A farce quickly came to an end.
Mo Zhi found a quiet place and helped Eurice to a spot under the shade of a tree.
It was noon now, and the sun was so bright that it was hard to keep one’s eyes open.
With her head still dizzy from the drink, Eurice leaned against the tree trunk, and it wasn’t until who knew how long later that her muddled mind finally cleared a little.
She opened her eyes, squinting against the dazzling sunlight as she searched for that familiar figure.
“Mo Zhi?”
“I’m here, Your Highness.”
A gentle voice sounded at her ear, and as she turned her head slightly, she met a pair of exquisite, beautiful dark green eyes.
Only after seeing her did Eurice relax, letting her head fall naturally and nestle against Mo Zhi’s shoulder.
Breathing in the fresh scent unique to Mo Zhi, Eurice’s headache eased a bit more.
“Your Highness, you must take care of your health. It’s best not to overdo it.”
“Mmm…”
Listening to Mo Zhi’s caring words, Eurice replied in a hoarse voice.
She usually didn’t drink at banquets—partly because she wasn’t good at it, and partly because of her little maid Mo Zhi.
She knew Mo Zhi was a cat demon, with a sense of smell dozens of times more sensitive than humans.
The scent of alcohol would be a devastating blow to Mo Zhi’s nose.
She didn’t want Mo Zhi to dislike her.
Even if that sounded a bit exaggerated, even just subconsciously seeing Mo Zhi take a step away from her would make her unbearably sad.
But today was different.
Today, she was here in place of her father, and those nobles, when toasting her, were really toasting the King.
If she refused, she’d be disrespecting them.
So she had no choice but to drink, though she hadn’t expected to drink so much.
The two of them nestled together beneath the shade, and the drunken Eurice, comforted by that familiar scent, gradually drifted off to sleep, while Mo Zhi quietly watched the ants on the ground.
Time passed quietly, minute by minute, until the sun rose overhead and the ants returned to their nest.
Only then did Mo Zhi suddenly remember something and hurriedly looked at the Pocket Watch on her chest.
It was already one o’clock.
“Your Highness… Your Highness, it’s time to get up.”
Mo Zhi gently patted Eurice’s shoulder, softly calling to her.
Eurice squinted and slowly opened her eyes.
The moment she saw Mo Zhi, her lips curled into a smile.
“Good morning, Mo Zhi.”
“It’s not morning anymore, Your Highness. We’re still at the Wedding Banquet.”
“Wedding Banquet…”
She came to her senses, massaging her forehead as she left Mo Zhi’s shoulder.
“What time is it now?”
“It’s already one o’clock. There’s only half an hour until the Wedding Ceremony. You still have to give your blessing to the Groom and Bride, don’t forget.”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
When the two of them returned to the banquet hall, the Wedding Ceremony was almost ready.
The guests had already made way for a long aisle where the red carpet would be laid, the wedding stage was set, and the ceremonial cannons were in place.
All that was left were the Groom and Bride.
It was Eurice’s first time witnessing the scene of a Wedding Banquet, and if she had to describe her feelings, it was mostly curiosity.
At the Wedding Banquet, the Groom and Bride would exchange rings and become husband and wife under the gaze of the Goddess of Love.
Sometimes, a Priest or Priestess would be invited to give their blessing.
It seemed that many noble ladies longed for the Wedding Banquet, and Eurice often heard them speak of their expectations for marriage at various gatherings.
Wearing a pure white, beautiful wedding dress, receiving the blessings of all, and marrying a handsome Groom…
She herself had never felt the slightest interest in such things.
To Eurice, marriage was a transaction, a bargaining chip, the dealings of the powerful.
She didn’t know if one day she would have to marry for the sake of the kingdom’s interests and form an alliance with another house.
She only hoped that, if that time ever came, her little maid could still be by her side…
The Wedding Ceremony began soon after.
When the Bride appeared on the stage in her white gown, the noisy crowd instantly fell silent.
With her face made up in heavy makeup, the Bride held a bouquet of beautiful, crimson roses as she stepped onto the stage, one step at a time.
The Groom took her hand, and on the stage, kissed her in front of everyone.
The two of them were all smiles, a happiness Eurice had never seen before.
Even her own breath seemed to pause for a moment.
Eurice watched the scene, her eyes slowly widening…
Such an intimate atmosphere, such happiness overflowing from their eyes, seemed to make her heart tremble as well.
The scene before her eyes became a little blurry, and in the haze, she suddenly saw herself on the stage.
The person kissing her was someone else entirely…
Her gaze unconsciously shifted to Mo Zhi, staring intently at her profile.
Her heart began to race, a faint blush creeping onto her fair cheeks.
So this is what longing feels like.
She didn’t long for marriage, but hoped that one day, like them, she could bask in the sunlight and unite with the one she loved.
If one day she could boldly hold the hand of the one she loved and walk toward the Wedding Banquet’s hall, then perhaps this so-called marriage wouldn’t be so bad after all.
“Your Highness, Your Highness!”
Mo Zhi’s voice snapped her back to reality.
Only then did she realize she’d been staring at her all this time.
“Why is Your Highness staring at me? Is there something on my face?”
Blushing, Eurice quickly looked away and said as calmly as she could, “N-no, nothing. I just zoned out for a moment.”
“Is Your Highness tired? You can rest again later. But for now, please gather your spirits—it’s almost your turn to go up.”
“Mm.”
After the kiss on stage, it was time for Eurice to step up and give her blessing.
Standing on the stage, Eurice held a long scroll and began, in a solemn, prayer-like tone: “May your marriage be like the free wind, carrying with it flowers and beauty. May your happiness bloom like a garden in spring. May you always remain side by side, never leaving nor forsaking each other. May the great Goddess of Love, Hephitia, bestow her blessing upon you…”
The couple bowed their heads to Eurice, listening to her deep, lingering blessing.
As she recited the words, Eurice was still a little lost in thought.
All she could picture in her mind was Mo Zhi’s delicate face.
She wanted to see her face, to breathe in her scent, to feel her warmth, to always stay nestled at her side…
That impractical yearning for the future gnawed at her heart, and her desire to run away only grew stronger.
But what if, one day, Mo Zhi left her?
What if she refused to escape with her?
At that thought, her heart filled with fear, panic—even the ridiculous idea that Mo Zhi might already have slipped away while she was distracted, gone to some place she could no longer reach.
“…And so, in the name of the Royal Family, I offer you the purest blessing.”
As her final words fell, thunderous applause erupted from the crowd.
Eurice didn’t linger on stage; she hurried down, her eyes searching frantically for that one person.
But she couldn’t find her.
No matter how she looked, she was nowhere to be seen. Where was she?
“Bang! Bang!”
The ceremonial cannons fired, but amidst the sound, she heard an even clearer voice calling her.
“Your Highness!”
She turned suddenly, and amidst the shower of confetti, saw Mo Zhi’s lovely face.
“Was Your Highness looking for Mo Zhi? Mo Zhi has always been right by your side.”
In the quiet room, Eurice buried her face in the wedding gown, sobbing silently.
Her murmurs echoed in the room, tinged with sadness, regret, and love.
“…I’m sorry… I’m sorry… Mo Zhi… Where are you… I miss you so much.”