That day, early morning.
"Teacher, we are leaving."
"Hmm."
Su Lun watched his two disciples and nodded.
The current situation in Linden was very peculiar, with undercurrents surging. The upcoming upheaval would undoubtedly shake the entire region of Ruying to its core, possibly leading to a reshuffling of the top powers. The present strength of Kama and Aberk was not sufficient for them to protect themselves in the midst of this turmoil. Especially since they were disciples of Su Lun, exposure to the public eye would inevitably bring too much trouble.
The previous incident was an example.
Next to the steam car, Kama glanced at his gloved hands, his gaze slightly complex.
Under the gloves were a pair of silver hands, mechanical limbs that were attached after his original ones had been chopped off during a kidnapping.
Although it didn’t affect controlling puppets or daily life, it was still a profound memory.
He had been recuperating in the small void realm these days, and now that he was out, it was time to part ways. Kama looked at Su Lun, his eyes glistening, "Teacher, I’m sorry for causing you trouble."
Su Lun smiled and shook his head, as the incident had started because of him and it wasn’t because Kama had been careless.
He touched Kama’s forehead and said, "Kama, Aberk, from now on, you both need to be more careful. Go see the world."
Encountering setbacks is unfortunate in life, but surviving them turns into valuable life experiences.
Now, as Kama and Aberk left Linden to gain experience, their new adventure began.
"Yes, Teacher."
The two nodded, stepped into the steam car on the street that had come to take them to the dock to board a ship.
Su Lun watched the motorcycle disappear around the corner, then glanced at the time and casually hailed a passing taxi.
Although he didn’t really want to go out,
today was the day he had agreed to attend a wedding with Yekaterina, so he had to make the trip.
...
Once in the car, the driver asked, "Sir, where to?"
In Linden, only the wealthy or noble could afford taxis, and the driver didn’t look down on this casually dressed young passenger.
Su Lun pondered for a moment and said, "North city, Roselisse Boulevard."
"All right! Make yourself comfortable, sir."
Upon hearing the name of the street, a hint of doubt appeared on the driver’s face.
Those who lived on that street were the top elite of Ruying, the real big shots.
But looking at the casually dressed passenger, he didn’t seem to be a noble.
Moreover, big shots usually had their own sedans and servants and rarely came alone in a taxi.
Thinking it over, the driver asked with a smile, "Sir, are you a journalist?"
Su Lun gave a non-committal light laugh.
The motorcycle traveled through Linden Iron Bridge and arrived in North city.
Su Lun hadn’t been out for many days, but he had seen a lot about the grand wedding from the newspapers.
The scale of a top Ruying noble’s wedding would naturally not be small, and Su Lun watched through the car window, the flower beds along the street filled with bright red flowers symbolizing celebration, and the gas street lamps and plane trees also adorned with red ribbons, a scene full of festive cheer.
As soon as he turned into Roselisse Boulevard, Su Lun saw a group of photographers with cameras blocking the entrance to the manor, snapping photos of the passing guests.
Every sedan or carriage would drop off elaborately dressed guests, who would be swarmed by journalists for interviews on the red carpet.
The reporters, thinking the approaching taxi was carrying a colleague, paid no attention to it.
With mounted police controlling traffic, the taxi could only stop at the corner of the street.
The driver said, "Three hundred Lira, sir. Thank you."
Su Lun listened and handed over three hundred-Lira bills.
The driver took the money, smiled again, and added, "Today is the Prince and Princess’s big wedding, sir. You are indeed lucky to be invited. Oh, they say Princess Yekaterina is as beautiful as a fairy tale. Mister journalist, you should take more pictures, I hope to see your work in tomorrow’s newspaper..."
Su Lun smiled.
He opened the car door and got out, the sun bright and warm upon him.
The sky was a clear blue.
This was the first time since his arrival in Linden that Su Lun had seen such nice weather.
