(Episode 12 was uploaded yesterday, but for some reason it didn't appear on the archive. I'm pretty sure that it's still there, so if you missed the last one, check it out first.)
/
At that moment, in the bride's waiting room, there was much more commotion. Seven maids from the Lee Clan were diligently working on Eda's makeup, adjusting her hair, and carefully smoothing out every wrinkle on the traditional Eastern Ocean wedding dress she wore, similar to Jun's. Eda had to sit still like a doll, unable to move while the maids attended to her.
"Lady Eda, please refrain from moving. We're delicately shaping each eyebrow, and if we make a mistake, we have to start all over."
"Although Lady Eda is naturally beautiful without makeup, on such an important day, you must exert some effort to enhance your beauty like a goddess."
"Well, there might have been a more natural way to adjust the dress... Bring out the fourth dress there."
"Please endure a little longer. Shouldn't we decorate you so beautifully that even the clan master wouldn't recognize you on the most important day of your life?"
And observing all of these processes from a corner of the bride's waiting room, Remi made a somewhat disgusted expression.
"Poor Eddie..."
A young maid standing beside Remi in the waiting area whispered to her sympathetically.
"Lady Remi, Lady Eda must be going through a lot."
Turning to the young maid, Remi responded.
"Well... what can we do? It's the path she chose."
"Still... Lady Eda looks truly beautiful right now. The senior maids are indeed skilled with their hands."
Remi nodded in agreement with those words. While Remi had never thought that Eda was lacking in appearance, seeing her adorned by multiple people in this way was truly incomparable to her usual self. In this state, she would be worthy of winning a beauty contest across any star system.
Remi nodded as she saw the determined expression on the young maid's face.
"When you decide to get married later, Lady Remi, I'll be the one to adorn you!"
"No, that's a bit..."
As Remi chatted with the young maid, before she knew it, Eda's dressing was complete. Though the maids still wore slightly disappointed expressions, they had to withdraw within certain limits. It was necessary for Eda to take a break, and there were more guests to come.
However, even after all the maids left, Eda remained motionless.
"Eddie?"
"..."
Even as Remi approached and spoke, Eda remained completely still.
"Eddie, are you sleeping? No, then your body wouldn't be so stiff like this."
Remi circled around Eda, who was sitting still, carefully examining her. Even amid the maids moving around earlier, Eda looked incredibly beautiful, but up close, she exceeded that. Comparing her to a beauty pageant winner seemed too vulgar of a metaphor. It was more fitting to liken her to a masterpiece artwork crafted by a seasoned artist, sweating over every detail.
Eda's skin had a soft and smooth tone. The base makeup was applied naturally, emphasizing the inherent beauty of her skin, appearing even and flawless. The almond-shaped eyes revealed a sharp presence. Subtle eyeshadow added a touch of color, while delicate eyeliner below accentuated the wave-like shape of her eyes.
Her eyelashes were voluminous, curled, and highlighted a natural length. Well-groomed eyebrows, delicately shaped in a natural arch, added an elegant touch to Eda's face. The contoured nose naturally emphasized, and a subtle highlighter brought out the quiet beauty of her nose.
Her lips were wrapped in a subtle shade of lipstick. The shape of her lips harmonized naturally with her face, exuding an elegant appearance. The saturation and brightness of the makeup, under the lights, made her face shine, as if it would glow even more under natural light. Overall, it emitted a natural and sophisticated vibe, enhancing Eda's beauty even more.
Moreover, as the finishing touch, a white colored Fragrant White flower-shaped headband adorned her head. In summary, they enhanced Eda's pure aura, innate beauty, and charm, making sure to do so in a way that was alluring without being excessive.
However, beauty aside, the fact that she remained motionless was a different issue. Remi, unable to fathom why Eda was so still, continued to tilt her head in puzzlement.
At that moment, a guardian who had been waiting outside entered and delivered a message.
"Lady Eda. A friend named Dr. Rushell has arrived."
A slight twitch. Remi noticed a subtle movement in the muscles of Eda's face that had been still. She wanted to respond and invite her in, but for some reason, she couldn't move. With a sigh, Remi spoke on Eda's behalf.
"Eddie seems unable to speak right now, so I'll answer in her place. You can come in!"
Creak. The door opened, revealing a middle-aged woman in a simple white dress, wearing glasses. She had once been someone who looked out for Eda and Remi, a close friend of Red. It was Dr. Rushell.
"Doc!"
Remi rushed forward, hugging Rushell. Rushell, in turn, welcomed her with a smile as if she were genuinely glad to see her.
"Yes, Remi, good to see you. It's been a while. But... why isn't Eda moving?"
While moving the muscles on her face, Rushell, with a puzzled expression, pointed at Eda, who was sitting still with closed eyes, and asked Remi.
