Chapter 198: He disappeared

Yuki continued her speech, doing her absolute best to keep her eyes on Aevia and avoid looking anywhere else. She could still feel the mysterious man’s presence somewhere behind her, but she refused to let herself turn around again. She had no idea what he wanted, and she certainly wasn’t going to give the guests another reason to question her sanity.

"And Alexander..." She turned towards him.

Alexander raised a brow, waiting.

"You are a very lucky man," she added with a genuine smile.

Laughter erupted across the dome. Alexander chuckled while Aevia covered her mouth with one hand, shaking her head. Yuki pointed the microphone slightly towards him.

"Seriously. My sister is rare. She is stubborn, passionate, terrifying when she’s angry..." More laughter rippled through the room, and Aevia shook her head, laughing through her tears. "...but she has one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever known. And if you ever forget how lucky you are, I will personally remind you."

Alexander placed a hand over his chest. "I’ll keep that in mind," he called out, amusement warming his voice.

"You better," Yuki shot back, bantering with him as though this were any other wedding and not a reception surrounded by nobles who knew exactly how scandalous the circumstances surrounding their family were.

Another wave of laughter followed, easing some of the tension that had settled over the dome. Then Yuki’s expression softened as she looked between Aevia and Alexander.

"I’ve spent my entire life receiving her love, and I can tell you, without hesitation, that it is one of the greatest treasures anyone could have."

Aevia’s lips trembled. Yuki blinked rapidly, refusing to let her own tears fall before lifting the microphone again.

"So today, I don’t want to ask Nyxoria for anything complicated for you. I just want her to give you more of what you’ve spent your life giving everyone else." She lifted the microphone slightly, a small smile touching her lips. "Love. Peace. Happiness. And perhaps..." Her eyes twinkled with mischief. "A husband who listens when you’re angry."

The dome erupted in laughter. Alexander laughed openly this time, leaning back in his chair.

"I’ll do my best," he called out.

"You better," Yuki shot back.

The banter drew another round of laughter from the guests. For those few moments, it truly felt like an ordinary family wedding. No scandal. No rejected mate bond. No court gossip. Just a younger sister teasing the man who had married the woman she loved most. The laughter continued for several seconds before gradually fading. Yuki looked between them, her smile becoming softer.

"May your marriage be filled with more laughter than arguments, more memories than regrets, and more love than either of you knows what to do with." Her voice softened further. "May you always find your way back to each other, no matter what life puts in your path." Her gaze settled on Aevia. "And may this be the beginning of the life my sister deserves."

For a moment, the entire dome fell silent. Then Aevia lifted her trembling fingers towards Yuki.

"Thank you," she mouthed.

Yuki smiled back without a word. She meant every word she had said. The Master of Ceremonies stepped forward as applause erupted throughout the dome.

"That was truly beautiful," he said warmly, accepting the microphone from Yuki. "Ladies and gentlemen, one more round of applause for our chief bridesmaid."

The applause grew louder. Yuki stepped away from the microphone, finally allowing herself to breathe. She had managed it. Somehow, she had given the speech without letting the strange presence sitting at her table completely derail her.

She returned her gaze towards her table. Her stomach dropped. The chair was empty. The silver-haired man was gone. Yuki froze.

Her eyes swept across the tables, searching between the guests, but there was no sign of him. She checked the entrance, then the decorative pillar where he had stood earlier. Nothing. He had vanished without her noticing. Where did he go? A cold shiver travelled down her spine.

She remained standing on the stage, staring at the empty chair, completely unaware of the conversations beginning around her. He could come and go without anyone seeing him. The moment she sat down, Declan leaned slightly towards her.

"That was a beautiful speech," he said with a warm smile. "You and Aevia must be incredibly close."

Yuki looked at him, but her mind was still elsewhere. "Yeah," she answered absently.

Declan studied her for a moment before deciding not to press. Instead, he made a light comment about one of the decorations, and Yuki managed a small laugh in response. He continued talking, occasionally slipping in a joke that made her smile, but her attention kept drifting back to the same question. Where did he go?

The reception moved on, and soon it was time for the groom’s speech. Alexander’s Gamma, Reed, rose from his seat with a wine glass in hand and made his way towards the front. Yuki tried to listen.

She really did. But the words seemed to blur together. Her gaze kept drifting towards Aevia, who sat beside Alexander with a bright smile on her face, listening attentively to the speech as though nothing unusual had happened. Yuki frowned.

Was it just my imagination? Perhaps the strange man had never been there at all. Perhaps she had been overwhelmed by everything that had happened tonight and imagined seeing someone who didn’t exist. Yet she remembered his voice too clearly. She remembered the way he had looked at Aevia. And she remembered him sitting in her seat.

There was no way she had imagined all of that. Still, Aevia looked completely calm. Yuki slowly exhaled and turned her attention back towards Reed just as his speech reached its conclusion.

"And to the bride and groom," Reed said, lifting his glass. "May this second chance be everything you both deserve. May the right people find each other at the right time, even when life takes them down different paths first. To second chances, new beginnings, and the kind of love that finds its way back when it matters most." He raised his glass higher.

"To Alpha King Alexander and Luna Queen Aevia."

The guests rose almost as one, lifting their glasses in response.

"To Alpha King Alexander and Luna Queen Aevia."