Blue sky, white clouds, white doves, and the colorful street, dreamy like a fairy tale.
Su Lun walked towards the crowd.
"Metzsch Manor" was the Lance family’s private estate in Linden, also one of the top ten mansions in the city.
It was not yet time for the banquet to start, but there were already guests who had arrived early.
Su Lun passed through the group of journalists, all of whom ignored him.
It wasn’t until he arrived at the entrance that a butler in a tailcoat politely stopped him, "Sir, may I see your invitation, please?"
Su Lun, having no invitation, simply said, "I am ’Fike Regadi’."
...
Meanwhile, inside the manor.
In a room opulently decorated with a feminine touch, a group of maids were busy at work.
Yekaterina sat in front of a dressing table while several makeup artists helped her with her eyebrows and eyes.
"Miss, the lady sent me to ask if Young Master Fick from Regadi has shown up yet. The reception will start soon, shall we urge him again?"
"No need. He will be here on time."
"Yes, Miss."
The butler came and then left.
As the bridesmaid, Miss Anna, watching her increasingly beautiful best friend in the mirror, had stars in her eyes, having exclaimed in awe eighty times already, "Wow... Katusha, you are truly, truly stunning! If I were a man, I’d definitely be head over heels for you~"
She knew very well that even with minimal makeup, her best friend would outshine many. Dressed up today, her beauty was even more dazzling, making it impossible to look away.
It was not just the beauty, but the increasingly ethereal quality about Yekaterina that was most special.
Anna did not know what had recently happened to her best friend, but the aura she exuded was becoming more and more elusive, as if gradually shedding every last bit of mortal essence, like an angel out of a myth.
Hearing the joke, Yekaterina gave a slight smile.
That smile, in the mirror, made her even more enchantingly beautiful.
Seeing her best friend’s demeanor, Anna appeared even more exaggeratedly mesmerized, "Oh, Young Master Fick who’s marrying such a beautiful lady must be the happiest man in the world."
Pausing for a moment, she then thought of something and asked, "But come to think of it. That ’Big Young Master Fick’ hasn’t arrived yet? I heard that not a single person from Regadi has been seen yet, Katusha, aren’t you worried at all?"
Yekaterina laughed lightly, her expression revealing no concern.
She was about to say something else when she felt something and said, "He has arrived."
Anna, taken aback, listened.
Arrived?
What has arrived?
"Yes."
Yekaterina nodded.
Shifting her gorgeous eyes, she then said, "Anna, could you please go and bring him here from the reception room? Also, convey my apologies. Say that I haven’t finished applying my makeup and it’s inconvenient for me to go there myself."
"Ah?"
Hearing this, Anna was even more confused.
She then realized that Fick had arrived?
But...
Getting married, and being a prince of the Regadi family, why is he at the bride’s place and not with the groom’s side?
Although confused, seeing that her best friend was not joking, she replied, "Okay!"
Curious, Anna quickly went to the reception room.
Indeed, she saw Su Lun, dressed in casual clothes, sitting on the sofa like a guest.
...
Su Lun did not have a habit of being late; he arrived half an hour earlier than the scheduled time.
But it was only after arriving that he realized, this grand wedding put him in quite an awkward position.
He and the bride were exchanging benefits, technically outsiders.
And with the groom’s side, aside from suspicions, there was no trust, also outsiders.
It seemed like the "groom" alone represented a third party.
Having nowhere else to go, he decided to visit Yekaterina first.
People from Regadi did try through various intermediaries to meet him a few days earlier.
Su Lun did not respond.
He didn’t care to deal with the group who had attempted to murder him twice.
Now the situation was, even if the Regadi family was displeased with him, they couldn’t do anything about it.
Moreover, after today, he didn’t plan to use the "Fick" identity ever again.
Su Lun didn’t need to show any courtesy either.
He heard that Yekaterina was putting on makeup, and he had originally planned to wait in the reception room, which was no issue.