"Oh, well..."
Remi proceeded to explain everything that had just happened. Rushell, seeming to have figured something out, tapped her forehead and approached Eda.
"Myria neverlasting. Are you staying still because you're afraid your makeup will get ruined if you move? The maids left satisfied, meaning your makeup was done well enough not to get broken by some movement. You have to go through the wedding ceremony in that state, so do you think they did a shoddy makeup that would get ruined if you moved?"
In response to this, Eda opened her eyes and turned to Rushell, saying, "…You are right."
"...Was it really because of that, Eddie?"
With both Rushell and Remi looking at her in disbelief, Eda lowered her head without saying anything. Rushell sighed and then spoke to Eda.
"Anyway, yeah. It's been a while, Eda. Is this the first time we've met since the economic agreement between Thousand Peaks and East Ocean?"
"Yes, have you been well, Doctor?"
"Well, you're asking quite fast. Anyway..."
Rushell slowly examined Eda's face and nodded.
"Indeed, the touch of a makeup professional is different. Eda, you know I always speak my mind, right? If you go out like this, men won't even be able to meet your gaze. That Oceaner boy must be blessed."
"...Really?"
"Eddie, look in the mirror."
Remi wheeled a large mirror over and placed it in front of Eda. Looking into it, Eda was genuinely surprised.
"Wow..."
"Well, Eddie, you kept your eyes closed the whole time, so you couldn't see your own face. Are you impressed with your own reflection?"
"Uh, yeah. Jun would probably like it too, right?"
Upon hearing Eda's words, Rushell clicked her tongue.
"Well, now it seems there's only your groom in your mind."
"...You still don't like Jun?"
At Eda's unexpected question, Rushell was momentarily speechless. However, it was an unavoidable topic. Sighing, she answered Eda's question with a stern expression.
"Yes. I don't like him. It's been like that since our first meeting. Bringing a patient and insisting on talking about some East Ocean philosophy. It's not his fault, but in the end, he made the patient die. And then, he kept following you, making you uneasy with his stories about his hometown."
"..."
After a brief pause, Rushell relaxed her expression a bit and continued.
"But... When you were insisting to go to Banshee, or was it, Phoenix? Anyway, convincing you to not go there was the right thing he did. And taking you to his hometown, and until now, he has certainly taken responsibility and protected you... Yes, I admit it. He did a lot of good."
"Doctor..."
"Doc, I also helped convincing Eddie."
Ignoring Remi's interjection, Rushell said her final words.
"Above all, it's your chosen life and your chosen companion of your life. What more can I say? Congratulations on your marriage, Eda. Your master will finally be able to close her eyes in peace… No, not yet."
Looking at Remi while saying this, Rushell. Remi met her gaze head-on, expressing her dissatisfaction.
"Wait, what do you mean!"
With that, Rushell continued her admonishment for another hour before leaving. After that, individuals like Benzel or Lamar tried to come and congratulate, but following East Ocean tradition that prohibits men from entering the bride's waiting room, they were all ushered away.
/
Under the sunny sky, a sea of white flowers harmonized with the blue sky stretched out. The petals, swaying in the wind, danced gently, and shimmered in the sunlight. The fragrance of the flowers wafted through the air, creating a fresh and inviting atmosphere. The sunlight reflected off the flowers, casting a more radiant glow.
The sea of flowers conveyed a tranquil and soothing ambiance, where various types of flowers intertwined, creating the beauty of nature. The meeting of the sky, flowers, and sunlight imagined peaceful and beautiful moments amid nature. This place was like a dream garden, filled with beauty and tranquility.
In the center of this dream garden stood a hut that could resemble a fairy's dwelling. Not only that, but in front of it, a large structure was erected. The fact that the building's floor was slightly elevated from the ground, supported by thin pillars, indicated an effort to minimize the impact on the flowers.
Upon this structure, a multitude of people gathered in an orderly fashion. Dozens of round tables were set up, each hosting five or six people. Simple dishes were served on the tables, and some people were seen enjoying their meals, suggesting that they were hungry. People from Thousand Peaks, East Ocean, and many other star systems had come to celebrate the wedding.
The people were divided into two large groups, and a large red carpet was laid out like a long path between the groups. At one end of the carpet stood an arch-shaped door made of intertwined white flowers, and on the other end, the floor was raised a few steps higher than the tables, with a podium in the center. Around the podium, tall candlesticks were placed. The arch-shaped door served as the entrance for the bride and groom, and the elevated floor was their destination.
Although it was a different form from the traditional East Ocean wedding, the decision was made to adopt the most universal form of a wedding ceremony since the venue was New Iran, and guests from various star systems were present.
