※ Chapter 37 ※

Meihua's POV »☆●

The gravity of his words sinks in, and I feel the gaze of the room upon us. As he continues, my gaze drifts towards Rosy, who silently mouths: you got this. I offer her a fleeting smile of gratitude.

Here we go. A step into an unpredictable future.

"With grace and dignity, Princess Wu Meihua has accepted the alliance," Uncle Mark declares, his measured voice commanding respect, "As the head of our esteemed house, I declare with utmost honor and heart brimming of joy..the intention to formalize this alliance through matrimony!"

The room remains suspended in a moment of collective breathlessness. The silence stretches for a heartbeat, before the hall erupts in a chorus of cheers and murmurs. I look around, taking in the applause that surrounds me.

"As our family takes this step," he continues amid the applause, his eyes falling on Se and then me, "we're reminded of the significance of love, not just between individuals, but as a force that binds us all."

I lower my gaze, fingers tracing the rim of my tea cup. Uncle Mark's voice carries on, outlining the significance of our union and the hopes for a harmonious future.

Amidst his words, my focus shifts to Se as his grip on my hand tightens imperceptibly. I can sense his feelings through mindlink again - determination, hope, happiness and an underlying current of tenderness towards me. And something more beneath the surface, something deeper, that he's not revealing.

A pang of guilt tugs my heart. It'd kill me to hurt him.

Uncle Mark's voice rises again, now on a more personal note, "Sehun and Meihua," he addresses us directly, "As you embark on this journey together, may the ties that bind you be unbreakable, may this unity be unwavering, and may your future be illuminated by the brilliance of collective efforts. This isn't just a bond between two individuals. This alliance, rooted in mutual respect and shared values, holds the potential to shape the course of our realm's destiny."

I take a deep breath, my thoughts racing with the implications of his speech, the commitment it symbolizes, but most of all, the uncharted territory it leads me into.

He lifts his glass again, "With the blessings of our ancestors and the aspirations of generations yet to come, let's raise our cups in celebration of this momentous occasion. To Sehun and Meihua!" he proclaims, his voice continuing to resonate, and applause from the guests fills the room once more.

"To Sehun and Meihua!" Luhan echoes the sentiment as guests raise their glasses in a resounding toast.

"Hear, hear!" Aria chimes in, her voice joining the chorus of well wishes and congratulations.

Dylan's voice, infused with a dash of irreverence, interrupts the applause, "Well played, Your Regency. Guess you didn't fail your reputation after all," a sly grin reflects the suggestive undertones in his words, "And I was right - the road wasn't the only thing making your carriage shake!"

I shoot him a sidelong glance, while Se's eyes roll at the familiar jest, "Hold your tongue. Some of us still value honor," he remarks with an edge to his tone. A warning veils his words as his gaze locks onto Dylan's. Dylan's grin merely widens, acknowledging Se's words with a knowing nod, but refusing to be entirely subdued.

"Congratulations, Your Regency and Lady Meihua," Yangyang steps forward, a hint of awe colored his words as he bows before us, "This announcement caught me off guard. I truly didn't see it coming."

"How did you not see it coming? Even Lady Zzar saw it coming!" Dylan quips with mock disbelief.

From the corner of the room, Xiaotong's voice pipes up as she breaks into tears, "Why's everyone finding true love and getting married but meeee..."

Dylan rolls his eyes, "You rejected me."

Xiaotong tone shifts into a melodramatic sigh, "I knowwww..."

As the conversation subsides, Rosy, with her signature enthusiasm, prompts Luhan and other close associates into action.

"Alright everyone," she claps her hands in a brisk rhythm, "Chop chop, we've a tea ceremony to hold." She turns to Luhan, "How are the preparations shaping up?"

Luhan smiles in reassurance, "Don't worry, everything's on track."

Rosy's gaze sweeps across the hall, eyes checking off invisible items on a mental list, "Teapots and cups?"

Luhan nods, "Set and arranged."

"Tea ceremony area?" Rosy inquires.

Luhan responds swiftly, not missing a beat, "Exquisite, just as we planned."

Rosy's satisfaction shines through her grin, "Excellent. Let's ensure every detail is perfect."

