The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)
Chapter 448: Beneath the storm of rainbow

Chapter 448: Beneath the storm of rainbow

Just from hearing that soft, low voice, I felt tears welling up in my eyes. Oh, Mother...I missed him so much. I knew it was impossible, but I felt like I could feel the coldness of his skin beyond the door. It took everything I had to prevent myself from yanking the door open and just threw myself in his embrace.

Perhaps that was why Zia was covering the door handle with her back.

"Sweetheart," he called again, and I realized I hadn’t been replying. But when I opened my mouth, my voice came out cracked and pathetically weak.

"Yeah?"

"I’m glad you’re still there," he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Of course, I’m still here! Where do you think I would go?" the forgotten vigor in my voice came back.

How dare he think I would leave?! After all this time?!

But then, his reply got me stiffened and feeling guilty for scolding him in my mind.

"You know where," his voice came out weakly, almost like a whisper, and my hand trembled against the door.

"Oh..."

I felt weak suddenly, as if I would suddenly get whisked away to another world; as if I would suddenly wake up in a hospital bed. It was scary, and I finally understood his fear now. I would probably have broken down crying that very second if Zia hadn’t held my hand.

She knew. Among the people here, she was the one who knew what Natha’s words meant.

"Sweetheart?" he called again, and I took a deep breath before replying to make sure my voice didn’t crack again.

"Mm?"

For once, I was glad there was a barrier between us, because I didn’t think I would be able to hold back the tears if I saw his face now.

"I’m just going to ask you one thing."

For some reason, my heart stopped beating for a second. "O-okay..."

He didn’t speak immediately, but I could hear his nervous, heavy breathing outside. I was waiting with a drumming heart and only after a minute about to pass did I hear his voice again. "Are you sure? You won’t regret this?"

For a second, I was about to lash out. Fearing I would disappear from something we had no control over was one thing, but asking me if I was sure about all this?!

But then I heard his stuttered breath and felt erratic mana. I remembered what the other said--that such a question was inevitable, especially in the eve of time.

"I am," I pressed my forehead against the door, feeling him, speaking firmly from my heart. "I have never been this sure in my life."

"Alright," he let out a breath of relief, and his mana stabilized with it. "Okay."

It was a weird feeling, but...knowing that he seemed to be more in a mess than me calmed me down considerably. For a while, I just stayed there, on the door, trying to hear the sound of his breathing and heartbeat.

Perhaps, he too, was doing the same.

"Nat?"

"Sweetheart, I’m going up now."

"O-oh?"

"But do take your time, don’t rush," he knocked on the door softly, as if tapping on my temple. "I need time to settle my heart anyway."

He chuckled, and I couldn’t help but do the same, nodding even though he couldn’t see it. "Okay..."

"I’ll see you there, mm?"

"Yeah," I took a deep breath, feeling heavy about letting him go, even though I knew I would see him shortly, beneath the storm of rainbow. "Yeah, I’ll see you there."

"I love you."

"...I love you," this time, I couldn’t keep my voice from cracking. The tears, that had been welling up in my eyes, flew down. "I love you."

It wasn’t even a goodbye; I didn’t even know why the tears kept on coming. He was just going up, waiting for me, but the sound of his footsteps going away was eating up at my heart. I didn’t even realize I was calling out his name to come back until Zia pulled me away from the door and sat me down again.

Gosh—I must have looked so silly in their eyes.

"Oof--don’t cry," Zia wiped the tears from my cheek with a handkerchief, dabbing it gently so it didn’t leave any noticeable streak. "A bride should only cry after the wedding, okay? And even then, it should only be happy tears."

"But I’m so happy..." I muttered with reddened eyes that were palpable through the mirror.

"Isn’t that the more reason you should smile, sweetling?" the sound of the wind could be heard entering the room, and from the empty air, the Vampire Mother materialized in a long black and red gown.

"Oh, you’re here..."

"Of course, I’m here," she chuckled and bent down, rubbing the base of my finger. "Who will officiate your if I’m not?"

I looked at the mark on my ring finger where she rubbed. Just a moment later, she would enhance the mark, and I would be able to share a lifetime with Natha. I would live as long as he lived, and he would live as long as I lived.

So that not even death would do us part.

"Hehe..."

"Smile, sweetling," she pinched my chin and kissed my forehead in blessing. "It’s a happy day."

