Wanting to Be Together (1)
The sky was so clear and sunny it lifted everyone's spirits. In this beautifully decorated venue surrounded by flowers and pristine white ornaments, crowds of people gathered, their faces bright with smiles and laughter.
Following the flower-lined path led to a red carpet strewn with vibrant petals fluttering like confetti. Ding, ding, ding──.
Serena Eldark listened to the bells ringing softly, echoing far and wide. She couldn't fathom why she was in this unfamiliar place, hearing chimes she rarely encountered, but she had a pretty good idea what this spot was for.
A wedding venue…?
Anyone could see it was a wedding. Someone was tying the knot in this picturesque outdoor setting. Though the bride and groom weren't visible yet, the large crowd of guests suggested the couple had wide connections—or were quite famous.
"But… when did I end up at a wedding?"
Serena had no clue why she was here, but she didn't want to spoil the cheerful atmosphere. She quietly took a seat. Gazing at the flowers on the table, she scanned the surroundings.
Then she spotted familiar faces among the guests: Ciela Teraport, Yeonhui, and Clarice Levatein. Dressed elegantly, they too must have been invited and were seated gracefully.
Why are they here…? Wait.
If they were here and so was she… that meant one of today's stars was someone they all knew.
Serena racked her brain for who it could be, but no matter how hard she tried, the name wouldn't come.
I can check soon enough…
The bride and groom would enter shortly anyway. She could see for herself then.
Serena glanced around a bit more. Now she noticed other vaguely familiar faces—no, faces anyone would recognize.
They were none other than the world's most renowned figures: the Palstar Heroes.
Demon Star Eleonora and Divine Star Shania were there, along with several others. Even…
"Father…?"
Her father, Dragon Star Ahajaka Eldark, was present. Shocked at not noticing him sooner, Serena considered moving to greet him. Surely she should pay respects if her father was here.
But there was no time. The emcee had already taken the stage, kicking off the ceremony.
"Thank you all for joining us today! I am your emcee for this occasion…."
Resigned, Serena sat back down and glanced toward the Palstar Heroes again.
That's the Wise Star over there… and Gold Star Giovanni, even Forge Star Jerman?
Everyone except Fist Star and Sword Star was in attendance. Who on earth was the star of this show to draw all these Palstar Heroes as guests?
Serena's curiosity ballooned—until then.
"Next, the groom will make his entrance!"
Serena tilted her head at the announcement. Wasn't the order wrong? Officiant and parents usually entered first, exchanging greetings. Jumping straight to the couple felt off.
Yet somehow, the officiant was already at the podium. And shockingly, it was Instructor Hayes Penrel.
"…Instructor Hayes?"
In that puzzled moment, someone appeared at the venue.
He strode confidently down the red carpet in pristine white shoes and a tailored suit, a perfectly matched bow tie, and a smile that lit up his face. His hair, kissed by sunlight—perhaps from his elven blood—waved gently like blue grass in the breeze.
"!!"
Serena shot to her feet, unable to hide her shock. No one batted an eye at her sudden rise, but she was too stunned to notice.
This was no time for that. The man before her—the wedding's star—was the one she loved more than any other.
Seong Hyun-jin.
He'd grown much taller and more striking, but that handsome face and signature confident grin remained unchanged. Seong Hyun-jin as the groom? Serena was beyond dumbfounded; her pounding heart wouldn't calm.
If he was the groom, then who was the bride? She was here, along with Ciela, Yeonhui, and Clarice—as guests, not the bride.
"S-Seong Hyun-jin, what is this…!?"
Forgetting it was a wedding in her shock, Serena shouted. But Seong Hyun-jin, as if deaf to her, continued his steady march, waving to the guests.
One might question the oddity, but Serena was too reeling from the revelation of his wedding to think rationally.
By then, Seong Hyun-jin had reached the podium. The emcee spoke again.
"Now, the bride will enter!"
The bride. With Seong Hyun-jin as groom, her identity mattered most. Serena whipped her head around, face etched with urgency.
There, far off, came the bride—alone, save for an attendant holding her train. No family, it seemed. A touch tragic, but Serena couldn't dwell on it.
The bride was too breathtaking—and Serena recognized her.
Skin as pure white as her gown, a bust even more commanding than Serena's, jet-black hair like the night sky contrasting the dress and skin, and deep indigo eyes…
"Ha… Hakodate Karin…."
It could only be Seong Hyun-jin's master, Hakodate Karin.
She stood before the podium, gazing at Seong Hyun-jin. Flashing a smile so radiant it stole Serena's breath, she beamed brilliantly.
A profound sense of defeat washed over Serena, defying words. She wanted to deny it all.
"This… can't be…."
Denial felt like the only way to endure, but reality didn't shift.
Her mind reeled. No, it spun literally. Serena…
"Th-this is a dream… it has to be…."
…toppled backward.
#
"N-no…! Ngh…?"
"You're awake?"
A slightly worried voice reached her. Blinking back to awareness, she saw Seong Hyun-jin.
"Uh… Seong Hyun-jin…?"
"Call me 'honey' or something."
His insistence on endearments confirmed it was really him. Recalling the dream Seong Hyun-jin—the groom—Serena murmured,
"It was a dream…."
"What kinda dream? You were frowning."
"…Just a nightmare."
A nightmare like no other. To watch as a mere guest while her boyfriend married someone else? And that someone outshone even her in beauty, where she held confidence. The shock hit doubly hard.
Sighing deeply, Serena asked,
"H-hey, why were you here?"
"You were drunk. You and Clarice passed out in a corner, so I brought you to the lounge. Why not drink less?"
"…Me? Drunk?"
"Yeah."
Seong Hyun-jin replied simply, but Serena was surprised. Her dragonkin-elf heritage made her body far sturdier than most humans—not just strength or agility, but organs too. Her liver, akin to a dragon's, neutralized alcohol effortlessly. She rarely got tipsy from ordinary drinks or poisons, barring rare family elixirs.
Yet she'd blacked out? How potent was that champagne?
A bit embarrassed, Serena said,
"Uh… guess the booze was stronger than I thought."
"Told you it was strong."
"I thought you were exaggerating, honey."
She switched to the endearment seamlessly. After that dream of him with another, she craved the reassurance.
"Good thing you're up. You could crash here, but heading to your room's better. Doesn't feel right lingering…."
She wanted to confirm: this man is mine right now.
"Wanna head out together? Or should I go first if that's weird?"
"Honey."
"Yeah?"
Seeking comfort, Serena played a little coy.
"You're… really my boyfriend, right?"
"Kinda embarrassing phrased like that. But yeah."
"Then…"
Serena reached out, gently grasping his wrist. Not wanting to let him go, she said,
"Stay here and sleep with me."
Seong Hyun-jin's body froze. His eyes creaked toward the hand on his wrist.
"…Huh?"