CHAPTER 23: WHO ARE YOU?

Sebastian stood still, only his eyes flickering slightly. "I still couldn’t figure out that thing, my lord..." He swallowed hard. "Since the day she reappeared... after she was reborn in your office... We still haven’t found an answer. Even her voice doesn’t register on any of the cameras that capture her talking."

Lucian tilted his head, glaring silently at Sebastian. "The Oracles at the end of the city... they’re still there, right? No one has escaped?"

Sebastian straightened immediately, shaking his head. "No, my lord. Their sanctuary remains sealed. No one leaves without your command."

Lucian leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting back to the hovering screen where Seraphina’s image lingered for a moment before fading into static. "Good," he murmured, almost to himself. "After the wedding... I’ll pay them a visit."

Sebastian hesitated before answering, the tension in his posture barely hidden. "My lord, you sealed the oracles there yourself. For revealing what should never be spoken."

Lucian’s gaze remained fixed on the hovering screen, watching Seraphina’s image fade. "I remember."

"You... plan to unseal them?" Sebastian asked quietly.

Lucian finally turned his head, eyes cold but steady. "After the wedding."

There was a pause. "Forgive me, my lord, but... isn’t that dangerous? They’re the ones who said—"

Lucian’s expression didn’t change, but the air around him shifted, colder somehow. "That I would kill my own bride?" His voice was soft, almost detached. "Then perhaps it’s time I asked them why."

Sebastian gulped. He wanted to say more, but the expression on Lucian’s face made the words stick in his throat. "Understood, my lord." He took a step back and bowed, ready to leave.

"Wait."

Sebastian froze.

"Lady Celeste," Lucian said evenly, his tone unreadable.

"Oh—" Sebastian straightened instantly. "I managed to find traces of her whereabouts—"

"No need," Lucian interrupted, his voice cutting clean through the air. "You don’t need to find her anymore."

Sebastian blinked, confusion flashing across his face. "What do you mean, sir?"

Lucian’s gaze flicked toward him, cold and sharp enough to silence. "Was my order unclear?"

Sebastian immediately lowered his head, his pulse quickening. "N-no, my lord."

"Good," Lucian murmured, eyes drifting back to the flickering screen that still faintly reflected Seraphina’s face. "I don’t need her anymore..."

Sebastian straightened quickly, trying to mask the tension in his voice. "Understood, my lord. I’ll have the car ready."

Lucian gave no reply, only a slight nod, his eyes still fixed on the hovering screen. Before he flicked his fingers and the monitor was shut down.

Sebastian bowed once more before turning to leave, the echo of his footsteps fading against the floor.

The silence that followed was thick, broken only by the faint hum of the energy field surrounding the hovering screen before it vanished completely.

Lucian’s fingers tapped once against the armrest. His gaze lingered on the empty space where her image had been.

"Who are you really... Seraphina Vale..." he whispered, the cold edge in his voice barely masking the intrigue beneath.

====

In the bridal boutique, a soft hum filled the air from the enchanted mirrors lining the walls. One of them, however, wasn’t meant for display. Hidden behind an illusion, it reflected not just the bride but also the quiet gaze of the man watching from behind.

Lucian stood before that mirror, observing Seraphina as she tried on the wedding gown. She stood motionless before her reflection, the white fabric cascading gracefully around her figure.

She didn’t speak. Didn’t even move. Only stared at the image before her, her expression though... was distant and unreadable.

Lucian’s gaze softened slightly, his voice barely audible. "Beautiful."

But the moment the word left his lips, Seraphina’s composure broke. She crouched down suddenly, sobbing hard but as before, no tears rolling down her cheeks, but still the sadness showed as if something inside her had cracked open.

The attendants gasped, rushing toward her.

"My lady... are you all right?"

"Are you in pain?"

Seraphina shook her head quickly, her voice trembling between sobs. "I... I don’t know why I’m crying..." A faint, broken laugh escaped her lips. "Maybe because I look pretty?"

Her laughter faltered, turning into quiet hiccups.

Behind the mirror, Lucian’s expression hardened, confusion flickering behind the calm mask he wore. Slowly, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Dummy... Why would you cry just because you looked pretty?" he murmured, almost amused.

But then, Seraphina’s soft, trembling voice reached him, a question that slipped past her lips as she wiped nothing on her cheeks. Probably habit.

"Will he think I look pretty too?"

"Of course, my lady," one of the attendants replied cheerfully. "And don’t tell anyone I said this, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen a phoenix bride glow this brightly the moment she put on her wedding dress."

"Really? Maybe because you haven’t seen Lady Celeste yet..." The words slipped out before Seraphina realized it.

The attendants exchanged puzzled looks. "What do you mean, Lady Celeste?"

"Ah—uh," Seraphina’s mouth fell open slightly as she tried to recover, "I mean... I looked better when I was younger..."

The attendants exchanged puzzled glances, whispering softly among themselves. One of them let out a nervous laugh, trying to ease the sudden tension.

"Oh, I see! You must’ve been adorable, my lady," she said kindly, reaching up to adjust the gown’s long, flowing veil.

Seraphina forced a small chuckle, but her gaze drifted away from the mirror. Her heart pounded against her ribs as a chill brushed the back of her neck. She didn’t need to check to know, Lucian was there. The faint pulse of coldness in the air told her enough.

"Girls..." Seraphina turned, looking at the attendants, "Is there any private room here?"

All of them suddenly went quiet and blinked, exchanging uncertain glances with one another.

"I’m not sure what you mean by private room, my lady..." one of the attendants answered quickly, her tone polite but uneasy.

Seraphina smiled faintly. "Nah... it’s fine." She turned toward the mirror again, her voice softening. "Who chose this gown?"

Though the question was directed at the attendants, Lucian could sense the meaning beneath it.

"Oh, Lord Lucian designed it himself," one of them said proudly. "We took five days to finish it after Lord Lucian sent the design." The others nodded eagerly. "We’re truly sorry for the delay, my lady, but we wanted it to be perfect for you."

Seraphina’s eyes widened. "Did you just say five days? You finished this in five days? How?"

One of them smiled sweetly. "Oh, it’s our specialty, my lady. We’re Moon Elves, after all."

"You’re—what?!"