A seemingly simple yet exquisitely crafted carriage slowly approached from the east side of the town. The usually quiet entrance to the Moore estate was now bustling with a crowd, as if awaiting a special moment.
Upon seeing the carriage rolling toward them, the people at the gate broke into excited smiles. "Look, look! It's here, it's here! They're back!"
"Yes, they've arrived! Quick, quick, open the gate and let the carriage in!"
"Right away!"
The commotion at the gate piqued the curiosity of the person inside the carriage, who leaned out to look.
Then, puzzled, she asked the person beside her, "Arthur, is something joyous happening at the estate today? Why is everyone gathered outside? Is someone important coming?"
Arthur smiled meaningfully at Mia. "Yes, it's a joyous occasion—a grand one. When we reach the main hall, you'll see every single member of the Moore family there!"
"What kind of occasion is so grand that everyone's here?" Mia's curiosity was sparked by Arthur's mysterious demeanor. She leaned into his embrace, pressing him for answers.
Arthur only chuckled, gently kissing the curious Mia on the forehead without answering her question, maintaining his air of mystery. "Mia, you'll find out when we get to the main hall."
"That's not an answer, Ar-thur!" His vague response only fueled her curiosity. Mia playfully shook his arm, pouting and acting coy in an attempt to coax the truth out of him.
Arthur, however, was resolute in keeping the secret, deliberately teasing her. He leaned down, kissing her to silence her attempts to "interrogate" him further.
Truth be told, Arthur, with his usual foresight, had already anticipated that if Mia learned the reason for the estate's lively atmosphere today, she would likely try to escape at all costs. So, even as the decorations throughout the estate raised Mia's suspicions on their way to the main hall, Arthur went to great lengths to distract her. It wasn't until she stepped into the main hall that Mia finally understood why the Moore estate was so festive and unusually lively today.
Clearly, every member of the Moore family was thrilled and excited. Their great Fox King, their revered leader, was holding a wedding—they were finally getting married. In the long ages past, this was something they had never dared to imagine. Everyone knew their leader had long given his heart to someone, a person whose whereabouts were unknown, whose very life or death was uncertain. Over centuries, their leader had searched for her countless times, expending immense time, energy, and resources, yet always coming up empty-handed. The devoted leader had endured all manner of hardships but never gave up, unmoved by others, steadfastly holding onto hope as he pursued the one buried deep in his heart.
After countless years and endless ages, just as they began to doubt whether this person would ever reappear, a clansman from the south sent an urgent letter. It stated that while attending a garden party at a merchant's household in the south, he had encountered someone who looked almost identical to the portrait their leader had painted.
Such occurrences were not uncommon—almost every month, something like this would happen once or twice, yet the outcome always left them deeply disappointed. But their devoted leader never wavered. Each time a letter like this arrived, he would personally set out to investigate, even though the result was always the same: returning with a heart full of desolation.
This time was no different. Upon receiving the letter, without a word, the leader entrusted all the estate's affairs to the clan members and set off for the south with Solar.
What happened next was truly unexpected. Good news poured in one after another, like snowflakes drifting back to the estate. When the first letter from the south arrived, announcing that they had truly found her, the estate erupted in celebration—firecrackers and dazzling fireworks lit up the sky for two days and two nights!
Their leader had searched for over one thousand years, and they had hoped for over four hundred years!
A month later, the travel-worn leader and Solar returned. Upon their arrival, they announced to the entire clan: the Moore family had proposed to the Ivan family in the south, arranging for Solar's eldest son, Henry Moore, to marry Anna Ivan, the eldest daughter of the Ivan family.
At first, the clan members were puzzled by this arrangement. But when they learned that, as part of the marriage agreement, the leader had requested the Ivan family to include several servants as part of the dowry, their doubts began to clear. They realized the leader's intention was to bring his beloved to the Moore estate in a legitimate way, freeing her from her status as a maid and ensuring she would no longer be a fugitive slave.
Everything proceeded smoothly from there. The leader no longer secluded himself in the room called "Stay Heart" for half a month at a time. Instead, every night, he used his magic to travel to the Ivan household in the south, just to catch a glimpse of her.
Because of the leader's devotion, even before she arrived at the Moore estate, the clan already knew everything about her.
To them, Young Master Henry's wedding was almost inconsequential. Their greatest concern was the arrival of this woman—Miss Mia—who had already turned the estate upside down before even setting foot in it!
She truly left the clan in awe. Their great king, their revered leader, had become surprisingly meticulous. From selecting servants to arranging food, lodging, and travel, to cleaning the house and gardens—even down to the placement of a single potted plant—the leader personally oversaw and scrutinized every detail, making adjustments upon adjustments.
Sigh, Miss Mia hadn't even arrived, yet the clan was already worrying. If she were to drop a strand of hair, choke on a sip of water, or trip in the estate, their leader would surely be heartbroken and lose his composure.
The day the Ivan family's bride arrived at the Moore estate, the clan knew Miss Mia had come. Yet the sight of the red carriage adorned with "joy" characters entering the estate left many uninformed clan members bewildered.
Many were curious about Mia, eager to know what kind of person she was and to see her with their own eyes. But to do so, they would need the confidence to pass the leader's scrutiny, for no one could find a single word to describe his possessiveness over Miss Mia.
Thus, the clan could only piece together an image of her through the descriptions of those who had seen or interacted with her.
In their words, Mia was shy, gentle, kind, and polite—a person who didn't care about others' status or rank. Most importantly, she deeply loved their leader.
Miss Mia's arrival brought vitality to the Moore estate, dispelling its former lifelessness. Even the leader, usually cold and unapproachable, warmed like the sun in early spring. The clan members grew to love and respect Miss Mia even more.
But not long after, during a private outing with the leader, Miss Mia went missing!
This was an earth-shattering catastrophe!
The clan members were terrified that if Miss Mia wasn't found, the leader's icy aura would freeze everyone in the Moore estate into ice statues. His chilling presence could sweep across a dozen miles, utterly bone-chilling.
Fortunately, after three days and nights of relentless searching without rest, the leader finally found her.
Hearing this news, the clan members wept with relief! They silently vowed, even if it cost them centuries of their lifespan, they would never let such a thing happen again. From the moment Miss Mia vanished without a word, the leader's icy, piercing coldness…
Well, let's not dwell on that terrifying story.