Although the Creator of the Drama World was the "Drama King," the more than three thousand souls that composed the Drama World were truly the "rulers."
Therefore, when over seventy percent of the "rulers" had chosen their side and began to cheer for "Mr. Joseph," no matter how desperately the "Drama King" struggled, the direction of "Twelve Days' Journey" inevitably experienced a tremendous change.
"Agatha, you looked absolutely beautiful today."
Looking at her daughter, wearing a custom-made white wedding dress and sitting with her head slightly lowered in front of the vanity mirror, the graceful and noble middle-aged lady beside Agatha couldn't help but sincerely praise her,
"You've always been so pretty since you were a child, and now wearing this wedding dress, you look just like a princess straight out of a fairy tale. I doubt there's anyone in the entire Kingdom more beautiful than you."
The middle-aged lady's compliment might have stemmed more from her bias towards her own daughter, but even if one scrutinized it, her praise would not seem excessive.
Compared to the lively and energetic waitress at the dock tavern, as if she had endless vitality, Agatha, in her pure white wedding dress, was truly a sight one couldn't look away from.
For other women, such a bright white wedding dress might dull their skin, requiring whitening powders to manage. However, on her, it was the perfect complement.
The small patches of exposed skin at the elbows and neckline of the wedding dress appeared smooth and fair, like a piece of beautiful jade peeking through the veil of white, subtly exuding a visible luster and softness.
The tailored form-fitting white fabric outlined her unforgettable beautiful figure in voluptuous yet graceful curves. Along with the light makeup that enhanced her already stunning features, she truly resembled a blooming white rose. Within its noble and pure color, there lurked a fragrance so intoxicating it drew one in unconsciously.
The only regret was that this mesmerizing white rose was not in full bloom at the moment. Those once bright and expressive eyes seemed slightly dull, perhaps due to the absence of someone's reflection.
Gently biting her lips, which were lightly colored with pale pink lip gloss, Agatha asked softly with a look of confusion in her eyes,
"I remember you once told me when I was little that you chose Father among many suitors not because his family background was the best or his potential the most outstanding, but because of love.
Since you made such a choice back then, even risking falling out with Grandfather to marry Father, why are you interfering with my marriage now, forcing me to marry someone I don't love?"
"I... sigh... precisely because I've experienced all of this, I don't want you to suffer the same hardships I did..."
Upon hearing Agatha's question, the middle-aged lady sighed, then reached out to embrace her confused daughter, speaking softly with a complex expression,
"Marrying for love is fine, but how long will your love last? Five years? Seven years? Ten years? While this time might be long, compared to a lifetime, it's still too short.
Even the most wonderful love is merely fireworks; when the initial passion fades, and you both grow old, youth no longer on your side, a fading love can't sustain a family.
Your father and I have shared many beautiful moments, but over time, the issues concealed by love—differences in beliefs, family, social circles, geography—were exposed one by one, leading to endless arguments and... well, today is your big day, let's not talk about this."
Shaking her head slightly, the middle-aged lady paused and gently grasped her daughter's shoulders, looking into her confused eyes with a soft voice,
"Agatha, Mother won't harm you. If you truly can't accept or understand these words, just choose to trust Mother for now and let time give you the answer, okay?"
"I... I'll think about it some more..."
"Alright then, you think it over."
Looking at her still stubborn daughter, the middle-aged lady couldn't help but shake her head, then stood up, holding her arm, speaking with a mix of tenderness and firmness,
"But no matter what you think, since we're here now, the wedding must go on.
Dear daughter, the husband your father and I chose for you is the second son of a great noble family from another county. Although he doesn't have the right to inherit a title, his life will surely be affluent and secure.
Your father and I have carefully investigated; not only is he handsome and reliable, we've also heard he has no bad habits. Moreover, like you, he is fond of astronomy and art, skilled in painting and composing, with a deep interest in celestial phenomena. You two will certainly get along well."
Upon hearing her mother's words, Agatha couldn't help but purse her lips.
Had this been twelve days ago, the marriage partner her mother picked for her would have indeed suited her taste, even matching her hobby of stargazing. But now...
Looking down at the finely scattered diamonds on her veil like tiny stars, Agatha's mind wasn't filled with the enchanting starry night over the Ankara beach. Instead, she remembered a figure walking toward her amid fireworks, with a reflection of a galaxy in their eyes...
"..." *Mother, even if fireworks are truly fleeting, in the moment they appear in the sky, they shine brighter than all the stars combined. After witnessing such extraordinary fireworks, my eyes can no longer hold any other light.*
Understanding what she truly wanted, Agatha bit her lip and glanced outside the dressing room. Two burly men, taller than the doorframe, stood guard without moving an inch. They didn't relax their watch over the door, not even during her conversation with her mother.
*How could I escape from here?*
Looking at the two guards, so muscular they looked like bears, and recalling her several failed escape attempts, Agatha gritted her teeth in frustration. But she really had no way to deal with these two bears and had to pin her last hope on her beloved.
"Mr. Lyon... you have to find out and come here; otherwise, I'll be forced to marry... huh? Who is Mr. Lyon?"
"Agatha, we should go."
As the Princess playing Agatha was bewildered by this sudden name, the middle-aged lady glanced at the clock in the dressing room and stood up, linking arms with her daughter, smiling,
"Come on, I can hear the ceremony master calling your name. Agatha, today, you will surely be the most beautiful bride in the entire Kingdom."