sleep. Oh right, Ye Qingxuan, will you carry someone off to sleep as well? Can I go and see? Don't worry, I will only watch and not talk.”
”...” Ye Qingxuan didn't know what to say.
Fortunately, after Watson had enough fun watching the show, he still had a conscience after all, and he came to the rescue. ”Your Royal Highness, you should go and change.”
”Oh, is it?” Ye Qingxuan breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat off his head, nodded and bid farewell. ”Allow me to take my leave.”
Only Mary, who had hesitated for a long time and finally mustered up the courage to speak, was left standing. She stiffened, and her whole person almost turned grayish-white.
Mr. Ye, I still have something to say...
”What's wrong?” Elsa looked at her curiously. ”Sister, you look very sad?”
”No, it's nothing.” Mary forced out a smile, her feelings complicated and difficult to describe.
”Come on, have some sweets.” Elsa winked, as if she had understood something, and comforted Mary. ”Don't be sad, you can still be friends with him after he gets married.”
”Eh?” Mary was stunned.
It was as if an important switch had been flipped with a snap.
”Right...” She murmured softly, and her eyes lit up. ”We can still be friends after he gets married.”
Next to her, Christine turned her head away painfully.
No, Your Majesty, the 'friend' she meant, and the 'friend' you meant... are totally different!
...
Meanwhile, the locker room was also in a spin at the moment.
Ye Qingxuan was changing his cumbersome clothes for the fourth time, but Watson, who was next to him, was constantly causing more trouble by stuffing a stack of documents into his hands.
”According to your request, the structure of the first generation of the committee has been set up. Here is a preliminary list. However, you have to consider it carefully — Is it really good to just give away the power to control the world?”
”Surely there's not much disadvantages?” Ye Qingxuan looked up at the list, letting the attendant treat him as a clothes rack and put layers of clothes on him. ”I can't stand living on thin ice like how the King of Red did, give me a break.
”Wait, why are some names missing here? ”
”Oh, I removed them.” Watson shrugged and stuffed another stack of documents into his hands. ”This is the investigation report that has been sent today. The group of idiots were secretly financing the defeated Asgardian soldiers to establish some goddamn Liberation Army, and thought that they were being discreet. You give them an inch and they'll take an ell.
”However, I suspect that someone is behind this group of fools. Do you want to continue investigating? We can definitely sniff out a few more unscrupulous snitches...”
”Forget it.” Ye Qingxuan shook his head resignedly. ”Just let them have a look at the report, don't be so murderous. It won't be too late for you to take care of them after they stir up trouble anyway.”
”You're basically throwing all the dirty work to me right?” Watson suddenly felt complicated. ”Sooner or later, I will die from overworking.”
”Watson, don't underestimate yourself.” Ye Qingxuan patted his shoulder, his tone solemn. ”Shi Dong lived for more than two hundred years.”
”...” Watson didn't want to say anything, and he turned to walk away.
When Ye Qingxuan pushed the door open, walked out, and saw the gloating smile on Watson's face, he suddenly got a slightly bad feeling in his heart. ”What's wrong?”
”Her Majesty is gone,” came the reply
Ye Qingxuan's was totally stunned. ”Which one?”
Watson couldn't help but rolled his eyes. ”The one marrying you, of course.”
So, Ye Qingxuan faced a strange life problem.
— On the day of my wedding, the bride can't be found, what should I do?
...
Half an hour later, when Ye Qingxuan leaped onto the roof from the balcony of the bedroom, he finally saw Bai Xi.
She wore a white wedding dress and sat on the tiles, unafraid of the dust staining the wedding dress. She looked at the sea leisurely, a fruit platter in one hand, as if she did not realize how much trouble she caused at all. Seeing Ye Qingxuan, she even waved carefreely. ”Cousin, you are here.”
As she said so, she was stunned for a moment, pondering over her own words. ”No, I can't call you 'cousin' anymore, can I?”
”Stuff like this is up to you.” Ye Qingxuan grumpily messed her hair up. ”Surely you aren't chickening out at the last minute?”
”Of course not, I'm just feeling irritated because of the sheer number of guests you invited!” Bai Xi glared at him, and immediately, her eyes became somewhat dim. ”For some reason, I keep on remembering the things in the past recently.”
”Because of the city of the Cloud Tower?” Ye Qingxuan asked.
”Not this place, there is nothing much here to remember anyway.” Bai Xi shook her head and looked at him. ”I mean the things that happened back when we first met.”
”Oh...” Ye Qingxuan gave her a strange look. ”You mean the time you framed me when we met for the very first time?”
”Ahaha, did something that mean really happen?” Bai Xi blinked her eyes, an innocent look on her face, as if she really hadn't done anything.
