books44 Chapter 97 Wedding Vows
Chapter 97 Wedding Vows
Daisy and Eric tactfully left the room, leaving the space to Spitz and Qiao Xiao.
Schertz slowly took off his long leather coat and draped it over the jewel-encrusted backrest. Looking at Qiao Xiao with a slightly weary expression, he said, "I've already started preparing for the wedding."
Qiao Xiao gave a perfect answer and smiled slightly: "I believe you will arrange a perfect wedding for me, Spitz. Whatever the arrangement, I will like it very much."
Shi Bozi's gaze was fixed on Qiao Xiao, as if trying to see through her body to the depths of her heart, with a hint of scrutiny.
Spohr couldn't see the expected surprise on her face, and felt a little disappointed.
However, he quickly composed himself and carefully took out the emerald that Qiao Xiao had given him years ago.
The emerald still shines with the same dazzling brilliance as it did back then; it is intact, just like his feelings for Qiao Xiao, which have only grown stronger with time.
Schertz gently stroked the emerald, handed it to Qiao Xiao, and said affectionately, "This is our token of love, and I have always kept it with me."
Qiao Xiao gently stroked the emerald with her fingertips and exclaimed, "It's still so beautiful."
Schertz smiled and put the necklace back around her neck, but Qiao Xiao didn't understand his meaning.
Unexpectedly, Spitz said directly, "I've put magic on this. I can find you no matter where you are."
He said these things with a smile, as if he were hiding countless piercing knives.
Qiao Xiao didn't take it seriously: Fortunately, she could accept all of this.
She didn't really understand herself, why she could so easily accept his behavior.
A voice in her head seemed to be telling her that she had done things even more perverse than this. Was that really true? But she couldn't remember anything.
Qiao Xiao's reaction was too calm, which made Shi Bozi a little flustered. A normal person's expression should be one of horror, and they would be extremely resistant to this matter.
However, Qiao Xiao was like a robot without any emotional fluctuations, which left Shi Boz somewhat at a loss.
She said coldly, "Don't treat me like this, Spitz. I've been through a lot in these three years, and nobody knows the truth."
Upon hearing this, Spoelstra's heart sank. His eyes were filled with heartache and regret, and the simple possessiveness he had felt before was gone.
He immediately knelt down, his voice tinged with bitterness, and said sincerely, "My dearest Fali, please forgive me, I truly love you very much."
His voice sounded calm, but it seemed to be a facade, because Qiao Xiao noticed an unquenchable madness beneath his deep eyes, an expression she was most familiar with.
To her, Sporz's behavior was as hypocritical as crocodile tears.
Essentially, if two people love each other, then their intimate behavior is nothing more than a matter of romance.
The problem is that Qiao Xiao doesn't love Shi Bozi at all, so no matter how affectionate or infatuated he is, Qiao Xiao will feel utterly disgusted.
Unfortunately, Qiao Xiao couldn't show her true feelings and could only continue to pretend to be someone who deeply loved Shi Bozi.
She calmly replied, "I've always understood, Spitz."
Schertz didn't understand how the real Qiao Xiao expressed her love; he had grown accustomed to her always being calm and unflappable.
Shi Bozi hugged Qiao Xiao tightly, trying to soothe his inner unease, but it was more like a form of self-comfort or self-hypnosis.
The wedding proceeded as planned. The entire palace was beautifully decorated, with warm candlelight everywhere and vibrant flowers blooming in every corner, as if they had returned to the day they pledged their marriage.
Schertz carefully supported Qiao Xiao's hand and slowly walked towards the center of the stage.
Their steps were unusually slow, as if at this moment they could break free from the shackles of time and remain forever in this instant.
The priest stood at the very front of the stage, holding a cross that symbolized holiness in his hands.
The wedding was so perfect that it made people forget about Qiao Xiao's aging appearance.
The guests attending the wedding were all familiar faces; they witnessed the love story of Shi Bozi and Qiao Xiao.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Spitz and Qiao Xiao solemnly exchanged rings.
The priest said softly, "Now, please begin to recite your vows."
Shi Bozi gazed at Qiao Xiao with deep affection, his eyes filled with determination and love: "I am willing to embrace you, even if you are a flower on a high mountain, I will offer my spine to pave the way, even if my bones are frozen, I will become the nourishment to nourish you, and let the snow and wind sing praises and bury my eternal love."
Qiao Xiao was taken aback, "Sipoz..."
The oath he recited echoed in her ears like a curse.
Spitz's voice rang out again, and he said, "Will you accept my love, Fali?"
These words were like a sharp sword, piercing Qiao Xiao's heart.
She felt that this was not a vow, but a desperate cry, more like a love prelude paying tribute to death.
Qiao Xiao slowly replied, "I do."
