kscans

Chapter 47 - The Wedding

When proposed to again, Mana, for the first time, did not make a mistake. She refused. Razan simply nodded in silence.

Mana would never know if that was his first and last act of kindness. All that mattered was that she had been spared from attending the wedding of the man she had once cast aside.

Mana returned to her father. Taking the severance money Razan had provided and what few belongings she could carry, she left the capital. No one knows what became of the father and daughter after that.

At the wedding ceremony, more than a few people found it odd that Razan had come alone, but no one dared to ask why. It was a joyous occasion. Besides, the bride and groom, seated on a raised platform at the far end of the hall, were so beautiful that they took everyone's breath away. It was no time for impertinent questions.

Shintaro, blooming with dignity, strength, and an untainted spirit. Shion, a pure flower, blooming with loveliness, modesty, and a fragile grace.

Amid a chorus of blessings, the two vowed their eternal love.

Following the solemn ceremony, a grand banquet was held. It was a long affair, lasting from high noon until dusk.

A drunken Nanafushi was seen pestering Shintaro, only to be unceremoniously apprehended by Miyake and ejected. They were overwhelmed by the endless stream of congratulatory gifts that continued to arrive even after the ceremony. Finally, a serving woman, who had been running herself ragged, must have reached her limit. She suddenly yelled, "That's quite enough!" bringing the festivities to an abrupt end. And so, a whirlwind of a day came to a close.

But it had, indeed, ended at just the right time. All that remained was to wait for the night and retire to their chambers.

The sky was clear, a crescent moon hanging among twinkling stars.

Shintaro pulled Shion close. His hands fumbled as he removed his own kimono, then hers. He caressed her slowly, the many kisses they had shared deepening with passion.

Whenever Shion trembled with fear, he would hold her gently and whisper, "It's alright." Hearing the warmth in Shintaro's voice, Shion entrusted her body to him.

What is lost with fresh blood, and what is spun into being.

What is learned through pain, and what is left behind.

People are destined to repeat such acts, but these two lost nothing. They simply wove their story. They came to know, without forgetting anyone or anything, the love and the moment that bound their hearts as one...

*

The next morning, everyone woke late. They were lazing about after a meal that could have been either breakfast or lunch when a summons came from the Emperor. Shintaro and Shion, enjoying their first morning as a married couple, were no exception. In fact, they were the guests of honor.

The members of the court had been gathered at the training grounds. There, the Emperor announced with a cheerful smile,

"Alright, time for you to jump."

Before them stood a Scaffolding with a ladder attached. No, to call it a Scaffolding was an understatement. It was a structure that rivaled the Tower in height.

Shintaro stared up at it, dumbfounded.

"I'm impressed you managed to build something like this."

"I have a talent for building."

"So, you want me to climb this and jump off?"

"That's right. I went to the trouble of having it built, so don't you dare refuse."

"I don't recall asking for it."

"Now, now..."

"And how did this even become a topic of conversation?"

"Don't get bogged down in the details. I just want to confirm whether the story of you jumping from the Tower is true." Shintaro's expression soured. He shot a glare at Saneyuki, who shook his head as if to say, I have nothing to do with this. He glanced at his parents; they were pale with shock, utterly confused as to why their son was being urged to commit suicide the day after his wedding.

Next, he looked at Sahei, who seemed to know something. Sahei was wiping away sweat and avoiding his gaze.

Shintaro groaned and looked up at the Scaffolding again. The Emperor spoke to him once more.

"If you need a rope, I can have one prepared."

Shintaro kept his chin tilted up, his eyes fixed on the peak of the Scaffolding that pierced the sky.

"And where would I tie it? The base isn't even fixed to the ground." He was right. The base was on wheels. Since it couldn't be built solely for Shintaro's demonstration, it had been made mobile. A rope tied to such an unstable structure would likely be useless.

"But they say you jumped from the Tower without a safety rope."

"Who said that?"

"Masaki."

Shintaro's gaze snapped back to Saneyuki, who shook his head again, more frantically this time.

"I-I-It wasn't me! I swear, it wasn't me!"

"Then..." Shintaro turned to Sahei. Sahei bowed his head deeply.

"My sincerest apologies!"

So it was Sanetsugu, Shintaro thought, exasperated. He turned his attention back to the Emperor.

"Just once, you hear?"

"Don't be so stingy."

"Doing something this foolish once is more than enough."

And so, Shintaro climbed the Scaffolding. Reaching the top, he stood tall, spread his arms wide, and like a bird taking flight from a branch, he soared into the air.

A gentle rotation, a powerful descent. Shintaro wove through the invisible threads of wind and air, a mystical experience known only to those who could dance in the high heavens and leap from the Tower itself.

There was no lifeline around his waist. Yet he felt as if countless invisible threads were wrapped around his entire body.

When he was about thirty feet from the ground, Shintaro executed one final rotation and landed perfectly on his feet. The spectators in the front rows coughed as dust and small stones flew through the air. But when they saw Shintaro standing there, serene amidst the cloud, they broke into wild, unrestrained applause.

As for Shintaro's parents, their legs had given out from under them. They had witnessed his divinely inspired leaps and sword skills before, but they had never imagined he could fall from the height of the Tower and remain unscathed.

Oblivious to them, the Emperor was overjoyed.

"My, my, that was incredible! Splendid! How about it, son-in-law, one more time!" At this, even the stoic Shintaro felt a vein throb in his forehead.

"I am never doing that again."

Nevertheless, a sense of accomplishment settled in his chest.

From now on, when these eyes look up at the Tower, they will no longer see a shadow.

With a heart that could finally believe this, Shintaro looked up at the brilliant sun shining in the sky.