”Yes, and it happened more than once. Remember the time you were at the fruit shop, you and Charles took off running immediately after taking something from the shop, making me and our teacher run after you all feeling very embarrassed.
”Also, remember the time we went to eat buffet! You had so many leftovers, and you threw them all on my plate, causing the restaurant management to stop me and try to fine me...”
Before he finished, Bai Xi kicked him. ”Why do you remember all these so clearly?”
”These are the only incidents I remember.” Ye Qingxuan shook his head and smiled sadly. ”I've forgotten a lot of things.”
”Last night, I dreamed of our teacher and Charles. They said that they would attend my wedding.” Bai Xi lowered her head and rubbed her red eyes. ”I miss them very much.”
”Me too.” Ye Qingxuan reached out and carried her in his arms, just like holding a large doll. The girl leaned against him and looked down at the wedding dress she was wearing, and her gaze became distant. ”Cousin, I'm still living in a dream, am I not?”
”Is it a sweet dream?” Ye Qingxuan asked.
”Yeah.” Bai Xi nodded.
Ye Qingxuan couldn't help but smile. ”Then let the sweet dream continue.”
”Will you be with me?” Bai Xi looked at him seriously. ”This is the last reminder I have for you, I can be very difficult.”
”No worries.” Ye Qingxuan lowered his head and touched her cheeks with his, laughing softly. ”No matter what happens, I will be with you.”
So, Bai Xi got up, tidied up the wedding dress on her body, and after flicking off the dust, she coughed twice pretentiously, as if she was not feeling shy. ”Let's go, the wedding is about to begin.”
”Alright.” Ye Qingxuan held her hand.
...
When the bell rang, Lola, who was asked to be the bridesmaid, was finally done helping Bai Xi change into a new wedding dress at the last minute. She felt that she was truly wise to have decided to order two sets of wedding dresses.
The carriage was about to arrive at the venue.
For the last time, she checked the white tulle that was fixed on the bride's silver hair and nodded with satisfaction, then stuffed the bouquet into Bai Xi's hands.
”Okay, let's go... Bai Xi? Bai Xi? Are you listening?”
”Ah? Oh, oh.” After a long pause, Bai Xi finally reacted and quickly nodded.
”You aren't listening at all, are you?” Lola couldn't help but shake her head. ”Do you still remember the process of the wedding? It's just a few simple steps anyway. Just nod to Father Bann, who is conducting the ceremony. After everything is done, remember to throw the bouquet out... Seriously, as a person who has never gotten married, why do I have to remind you of these?”
Looking Bai Xi who looked somewhat lost and was so walking so stiffly that it seemed that she might sprain her ankle, Lola sighed. Sure enough, despite saying that she isn't afraid, the end, she's still very nervous.
”Let's go, just follow me.” She held Bai Xi's hand and pushed the door of the carriage open, stepping on the red carpet.
The band that had been waiting for a long time played a melody. On both sides of the red carpet, the onlooking crowd cheered. The old men from the Court of Inquiry and the musicians from the Royal Academy of Music were excitedly causing a larger commotion by whistling in the crowd. After Bai Xi glared at them, the whistling grew even louder.
So, Bai Xi was even more nervous.
The wedding dress was too tight, and she felt a little breathless from it. In the crowd, so many pairs of eyes were looked at her, making her a little dizzy.
If only the quiet old man was still here, just like how he had promised her, he would have held her hand and walked her into the church.
If he had been here, Bai Xi would not have felt afraid.
Thinking of it, she couldn't help but feel sad.
But in her trance-like state, she seemed to see a familiar face. When she turned back, she saw the blond young man standing outside of the crowd.
He seemed completely different from the past, no longer beautiful, but his eyes were just as gentle.
Sensing Bai Xi's gaze, he smiled and took off his hat, lifting a hand to his chest.
In the distant blaring of the horns, he slowly stepped back, waved goodbye, and finally turned to leave.
The slender figure blended into the afternoon sun.
”Bai Xi, what's wrong?” Lola asked softly. ”Do you feel uncomfortable?”
”No, it's nothing.” Bai Xi laughed.
As if she had gained courage, she lifted her head and embarked on the future belonging to herself and Ye Qingxuan. ”Let's go.”
...
Avalon.
The setting sun cast a golden afterglow, illuminating the quiet and peaceful cemetery.
Before the lonely tombstone, someone unknown had put a bunch of white flowers.
To the beloved Abraham...
The wind brought along the echoes of the waves from afar.
All of the past quietly ended in silence.
The End
[1] It refers to the traditional Chinese marriage custom where a piece of red cloth covers the bride's head during the entire ceremony.