Chapter 103: Wedding

"Wedding?" Hippolyta didn't expect Liu A'dou to suddenly come over and propose having a wedding on Paradise Island. This was difficult for her because the Amazons didn't have the concept of marriage.

"Is that not possible? Ada and I want to have our wedding on the beautiful Paradise Island," Liu A'dou said, even though behind him, the remains of rubble and ruins hardly counted as beautiful.

Hippolyta wasn't keen on rejecting, so she thought it over for a moment. "Well, though we Amazons are warriors, we are also women. I too look forward to witnessing your happiness. We have all the food, wine, and fine attire you'll need on our island. When do you plan to hold the wedding?"

"Then let's get started. We'll begin preparations now."

Liu A'dou wanted to hold the wedding on the beautiful island before leaving Paradise Island, and Ada agreed. She also hoped for a wedding that was different from the usual. After all, as two people who came from another world, the Amazons were their closest people in this world. If they could have them attend their wedding, it would truly be an honor for the newlyweds.

Paradise Island quickly became lively. There were plenty of food and wine. Every Amazon could drink, and they loved drinking. They could drink like men, even downing hundreds of cups without getting drunk.

Once the food was prepared, Liu A'dou turned his attention to the venue. He went to find Elsa.

Elsa remained indifferent to Liu A'dou, still upset that he had been focused on his own things and had not yet begun recruiting the Saints.

So, when Liu A'dou came to explain his intentions, Elsa just coldly huffed to show her displeasure.

"Elsa, as the Pope's right hand and a candidate for the Aquarius Saint, how can you have such an attitude? This is the Pope's command," Liu A'dou said, adopting the Pope's authority. He then presented the facts: "Elsa, I know you don't want to cooperate with me, but surely you'll listen to Zeus. Besides, after Ada and I get married, I'll have the time to recruit the Saints. If I keep worrying about the wedding, I don't know how long it will take to get to the important stuff. Just help me out."

After Liu A'dou's heartfelt words, he finally moved the Snow Queen. She nodded. "I hope you keep your promise."

"No problem," Liu A'dou patted his chest, assuring her.

Another problem solved, Liu A'dou moved on to the wedding rings. This was no problem either. Previously, he had found a broken transparent glass lamp in the ruins. Liu A'dou planned to use the shards of the glass lamp to make a handmade diamond ring, which would be just as valuable as a real diamond.

He gathered all the shards, but Liu A'dou would need to burn his Microcosmos to craft the pieces. The transparency of the glass shards was almost as hard as diamonds. Only by pushing his Microcosmos to the limit could he shape them. So, he painstakingly carved, all the while refining his Microcosmos, preparing the wedding ring.

By the time Liu A'dou finished the ring, everyone else had finished their preparations.

Elsa had built a snow-white ice palace that never melted, with crystal-clear ice steps leading up. The floor was made of snowflake-shaped ice, and the ceiling hung beautiful yet sturdy ice chandeliers. The loft was supported by only two rows of pillars, giving it a Greek-style feel.

Inside, the tables, chairs, and colorful ribbons were set up, with fine food and wine ready for the wedding to begin.

Diana felt mixed emotions these past few days. On one hand, she had the responsibility of searching for her brother, but on the other, she was happily involved in organizing the wedding, finding it quite enjoyable. The weight of responsibility and the lightness of excitement left Diana feeling strange—one moment she was smiling, and the next, she was silent.

Because everyone was busy preparing for the wedding, no one noticed her. Even Ada didn't realize, though Diana was incredibly happy. Liu A'dou had decided to marry her, and that meant he truly wanted to spend his life with her. What could be luckier than finding a good man to rely on for the rest of her life?

Ada Wong had once thought herself unlucky. Stripped of her name as a child, trained as a spy, and later used for corporate espionage, she was abandoned by the organization when she was threatened with a nuclear bomb. But she didn't die. She crossed over to this world and met Liu A'dou. He seemed frivolous and flirtatious, but his sense of responsibility was unmatched. She knew in her heart a thousand times over that she wanted to spend her life with him.

"Ada, I just don't understand why women outside of Paradise Island insist on marrying men," Diana said. It had taken Diana a long time to understand that marriage was a sacred ceremony between a man and a woman, signifying their commitment to share both joy and hardship for the rest of their lives. Diana thought Ada was strong enough that she didn't need a man.

But Ada told her, "Women outside of Paradise Island want to get married, and I'm no exception. Besides, marriage is an equal partnership, not a dependency. Liu A'dou respects me. When he decides something, he always consults me and discusses it with me. And when I have a problem, we solve it together. The wedding will make us family, and we'll build a beautiful family together, with a bond that supports each other."

Diana finally understood. After marriage, you would become family, just like the relationship she had with her mother.