As the close associates spring into action, the front area of the banquet hall transforms into a mesmerizing stage, serving as the focal point for the tea ceremony. Everything is meticulously on its place. The carefully arranged table at the front is adorned with porcelain teapots, cups and delicate utensils. Opulent fabrics in shades of red and gold drape gracefully, forming an intimate setting. Soft lighting bathes the scene in warm hues, casting a gentle glow that embraces the room, and the air is infused with the sweet fragrance of carefully arranged flowers. Subtle music adds an ethereal touch to the ambiance.

Uncle Mark, now flanked by Aunt Zanilia, takes place in the front. His presence is commanding, fully embracing his role as the head of the House. Aunt Zanilia, dressed in a resplendent hanfu, is the picture of elegance and grace, her smile warm as she gazes at me and Se, who stands next to me. Rosy leans in, her presence beside me a calming anchor, "The moment is yours, stay composed and breathe."

The ritual begins with practiced ease. Rosy hands Se the teapot filled with fragrant tea, its tendrils of steam swirling in the air as he begins to pour tea into two cups, his movements fluid and reverent. I take a deep breath, steadying myself as I pick up the cups and place it on the tray.

Together, we advance towards his parents, the room's energy focused on us. With a subtle bow, I present the cup to them. Se follows suit, his gestures deliberate and synchronized. The elders accept the tea with gentle smiles, their eyes reflecting approval as they take a sip.

"Angel.."

Se's voice suddenly rings in my mind, catching me off guard. His presence infiltrates my thoughts and I recognize the sensation immediately..

Mindlink.

But this time, I don't recoil, I don't pretend to not notice it. I let his thoughts cascade over my mind. It's overwhelming, but at the same time, it's intriguing and special.

"Hmm?" I respond back.

"You know, you had tea without me earlier," his playful voice echoes in my mind.

I chuckle mentally, "Oh, did I commit a crime?"

"Seems like it," Se's voice in my head mockingly serious.

I play along, adopting a contrite tone, "My apologies, Your Regency. I promise to make it up somehow."

"I'll hold you to that. Tea shared is tea cared," a smile evident in his words.

As our unspoken exchange unfolds within the sanctuary of our shared consciousness, we exchange a brief smile before turning our attention back to the ceremony.

Aunt Zanilia steps forward, offering us each a small red envelope of money - a symbol of good fortune and blessings. We accept, bowing once more in acknowledgment.

The ceremony culminates, erupting applause and cheers like a wave crashing on the shore, joyful voices mingle with well wishes as the atmosphere brims with celebration.

As the applause fades and the room settles into a murmur of conversations, I find myself enveloped in a sudden sense of dissonance. A strange sensation courses down my whole body. A tingling shiver, delicate yet electric, slithers from the nape of my neck down to the base of my spine.

I can't explain it, but I'm certain of one thing - someone's watching me. Every instinct whispers that I'm being watched, held captive by eyes that exist just beyond my line of sight. Every hair on my skin stands on end, a primal response to a presence I can't quite define. The notion seems absurd, a product of an overactive imagination, and yet the inexplicable sensation persists.

The room feels both suffocating and vast, as if it's closing in around me while simultaneously stretching into endless expanse, the colors fading and bleeding into each other like watercolors on a rainy canvas. Faces blur into abstract shapes. Conversations echo from a distance, distorted and elusive, as if carried on the wind from another realm, then dissolved into a muted buzz. The air grows dense with the weight of a presence I can't identify, a presence that eludes my senses but remains acutely palpable.

And then, a realization hits me like a lightning bolt. It's not just a vague feeling; it's a knowing, a conviction that settles deep within my core. Someone's here, someone deeply connected to me.

I turn, my breath catching in my throat, as I sweep my gaze across the room in search of this invisible observer. My heart hammers in my chest, its rhythm erratic as I attempt to make sense of this strange connection. I can't put it into words, can't grasp the intricacies of what I'm feeling, but I know that I'm being watched, not by a stranger, by a presence intertwined with my very existence.

"Everything okay?"

A gentle touch on my arm startles me. I turn to see Se's concerned eyes searching mine.

I nod weakly, "Yeah, just the crowd and noise," I manage to say, my voice wavering slightly, "it's making me a bit nauseous. I think I need some fresh air."