After all, he had just acquired tens of thousands of tons of rare metals and ores from the Lance family and still owed them favors, which required some form of repayment.
Besides, losing some face was also on "Fick."
Su Lun felt no psychological burden at all.
But unexpectedly, not long after sitting down, Miss Anna, whom he had briefly met at the royal academy’s anniversary ball, came to greet him.
....
"Mr. Fick, are you here for Katusha? She asked me to tell you that she’s applying makeup and it’s inconvenient for her to come to greet you..."
Anna, dressed in a sexy low-cut bridesmaid gown, was not at all shy, casually linking arms with Su Lun.
Having danced together previously, they were not strangers, and he had a good impression of her.
Su Lun knew she was Yekaterina’s best friend, so he didn’t make a fuss and followed her.
After they discussed the formalities, Anna gossiped, "Mr. Fick, how did you come to be here?"
Su Lun thought about it; the matter wasn’t complicated, but it wasn’t easy to explain.
He just responded with a few words, "By appointment."
"Ah?"
Anna blinked her eyes, as if trying to discern some great secret.
However, seeing that Su Lun had no intention of elaborating, she tactfully did not ask further and casually chatted a few phrases complimenting his handsomeness.
Su Lun, too, responded perfunctorily, praising the agreeable nature of this bridesmaid.
At that moment, the two of them had arrived at the door of a room on the second floor, which was clearly the young lady’s boudoir.
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Watching the maids coming and going, Su Lun hesitated slightly, unsure if entering now would be impolite.
But considering he was invited, he walked in boldly.
As soon as he entered the room, he saw Yekaterina sitting at the vanity, nodding apologetically to him in the mirror with a smile, "Sorry. Please have a seat for a moment, my makeup will be done soon."
"Sure."
Su Lun gazed at the beautifully filtered face in the mirror, a fleeting surprise flashing through his eyes.
The Yekaterina before him was so radiant that it seemed as if her entire being was glowing, indeed quite stunning.
However, he did not feel much perturbed internally.
By then, a maid had already brought over a chair, and Su Lun sat there, simply watching the servants apply makeup to Yekaterina.
He indeed witnessed for himself a taste of the extravagant lifestyle of the upper crust, with merely the fetching and carrying of items, Su Lun saw over fifty servants coming in and out of the room.
Thanks to Anna, who was naturally outgoing, it wasn’t boring at all.
They chatted about this and that, and the atmosphere was quite pleasant.
This young lady was good-natured and emotionally intelligent. Knowing that "Fick" was here for a wedding, obviously under some unusual circumstances, she tactfully refrained from probing too deeply, and their conversation mostly centered around praising the bride’s beauty.
Soon, several makeup artists stopped their work, obviously having finished the makeup.
A few servants then walked in, carrying an extremely luxurious red and black dress. Even though it was a dark-colored dress, it glittered resplendently under the light, sparkling with a rich and opulent luster.
Looking at this dress, Anna said enviously, "This dress is called ’The Nightingale of Rocavalon,’ adorned with seven hundred of the world’s most precious black diamonds. It’s really so beautiful... All of Ru England cannot find so many black diamonds now. Oh, only such a dress can match Katya’s beauty..."
Seeing that it was time for the bride to change her outfit, Su Lun, being sensible, made a move to stand up and said, "I’ll step out for a moment."
Unexpectedly, before he could stand up, Yekaterina, not far from him, spoke up, "No need."
She clearly knew that Su Lun’s current situation was awkward and if he really stepped out, he would be "alone."
With no change in her expression, she smiled gently and added, "Mr. Su Lun, please stay here. It’s alright."
She addressed him as Su Lun, not Fick.
Upon hearing this address, Su Lun had a sudden realization, feeling as though he saw that girl with a poetic soul and the large braids. She was filled with goodwill, naive, cheerful, and pure.
