"Kiana..."
"Kiana..."
"Kiana!"
"Huh?! Mom, I'm here—what's up?"
Blinking dazedly, Kiana looked belatedly at Cecilia, who was kneeling before her. Gradually, focus returned to her unfocused gaze.
"Sigh!"
Cecilia chuckled helplessly yet affectionately, sighed, and gently tapped Kiana's forehead.
"You two disappeared with Zeke somewhere, and when you returned, you both slept for three years inside healing chambers! After finally waking up, all you've done is stare at Zeke or drift off into your own thoughts—snap out of it, my darling! Today, you're the most beautiful and happiest girl in the world!"
Though she wanted to add "one of" at the end, Cecilia reluctantly swallowed those words, acknowledging Kiana's happiness. With lipstick in hand, she gently applied it to Kiana's soft, pink lips. Her lovely eyes, filled with maternal love, began to glisten with tender tears.
"My dearest daughter, Kiana, from this day forward, you will belong to another person who loves you more than anyone else in the world. I feel both joyous and sorrowful for you, but that doesn't matter. I firmly believe you'll find true happiness, won't you?"
Cecilia's tear-streaked face broke into a radiant smile.
As Cecilia continued applying lipstick, Kiana's gaze gradually cleared, replaced by a disconcerting uncertainty that made her heart race.
Kiana lifted her arm, hesitated momentarily, then pinched herself hard on the wrist.
Ouch!
It was a perfectly normal pain.
She wasn't dreaming.
She wasn't dreaming.
"What's on your mind, my dear Go-Getter niece? Are you doubting whether this is all just a dream? Don't worry; Cecilia was the same way back then. You'll adjust soon enough—ha ha ha!"
Theresa, standing on a stool behind Kiana and adjusting her crystal crown, leaned forward with a grin to chime in.
Cecilia blushed instantly at these words—not every mother could casually expose their embarrassing past before their children, after all, and Cecilia certainly couldn't.
"Theresa! What are you saying in front of our child?!"
"You're right, Auntie. This isn't the time to tease Kiana or Mom. We should be offering blessings for Kiana—it's one of the most significant days of her life!" Durandal, who was smoothing out Kiana's white veil, sternly interjected.
Shrugging nonchalantly, Theresa replied with a smile: "I'm just trying to help her relax. On such an important day as her wedding, she shouldn't tense up so much that she ends up tripping over herself—it'd be utterly humiliating! Even ten thousand years from now, recalling it would make her want to bury her head in shame!"
Durandal froze momentarily, pondered seriously, then bent down towards Kiana:
"Would you like me to give you a quick massage?"
Kiana blinked, her delicate shoulders trembling slightly as she tried—and failed—to suppress a giggle.
Wiping away tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes, she noticed the pristine white cuffs adorning her hands with their soft and comfortable touch. Looking down further, she saw the blue-and-white skirt hem resembling flower petals, accentuating her graceful figure and slender legs clad in silk stockings...
Resting her hands on her smooth chest, Kiana gazed at Durandal's earnest expression and said, "Big Sis, this wedding dress is modified from the 'Winter Princess' ensemble, isn't it? It was originally meant as a birthday gift for you from Mom, but I ended up using it first. I'm truly sorry about that!"
"Hmm? Why would you apologize for something like that? Don't worry about such small matters. You look absolutely stunning in it, and that's all that matters! For your happiness, not just the Winter Princess outfit, but any precious attire—I'd gladly find it for you, Kiana!"
Durandal gently touched cheeks with Kiana, then guided her gaze towards the mirror. Reflecting back were two strikingly similar yet beautiful faces. In her princess gown, adorned with a pure white veil and bridal dress, Kiana appeared breathtakingly enchanting, akin to a fairy tale heroine.
"Is that...me?" Kiana pointed at her reflection, almost incredulous.
Lost in thought, she hadn't noticed how they were dressing her up. But now, with the elegant and intricate makeup accentuating her captivating eyes framed by long, alluring lashes, and the flawless ivory skin complementing the beautiful gown—Kiana had never seen herself like this before.
She wasn't particularly skilled at grooming herself.
Zeke himself didn't care much for appearances; occasionally, when he felt inclined, he might help Kiana get dressed. As for Kiana, she rarely paid attention to her own look. Usually, going barefaced with a simple yet favorite dress was about as far as her efforts extended.
Seeing herself transformed this way seemed almost unreal.
"Do I...look good?" Kiana clasped her hands uncertainly, suddenly feeling apprehensive and unsure of her appearance's appeal.
"You're absolutely stunning! My darling daughter is the most beautiful girl in the world!"
"Only for today, Go-Getter, you're the cutest girl in the world!"
"Kiana, believe in yourself! Today's you is the most beautiful girl I've ever seen!" Cecilia, Theresa, and Durandal each offered their most heartfelt reassurances.
Relieved, Kiana let out a sigh. Gazing at her reflection, she beamed with an enchanting smile.
Kiana stood at Schicksal's Sky City Base within Cecilia's former room.
At the same time, in Taixuan Mountain's ancient mansion and Anti-Entropy's original base on the Siberian tundra—formerly Cocolia's Orphanage—the other three brides were also surrounded by friends and loved ones, experiencing similar moments of joy.
Meanwhile, above the new continent, deep within the grandeur of the rebuilt Imperial City, Zeke adjusted his collar before a mirror.
The tailored black jacket hugged his sturdy frame, its rigid shoulder pads and somber hues exuding a steadfastness like a towering mountain. His slender fingers were clad in black gloves, complemented by the flowing, swallowtail-inspired hem that seamlessly blended Eastern and Western aesthetics, adding an air of elegance and poise.
In short, this man was undeniably charismatic.
"Heh!" A light chuckle came from beside him, courtesy of a certain sit-up enthusiast.
Zeke turned, expressionless, to glance at Welt.
"What's so funny?"
"Uh... It's your wedding day! Can't you show some emotion? You're making it look more like a threat, Zeke!"
"Smile... you mean like this?" Zeke forced his lips upward with robotic stiffness, his gaze as chillingly icy as frozen shards.
Instantaneously, Welt's smile vanished.
"Promise me, even if we skip smiling altogether at the wedding, it won't matter. You've always been rather expressionless anyway; just continue as is till the end. No one will care—just don't pull that face during the ceremony, or they'll regret it for life!" Welt placed both hands on Zeke's shoulders, earnestly imploring him.
As the officiant, Welt felt immense pressure for the first time—the kind of dread that the wedding guests might be terrified out of their wits by such a sight.
Behind Welt, Chen Tianwu and Raiden Ryoma, who had joined to lend support, vigorously nodded in emphatic agreement.