Chapter 443
Giovanni and Gaia rushed into the house upon hearing the sound. On the bed, Elettra opened her eyes and was struggling to get up.
Giovanni and Gaia were frightened and hurried forward, holding her shoulders down. “Good girl, don’t move, your injuries haven’t healed yet.”
“Yes, yes, Elettra,” Mrs. Huber’s eyes were red. “Lie down and rest.”
Elettra looked at the two and said in a small but firm voice, “I will not marry anyone but Michael.”
Giovanni glanced at Michael, who lowered his head with a humble expression.
He sighed and shook his head. “Oh well, you are a big girl now. I won’t interfere with your affairs; you can handle them yourselves.”
“Thank you, Dad.” Elettra had a satisfied smile on her face as she looked at Michael.
The latter simply curled his lips slightly and was very polite to her. Although Elettra was a little dissatisfied, she was already very content. She believed that constant dripping wears away the stone, and one day Michael would see her good qualities.
After a few days, when Elettra’s injury stabilized, the Hubers took her back. From then on, Michael appeared at the entrance of the Huber Manor every day. He didn’t say much, only bringing nourishing medicinal herbs or novel trinkets. Sometimes it was candied fruit from the Northern Frontier, and sometimes it was a newly made silver hairpin from a craftsman. Each time he had the housekeeper hand it over, while he stood respectfully in the living room waiting. It wasn’t until Elettra’s maid came out and said that Elettra was in good spirits today that he bowed and took his leave.
This courteous and restrained visit gradually eased Giovanni’s anger. Once he hid behind a screen to peek and saw Michael holding Elettra’s half-embroidered sachet, clumsily trying to learn a few stitches. As a result, he pricked his finger, wincing in pain but refusing to make a sound, and couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. ‘This rough man isn’t a stubborn rock after all.’
Elettra’s injuries gradually improved, and she was able to get out of bed and walk around. She often sat by the window doing embroidery, not of mandarin ducks playing in the water, but of the snowy plains of Ironfang Pass and eagles spreading their wings. Michael once said that the snowy plains of Ironfang Pass were the most beautiful. The eagles were the fiercest, capable of catching even sheep up into the sky.
Half a month before the New Year, Xander personally came to the door with betrothal gifts. Boxes of silk, jade, gold, and jewelry were piled in the courtyard of the Huber Manor, dazzling to the eye.
“Mr. Huber,” Xander said with a smile, raising his cup, “Michael is clumsy and doesn’t understand these subtleties, so I, as Prince Regent, am here to ask for this marriage on his behalf. You must give me some face.”
Giovanni looked at the betrothal gifts filling the courtyard, then at his daughter, who was secretly peeking from behind the screen. Though his face remained stern, his eyes were already filled with smiles. “Since the Prince Regent has come to ask in person, how could I refuse?
“But once this marriage is settled, Michael must promise me that he will not bully my daughter in the future.”
“That’s for sure.” Xander patted his chest and promised, “If he dares to bully Elettra, I will be the first to not forgive him.”
Michael’s wedding was set on the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month before the new year. At the break of dawn, Michael’s wedding procession was ready to set off. Michael was dressed in a bright red wedding robe, riding a tall horse, the red silk knot in front of his chest fluttering in the wind. He looked at the large eight-carried sedan chair at the front of the procession, his mood complex. The first time he got married, he made a complete mess of it. But this time, from the engagement to the wedding, it was unbelievably smooth. The streets were full of people watching the fun, constantly shouting, “Congratulations, General Osborne.” Before long, the wedding procession arrived at the Huber Manor.
Michael was about to step in when he was stopped. “General Osborne, old rules, let’s match the couplets first.”
Everyone around was watching Michael and laughing. His face turned red, and he responded, “Okay.”
Giovanni’s voice came from inside, “Northern Frontier snow, Sword Gate wind, protect my country.”
Michael thought for a moment, his eyes lit up, and he blurted out, “General’s command, soldier’s blood, guard your peace.”
Giovanni raised his eyebrows, a look of joy in his eyes. He didn’t expect this silly boy to have some knowledge. He stroked his beard and said, “The shadow of swords and the light of blades, the iron-blooded general hides tenderness.”
This first line was a bit tricky. Michael’s brow furrowed again. This first line not only pointed out his identity but also hinted at his feelings for Elettra, making it difficult to respond to. He subconsciously looked at the closed vermilion door.
Just as he was scratching his head, Elettra’s clear and gentle reminder came from inside the door, “Have you forgotten the snowfield picture I embroidered?”
Michael suddenly understood and said loudly, “Needle and thread, the exquisite embroiderer expresses her heart.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of cheers erupted from inside the door. This second line not only catered to Elettra’s preferences, but also expressed the affection she hid in her needlework. The antithesis was perfect, and the artistic conception was just right.
The joy in Giovanni’s eyes became more and more obvious, and he was thinking of making things difficult for Michael again. But he heard an exclamation from the room. “Miss, no, you can’t.”
Everyone looked at the door in surprise, but they saw the door opened from the inside with a bang. Elettra, in a bright red wedding dress and covered with a hijab, rushed out from inside. “Michael, catch me.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she leaped up. Michael subconsciously stretched out his arms and steadily caught her in his arms.
Wow…
The people around burst into cheers. Giovanni’s beard perked up with anger. “Nonsense, this is simply nonsense.”
Gaia, however, pulled him back, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “Old man, don’t make things difficult for the young couple. If we delay any longer and miss the auspicious time, just let them go.”
“Dad, I’m leaving.” Elettra waved her handkerchief in the direction of Giovanni. She looked more like she was going for an outing than getting married.
Giovanni’s face was filled with anger, but his words were full of doting. “You unconscionable girl, I raised you for eighteen years, and you’re just leaving with him like that.”
Michael was also a little dumbfounded, unsure whether to leave with Elettra in his arms or not.
She slapped him on the shoulder and urged. “What are you standing there for? Quickly put me in the bridal sedan.”
“Oh, oh.” Michael woke up as if from a dream and hurriedly carried Elettra out of the Huber Manor. Behind them, a group of onlookers followed, cheering.
Giovanni and Gaia looked at each other, their eyes reddened. “Elettra is married.” Giovanni cried his eyes out, and after everyone left, he simply sat on the ground and wailed loudly. Mrs. Huber didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his behavior, unsure whether to comfort him or herself.
The wedding procession played music and walked towards Perkins Manor. After the two greeted the guests, Elettra was sent to the bridal chamber. There was no fear in her eyes, only curiosity and excitement. She didn’t know how long she sat there, but the noisy voices of the guests outside finally subsided.
A figure appeared at the door. Seeing this, the dowry maid whispered a few words to Elettra and then retreated out. Michael walked in, looking at Elettra in her red wedding dress, and he was a little afraid to step forward.
“Honey, aren’t you going to come over?” Elettra’s voice had a hint of urging. She was even more impatient than Michael.