Hearing this, a suggestive smile appeared on Anna’s face. She felt enviously that the atmosphere at that moment was truly enviable.
...
As soon as Miss Su Lun spoke, the maids paid no attention to the presence of a man in the room and busily set to work.
Yekaterina was dressed in a maiden pink house robe, requiring no assistance, as she stood in front of the dressing mirror. The maids then helped her unbutton her outfit and slipped off her top. Since it was a sleepwear put on after her morning bath, there was no undergarment beneath, leaving her bare. Her cascading purple, wavy hair concealed most of her splendid back, but through the dressing mirror, one could perfectly see her face and the proud front of her chest.
Soft and tender, everything was in plain sight.
First the top and then the trousers, once her permission was granted, the maids removed all her clothes.
Yekaterina had a tall and slender figure, with long legs and impeccable proportions.
The soft lighting draped over her delicate skin, radiating a charming porcelain-like glow.
Elegant and out of this world, she naturally possessed an ethereal aura.
Even though her figure was almost fully exposed, her exquisite face showed no trace of discomfort.
She looked at herself in the mirror with a composed face, seemingly admiring her own beauty.
Even when her eyes met Su Lun’s, she revealed a Frank and shallow smile.
It was that smile, like a princess stepping out of a fairy tale, filled with poetry.
Su Lun did not avert his gaze, yet he did not stare either. It was as if he was reading a magnificent passage in a great book, tasting the kind of spiritual resonance.
The self-possessed expression on the face of the purple-haired young lady also granted him an unparalleled serenity, as if admiring a magnificent piece of art, a splendidly charming landscape.
Miss Anna, standing nearby, couldn’t take her eyes off either, momentarily stunned, she exclaimed in an exaggerated tone, "Yekaterina has such a wonderful figure!"
While speaking, a sly look crossed her eyes as she turned to Su Lun and asked, "Don’t you think so, Mr. Su Lun?"
Only then did she realize this Mr. Fick had another name.
Moreover, hearing her best friend exclaim it, she guessed there might be a story behind this name.
This inquiry brought Su Lun back to reality from the beautiful, poetic sensation. After glancing once more at the stunning figure, he composed himself and replied, "Indeed."
Upon hearing this, Yekaterina in the mirror slightly furrowed her brows and quickly pursed her lips into a smile.
Yet her eyes showed neither joy nor sorrow.
Su Lun sensed that transient, elusive state, and muttered to himself, "Very strong..."
Without lingering on the beauty, the maids then helped Yekaterina into a gown, covering that stunning body.
This "Rocawald Nightingale" gown had a Gothic palace long dress style, which was a popular trend in the high society in recent years.
Besides those hundreds of precious, luxurious black diamonds, the dress shimmered with a moving halo, under the light, points of radiance in the black veil twinkled like a brilliant starry sky.
After Yekaterina was dressed, it was as if she was draped with the entire starry sky, dazzling beyond measure.
...
The news of Su Lun’s appearance at Metzsch Manor spread quickly.
Both the Lance family and the Regadi family sighed in relief.
Although they did not know why Su Lun had appeared directly in the manor, he had arrived nonetheless.
The family head of the Regadi family, His Majesty the King known as "Regar XI," who was also the biological father of "Fick," haughtily sent someone to summon him.
Su Lun ignored the messengers and did not go anywhere.
If he had offended them, what could they do, bite him?
Soon, the Regadi family sent over the wedding attire.
"Fick," even though illegitimate, was still a prince. His attire was bound to be meticulous.
The clothes delivered were a set of black military uniforms from the Stormtrooper Corps, once worn by the royal legion of the Mafa Empire.
Su Lun, being a robust man, did not need makeup, so in Yekaterina’s room, maid helped him change into the uniform and, taking the opportunity, a makeup artist styled his hair a bit.
His temperament and appearance were already exceptional, and a simple dress-up enhanced his charisma instantly.
