Chapter 77
A month passed quickly. Even though the Jin clan handled most of the wedding preparations, there were still many things that Wakako needed to take care of.
Every few days, she would enter the palace to train the Crown Princess. In the afternoon, she would read the letters sent by the Jin clan to ensure that everything was going smoothly.
During this time, Lin Lin had gone on a mission and only hurried back the day before Wakako’s wedding to attend. junior sister’s eyes were swollen, as if she had been crying. She asked, “Even now, haven’t you told the other masters about the poisoning?”
Wakako hesitated. “I left them a letter…”
The unspoken word “death” further darkened Lin Lin’s mood. She still couldn’t accept that her senior sister was about to leave. Biting her lip, she turned and walked away, bumping into Carol, who was clueless about what had happened and thought they had argued.
That night, her squad mates, acting as her “elders,” slept outside, while Wakako rested in the inner room. She closed her eyes for a long time, tossing and turning, but couldn’t fall asleep. Eventually, she opened her eyes to look at the sky but saw nothing.
A starless, moonless night, as black as it could be.
She wasn’t sure what she was waiting for. Once dawn came, her masters would take her to the Jin clan to welcome her bride, bringing Miki to their new home. The estate, a generous gift from the Jin clan, was spacious and grand. She’d visited it before and found it beautifully arranged.
The Jin clan had taken care of most of the decorations, leaving Wakako to decide only on her own bedroom. Fortunately, Miki’s past insistence that she practice calligraphy and painting had paid off—she was able to sketch a design of the Saionji residence and hand it to the craftsmen to replicate.
There were only a few days left before the three-month deadline for the poison to take effect, like a sword hanging over her head, ready to fall at any moment. She was prepared to die at any time, but she had a selfish wish—to die in her familiar bed.
Wakako let her thoughts wander aimlessly until morning. Carol brought her a basin of water to wash up. “Hurry up, Siruo will be here soon.”
Mercenaries rarely had the chance to dress up, so this grand occasion was a rare opportunity to do so.
Carol was eager to help but nearly turned Wakako’s face into a disaster with her makeup skills, so she gave up in frustration.
Soon, her senior sister, Liu Siruo, arrived. She was skilled in disguise and makeup. With a touch of kohl, she lightly outlined Wakako’s eyebrows, making her eyes appear more expressive. The process was simple, but every stroke was deliberate, enhancing her natural beauty to its fullest.
“Take a look,” Liu Siruo instructed Wakako to raise her head.
The bronze mirror reflected a delicate and dignified face, with eyebrows like distant mountains, faint dimples, lips tinted red. When she raised her eyes, there was an unprecedented grace.
Even Wakako herself could hardly recognize the person in the mirror. Was that really her?
She dazedly touched her lips, but Liu Siruo quickly grabbed her hand. “Don’t move, or you’ll smudge it. Do you like it?”
Carol clapped her hands from the side. “It’s so beautiful!”
Wakako tried making a few expressions. Over the years, she had never scrutinized her appearance so closely, and she couldn’t believe the radiant beauty in the mirror was hers.
“Go show your other masters,” Carol said, pulling her along. She called Hua Yumu, Albert, and the others to come take a look, and they all complimented her beauty.
Spring had arrived, the perfect time to trade heavy winter robes for airy pink gauze dresses.
The Jin clan had commissioned the finest tailor to create Wakako’s dress, which perfectly outlined her waist. The embroidered hem was like a field of blooming spring flowers, though it still paled in comparison to her beauty.
Lin Lin stood silently in the corner, wiping her eyes again.
Carol patted Wakako on the shoulder. “It’s time to go.”
Once again, her three masters busied themselves with the palanquin. Liu Siruo and Lin Lin walked behind, each holding Hua Yumu’s daughter by the hand. The little girl, lively and full of energy, called out in her sweet, tender voice, “Sister Wakako is getting married!”
Liu Siruo gently tugged her hand. “Momo, keep your voice down.”
