I threw back my head and laughed far louder than I should have. The sound echoed through the chamber before falling flat on the water's surface.
"Lead the way." I giggled, thinking LARP land was the only place a girl like me would ever be married. While other girls my age itched to get hitched, I wanted one thing—a career, and not the one I had.
"Mama's gonna make me some money, honey." Was the phrase my friends knew me by. It's partially the reason why Soo-yeon had drug me here today.
She thought my obsession with accumulating wealth was unhealthy for a woman. I disagreed.
Money wouldn't sneak out of the house and cheat on me. It wouldn't slap me around and make me bleed. Nor would it be emotionally unavailable. On the other hand, it would take me travelling, visiting the bookstores I loved, dressing me in the finest clothing, and taking me for sumptuous meals. If I ever lacked companionship, I'd get a dog.
The woman in the plumed robes smiled graciously and patted me with a towel, a sad look lighting her eyes as though she could read my thoughts. "As you wish."
I was led into an antechamber, the man following behind us seemingly amused as his eyebrows danced with hunger. "What a strange creature. I didn't think it would be this easy."
"Hey bud," I looked down at my ragged nails and then at him. "It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride on the wedding day." I winked at him and ran my tongue over my teeth and raised an eyebrow as though I'd be the one to devour him.
"Is it? In my culture, there are no such things. Besides, I have been watching you almost all day," he said with a smile that would have been creepy on any other man. His handsome face and dark eyes could have stolen the heart of anyone with a pulse.
"Regardless, it's mine. So scram, it's not like I've got all day here. My train leaves at six, and I have to work at seven. This larping takes a long time, and I want our wedding pictures." I pointed at him before the attendant rushed at me. Her face was draped with pallor and fear.
"Lady, please-" She started.
"Yes, I'm here." I cut her off, clutched the fabric around me and hurried to her side.
The woman seemed rooted to her spot, waiting for permission from the man. He gave it with a flick of his index finger. As he did so, she sighed with relief. Maybe the master won't flay this one alive and serve her at supper, she thought.
In the room, garments of various beauty lay organized upon small wooden serving trays. They had spared no detail in the historical context of this particular scene. I sighed, picking up a jade bangle.
"Lady, have you seen this?" The woman gestured to a garment fit only for a regal form. It was a flowing gown with dragon scale-inspired embroidery with a golden headpiece.
I shuddered, thinking of the souls I'd seen in the one woman's dress. It was too close to the one I'd seen previously.
"I think I will choose something else." My hand paused over a gown that seemed to be inspired by the phoenix. Its appearance was vibrant with red, gold, and orange hues. The headpiece was a golden phoenix with its claws around a dragon's throat.
"This one, I should think," I said to the woman assisting me.
Had I looked at her, I would have noticed that her delicate features dared to look hopeful, and the despair which had once clouded her eyes seemed to lift.
"Truly, you wish this outfit."
"Absolutely, yes."
"Then I must also give you these," she said.
I watched as she gathered several ancient yet elegant scrolls marked with phoenix motifs. She pushed further into the room and behind a handsomely decorated silken screen with ink-wash drawings.
The room lay under several sheets, appearing as though it had not seen the light of day for decades—no eons.
As the woman busied herself uncovering the room's items, I was entranced by the statues, candles, flowers and a single hairpin.
The pin was a single golden phoenix with several long tassels, and I instantly knew it was meant to be mine.