Chapter 74. Time for a royal wedding

Chapter 74: 74. Time for a royal wedding

IN A WHILE

XAVIER

I honestly thought everyone was joking. They weren’t. After we returned from the Moonflower temple, I went back to the Lycan King’s castle with Lang Li. I expected things to return to normal. Well as normal as my life could be after discovering I was a lost prince, hearing a future pup call me ’papa,’ surviving an Omega heat, and somehow ending up with a completed bond with the Lycan emperor. I was wrong, very wrong. The moment we arrived at the castle, the preparations began. At first, it was subtle. A few servants carrying flowers, then decorations appeared in the halls, then musicians started practicing, then nobles started sending gifts. Then entire rooms were suddenly being renovated. Then one morning I walked downstairs and found three people arguing over the colour of wedding ribbons.

"What happened?"I stared.

"We are preparing for your wedding!"Ana turned around.

"I noticed!"I said.

"Silver or white?"Hin held up two ribbons.

"Neither."I said.

"That’s not an option."She sighed.

"Why not?"I asked.

"Because your mom already ordered both."Ana said.

I slowly turned toward Lang Li. He was standing beside the staircase, looking completely pleased with himself.

"You."I said.

"Me?"He raised an eyebrow.

"You encouraged this."I said.

"Perhaps."He said.

"Perhaps?!"I asked.

"You said you wanted everyone to stop teasing you."He smiled.

"I did not say I wanted an entire empire to organize my wedding!"I groaned.

"You should have been more specific."Ana laughed.

I groaned, then mom arrived.

"Wei."She said.

I immediately became suspicious.

"What?"I asked.

"Your wedding clothes are ready."She said.

"...Already?"I asked.

"They have been ready for three days."She smiled.

"Three days?"I asked.

"Yes."She nodded.

"But the wedding is still weeks away."I stared at her.

"Which is why we have time to make adjustments."She calmly replied.

I should have known that sentence was dangerous. It wasn’t just clothes, there were fittings, then jewelry, then ceremonial decorations, then invitations, then seating arrangements, then food. That part, at least, I enjoyed.

I personally designed most of the menu. Ana kept stealing pastries during the tasting, Hin claimed he was ’testing quality’.

"That’s your quality test?"I caught him eating his fifth honey bun.

"Extremely rigorous."She nodded seriously.

I laughed. Even the castle servants had become involved. The kitchens were busier than ever, the gardens were covered with silver Moonflowers, the main hall received enormous arrangements of white and silver flowers, the castle’s banners were replaced with ceremonial ones bearing the symbols of the Lycan empire and the Moonflower, everywhere I looked, there was some reminder. WEDDING. I couldn’t escape it.

Then, somehow, the weeks passed, one morning, I woke up and walked into the hallway.

"Good morning, Your Highness."A servant immediately bowed.

"Good morning."I said.

"The final wedding preparations are complete."He said.

"What?"I stopped.

"Everything is ready."She smiled.

I stared down the corridor. I slowly turned toward Lang Li, he was standing behind me.

"Everything?"I asked.

"Everything."He nodded.

I looked at the calendar, less than a month. Less than one month since I had returned from the temple and somehow my wedding was ready. I touched my bond mark unconsciously.

"I can’t believe this is actually happening."My cheeks warmed.

"You don’t have to be nervous."Lang Li stepped closer.

"I am nervous."I said.

"Why?"He smiled.

"Because..." I looked around the decorated castle. "I never imagined my life would end up like this."

"Neither did I."Lang Li’s expression softened.

I looked at him as he gently took my hand.

"But I am glad it did."He said.

My face immediately turned red.

"WEDDING COUNTDOWN: COMPLETE. ALL PREPARATIONS: 100%. HOST EMBARRASSMENT: RISING."The system appeared.

"Don’t start."I groaned.

"TOO LATE."A system said.

"WEI!"Ana suddenly appeared from around the corner.

"What?!"I jumped.

"Come on!"She grinned.

"Where?"I asked.

"Final wedding fitting!"She said.

"Again?!"My eyes widened.

"Yes!"She said.

"I thought everything was finished!"I goaned.

"Almost." She grabbed my arm. "There’s one more surprise."

"Help me."I looked desperately at Lang Li.

"Good luck."He simply smiled.

"You traitor!"I groaned as Ana dragged me down the hallway.

Behind us, Lang Li laughed and somehow, despite all my embarrassment I found myself smiling. Because tomorrow wasn’t some prophecy, it wasn’t the system deciding my future. It wasn’t the Holy script choosing for me. It was my choice, and tomorrow, I was going to marry the person I had chosen. I just wished everyone would stop reminding me every five seconds.

