It was the day of the new moon, when no moon would rise.

By the time the sun had set, the forest was shrouded in darkness because there was no moon to take its place. Yet, as though strands of light had been strung across the trees, a cheerful glow of lanterns spread in all directions. The air was filled with the lively sound of instruments, brimming with joy at a day worth celebrating.

Laerte had wound her golden hair into a coiled braid and adorned it with flowers. Beneath her fluttering white veil, her green eyes trembled with unease. Each time she nervously parted her lovely lips, the crimson lipstick clumped, but it could not diminish the fresh beauty of a young bride.

Elder Jorge, with hair as white as snow, watched his granddaughter and spoke to her kindly.

“Laerte, to think you are marrying.”

“Everyone does, Grandfather. It was simply my time.”

She answered calmly, yet the hand that held her bouquet quivered.

“If only your parents could have seen how you’ve grown.”

Laerte gently embraced her grandfather, offering her gratitude.

“Grandfather, thank you for everything.”

“And what shall I do with the loneliness now?”

Elder Jorge clasped her hand tenderly, reluctant to let go. Once the wedding was over, Laerte would leave the house they had shared for so long and start her own household.

“But I’ll still see you every day.”

Laerte was the heir who would one day lead her clan. Under the guidance of Elder Jorge, she had spent all this time learning the virtues that a leader must possess. Even after her marriage, only her place of residence would change: she would continue to serve alongside him each day, honing her skills as his successor.

“It was only a passing remark. Do you think I said it out of regret? I feel lighter now that I have one less child to raise.”

“Oh, that’s a lie.”

“What lie?”

Laerte smiled warmly at the elder, whose eyes had grown faintly red.

“Soon enough, you’ll have to raise a great-grandchild too.”

“What?”

At her words, Elder Jorge’s eyes widened, then he burst into hearty laughter.

“Yes. Let us hope for that.”

He laid a hand on Laerte’s head.

“May you be blessed to bear the fruit of Henant.”

“Elder, the ceremony will begin shortly.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll be off at once.”

Elder Jorge was reluctant to part with his only granddaughter. He was half-dragged away before finally disappearing from view. Laerte let out a slow breath and adjusted her clothes once more.

“Phew. To think I’m really getting married.”

Today was the annual joint wedding of the Henant clan. For twenty-year-old Laerte, it was the day she would take a husband and, in doing so, be deemed an ‘adult’.

The Henant clan are known as the guardians of the forest. They were a mysterious people, said to be descended from fairies. They never once stepped beyond their borders; their lives were bound within the forest’s boundaries.

They were blessed as a chosen people, dwelling in a land so abundant that it yielded to their command over water, wind and earth alike, yet they were unable to conceive children of their own. This was their one flaw, their one weakness, their one tragedy.

The time when conception was most possible came only within three days of leaving the barrier.

Once the wedding was complete, the bride would enter the “nest” the groom had prepared beforehand. There, she would remain in seclusion, striving to bring forth a child.

“Everyone does it. It’s simply my turn.”

A strange unease stirred within her—something heavy and unsettling pressed down on Laerte’s chest. Yet she brushed it off as nothing more than the nervousness every bride must feel before her wedding.

It was then.

The bushes beside her rustled violently, and Vito suddenly burst forth.

“Ah!”

“Shh. Quiet.”

He clapped his palm over Laerte’s mouth and caught sight of the imprint her lips had left on his hand. He chuckled foolishly.

“At least try to be quiet before you demand it of me!”

Laerte stared at his carefree demeanor in disbelief. He, too, was dressed for the occasion, with his red hair sparkling beneath a headband adorned with colorful beads and the groom’s richly embroidered robe draped over his shoulders.

“Look at me. How do I look? Handsome?”

“Vito, did you forget we’re not supposed to meet before the ceremony?”

Though her words carried reproach, Vito only grinned.

“I couldn’t help it. I wanted to see you.”

His eyes lingered on the beautifully adorned bride before him.

“You’re lovely, Laerte.”

“Do you think I’ll forgive you just because you say that?”

