The candles' glow in the grand dining hall mellowed into a quiet haze as the wedding feast continued. The ceremony was over; vows were spoken, rings exchanged. Jien sat beside his mother, Lady Naoko rotschy, their positions no longer formal but quietly linked. Naoko's silver hair tumbled over her obsidian gown, luminous under the soft lamplight, her gaze as always steady and unreadable.
jin's voice, even though gentle, held a careful tone as he spoke: "Mother, the drink I had—there's no alcohol in it, right? You know I don't like liquor."
Naoko looked at him without blinking. Her reply was crisp yet calm: "It's merely concentrated grape and pomegranate juice—no alcohol at all. Just sweetness. I've summoned the servants to present real wine for the rest; only Amelia, Lyona, me and Rina had that."
jin glanced at Lyona, who, with flushed cheeks, stumbled faintly as she moved. Her white hair puffed around her smiling, drowsy face—evidence of her indulgent intake. Rina mirrored the same rosy intoxication. Her golden eyes wandered gently, a soft grin playing on her lips. In her arms, she cradled Nyx, jin's white cat—who squirmed and meowed as Rina hugged it fiercely, its silky fur flattened by her loving embrace. The diamond wedding ring on her finger caught the lantern light, a fierce jewel bright against her scarlet bridal gown, slightly stained by spilled wine.
During all this, Amelia Amberheart maintained poise. Seated with Naoko and Jien, she observed quietly, her expression unreadable as she watched her daughter and Lyona's uninhibited merriment. Naoko, unmoved, paid them no mind.
jin leaned forward onto the polished table, his tone playful and deliberately cool: "Lady Amberheart, how old are you now? Thirty-six—same as Mother? Younger? Speak."
Amelia's golden gaze flicked to him. Her voice was calm: "You should not ask a lady her age, jin."
He raised a brow. "Why? Is there something shameful about age?"
Naoko answered with icy ease: "Because women dislike such questions. It's considered rude."
Amelia added quietly, "A gentleman does not pry into a lady's personal details. It's common courtesy."
jin leaned back, gesturing astutely between them. "Is it then that shocking? You both ask me about every detail."
His eyes gleamed with playful mischief, crimson bright in the lantern glow. He turned back to Amelia: "On that note—Mother told me Rina had contraceptives laid out. I don't blame you for protecting her; she's clearly thirsty for more than knowledge. Don't worry—I don't plan to leave her pregnant tonight." His grin widened. "Still, I may take refuge in your chamber later, just in case she's... too exhausted."
Amelia's cheeks cooled to a delicate pink as she met his gaze. A hint of amusement flickered in her eyes. She tucked a copper strand behind her ear. "You're insufferable, jin."
Naoko watched their exchange, expression emotionless but her gaze subtly alert. She tracked Amelia's reactions, ready to intervene if this unexpected humor veered too far.
The servants arrived with platters of fruits, pastries, and the promised wine. Lyona began spooning fruit into Rina's mouth. Rina giggled, feeding Nyx a piece of soft pear despite the cat's startled objections.
Naoko took no more sips but studied the pair—her son, master of biting remarks, and his bride, the golden-eyed heir to Amberheart. This was their union: ironclad and volatile, polished and perilous.
jin picked up his wine, swirling it thoughtfully. He raised it to Mother. "To our new lives," he said in a crisp, refined tone. "May alliances strengthen, and together we reshape fate."
Naoko inclined, eyes shining. "So it shall be."
Amelia, muted but proud, toasted as well: "To the new family—and to peace between our houses."
Lyona and Rina joined in, their mugs clinking and voices echoing lightly around the hall.
jin leaned back against his chair, the faintest smirk brushing his features. In the distance, the door to the moonlit gardens shifted—promising knowledge beyond ceremonies, beyond politics.
Tonight marked their union. Tomorrow would begin everything else.