* * *

"Are you ready, Young Master?" Mara asked while tidying my cape once again. The long, sweeping tail was nicely spread behind me, with the maids ready to keep it smooth and straightened.

"No," I blinked to the rhythm of my beating heart, staring dazedly at the rooftop door. I wished I had something in my hand so I wouldn’t be tempted to fiddle with my sleeve and looked pathetically nervous. "I don’t think I will ever be."

And since that was the case, we should just proceed.

Once again, Arta fixed my hair and carefully put the hood of the cape on my head, almost making it seem like a veil. She stroked my cheek gently, and gave me one last advice.

"When you enter, you don’t need to think of anything, or look at anything," she said. "Just look up front, where His Lordship is."

Look at Natha. Uh-huh. That’s easy enough. I didn’t think I could look at anything but Natha anyway.

I took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly to steady my heartbeat. The moment I nodded, Panne opened the door, and the wind blew bearing the fragrance of spring.

Carefully, I took a step forward.

In every wedding scene I saw through the screen, there was always music accompanying the arrival of the bride or the partner. Soft, heavenly choir. Of course, there was no instrument here--we didn’t prepare any anyway.

And yet, I heard it; the music.

The blowing breeze and rustling leaves; the soft thunder of elemental birds’ cries. They were singing for me, in their own melody, flying above the tower in a cacophony of whirling rainbow. The patterns on their plumes were glowing, and the long strands of their tails were swaying. Each with its own color, united into a beautiful iridescent harmony.

Arta told me to look at Natha only, but I couldn’t help but cast my gaze into the swirling rainbow. That day, they were not fierce and imposing. That day, they were soft and welcoming, guiding me through the path filled with flowers.

"Papa!"

The flower boy, who created petals from his magic, was showering my path with beautiful colors. Oh, my adorable child--I would have hugged him and danced with him if I could. But even Jade knew it wasn’t the time. He ran at me with endless flowers materializing from thin air, and took my hand in his, leading me through the aisle.

At the end of the aisle, on a slightly elevated platform, I saw D’Arta, ethereally beautiful as always, smiling at me. But it was only when I followed her gaze to the side that I finally saw him.

Oh.

Oh, Mother. Lord An’Hyang. Anyone who sent me here. Anyone who made it possible for us to meet.

I shall bow to you in worship.

He was there, standing tall and dashing in black suits and long, dark frock coat. The embroidery on his suit was the same as the one on my tunic, and a single preserved white flower was etched in his boutonniere. His dark hair was neatly tied with a white ribbon that seemed as if it was made from the cut of my clothes. I could gush out all day talking about how beautiful he looked; the perfect posture and defined patterns; the deep silver eyes and gleaming horns. But if I continued to focus on him, I would end up standing still without moving, just keen on admiring him.

And oh...the moment I saw his face--the moment I saw his eyes, I just wanted to run and throw myself into his arms. It was the small hand diligently leading me forward that held me from doing anything foolish.

With Jade’s help, I stepped into the slightly elevated platform safely. The boy transferred my hand to D’Ara’s hand, as if they had done rehearsal before. It was the hand that bore the mark on my ring finger, and D’Ara once again rubbed at it.

Jade, with ribbon swaying from his adorable hat, turned toward Natha. "Do it well!" he shouted briefly, patting the Demon Lord, and then ran back to the group of guests--no, witnesses--to my and Natha’s union. It was the first time I finally saw the guests I personally, even though I had been walking past them; my personal servants, Natha’s seven vassals, the demons of the Lair, Izzi and Neel, Amarein, and oh--when did they come? Zarfa and Aina were waving at me with a wide grin across their faces.

D’Ara cleared her throat and I immediately turned my head toward her. She smiled and extended her other hand, which was supposed to be taken by Natha.

"I await the groom’s hand," she announced when a few seconds passed without Natha making a move.

More seconds passed, and still, Natha did not put his hand on D’Ara. The red eyes narrowed and I braved myself to glance at him. Natha, however, only looked at me without blinking. Without moving.

"Mister Groom?" D’Ara tilted her head. "Ra Natha? Brat?"

I blinked in confusion, and carefully, after more seconds passed, I called out to him. "Umm...Nat?"

The silver eyes finally blinked. "...huh?"

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