Day 3 before the Wedding (Nighttime)
The square of Dichondra City shimmered under the soft glow of lanterns. Citizens had gathered in rows, holding their flying lamps, each one flickering like a tiny star in the warm night air. The atmosphere was alive with quiet excitement, a mixture of reverence and celebration.
After the princess had received the city's blessings, the lamps were distributed to everyone.
Princess Katelyn turned to Ethan, her elegant gown catching the light of the lanterns. With a calm, graceful motion, she placed a single lamp into his hands.
Ethan looked down at it, confused. "What… am I supposed to do with this?"
Katelyn smiled faintly, her eyes reflecting the glow of the surrounding lamps. "It's tradition," she said softly. "You release it into the sky when you're ready… to let go of the past and step forward into the future."
Ethan glanced at the hundreds of lamps in the hands of the citizens, all ready to be released. Then he looked back at Katelyn.
She didn't hold a lamp of her own; she only had given him one. It was a quiet, unspoken tradition—holding someone's lamp signified a special connection, a bond between two souls, together in a way that no words could capture.
He took a deep breath and held the lamp tight. Katelyn watched him with serene elegance, her posture perfect, her expression calm yet radiant.
Then, with a subtle signal, everyone released their lamps at the same time. Ethan let go of the lamp in his hands, and it floated upward, following the thousands of other glowing lights into the night sky. Katelyn's lamp rose with his, moving side by side, silently connecting them amidst the sea.
The lamps formed a glowing canopy above the city, petals from earlier blessings swirling gently through the air, adding color to the warm glow. The crowd cheered softly, but for Ethan, all he could see was Katelyn—the quiet grace in her movements, the subtle strength in her posture, the mystery that made her even more captivating.
Though she didn't speak, the fact that she only held his lamp spoke louder than words ever could. It was an intimate, silent bond that no one else could touch.
For a brief, perfect moment, surrounded by the lights, the city, and the people, Ethan and Katelyn shared a connection that felt timeless.
Even amidst tradition and ceremony, in that night sky full of glowing lamps, they were together in a way that no one else could see.
In their tradition, when two people hold a single lamp, it symbolizes a bond that cannot be broken. It is a connection that transcends words, promises, or time itself—a quiet, unspoken oath of eternity between them. The flame becomes more than light; it becomes a shared heartbeat, a symbol that no matter where life takes them, their fates are intertwined.
The lanterns floated upward, thousands of tiny flames drifting into the dark velvet sky like scattered stars. Flower petals swirled around them in the gentle night breeze, painting the air with soft color. The citizens cheered quietly below, but Ethan and Princess Katelyn existed in a world entirely their own.
Ethan watched the lamp in his hands rise, its warm glow reflecting in his eyes. He didn't notice Katelyn stepping closer behind him, her gaze fixed entirely on him—full of admiration, quiet wonder, and something deeper he couldn't yet name.
Without a word, Katelyn reached up and pressed her lips to his.
Ethan froze for a heartbeat, then relaxed, letting the moment carry him. The world fell away—the cheering crowd, the lamps, even the petals drifting through the air. All that existed was the warmth between them, the quiet intensity of their first kiss.
Around them, the lamps glowed like constellations, petals drifting past in slow motion, creating a magical cocoon that no one else could penetrate. Ethan kissed her back with gentle reverence, full of the love he hadn't been able to voice.
Katelyn's lips trembled slightly as she kissed him, tears gathering in her eyes. She pressed closer, as if trying to convey everything she felt silently—the gratitude, the fear, the fleeting joy of this one night. Ethan felt it all—the trust, the connection, the love that had grown so quickly yet so completely.
When they finally pulled apart, Katelyn's eyes shone, glistening in the golden glow of the lamps. Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper, carrying more emotion than words could hold:
"This… was my first kiss. I gave it to you because I trust you… and I wanted you to be the first."
Ethan's chest tightened. He reached up, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. Gently, he pressed his lips to her forehead, a silent promise of care, admiration, and the depth of feeling he couldn't yet speak aloud.
The lamps continued to rise, petals danced in the air, and the city below glimmered like a sea of stars—but for Ethan and Katelyn, the night belonged to them alone.
A single, perfect moment of eternity, captured between two hearts, illuminated by the glow of a thousand lamps.
To Ethan and Katelyn, this was the most perfect night of their lives. Two solitary hearts had found each other, sharing a fleeting connection, fully aware that when the night ended, everything would return to the world as it was—yet for these few moments, nothing else mattered.
The entire city gazed in awe as the glowing lamps ascended into the night sky, drifting gently toward the Land of Thaloun Grass. The air shimmered with a heavenly glow, each lamp casting a soft, golden light across the streets and rooftops. Such a sight was rare—a spectacle reserved only for the ceremonial celebrations of a royal wedding, and tonight, the city felt touched by magic itself.
After the ceremony, Ethan carried Princess Katelyn gently on his back as they made their way toward the castle. The warm glow of lanterns and the fading light of the celebration bathed the streets in a soft, golden hue. Citizens paused to watch, murmuring in delight at how close the two looked, their admiration evident in shy smiles and whispered comments. Some of the children and young couples even tried to imitate the tender gesture, giggling as they followed in their footsteps.
Katelyn had dozed lightly against his back, her breathing soft and rhythmic. Ethan hadn't noticed at first, lost in the quiet joy of carrying her, until they approached the castle gates. He slowed, careful with every step, ensuring she was safe and comfortable.
Finally, they reached the castle. Ethan gently set her down before her parents, bowing respectfully. King Bard and Queen Helena exchanged relieved smiles, their gratitude clear.
"She's safe," the King said softly, a rare warmth in his voice.
"And sound," the Queen added, brushing a hand over Katelyn's hair.
Ethan's heart swelled quietly. He felt the weight of the night—the celebration, the lamps, the fleeting intimacy—and though Katelyn was soon to leave for her new life, this shared moment would linger in his memory forever, a small, perfect fragment of closeness that belonged only to them.
The night slowly came to an end. Ethan sat atop the rooftop, legs dangling over the edge, gazing at the stars mingling with the last drifting glow of the flying lamps. The city below was quiet now, bathed in soft shadows and the gentle remnants of the celebration.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the cool night breeze brush against his face, savoring the fleeting magic of the night—the laughter, the flowers, the warmth of Katelyn leaning against him. Every glowing lamp that faded into the distance seemed to carry a memory of their shared moments, a whisper of something precious and irreplaceable.
For once, the world felt still, and for Ethan, this quiet rooftop, under the fading lights, became a sanctuary—a place where he could hold the night, the memory of Katelyn, and the unspoken bond between them, all at once.