Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 357: We’re All Monsters (1)

Dragon Raja 3

Lu Mingfei waded through a warm river, surrounded by a thick mist. Lotus flowers drifted downstream, resembling rootless water lilies.

The river wasn’t deep, and the water was clear. The bottom was covered with smooth pebbles, which felt comfortable under his bare feet. Small fish swam around his ankles. He didn’t know where this place was, but it didn’t seem unfamiliar. In his memory, he had been here before. But when had he ever visited such a serene, Zen-like place, far removed from the world? He couldn’t recall.

From the opposite bank came brief but melodious sounds—piano, violin, and cello, harmonizing together. Lu Mingfei knew this was the sound check before a performance, signaling the start of an open-air concert.

He quickened his pace toward the other side, suddenly remembering that he was here to attend a grand gathering. He saw his reflection in the water: he was wearing strange, simple white clothes, covered in sturdy straps. It seemed like this outfit was designed to restrain someone. Why was he wearing this? How could he attend a concert in such clothes? Though a bit worried, he continued to cross the river.

Ahead was a lush green meadow, dotted with yellow flowers swaying in the breeze. Girls ran and played on the grass. Their flowing white robes couldn’t conceal their youthful, alluring figures. Their hair shone like gold or platinum, and their skin was as pure as snow.

In their presence, Lu Mingfei felt a bit self-conscious.

One girl saw him and exclaimed excitedly, “The groom is here! The groom is here!”

They all ran toward him, surrounding him and speaking in a language he had never heard before. Strangely, Lu Mingfei could understand them—they were offering him blessings and greetings, touching cheeks with him in a gesture of welcome.

Only one girl didn’t approach. She remained standing in the thick mist, her long hair billowing in the wind. Lu Mingfei couldn’t see her face, but he knew she was gazing at him through the mist.

The girls placed a crimson sash on him, adorned with gold and silver medals. With the sash, his strange white clothes now seemed more formal, like a general’s uniform. They combed his hair, helped him put on shiny black leather shoes, and tied a laurel belt around his waist. They applied makeup to his face and held a mirror in front of him. In the reflection, he looked sharp and distinguished.

The wind picked up, and the mist began to swirl around the distant girl’s dress. Her dark red hair and flowing white gown billowed in the breeze, revealing her slender legs. She wore white, high-heeled leather boots, with a golden anklet adorned with tiny bells that jingled softly in the wind.

Even though her face was covered by a white veil, Lu Mingfei immediately recognized her—it was Erii. Those boots and the anklet were the ones they had bought together at a boutique in Aoyama. In her wedding dress and veil, Erii looked even more like a delicate doll.

Suddenly, it all came back to him. He was here to attend his own wedding.

The girls led him to Erii, surrounding them as they sang, danced, and scattered flower petals. Somewhere hidden, an orchestra began playing Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus.” The grand opening made it feel like the wedding of a king.

Carefully, Lu Mingfei reached out his hand, and Erii placed her gloved hand into his.

The mist slowly cleared, revealing buildings around them—white, chalky high-rises with rows of small windows, like eyes watching them from above. High up, the winds were fierce, and the clouds shifted rapidly. But the tall buildings shielded this small patch of grass, leaving it warm and serene.

The girls guided him and Erii to a flower arch made of laurel branches, where a priest in white robes awaited them. In front of the arch stood a table, serving as an altar. To his surprise, it was an Eastern Orthodox wedding. On the altar were a Holy Gospel, two wedding crowns, a cup of red wine, and two lit candles. The priest placed a gold wedding ring and a silver wedding ring on opposite ends of the altar, positioning Lu Mingfei and Erii at either side.

The music softened. The priest made the sign of the cross over the heads of the bride and groom, handing each a lit candle.

The assisting priest spoke in a melodic voice, “Lord, grant us your blessing.”

The officiating priest echoed, “Praise be to our God, now and forever, unto ages of ages.”

The girls and musicians all responded, “Amen.”

Although Lu Mingfei had never attended an Eastern Orthodox wedding, let alone spent much time in a church, he found himself reciting these ancient words as if they were second nature.

His heart was filled with peace and joy. It felt wonderful. The beautiful girl standing across from him was his, and he was about to recite vows to her. He would place a ring on her finger, and their wedding would be witnessed by all their friends and family.

The priest took the gold ring from the plate, drew three crosses on Lu Mingfei’s forehead, and asked loudly, “Lu Mingfei, do you take Uesugi Erii as your lawful wife, to love and cherish her for the rest of your life?”

“I do,” Lu Mingfei said.

“Uesugi Erii, do you take Lu Mingfei as your lawful husband, and promise to love and cherish him for the rest of your life?” The priest placed a silver ring in Erii’s palm.

“I do,” Erii said.

“You may now exchange the rings.”

Lu Mingfei held the ring in one hand, and with the other, he gently took Erii’s soft hand. It was a small, warm hand, so warm that once he held it, he didn’t want to let go. Just as Lu Mingfei was about to slip the ring onto Erii’s ring finger, the priest suddenly asked a strange question.

“Are you sure?” the priest asked.

Lu Mingfei suddenly realized that he had never seen the priest’s face clearly. The mist on the lawn had dispersed, but there was still fog swirling around the priest. The man who had been standing in the fog all along softly asked him, “Are you sure?”

“Am I sure?” Lu Mingfei blankly asked himself.

Damn it, why was he suddenly attending a wedding? And it was his own wedding? He suddenly realized how absurd this whole thing was. He had never considered Erii as someone he could pursue. She was a monster, and he was her warden. So how had their relationship turned into this? He couldn’t recall the sequence of events; it all felt absurd yet natural. He was standing among friends and family, surrounded by looks of blessing, with a beautiful girl willing to marry him. He had already said his vows… wasn’t that enough? Why ask him again? Just let him complete the wedding, and he would be happy, so why ask about his… heart?

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