Yekaterina also got ready neatly, and with nothing else to do, the two of them leisurely played chess in the room.
The manor was bustling, and through the open windows, they could hear numerous guests coming and going continuously.
But in this young lady’s bedroom, there was an atmosphere of peaceful serenity.
By the window, under the bright sunshine, the two wedding protagonists were playing chess slowly and calmly.
At this moment, Su Lun realized Yekaterina’s chess skills were exceptional.
Su Lun himself had the ability to peel off various skills; his chess skills were not bad, and at least on a technical level, he was nearly flawless.
But chess skills, besides technique, also have a higher realm.
Su Lun knew this.
But without experiencing it, it was incomprehensible.
And Yekaterina was on that higher level.
Even with Su Lun’s multitasking abilities, playing chess against her gave him no advantage.
Her chess skills were strategically deep, forcefully dominant, and decisively lethal, entirely unlike her harmless gentle lady appearance.
After their game, Su Lun also realized some other things.
Neither of them were the primary heirs of their respective families. Thus, to outsiders, this union seemed merely a political exchange with no significant impact on the grand scheme.
But Su Lun knew that "Fick" was indeed viewed as a tool by the Regadi family.
But Yekaterina was definitely not!
Even though she was only Duke Lance’s fourth daughter, her status was not ordinary.
At least from the beginning of their chess game, no one dared to disturb them.
There was even a little episode.
Su Lun had just sensed that "Tulip Duke," Duke Bartolo Lance, who had once beaten him up in the North Sea, had sneaked up to the doorway, stealthily peeping at something. Then this dauntingly dignified duke in public amicably fled after being spotted by his daughter.
Su Lun pretended not to have seen.
Yekaterina also didn’t conceal anything deliberately from him.
"I’ve already had the butler list Isaac’s Alchemy Manuscript in the inventory. Regadi’s people will bring it during the exchange of gifts. We should have it tonight."
"The potion for curing Red Death was already arranged by my side to start secret production in the factory. But currently, we don’t have enough finished product; it will take at least a few more days to have enough potions to solve the problem. Moreover, as soon as the potion appears on the market, we need to be prepared to break with the ’Giant Hermit Society,’ which would undoubtedly cause major upheavals. My teacher also needs some more time to prepare..."
"You are Master Pierre’s disciple?"
"Yes. Besides my father and your organization’s Mr. Jing, you are the only person who knows this now."
"Oh. No wonder." Discover stories at freewebnovel
"A few days ago, the leader of your organization went to visit my teacher, and I also happened to attend. Mr. Jing spoke about some concepts of dawn, my teacher said they were excellent..."
"..."
The two of them continued to place pieces on the chessboard one step at a time.
The atmosphere of the conversation was pleasant.
They talked seriously, discussed trivial aspects of life, and also touched upon arts, poetry, alchemy, and more.
The two were like newly acquainted friends, with plenty of topics and gradually becoming more familiar with each other.
On this brilliantly sunny day, spending the whole day playing chess by the window seemed like a wonderful idea.
But just as they were playing, suddenly there was a knock on the door: "Miss, the wedding time has arrived."
Hearing this, Yekaterina glanced at Su Lun and said indifferently, "Let’s go, the wedding is about to start."
"Yes."
Su Lun’s expression was unchanged, as he nodded.
It was entirely routine.
The female attendants entered from outside, and Yekaterina stood up elegantly. Suddenly, she said, "By the way, can we get to know each other again? My name is Yekaterina. But of course, you can also call me Katya."
Su Lun listened and pondered for a moment, as if he had just met a new friend.
He extended his hand, smiling cordially yet respectfully, "Hello, Miss Yekaterina."
The two shook hands,
and Yekaterina responded with a soft smile.
PS. I want to write this plot well, but it’s not as I wish; I’m struggling quite a bit. From now on, I’ll mark the chapters on everyday life, so if you don’t want to read them, just skip them. And please, stop scolding me.