“La la la la la~”
Hua Yumu, ever the doting father, shook his head helplessly. “Shen Qianmo, quiet down,” he said, though his tone was far from stern.
Momo even stretched her hand through the window, asking Wakako for sweet dates. “Sister, I’m hungry.”
Wakako grabbed a handful and gave it to her. “Eat as much as you like.”
It was wonderful. Everyone was happy about the wedding, and the joyous atmosphere seemed to reach Wakako, bringing a smile to her face. But deep down, she knew she couldn’t truly feel happy.
Soon, they arrived at the Jin clan’s estate. Miki’s palanquin, carried by members of the Jin clan, joined them as they headed to their new manor. Guests were already waiting there; upon seeing the approaching carriages, they clapped to welcome them.
Unfamiliar nobles whispered, “Lady Kitagawa, Miki…”
Some acquaintances from the palace called out, “Lady Wakako, Lady Miki…”
Wakako and Miki stepped out of the palanquin. They both wore veils, their faces obscured by the drooping gauze. The path ahead was blurry, and they were guided by those around them to the main hall.
She didn’t speak but knew it was Lin Lin beside her.
Through the veil, she could vaguely see someone sitting in the highest position in the hall, separated from the others by a thin curtain, making it impossible to see their face.
The young maid, newly assigned to the Saint by the Kitagawa clan, stood by the curtain, reciting the wedding vows for the Saint in a monotonous tone, seemingly unaware of the meaning of the words.
“Flowers bloom brightly, and the lady is graceful,
At first sight, love’s threads entwine…”
After reciting, she raised her voice, “Welcome the water purification ritual…”
Everyone present bowed deeply, maintaining a half-kneeling, half-sitting posture—including Wakako. None of this was unfamiliar to her; during a mission in the Eagle Kingdom, she had attended a noble’s wedding similar to this.
She had specifically requested a thicker veil, so she couldn’t see anything clearly now, only blurred colors, which helped avoid triggering unpleasant memories of past banquets.
The hall fell into deep silence as everyone held their breath. After a moment, the faint sound of bare feet slowly moving forward reached Wakako’s ears.
Like a cat softly padding across the floor.
It was evident that the Saint had deliberately restrained her pheromones; the scent of cherries was so faint it was almost undetectable, even as she passed by. Wakako and Miki knelt in the center of the hall, heads bowed in waiting.
Holy water was poured from a white jade bottle onto their veiled hats, slowly flowing down along the brim and wetting Wakako’s sleeves. She lowered her head, gazing at Miki’s feet beneath the white dress.
At this point, she had already come to terms with everything.
Wakako had so much she wanted to say to Miki. She wanted to tell her to take care of herself, to ask how the new servants were serving her, and to thank her from the bottom of her heart.
If it weren’t for Miki, the nameless orphan would have died somewhere long ago, never experiencing the honor of being a mercenary these past years.
Everything she had was given to her by Miki.
People scrambled for the white petals scattered during the God-worshipping ceremony for good luck, but she felt she didn’t need them. Meeting Miki was the best fortune of her life; nothing could replace that.
She should have known long ago that mortals are like ants and shouldn’t dare to defy the heavens.
But she still didn’t regret running away with Miki when she was eighteen, all the way to Jinxin Port. At that time, their eyes sparkled with hope for the future. Even if it was just once, it was a precious memory.
A thousand words lingered in her heart, ultimately turning into a silent sigh.
Beneath the veil, Wakako smiled with a sense of release, feeling the dampness on her arm. Holy water, holy water… Could it wash away the dirt she had accumulated in this life?
She reached out her hand, trying to receive more, and more.
The figure in white stood before Wakako, droplets of holy water falling from the bottle into her palm.
The servant behind the Saint chanted again,
My hair is as white as the white mountain,
Yet I still yearn the mortal world.
Elixir of life, elixir of life.
May you live eight thousand years,
And may I regain my youthful face,
To serve you always.
