"The head butler secretly told me today that you only recently found me. Before Anna set out for the Northern Desert, you were sneaking into the Ivan family's estate every night to see me. Why did I never notice you?" Mia asked, her face full of curiosity.
Arthur couldn't resist kissing her cheek. "Of course, I cast a spell on you while you were sleeping to make you sleep more soundly. Otherwise, if you woke up in the middle of the night to find someone holding you, you'd have been scared to death!"
"Oh, I see!" Mia giggled, snuggling closer to him. "No wonder I felt like I was sleeping so deeply during that time. And, you know, the second night I saw you, your embrace felt so familiar."
"By the way," Mia continued, resting her face comfortably against his chest, "my foster father said you recognized me at first sight and were absolutely certain I was the one you'd been searching for. How did you know it was me?"
Arthur held her close, recalling the moment he first saw her. "Back then, I was full of hope, but I'd been disappointed too many times before, so I wasn't optimistic. When Solar and I sneaked into the Ivan estate to find you, my heart was racing for no reason, like it was about to leap out of my chest, and my eyelids kept twitching, as if signaling something. The moment I saw you, I felt a wave of relief—I was completely stunned. It was you! No doubt about it; the thought kept echoing in my mind."
"Then I tried to calm myself down, telling myself over and over not to rush, not to get too excited—you might just look like her, and I shouldn't jump to conclusions. Over the centuries of searching for you, I'd seen many people who resembled you, but they weren't you. But then, you walked toward me, and a breeze carried your scent to me… My first instinct was to rush over and hold you tightly—I'd finally found you. If Solar hadn't held me back, I might have, without a second thought, taken you straight back to Moore Manor, not even considering proposing or the plan to make you a dowry maid to free you from your thousand-year identity as an escaped slave, so you could live openly under the heavens. After that, I stayed by your side every day, lingering, unable to bear leaving you. When Solar suggested the marriage proposal and the dowry servant plan, I reluctantly agreed, knowing it was the proper way to handle things. So I left the south and returned to the Northern Desert to arrange everything. But as you said, every night after that, I'd go to see you and hold you as you slept."
"Arthur, if you were so sure I was the girl who saved you one thousand years ago, the one destined to fulfill her mission before God, why did you use magic to make it snow that day we reached the foot of the snowy mountain? I saw you!"
"Snow? It didn't snow during the time you came to the Northern Desert. Which man did you see? Got your eyes crossed?" Arthur teased with a mischievous grin.
"Which man? It was you, that man!" Mia retorted, raising her eyebrows and playfully pinching his sharp nose in annoyance.
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you!" Arthur rubbed his nose, grabbed Mia's hand, and stole a quick kiss.
"I didn't plan to do it, but when the wedding procession passed near the place where you were shot dead by a hunter in your past life, I had a sudden whim. I wanted to know if, deep in your soul, you still remembered our past encounter. So…"
"Oh, so you were feeling unbalanced and wanted to soothe the centuries of hardship you endured searching for me!" Mia stared at him, eyes wide.
"Hmm, did I think that?" Arthur "seriously" pondered, putting on a solemn face.
"Ugh, you!" Mia, caught between laughter and exasperation, lightly pounded his chest with her fist.
"So, after all that effort, is King Arthur satisfied with the answer he got?" Mia asked, narrowing her eyes threateningly.
Ha, making her and Dick run around in the blinding snow just to test if she remembered him deeply—if he didn't give her a satisfactory answer, he'd be in big trouble with no sweet reward!
How could Arthur miss Mia's obvious expression? He quickly coaxed and pleaded, "How could I not be satisfied? I was thrilled beyond words. You actually reenacted what happened back then—I was so happy, so excited, knowing how much you care about me. So, Mia, about the part where I almost got you and Dick lost in the snow… can you just forget that? Please?"
"Hmph!" Mia, pleased with his response, nestled back into Arthur's warm embrace, her eyes closing contentedly.
Seeing that Mia didn't seem angry, Arthur cautiously said, "Mia, it's getting late. We should…"
"There's more, Arthur!" Mia suddenly lifted her head, looking at him.
"More?!" Arthur's face crumpled into a mock grimace, staring at her.
Mia, with a mischievous grin as if her plan had succeeded, wrapped her arms around his neck, flashing a gentle, suggestive smile. "Arthur, I'm not that pretty—it's a well-known fact. So, I think when I get old, I'll definitely look even worse. I know you wouldn't mind seeing me old and ugly, but I really don't want you to see me like that. Unless… we grow old together. Then neither of us would ever find the other ugly."
"Mia!" Arthur caught the deeper meaning in her words and hugged her tightly, his voice trembling with emotion. "Are you sure you want to give up your human identity and become a hybrid, neither fully human nor fox?"
Mia nodded firmly, resting against his shoulder and fully embracing the man who made her heart ache with love. "I just can't bear the thought of not being with you forever."
"Mia!" Arthur hugged her back, calming his racing heart. Then, he suddenly stood, lifting her into his arms.
"Arthur?!" Mia looked at him in panic, confused by his sudden move.
Kissing her cheek softly, Arthur said in a husky voice, "Mia, it's late. Tonight is our wedding night, and every moment is precious. We can't waste it!"
Mia's face flushed a deep red, brighter than her ceremonial dress. Arthur carried her to the bed, gently setting her down. Dressed in a black tuxedo with a refined white bow tie, he sat beside her, gazing at her and softly stroking her face.
"Mia, do you remember the vow we made together in your dream that day?"
Mia placed her hand over his, responding to his loving words. "Yes, I remember."
"Say it again," Arthur encouraged, his eyes locked on hers.
"I trust you, with no regrets, and I'll never turn back."
"Are you serious this time? Are you truly certain? No more doubts?" Arthur seemed to need reassurance, seeking confirmation of her answer.
"I promise. I swear," she said, meeting his gaze with unwavering certainty, mirroring his words.
Arthur let out a relieved breath. "Good. Don't ever leave me again, okay?"
"I promise." His faint trace of unease tugged at Mia's heart, his vulnerability making her feel even more anxious. "Arthur, thank you for accepting me." A single tear rolled down his cheek.
"Arthur!" His poignant yet fragile expression moved her deeply, filling her with guilt.
He'd succeeded. Deep in her heart, Mia resolved never to let Arthur show such an expression again—it was too heart-wrenching. In the world of love, there's no true stronger partner; only through mutual dependence can they achieve eternity together. She didn't have his immense powers, but she could help Arthur open his heart fully and face everything with confidence.
With that thought, Mia couldn't help but lean up and kiss his lips.
Arthur's initiative had always been his weakness, but now, Mia's bold invitation ignited the long-simmering desire in his heart.
And so, the festive red canopy veiled their shy, passionate love, and their wedding night truly began.
Wait, one more thing…
"Arthur, hold on!"
"What's wrong, Mia?"
"Arthur, since I'll eventually be able to live without dying so easily like a human, I can find some work to do, right?"
"—"
"Oh! Arthur, what are you doing?!"
"I'm going to make you so tired you won't even think about work!"
"What?!" …
Tonight was especially intoxicating.
Because tonight held no trace of pain—only happiness, a happiness that could touch others and be shared.