Music flowed around the tables where people gathered. Musicians from East Ocean and Thousand Peaks were invited to blend the two styles of music harmoniously, providing the necessary background music for the wedding.
The tables closest to the podium were occupied by the most important guests. Rushell, Dan, Benzel, Bones, and others were seated at the tables closest to the podium. Among the divided groups of guests, the table at the forefront of one group had relatively mild-mannered guests like Rushell and Bones. On the other side, at the forefront of the other group, Dan and Benzel were seated. It was a combination that no one could approach unless they were close acquaintances. In fact, Bones tried to sit closer to Benzel, but Benzel objected.
Dan and Benzel engaged in a profound conversation that could determine the fate of multiple star systems, while Rushell and Bones exchanged critical remarks about United Mining. Further back, the Lumen Association's council president and Lamar discussed trade of lumen intel, eagerly awaiting the start of the wedding.
Remi had taken on a different role and was not present at this moment.
Thump, thump.
The wedding announcer, Zhen, appeared from the side and turned to stand behind the podium. Zhen confidently stood tall in front of the numerous gazes and mentally reviewed the final procedures for the wedding. As both the groom and the bride had no parents, several procedures were omitted, making it easier to remember.
Moreover, since the groom came from a noble from East Ocean and the bride was a witch from Thousand Peaks, many traditional ceremonies were also skipped. Instead, it was agreed that the groom and bride would personally speak.
Tap, tap.
Zhen lightly tapped the microphone to check for any malfunctions. Then, with a deep breath, Zhen stood upright and began to recite the wedding procedures, making sure to speak clearly for all to hear.
"Thank you all for gathering from various corners of the galaxy to bless today's couple in the midst of the ongoing construction. I am Zhen Lee, the one entrusted with overseeing the ceremony."
With a slight bow, Jen introduced themselves. Applause resonated from the surroundings.
"Now, we will proceed with the wedding ceremony of the groom, Jun Lee, and the bride, Edalune Grant."
A soft whoosh sound accompanied the automatic ignition of the tall candles around the podium.
"Firstly, let us welcome the groom. Please give him a warm round of applause. Groom's entrance!"
As fitting music filled the air, Jun, dressed in a red wedding suit, entered through the arched flower door. A resounding applause echoed from the surroundings. Jun walked towards the podium with a light smile, appearing surprisingly relaxed despite the tension. Zhen inwardly sighed with relief as Jun reached the podium and stood to the right, according to Zhen's instructions.
"Now, let us welcome the bride, the highlight of today's wedding. Please give her an even louder round of applause. Bride's entrance!"
The same music as before played, and a creaking sound echoed from behind the arched flower door. When Eda finally emerged from behind the door, unlike when Jun had walked out, there was no applause. Everyone momentarily forgot to applaud because they were all captivated by her presence.
As Eda took her first step onto the carpet, the sea of flowers around her seemed to ripple, almost as if responding to her footsteps. Beautiful petals gracefully fluttered into the sky, and the faint lumen fragrance that had been contained within them bloomed. In the center of it all, Eda walked towards them wearing a red East Ocean-style dress, a white flower tiara on her head, and a smile on her face.
She even held a bouquet of Fragrant White flowers in her hand. The combination of her elevated appearance due to makeup and the mysterious atmosphere around her made her seem like a goddess of flowers descended to earth.
Everyone, for a moment, forgot to applaud as they gazed at her. Especially the young men couldn't take their eyes off her. The silence might have persisted for quite a while if it weren't for Remi, who followed behind Eda, holding the trailing edge of her dress, and breaking the silence.
Remi, dressed in a much more subtle design than Eda's red dress, clapped her hands while holding onto the hem of Eda's dress.
Clap, clap, clap.
As the applause flowed from Remi's small hands, those around her began to stir as if awakening from a trance.
Clap, clap, clap!
Gradually, everyone seemed to come to their senses, and they applauded much louder than they did for Jun. Even though their palms turned red, they didn't stop. Remi, now pleased with the situation, nodded with a smile.
However, even though everyone had snapped out of it, Jun's gaze was still captivated by Eda, just like before. He knew she would be wearing makeup, but this surpassed his imagination by far. Unable to regain his composure, Jun couldn't shake off the mesmerizing effect of Eda as she ascended to the stage.
Sensing this, Remi inwardly sighed deeply, took Eda's bouquet, and discreetly nudged Jun as she stepped back. Only then did Jun come to his senses, silently expressing gratitude to Remi, and began to consider the next steps after the wedding ceremony.
Zhen announced the next procedure through the amplified voice on the microphone.
"Groom, bride, please bow to each other."
Standing side by side at the altar, Eda and Jun turned towards each other, slowly and gracefully bowing at the waist as they faced each other. For a moment, their heads were close, and they could hear each other's breath.