The next day, I had spent the entire morning wondering if I was dreaming. The castle looked nothing like the place I had returned to less than a month ago. Silver Moonflowers covered the entrance, their petals glowing softly beneath the morning light. White flowers lined the long path toward the ceremonial hall, while silver ribbons moved gently in the breeze. The banners of the Lycan Empire hung beside the Moonflower symbol. Everything looked almost unreal, and somehow this was my wedding. My wedding. I stared at myself in the mirror.

My hair had been carefully arranged, and I wore an elegant white and silver ceremonial outfit embroidered with tiny Moonflowers. A delicate silver ornament rested in my hair. I touched the bond mark beneath my collar, it was still there.

"I really am doing this."My cheeks immediately warmed.

"You look beautiful."Ana stood behind me.

"Don’t say that."I turned.

"Why?"She asked.

"Because then I will get nervous."I said.

"You’re already nervous."She smiled.

"I know."I said.

"You should see Lang Li."Hin leaned against the doorway.

"What about him?"I frowned.

"He has been standing in the ceremony hall for twenty minutes."She said.

"Why?"I asked.

"Apparently he’s nervous."She said.

"Lang Li?"I blinked.

"The terrifying Lycan Emperor."Hin nodded.

"Apparently he’s been checking whether everything is perfect."Ana giggled.

"Really?"I couldn’t help smiling.

"Really."Ana nodded.

A knock came at the door as mom entered.

"Xavier."She said.

I turned toward her as she smiled.

"Are you ready?"She asked.

"I think so."I took a deep breath.

Mom walked over and gently adjusted my collar. Then she looked at the bond mark, her expression softened. She hugged me.

"Now go."She said.

The doors opened as music began and I stepped forward. The entire hall became silent, at the far end stood Lang Li. He wore formal black and silver ceremonial clothing, his silver hair falling neatly around his shoulders. His golden eyes found mine immediately, and suddenly everything else disappeared. The nobles, the decorations, the musicians, the entire crowded hall. All I could see was him. Lang Li smiled as I walked toward him. With every step, my nervousness faded. When I finally reached him, he extended his hand and I placed mine in his. His fingers gently closed around mine.

"You look beautiful." He whispered.

"You look good too."My face warmed.

"Only good?"He smiled.

"Don’t tease me right now."I stared at him.

He quietly laughed, the Moonflower priestess stepped forward. It was Isolda. Her silver veil shimmered beneath the light.

"Today, beneath the blessing of the Moonflower, two souls stand together by their own choice."She said.

"Prince Wei."She looked at me, then at Lang Li. "Emperor Lang Li."

The hall became completely silent.

"Do you both willingly enter this bond?"Isolda asked.

"I do."Lang Li looked at me.

My heart skipped as Isolda turned toward me.

"And you?"She asked.

I looked into Lang Li’s golden eyes as I remembered the frightened person I had been when I first woke in this world. The abandoned side character, the person who wanted nothing to do with the Emperor and yet someho my life had changed.

"I do."I smiled.

A soft murmur moved through the hall.

"Then exchange your vows."Isolda smiled.

"I can not promise that life will always be peaceful."Lang Li took my hand in both of his.

"That’s probably good, because somehow trouble follows me everywhere."I said.

A few people laughed.

"But I promise that you will never face it alone."Lang Li’s smile grew "I promise to protect your freedom, your happiness, and your right to choose your own path."

My eyes stung slightly as then it was my turn.

"I never expected to find a home here."I took a breath and looked around briefly. "My life changed completely after I arrived in this world." Then I looked back at him. "But you became part of that new life. So I promise to stay beside you because I choose to."

"Not because of destiny?"Lang Li’s eyes softened.

"Not because of destiny."I said. "Because it’s you."

The hall became completely silent.

Isolda lifted her hand. The Moonflower symbol behind us began glowing, silver light surrounded us, the bond mark beneath my collar shimmered, Lang Li’s mark responded. The two lights joined together.

"Then let the Moonflower witness your choice."Isolda smiled. She lowered her hand. "You are now bonded as Emperor and Consort of the Lycan Empire."

The hall erupted into applause. Ana was cheering loudly, Hin was clapping beside her, mom was smiling through tears, my father looked incredibly proud. Mei Lin hugged Han Jin while laughing, even Song Hue smiled. And beside him, Jan Win was quietly applauding. I glanced toward them as Song Hue caught my eye and he smiled, then Jan Win said something to him as he immediately became embarrassed. I grinned. Even on my wedding day, I still had time to tease him.

"May I?"Then Lang Li leaned closer.

I nodded as he gently kissed me. It was soft and brief. But the entire hall immediately erupted into cheers.

"Why is everyone shouting?!"I pulled away, face burning.

"BECAUSE YOU’RE MARRIED!"Ana yelled from the crowd.

I covered my face as Lang Li laughed. Isolda smiled beneath her veil, and as silver Moonflower petals drifted gently around us, I realized something. For the first time since arriving in this world, I wasn’t trying to escape my future. I was standing inside it and I had chosen it myself.