Chapter 552 - Incandescent Lights (1/2)
CHAPTER 552
INCANDESCENT LIGHTS
The usually somewhat quiet surroundings of the central part of the fortress were now a hub of noise and chatter, as hundreds of pairs of feet ran left and right, in and out, groups forming and dispersing repeatedly around the corners. After all, just a day ago, the Empress herself had announced the Empire's victory and the completed conquest, and, in the name of that, she donned the following week a national holiday, throwing a massive ball for the occasion, and supplying any and every other gathering inside the Empire's heart.
Countless stalls already stretched across the somewhat convoluted set of roads spanning the fortress, some leading to the city down below, selling anything from the Empire's flags, small statues of the great people, collections of stories and poems describing the valor and the might of the Empire's top figures, and even cheap replicas of their identifying weapons.
Meanwhile, Lucky stood perched on top of the wall of the fortress, gazing at the sea of people streaming in and out of its walls with a calm expression. She took in a deep breath and gazed up, her cherry-red lips stretching into a content smile. Nearly sixty years ago, when she first entered her teenagehood, she imagined her life taking many routes – yet, not even in her wildest imagination did she think anything close to how it actually played out.
It feels like yesterday that she still struggled to grapple with the reality of things, when a woman promising her stars stole away her heart and heralded her onto the path that led her here. Ever so often, Aeala's smiling face would pop into her head as a swell of regret would assail her heart; she worked far harder than anyone in that small group, yet fell short of ever experiencing the penultimate splendor it would reach.
At last, however, she could relax; these last few decades felt as though she was constantly walking on the path of swords and needles, never quite certain when one might prick her an inch too deep. It was over now, however. Perhaps not for forever, but she could put her heart at ease at least for a little while.
She turned into a shadow all of a sudden, rapidly, and vanished from the walls, the liquid-like shape trailing along the walls and rooftops of the buildings, reaching the 'palace' of the fortress before heading in and entering the Grand Hall where the ball would be held. Most of the decorations were already in place, with over a hundred silver chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling, the usually dull, stone pillars decorated with a golden tint, cold floor covered with beautiful rugs and the central carpet, wooden tables replaced by the steel-framed ones, the center carved out into a slightly elevated platform large enough to fit at least a hundred people dancing at the same time, with some room to spare.
The wide edges of the hall were lined by the extruded tables that would be filled with food and drinks when the ball begins, various portraits and mosaic adorning the tall walls of the hall.
”Oh, you're finally here,” Alison's voice jolted her back to reality as she glanced sideways, spotting a somewhat disheveled-looking figure holding a giant table in one and a bundle of wooden planks in the other hand. ”Could you help me with this?”
”Uh, sure,” Lucky said, quickly racing over and taking the stack of planks. ”Why are you doing this? Aren't there literally thousands of people who would cut their c.o.c.ks for the privilege?”
”… can't you say something normally just once?” Alison smiled helplessly as the two headed to the backside of the fortress. ”Besides, it feels good to work. Break a sweat and all that.”
”… I know quite a few ways we could break a sweat without carrying around a bunch of wood.” Lucky smiled strangely, causing Alison's cheeks to flush for a moment.
”Hush, I told you not to talk about it in public! It's embarrassing!”
”Why do you think I keep doing it still?”
”Because you're mean?”
”Because seeing you embarrassed gets me through the day.”
”So, yeah, because you're mean.” Alison rolled her eyes. ”Do you mind if I, uh, run something by you?”
”Sure. What's up?” Lucky asked, using her free hand to take out a gourd of ale, taking a sip.
”… if possible, uh, I'd like… uh…”
”… what?” Lucky glanced her dubiously. ”Spit it out already.”
”… I'd like to adopt a kid… or two… maybe…” Alison's voice fizzled out toward the end as she looked away from Lucky, seemingly too afraid to see her reaction.
”… sure.”
”I mean, I know it's a grand undertaking and I know you're not that good with—say what?”
”I said, sure,” Lucky chuckled bitterly. ”Why? Is it that surprising?”
”Yes!—I mean no, of course not…”
”Nice save, babe.”
”… are you sure? I… I don't want you to agree to it just because of me. If you're not ready, then maybe we should wait…”
”Eh, it's fine. I can see myself tormenting a couple of toddlers.”
”Tormenting?”
”I meant raising,” Lucky said. ”I use them as synonyms.”
”Yeah, I don't think that's how that works.” Alison looked at with a faint smile, extending her free arm and pulling back a few strands of Lucky's hair behind her ear. ”Are you sure? Like, absolutely sure?”
”… yeah,” Lucky smiled back as the two stopped. ”You're gonna be a great mom, you know?”
”As will you…”
”Oh, no, I'm gonna be a dad.”
”… a dad?”
”Yeah,” Lucky nodded seriously. ”While you're teaching them all about histories, art, and whatnot, I'll take them out to brothels, teach them how to drink, and how to fight.”
”… on the second thought, let's just not have kids. Like ever.”
”Ha ha ha ha, ah come on, you know I'm just kidding,” Lucky ran after the annoyed Alison, laughing madly. ”So, which lucky kid got your gear spinning?”