**Janus**
When I arrived in the great hall, I could see that all the maids and servants were busily preparing all the tables and chairs. It was still reasonably early, and I had little else to do than watch as the Tables were set and the decorations arranged.
Giant silver moon chandeliers hung from the ceiling, small wooden moons adorned each table, and blue, white, or black garlands stretched across the room.
And in the middle of it all was a massive rug where all the gifts people wanted to give each other would be gathered… and, of course, it was blue with a big silver moon in the middle.
Moons, Moons, and even more Moons, they were everywhere.
Even my own coat had Moons stitched on the inside.
I wore a dark blue frock coat paired with black pants, white socks in black shoes, and a pearly white shirt underneath. As for jewelry I only choose two cufflinks that were of course how else could it be Moon shaped.
As for hair, it was just trimmed a bit and oiled back with aromatic oils, while my facial hair had been shaved off completely.
All in all, I was done way sooner than Ruby, who was still in the middle of getting dressed when I left my room.
While I was busy people-watching, I saw Joel walking towards me from across the room. The two of us had been growing closer ever since I “died” for lack of a better word and was brought back to life. Whenever something would have needed my attention, he would take over, ensuring that I could stay next to Ruby’s bed until she woke up.
“Did something good happen to you recently?”
Joel asked me, suspicion written all over his face. What is he so suspicious about? The best thing that happened to me recently was the engagement. Does he mean that? So confused, I asked,
“You mean besides the engagement?”
“Yes, besides that.”
“…Not …really.”
Joel scrutinized my face, like studying an insect. And slowly began contemplating,
“You sure? You seem so different, as if…” before his voice dropped and his eyes widened in shock, “…you two really did it, didn’t you?”
What is he talking about?
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Hehehe, well, good for you then. I guess that means you two are getting along well. I honestly wasn’t sure if it would go this smoothly. But seeing your shit-eating grin across the room convinced me that at least one of you is happy.”
Wait, “getting along well” is he talking about…!
“Urgh, shut up.”
Annoyed by Joel, I shoved him aside and angrily asked,
“What do you mean, one of you?”
“Oh? So she liked it, huh?
“Urgh, shut up!”
“Hahahaha!”
We continued bickering until the other guest arrived. The Lunar festival is often described as an event for single men to find a lover or, ideally, a wife. So, most of the guests were single men and women who lived in the fort and were looking for someone to warm their bed, someone they could cuddle up to during the dark, cold winter months.
So, soon the entire great hall began to fill up with a crowd of desperate singles all dressed in shades of blue, black, and white.
The other residents of Fort Rosedorn and Root would simply stay at home and celebrate it with their families. The only non-single people would be from the Yuwen family. And this year, pretty much everyone was attending well, except, of course, Anna, who hadn’t participated in several years.
According to her, the Lunar Festival at Fort Rosedorn was too rural and filled with peasants. Then she would go on and on about how much better it would be in the capital and how much she would love to be there instead.
But apart from her, everyone was there, even Maggie and Fiona had been allowed to stay up late just for the Festival.
Everyone was there except for…
“Hey, Janus, look over there.”
Annoyed, I turned my head to the location Joel pointed to and immediately couldn’t help but hold my breath.
It was her.
My Fiancé.
Ruby wore a white dress with blue roses. With blue jewelry around her neck and ears. Her white hair that had always been either freely falling down her back or in a ponytail was now neatly braided into a bun. But at this moment, I saw none of these; all I could see was her face.