As they straightened up, Zhen proceeded to announce the next step.
"Now, the groom and bride will recite the vows they have personally prepared."
Eda and Jun held each other's wrists with both hands, a gesture symbolizing that their lives are connected. It was one of the East Ocean's highest vows, signifying that they prioritized each other over their own lives. Jun spoke first.
"There was a man who escaped from the clan, determined to reclaim his honor with empty hands."
To some, speaking about such matters at a wedding might seem inappropriate. However, since this vow was made with the person who had overcome all of that alongside him, Jun decided not to hide his story. Eda continued his narrative.
"There was a witch who roamed the star system, unable to sing the songs properly even in pursuit of finding her master."
"I remember our first encounter at the Migrant's Bazaar."
"The first meeting with him, who foolishly sought a cave in a distant land."
"With her beautiful voice, she accepted me when I had nothing, led the crew wisely, and I fell even more for her."
"He, more gentlemanly than anyone, possessing boundless responsibility towards his people, and dedicated to his comrades, became even more dear to me."
And then, simultaneously, Eda and Jun declared:
""Thus, we became lovers. In this gathering of cherished individuals.""
"I, Lee Jun."
"I, Edalune Grant."
Once again, Eda and Jun simultaneously made their vows:
""I promise to you.""
Jun was the first to declare.
"First, I will always respect my wife who leads the Lee Clan together with me, and even if our opinions differ, I will always listen to her."
Eda continued.
"I will mobilize everything I have to assist the husband leading the clan together. For him, I will do whatever it takes."
"Second, for the wife who loves Lumen plants, I will study as much as she does. Even if there are occasional troubles, I will put in even more effort."
"As much as the husband who works hard for me, I promise to teach and, when necessary, spare no effort in the punishment of love."
The last statement was not pre-agreed upon. Jun's expression momentarily faltered, slightly surprised. Dan, noticing this, grinned mischievously.
"I'll do my best to avoid such incidents. Third, when my wife is angry, I will admit fault even if I don't know the reason."
"Grateful for my husband's consideration, I, too, will discern and ensure that personal grievances do not affect our public affairs."
"Fourth, for the wife who is thankful for our meeting, I will always strive to stay healthy as we are now."
"Not only in this lifetime, but we have loved each other since the previous life. And in the next life, I pledge to stand by his side with an unwavering presence so that we can recognize each other earlier."
"I cherish and love Eda and vow to be with her forever as a lifelong companion."
"I pledge to respect and support Jun, creating a wise and harmonious family."
Jun and Eda spoke simultaneously.
""Because there are more days ahead of us than the days we've spent together.""
Jun continued,
"Remembering our precious first meeting."
Eda took over.
"Grateful today for the happiness that is because of you."
Finally, Eda and Jun concluded simultaneously.
""We pledge to always respect and care for each other, becoming a happier couple than anyone else. Our lives are now connected."
As Remi approached, she handed a ring each to Eda and Jun, each adorned with a symbol of Taiyang and Terra. Jun graciously accepted it, supporting Eda's delicate left hand with his own left hand and carefully placing the ring on her ring finger. Feeling the smooth insertion and the comfortable settling of the ring, Eda smiled a smile more beautiful than a blooming flower.
Now it was Eda's turn. Holding the ring she had just received from Remi firmly in her hand, she accepted Jun's rough yet tender left hand with her own left hand and gently placed the ring on his ring finger. Feeling the cool touch of the ring and the warmth of Eda's hand simultaneously, Jun smiled a smile as radiant as a blazing star.
Now, they didn't need Zhen's guidance. Everyone knew the next steps. The faces of the two, capturing each other's reflections in their eyes, naturally drew closer, and they shared a kiss, sealing their vow to spend a lifetime together. Unlike the breathless kiss by the beach, this one was incredibly comfortable.
Applause erupted from everyone. The surrounding environment was no exception. Like blessing them, the sea of flowers around began to ripple, and petals fluttered in the air. The lumen within them soared momentarily, creating a fantastic scene. Petals gathered like waves, dancing together, and the lumen lights intertwined, turning the white sea of flowers into a magical space.
The sunlight made this beautiful scene even more enchanting. The petals and Lumens sparkled under the sunlight, creating a festival of beautiful light, as if ascending to the sky. The brilliance of the lumen and the white petals merged, capturing the mystery and beauty of nature.
Simultaneously, Thousand Peaks's Ignis released flares, and the East Ocean's Taiyang scattered flames.
Click. Click.
And all of this was recorded by a camera in Remi's hand, producing the soft shutter sound. Just like when Dan captured Eda, Remi, and Jun during the celebration of Remi's university admission, or when Eda photographed Jun lifting Remi on the beach, this very camera had documented the magical moments.