“Ow.”

Laerte gave his arm a sharp little pinch.

“Just wait until we get back to the village. I’ll tell the Elder everything—how you misbehaved on the day of the ceremony.”

“As if that would matter. Elder Jorge loves me.”

“What nonsense.”

The two had been inseparable since childhood — they were neighbours and friends. The Lukehardt family was like one big family, so if a family member died, neighbouring families would share the responsibility. This meant that no one had to grow up facing hardships alone.

To Laerte, Vito was like an older brother, a friend, and a younger brother all rolled into one. So, when he first proposed marriage, she was slightly surprised. However, she had always assumed that he would be by her side, and everyone in the clan knew that Vito and Laerte were a couple.

Vito narrowed his eyes and spoke pompously.

“I washed thoroughly at the spring.”

When Laerte simply blinked without reacting, Vito emphasised his point.

“I’ve performed the purity ritual. I’ll be your husband soon.”

Laerte didn’t know what to say, but she could feel her cheeks growing hot for no apparent reason.

“Tonight. You know, right?”

“Ah, stop it!”

Every day, ever since their wedding was a month away, Vito would act like this, as if he’d dipped himself in honey. Laerte was often embarrassed and flustered by his forwardness.

“Hurry up and go. Before someone comes.”

“They’ll let this slide.”

Peck.

Vito finally pressed his lips to her forehead and then scurried away before she could get angry. Watching his back as he fled, she rubbed her forehead and laughed to herself.

“Haha. He’s impossible.”

Laerte was set to succeed Elder Jorge.

As the future leader, she had to set an example and follow the clan’s rules more strictly than anyone else. However, the carefree, free-spirited Vito often put her in awkward situations.

On the other hand, however, Vito brought a breath of fresh air to her rigid, routine life. In other words, he was a refreshing presence, but some might say he was immature.

‘I wonder if he’ll change after tonight.’

All the fathers in the clan were mature, without exception. Since neither Vito nor Laerte had reached that level of maturity yet, she couldn’t imagine what their future together would be like. They wouldn’t suddenly become adults just because they had got married.

‘I hope we can have a child soon.’

If she conceived tonight, they would be able to return to the village in a month.

A moment later, Laerte and the other brides danced around the large, blazing bonfire.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Whenever the tightly bound drums sounded, Laerte’s heart beat in time with them. As the fire burned brightly, the women in white bridal attire adorned with jingling gold ornaments shone like precious gems one by one.

“Laerte, aren’t you nervous?”

Someone standing beside her asked, but she shook her head.

“Not really.”

“Right. Knowing Vito, he probably practiced this a dozen times.”

Chuckles rippled through the crowd. Laerte sighed softly.

“Everyone, please stop. It’s an important day.”

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump-thump-thump. Thump-thump-thump.

The drumming grew faster. It was the signal that the grooms were about to enter.

At the sound, the brides, gathered together, blushed and waved to one another.

“See you later!”

“Everyone, be happy!”

“Have a hot night!”

Someone’s bold words made them all giggle again.

“Everyone’s so naughty, really.”

Laerte finally laughed, too.

Men wearing black hoods and masks appeared and took their places one by one beside their brides. As the couples who found their matches greeted each other, the atmosphere grew livelier.

Swoosh.

But when the man came and stood right next to her, Laerte was left stunned.

‘Huh? …He’s tall.’

When Laerte and Vito stood together, their eyes met easily. She was quite tall for a woman, and Vito was slender.

“Let us make our vows!”

After everyone had paired up, Elder Jorge, who was presiding over the ceremony, called out from the altar.

Taken by surprise, Laerte faced the man and held his hand, not knowing what to do.

‘He’s different. Vito’s hand isn’t like this.’

As she listened to Elder Jorge’s solemn pronouncements, Laerte’s clasped hands trembled.

“The two of you are bound under the forest’s essence and the protection of Lukehardt.”

The heat from the blazing bonfire, which warmed the late summer night, was nothing compared to the chill that ran down her spine.

‘…This man. He’s not Vito.’