"Will you have children?" Diana asked, her curiosity sharp.

Ada blushed; she hadn't thought that far ahead.

But Diana quickly added, "If you have a daughter, I'll train her. I'll make her the best Amazon warrior."

"...," Ada thought to herself that this wouldn't work. If their daughter became an Amazon warrior, would they even be able to lead a normal life? But seeing Diana's enthusiasm, Ada didn't want to dampen her spirits. "We haven't really thought that far ahead yet."

"It's fine. I'll be with you when you go out. Just let me know when you've made your decision. I'll definitely be a good teacher," Diana assured her.

Ada smiled bitterly.

When everything was ready, the scheduled wedding day finally arrived.

Ada wore traditional Greek attire, a simple white gown, a ruby-red wide belt at her waist, a shell bracelet on her wrist, and grass sandals on her feet. She wore a crown of olive branches and flowers on her head, with a white veil that covered her face.

Liu A'dou wore a tunic with the chest open, a skirt with chain armor, and grass sandals on his feet. Two olive branches were tucked into his ears, and he wore a golden circlet on his forehead, looking like a true Greek warrior.

The wedding style was a mix of ancient Greek and European influences. Since the Amazons didn't traditionally marry, they were fine with it as long as it was lively. Even the music was an Amazon battle song, making this a truly unforgettable, unique wedding.

As the Amazon warriors sang their battle song, with lyrics full of their unyielding spirit, Liu A'dou and Ada walked up to Hippolyta.

The Amazon warriors watched the couple and sincerely wished them well. This was the first wedding on Paradise Island, and they would remember it forever. Liu A'dou had a big smile on his face, completely enjoying the moment.

Under the watchful eyes of the warriors, they walked across the snowflake-patterned floor, each step leading them to a new life. From this moment on, Liu A'dou would be a husband, and Ada Wong would be his wife. They would support each other and care for each other, both with the resolve to give everything for each other. It meant responsibility, endurance, and bearing the weight of each other's lives.

Their eyes met briefly, and they both saw the joy in each other's eyes. They were no ordinary people, and they knew they wouldn't be troubled by trivial matters like daily life. Their future together would be brighter because they were united, working together.

The Amazon leader began the traditional vows, the words that should be spoken by a priest: "Do you both wish to accept each other as your lifelong companions, through poverty, sickness, wealth, and health, to be together forever, to love, cherish, and know each other until death do you part?"

"Yes." The couple exchanged a glance through the veil, seeing the determination in each other's eyes. They didn't hesitate. Their decision to marry had been well thought out, and there was no turning back.

"Exchange rings."

Diana and Elsa brought over the trays with the rings, the trays lined with red silk, the rings sparkling with light.

Liu A'dou took the ring from Diana's tray and placed it on Ada's finger, and Ada took the ring from Elsa's tray and put it on Liu A'dou's finger.

"In the name of Mother Gaia, I now declare you both husband and wife. May the Mother Goddess bless your family with eternal life."

They embraced, exchanging warmth, and then Liu A'dou lifted Ada's veil, kissing her deeply. Their Ripples and Microcosmoss resonated together, and Paradise Island bloomed with flowers, as if it too was intoxicated by the moment.

The trees swayed and danced in celebration, the grass bent low in respect, and the earth seemed to rejoice. Even the sky showered light, with Athena and Zeus from Mount Olympus sending their blessings.

The Amazon warriors clapped, though with a sense of regret. It was clear that Liu A'dou's heart wasn't with them, so the warriors could only drink to drown their sorrows.

In the Ice Palace, the Amazon warriors began to revel. Cups were raised and laughter filled the air. The warriors showed their boisterous nature, eating meat and drinking in large quantities.

Liu A'dou, who had never realized how fearsome they could be, was pulled aside to drink more with them.

Not used to drinking, Liu A'dou felt the pressure but, true to his word, drank. Using his Microcosmos, he broke down the alcohol in his system, drinking deeply from the cups handed to him by the Amazon warriors.

Ada, too, faced the same problem. The warriors treated her the same, pouring drinks for her that she couldn't stop, no matter how hard she tried.

Only Elsa stood by, with no warriors approaching her. They didn't want to risk freezing themselves. Elsa didn't enjoy being surrounded by others, as she had gotten used to being alone. But her gaze at the bonfire spoke of her fear of losing friends, of not being accepted. Beneath her cold exterior, she feared rejection.

The celebration lasted from evening until late at night. The Amazons got drunk, but by the morning, they would still be full of energy.

The banquet finally ended, and Liu A'dou and Ada entered their bridal chamber. They unwrapped each other's garments, facing each other honestly, their bond stronger than ever. The night was full of promise, like the first bloom of spring.