Warning: This chapter contains intimate scenes. Reader discretion is advised.
The Xiao family of three couldn't believe it. Such a large landscape embroidery would take even a professional several months to finish. Let alone a noblewoman raised in luxury, who would rarely have the patience to sit and sew.
But this stitching method looked different and unfamiliar, yet quite pleasing. These cross-stitches were made by her when she was bored at the shop. There were many of them, some finished and some not.
This time she picked out suitable ones and filled in the gaps to complete them. There really wasn't much entertainment here. Unlike modern times with phones and computers, she had to find something to pass the time.
Surprisingly, she didn't give up halfway and seriously completed the entire set. The betrothal gifts on display gave the Xiao family a lot of pride. They were all grinning from ear to ear and told the steward to watch over everything carefully and keep people from getting too close and damaging anything.
Yaelle followed them into the residence and exchanged some polite greetings. She just followed the matchmaker she brought along and did as arranged. That left her quite exhausted by the end of the day.
The Xiao family served fine food and drinks to entertain them. The standard was quite high, which showed how satisfied they were with her. The couple only had Maxim as their son, the others were from secondary partners, so they spoiled him especially.
Everyone enjoyed the meal, and it wasn't until it got very late that they said their goodbyes and went home. Father Xiao sent Maxim to escort Yaelle, probably out of consideration. Young couples didn't get to spend much time together and hadn't seen each other in days.
He wanted to give them a bit of time since they wouldn't be allowed to meet after today. The local customs were much like what she remembered. They couldn't see each other three days before the wedding, as it was considered unlucky.
Maxim helped Yaelle into the carriage and climbed in after her. The attendants wisely stepped away to give them some space. As soon as they got in, Yaelle was pinned down onto the soft cushions.
A flurry of kisses came down on her as his hands gripped her shoulders tightly, like he wanted to pull her into his body. Her breathing quickened, her heartbeat sped up, and she became completely immersed in the passionate kiss. Maxim's lips were gentle but firm, lightly sucking on hers before gradually deepening the kiss.
Her hands unconsciously wrapped around his neck as she responded to his passion. Their lips and tongues intertwined, exploring each other's taste. As the kiss deepened, Yaelle felt a wave of emotion rise in her chest and her body began to heat up.
She trembled slightly, enjoying the intimacy of the moment. Maxim's breath surrounded her, making her feel completely at ease. After a while, Maxim slowly let go of her lips but stayed close, gazing at her with deep affection.
His fingers gently stroked her cheek, his eyes full of endless tenderness. "I missed you..." he whispered, his voice low and husky. Yaelle smiled softly, her eyes glowing with happiness.
She leaned into his arms, feeling his warmth and care. In that moment, all her worries and pressure melted away, leaving only the two of them. They enjoyed each other's presence in that short moment, forgetting everything else outside.
This was their sweet time, filled with love and gentleness. By the time the sun had set, the two finally parted reluctantly. Maxim jumped off the carriage.
Yaelle lifted the curtain to look at him, and he said, "Yaelle, be careful on the road. I'll be waiting for you to come marry me." The last part was said so softly it was barely audible.
Yaelle still listened and nodded with a smile. Maxim looked at her smile, and his heart felt warm. He knew this woman had entered the deepest part of his heart.
"I'll be quick," Yaelle said, her eyes firm and gentle. Maxim nodded, then watched her carriage leave. He didn't turn around until it was completely out of sight.
Yaelle let down the curtain, leaned against the side of the carriage, and couldn't help but smile. She recalled what Maxim had just said, and her heart was full of sweetness and hope. She knew that she must have feelings for this man too.
The carriage moved slowly, and Yaelle's thoughts drifted along with it. She imagined a life with Maxim in the future, filled with happiness and warmth. She believed that as long as they supported each other, they could overcome anything and stay together.
In the past few days, Yaelle set aside all her tasks and focused solely on the wedding. She especially sought out the same matchmaker from before and followed him carefully to go over the entire wedding process. From when to perform which rituals, to what details to watch out for during the wedding procession, and what to do when bowing at the ceremony, she learned everything clearly.
However, such detailed rules and steps made Yaelle feel dizzy. She couldn't help but complain silently, "Getting married is so exhausting." And she wasn't just getting married once, she had to do it at least three times.
Just thinking about it made her scalp tingle. Luckily, her brother was helping out, so she didn't have to handle everything herself. For example, writing invitations and preparing gifts, these were all taken care of by her brother Michael.
If she had to do it alone, not only would her calligraphy be messy, but she probably wouldn't even recognize all the guests. There were a lot of people invited this time. Not just relatives from both her parents' sides, but also many of Michael's business partners.
These guests were all important, so the wedding had to be grand and lively. Because there were too many things to deal with and time was tight, Michael took full responsibility for everything. The day before the wedding, Michael followed the matchmaker's suggestion and invited a few respected elders to help decorate the bridal chamber.
These elders were all experienced and well-regarded. They knew exactly how to make the room look festive and cozy. In addition, Michael pulled a few strings and finally found a little girl to help roll on the bed.
This little girl was absolutely adorable. She was round and chubby, with big blinking eyes that made people want to hug her. Michael felt a wave of affection just looking at her.
He thought, if Yaelle and Maxim could have such a lovely daughter in the future, how nice would that be. He wondered what his future wife would be like, and whether she'd be willing to give him a daughter too. Yaelle liked the little girl so much that she couldn't put her down.
She secretly took out a pack of snow mochi from her space, unwrapped it, placed it on a small plate, and handed it to the little girl to try. The little girl took the snow mochi and smiled happily. She picked up a piece with her small hand and put it in her mouth, savoring the sweet taste.
Watching her eat so contentedly, Yaelle felt deeply satisfied.