She remembered this poem. Miki had once explained that the poet lamented the swift passage of time, feeling old and unable to serve his master anymore, and wrote such words in his sorrow.
Wakako was still young, yet she could no longer serve her master. Miki was also young, but she had lost too much blood, her black hair had turned whiter than snow.
Former beauty, former beauty.
Who doesn’t yearn for their former beauty?
The Saint finally passed by her, walking toward the guests behind, the hem of her skirt lightly brushing against Wakako’s sleeve.
Wakako didn’t raise her head. She simply maintained her respectful bow, like everyone else, paying the highest respect to the Saint.
Before long, the holy water had been sprinkled over everyone’s heads and palms. The Saint retraced her steps, returning behind the curtain.
The ceremony was complete.
It was time for toasts. Lin Lin helped Wakako remove her veil.
Her bride stood quietly in the back, led by the attendant, and went back to the bridal chamber first.
As the Alpha, she had to drink with the guests. Some weddings deliberately made this challenging, not stopping until the person was thoroughly drunk. Today, with the Saint present, everyone was much more restrained, signaling for her to take only light sips.
Her disciple Tsukiyo was also present and offered Wakako a cup. “Master, congratulations on your wedding.”
Unexpectedly, Wakako drank it all in one gulp, as if she didn’t care.
One cup after another went down, and many nobles couldn’t help but praise, “Lady Kitagawa holds her liquor well.”
In truth, Wakako’s tolerance was only average. She knew she’d end up thoroughly drunk. But so what? This was a once-in-a-lifetime wedding. She would only get drunk this once. Even if she died drunk, what did it matter?
“You shouldn’t drink any more,” Lin Lin, who usually enjoyed drinking, urged her to be more restrained. “We’ll take care of the rest of the guests. You go back and rest.”
Not far away, her three masters were already drinking with the guests in her place, as elders, keeping the servants pouring wine busy.
Wakako didn’t answer. Lin Lin, without hesitation, pulled her towards the bridal chamber.
She wasn’t familiar with the new residence, so she asked a servant for directions. The servant led her to a secluded courtyard, decorated in an ancient style, with precious bamboo planted around.
At the bedroom door, Lin Lin let go of her hand, glancing back repeatedly as Wakako entered.
Although Wakako was drunk, she still knew where she was—the courtyard built in imitation of the Saint’s former residence.
It was still early, and without lights, it wasn’t dark. As soon as she entered, she saw a figure wearing a veil sitting by the bed, as if waiting for someone.
Wakako said softly, “You… you should go back to your own courtyard.”
Miki didn’t move.
“You’re so heartless, Senior,” she sighed faintly. “At least help me take off my veil.”
An Alpha was supposed to help the Omega remove the veil to officially complete the ceremony—a moment many Omegas eagerly anticipated before marriage.
Perhaps Miki had also held such hopes…
Wakako hesitated for a moment, ultimately unable to refuse. She reached out with her fingers, lifting the veil. The veil fluttered in the air, the red attire and face beneath as radiant as peach blossoms.
As it fell, she was met with the Saints exquisite face, smiling at her.
Wakako almost thought she was hallucinating. She blinked hard.
It was still the same.
She looked at that familiar face, feeling her drunkenness dissipate, her blood freezing in her veins. Was she so drunk that she couldn’t see clearly, or was it real, not an illusion?
“What’s wrong?”
Miki asked with a smile.
Wakako was stunned, her expression gradually turning serious. “Why are you here?”
If Miki was here, then who was the one who officiated the wedding just now?
Where did Miki go?
“It’s me.”
Miki’s smile remained unchanged, but her eyes gradually lost their warmth. “Who else were you expecting?”
Wakako clenched her fists, turning to push the door open and leave, but Miki’s calm yet cutting words stopped her.
“Take one more step, and you’ll regret it.”
The cherry scent crept into her collar, inch by inch, through the air. The Saint’s pheromones naturally commanded submission.
Miki said softly, “Turn around and kneel.”
