Chapter 14. Carnation Lanterns

Autumn Leaves?' Hatsuki could only imagine some orangish yellow trees leaving not much room for ideas of the dresses. As she schemed through the closet right after entering her room, there were all sorts of dresses but not the one that felt Autumn. 

Carefully, she checked each one of the aoqun, feeling her fingers through each of the fabrics. Some were too pastel, some had too much silk, and the ones that did fit the theme didn't fit what she wanted to be. 

'Uh, this is why owing too many clothes is a hassle!' She tossed the aoqun back to its original place. 

"Knock Knock" someone knocked on the door but Hatsuki already had an idea of who it was. 

"Please come in" she replied and sliding the door, the maid entered with a heavy wooden box which had carvings of little flowers. 

"The master has asked to help you today Miss. So, is there anything you'd like to wear?" The maid had gotten softer than before. Her words were less sharp and she had left her guard loose. 

"I want to have something orange in my dress but…" Her words trailed off. 

"Then how about this pipa-sleeved orange aoqun? They were in the next drawer" The woman spoke enthusiastically. Her feet were quick to reach the second drawer and she'd even started to search amongst the drawers. 

After a while of searching, she found an orange top which was exactly how she liked it; a dragon in the middle. 

"Eh… these ones are good but what about the skirt?" 

"Maybe this off-white skirt? This gold one would suit as well or this dark blue one" 

"Let's try all three of them" 

After a constant change of pairs, they finally settled on the orange pipa aoqun and the dark blue horse face skirt. With the help of the maid, Hatsuki wore the set. Then after, the maid asked her to take a seat at the vanity table. 

Clipping the hair in hairpins, she started to section the hair and tied knots at the end. 

"You look very beautiful Miss" said the maid as she placed a damp brush on a little red pot. Letting the brush soak, the woman started to apply the red stain on Hatsuki's cheeks and lips. It gave a subtle glow to her makeup. 

"I hope I look worthy of being next to Master" she replied in return and stood from her seat. While the smile on her face was constant, her inner thoughts were not. 

Being asked to be fiance so randomly made her at the edge of the pedestal even though it was her own decision. According to the mythologies that her mother often shared, there were five different auspicious beasts. The Azure dragon from the east, the Vermillion Bird from the south where even the portal for heaven was located, the White Tiger from the west, the Black Tortoise from the north and at the centre was the yellow dragon. 

To be in their presence meant that she was the same as them but in truth, she wasn't. She was a half-split fruit, too bitter and too young. 

~

Walking down the stairs, her head hung somewhat low feeling the burden weight over her shoulders. A pair of eyes watched over her, making their presence known to her. 

She took a glimpse, at the end of staircases stood the master in a robe which was black on the shoulders and as the pigments faded, the lower portion of the dress matched the orange she wore. 

"Beautiful" she murmured. 

Even within very little light Master exuded a commanding presence, his stance was upright and yet, he was soft enough to have the little pink tassel still on his waist. 

Just as she reached the end, Master took a few steps forward and raised his hand "Could I have the pleasure to escort you, Miss Asano?" 

Hatsuki's eyes were expressive as they blinked a few times, starting to the core. Her hands which were carefully pinching the hem of the skirt, left loose and stared at the Master for a few seconds. 

"You may, Sir…" She placed her hands on Yuki's cold palms. 

His fingers little by little intertwined with her fingers while his free hand reached for her chin. The tip of his index fingers brushed on her soft skin as his face gently leaned towards her as well. 

Hatsuki had an unreadable expression as though, everything that was happening was just a dream. 

Feeling that Hatsuki's focus wasn't on him, Yuki swiftly glided at Hatsuki, making her feel the presence. 

"Raise your head up, you are now the strongest woman in the after realm" 

~

At the White Tiger Palace

As they entered the West Castle the ambience was entirely different than that of the capital and the East. The structures were more influenced by the western part of the Earth. The buildings were tall and had a hauntingly beautiful design, with each piece being carved to perfection. 

The pillars had decorative flowers embedded and the tops were painted as though a tapestry of fables were intertwined as each of the designs and paintings uplifted each other, making the room a living art. 

"So beautiful" Hatsuki could feel the effort put into the design and decoration as well as the architecture. She took her time observing each painting she adored and looked closely at the sculptures. 

The sculptures had the depiction of realism, the softness of the human body and yet still bejewelled by the crown of cruelness as each of the art pieces was somewhat grieving. 

"They were made by the moontale after all" The master replied as he too took his time to admire the beauty. 

"Moontale?" 

"He's a legendary artist, making all sorts of forms of art but no one has ever seen him in person. A follower of the goddess of liberation yet in all his arts, he seems to have only been trapped." Yuki explained. 

"You think so? I sort of feel…as though, he is trying to learn what he feels than what he knows? I'm not sure though. Although, isn't that just a way to say he has been trapped"

"Not really" 

Their conversation fell silent as they continued to observe his art. Each piece depicted diversity as though it wasn't even made by the same artist. From the landscape to the humans to an imaginary art. 

"Greetings to the Arbiter. I apologise for interrupting but the assembly is about to begin" The message was conveyed though a scroll which appeared in the thin air and disappeared on its own. 

"It seems our presence is needed. Let's go" 

But this time Yuki made sure to walk beside Hatsuki. They brisked through the large hallway and at the very end, reached the assembly door. 

"The Arbiter of the Under Realm and His beloved Fiance have arrived" shouted the man at the door from the inside. 

The large doors made of copper and wood automatically opened and a strong wind directly hit them on the face. The room was dark and all of a sudden, Lanterns decorated in Carnation flowers flew up in the sky and ten thousand of the surnames were hung up above, respecting the souls of the dead. 

The gentle light from the lanterns glowed on the stage where two women in violet robes started to play the guzheng.