Kael gently wiped the tears from Ayaka's cheeks. As the fireworks dimmed overhead, he leaned in slowly…
A rustling came from the bushes nearby.
"Lumine, Ayato… can we come out now?"
Lumine hesitated. "Probably not… They still look really caught up in the moment…"
Ayato cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ahem… let's wait a little longer."
Ayaka jolted like a startled kitten, pushing Kael away with a face completely flushed red.
Kissing someone in front of others was far too bold for a noble lady like her.
Kael fell silent.
"Lumine, why'd they stop?"
Kael raised his voice at the bushes, exasperated. "You can come out now."
They were talking so loudly, it was a miracle the entire neighborhood wasn't staring.
Lumine and Paimon obediently crawled out of the grass.
Ayato followed a moment later, visibly reluctant.
"Brother…?"
Ayaka stared at him, eyes wide.
She couldn't fathom how her always-elegant brother had ended up crouching in a bush of all places.
Ayato noticed her startled look, brushed the leaves off his clothes, and forced a polite smile.
"Well… Ayaka, Kael—congratulations."
"Oh right! Mr. Kael, Ayaka, congrats!"
Paimon floated proudly in front of them, chest puffed out. "So? The fireworks were amazing, right?"
Lumine sighed. "The fireworks were Kael's. We just lit them. What's there to brag about?"
Paimon stomped in midair. "Lumine! Timing the fireworks is super important, okay?!"
"Sure."
Kael laughed as he stepped in to smooth things over. "Either way, thank you both for helping."
Though… he didn't expect Kamisato Ayato to join in too.
Ayato noticed Kael's glance and offered a genuine smile.
"You two are my most precious family. Of course I had to witness it for myself."
"Brother…" Ayaka's eyes softened.
Ayato patted Kael's shoulder.
"From now on, Ayaka's in your hands. Don't ever let her cry again."
Kael nodded with absolute sincerity.
"Alright."
---
The White Heron Princess of the Kamisato Clan and Kael were getting married.
Ayaka originally wanted a quiet, modest ceremony, but both Kael and Ayato rejected the idea on the spot.
The Yashiro Commission now stood as the foremost of Inazuma's three commissions. For the ruling family to host a wedding, even the Shogunate's highest officials would attend.
There was no way it could be simple.
And as the Kamisato Clan's only daughter, Ayaka deserved the finest wedding in the world.
Just as Kael predicted, Ayaka had been overwhelmed with preparations ever since the night of the proposal.
The dress, the banquet, the guest list…
The Kamisato Clan insisted on a ceremony of unparalleled luxury, which meant far more work to prepare.
---
"Kael, look. This is the guest list I drafted. Is there anything I should change?"
Kael scanned the list carefully. "Hmm… add Lady Kokomi from Watatsumi and General Gorou. We can't leave out the Resistance."
Ever since he last saw his old comrades, Kael had kept them in his thoughts.
If he was getting married, of course he wanted his brothers from the Resistance to celebrate with him.
Ayaka nodded. "Alright."
"Would you leave a seat for me as well?"
A silver-haired young man stepped inside with a warm smile.
"Lord Kael."
"This is…"
Kael's eyes lit up in surprise.
"Kazuha!"
He got up immediately.
"I thought you were still traveling!"
Kaedehara Kazuha laughed softly. "I was sailing with the Alcor. But when we docked in Liyue, I overheard people from Inazuma talking about your return… so I rushed back."
"I had to see it with my own eyes to believe it."
Relief washed through Kazuha's expression. "Thank the winds… Kael, you're truly alive."
When Kael's death was announced, Kazuha had blamed himself more than once.
Everything had begun with Kael stepping in to save his friend.
If not for that, Kael would never have confronted the Raiden Shogun. He would have remained the Noble Young Master of the Yashiro Commission, living safely in Inazuma.
But… if Kael hadn't joined the Resistance, he might never have faced Musou no Hitotachi.
All those tangled emotions vanished the moment Kazuha saw him standing here alive.
It was enough.
His friend was alive.
A hero's death, no matter how glorious, always left regret behind. But this time…
That regret had finally been healed.
Kazuha felt deeply grateful that he could witness Kael's return to life.