Se's concerned gaze lingers on me for a moment, his hand almost reaching out to steady me. But before he can react, I turn abruptly and start making my way towards the exit, each step quickening with a sense of urgency. I walk out without waiting for his reply or even fully registering that I'm leaving him behind, as if my entire being is driven by an instinct I can't control, a need to escape the heaviness.

The sounds of celebration feels like a distant hum, muffled by an invisible barrier as I push through the crowd. My pulse drums loudly in my ears, the beat almost chaotic, matching my impatience as my gaze fixates on the grand hall's entrance that lies ahead.

With each step, the air grows cooler, carrying with it a faint whiff of moisture. A rush of night air engulfs me, damp and calming against my flushed skin as I approach the open doorway. The expanse before me feels vast and freeing, a stark contrast to the confinement of the banquet hall.

But then, right before I step out to the night, I collide with someone.

"Pardon," I mutter quickly out of instinct, my gaze lifting to meet the person I've bumped into, and in that very heartbeat, the world stills.

Before me stands a woman, face concealed by a knitted black veil. An intense aura surrounds her, a tremendous amount of power that radiates from her being. It's captivating yet unnerving, like a force of nature contained within a human form.

There's something both haunting and alluring about the way she carries herself, her presence a cold silhouette against the backdrop of the hall's warm glow. The power she exudes sends shivers down my spine, threatening to consume me as I stand there paralyzed.

But then, as I continue to look at her, to really see her, the darkness shifts. I don't feel any malevolence from her energy. Her aura is complex and layered, much like a storm that holds both destruction and renewal.

Although her eyes are veiled, I'm able to catch a vague glimpse of her lips that curve into a subtle smile - a smile that stirs an odd sense of recognition and familiarity.

As I stand there, entranced by this woman's aura, a change stirs in the air. The wind, once a gentle whispering, now carries a faint urgency, tousling strands of hair across my face.

Her hand lifts slowly, the delicate fabric of her veil rustling as she extends her slender fingers toward me in a silent motion.

As soon as her fingers brush against mine, an electric jolt courses through my arm, all the way through my veins. Her touch is searing, like a fiery spark of flame that connects to a world unseen.

"Wu Meihua..." her voice is a whisper that seems to bypass the ears, echoing directly in the depths of my mind, just as a distant rumble of thunder echoes softly like a low and steady growl.

And then, as if a cloud passes over the moon, her face darkens, her grip on my hand tightening with an intensity that's almost piercing.

Her lips move, but this time, her words are not a mere utterance. They're a tempest, a storm that crashes against the shores of my consciousness.

"In an unexpected place, within a forbidden heart, you'll find a rare love. You'll be drawn to a soul you shouldn't embrace."

Her words weave through the dense cold wind, each syllable weighing down the air with a sense of unraveled mystery.

"This will challenge your reasons and boundaries, trembling the very foundations of your world. Two conversations, then three, and then everything will shatter as you witness your unwavering descent."

Her voice rises and falls like a haunting melody as if echoing something hidden in the folds of time. Her solemn tone reverberates like a chant that matches the ebb and flow of her prophecy.

"A path will unravel, lined with heartache and trials. Life and death will intertwine. In the ashes of your demise, you'll reborn. Then you'll uncover your true destiny written in the stars."

She lifts a finger and points to the cloudy dark sky, as if gesturing to the unseen forces above.

"But an Eternal Love awaits you, only if you dare to defy the heavens themselves, to challenge the destiny it has laid out before you. Against the odds, against the bonds that seek to restrain, against the constraints of fate, you must forge your own path, for within your hands lies the power to claim what the cosmos deems forbidden."

As if sensing something beyond my awareness, her voice trails off. Her lips part, revealing a knowing half-smile, the enigma of her presence lingering even as her grip on my hand starts to wane.

Footsteps approach from behind, the sound growing louder with each step getting closer. That same subtle smile graces her lips as if nothing strange had happened at all.

"I hope to see you again soon," she says, her tone much more humane than it was initially.

And then, just as suddenly as it began, her grip loosens. She releases my hand, stepping back with a fluid grace. Without any further explanation, she turns and walks away.

I watch as she retreats into the darkness, her figure blending seamlessly with the night.

What on earth just happened?

To Be Continued »☆●