Sherpas stepped forward, gently embraced Qiao Xiao, and tenderly kissed her lips.
This kiss was just like wildly growing thorns clinging to a withered rose, entwined tightly, never letting go.
However, just as Qiao Xiao was about to recite her vows, Spoelstra suddenly said, "The Queen need not do that. She is unwell and needs to rest."
Everyone looked on with puzzlement, wondering why Spartz would so resolutely refuse the Queen's oath.
The priest seemed to sense the awkward atmosphere and quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
He announced with a smile, "I hereby announce the successful marriage of Spitz and Fari. Congratulations to the newlyweds!"
Everyone applauded, and blessings echoed from one another.
But Qiao Xiao felt an unprecedented loneliness and helplessness. She looked at all of this with bitterness and prayed that it would end as soon as possible.
Shi Bozi held Qiao Xiao's hand tightly and led her away in full view of everyone.
Their figures receded into the distance, like a heartbreaking story that offered no ending.
Inside the bedchamber, Spoelstra gently stroked Qiao Xiao's wrinkled skin, as if cherishing a precious treasure. He softly tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, his movements incredibly tender.
Qiao Xiao said, "Sipoz, I'm a little tired." Her voice carried a hint of weariness and drowsiness.
Spoelstra nodded slightly, his eyes showing concern. "Yes, you do need to rest now."
He sat down naturally on the edge of the bed, gazing at her quietly with eyes full of affection.
Qiao Xiao felt a little uneasy and scared under his gaze, but it was still within an acceptable range.
After all, she was used to this kind of gaze, but today it seemed particularly intense.
Perhaps because she was too tired, Qiao Xiao didn't have the mind to think too much. She closed her eyes and gradually drifted off to sleep.
Schertz silently stayed by her bedside, watching her sleeping face, her aged face covered with deep and shallow wrinkles.
He leaned down and gently kissed Qiao Xiao's forehead, whispering, "My queen, I will not compromise forever. My blood will surely be given to you to drink."
However, all this assertiveness was merely a fantasy in Spohr's mind. In reality, he could only resort to persistent pleading and cajoling, trying to get Qiao Xiao to drink his blood.
You can imagine that the usually tall, imposing, and gloomy king, like an innocent child, followed Qiao Xiao closely and relentlessly.
Even though Spohr's voice had become lower, his tone was almost exactly the same as before, humble and cautious: "Fari, my queen, just one sip today."
Qiao Xiao frowned, gently sniffing the bloody smell emanating from the bottle, and asked with a suspicious look, "But, I really have a hard time swallowing this, Shi Bozi."
She turned her head away, as if she might vomit at any moment.
Spoelstra looked at her with concern and advised, "But if you don't drink it, your body won't be able to recover at all."
His voice carried a hint of urgency and helplessness.
Qiao Xiao retorted angrily, "Does drinking your so-called blood guarantee its effectiveness? If I keep drinking your blood and nothing ever changes, how am I supposed to live?!"
A flicker of pain crossed Spartz's eyes as he cautiously asked, "Please tell me, my dear, what would it take for you to drink it, my queen?"
Qiao Xiao shook her head and answered firmly, "No, I absolutely will not drink it."
The idea of drinking blood was beyond her comprehension; she couldn't accept such inhuman behavior.
Spoelstra's face turned pale, and his voice trembled as he said, "Fari, my love, you should know how deep my love for you is. You can't treat me like this, not even giving me a sliver of hope."
His eyes were glistening with tears, filled with grievance and resentment.
After a moment of silence, Qiao Xiao finally spoke up: "Alright, as long as you can find Aunt Anna or someone else who can prove that this method works, I will consider drinking this bottle of blood."
After saying that, she placed the bottle on the table and looked at Spartz with a firm gaze.
She was silently praying to herself, "Let these damned days pass quickly. The prince's coming-of-age ceremony, the day my poison takes effect, hurry up and come! I really can't hold on any longer."
Every time Spoelstra appears, he inevitably mentions his heart's blood, which is terrifying.
It would be one thing if it happened once or twice, but they saw each other many times a day, and she kept talking about him. Moreover, her steps became heavier and heavier, and it was impossible for her to shake him off.
Qiao Xiao increasingly hated her current powerless and helpless state.
Even someone as skilled as her couldn't help but show a headache.
Daisy watched her queen's attitude toward the king and couldn't help but sigh, "Even a king is helpless when it comes to the one he loves! Power means nothing in the face of true love."
Qiao Xiao no longer wanted to pretend and became assertive. The moment Spartz stepped into her bedroom, she immediately told Daisy and Eric to close her door.
Her current physical condition is very serious, and if she goes to close the door herself, she will definitely not be able to stop Spoelstra.
Three years is enough time for her physical functions to weaken and for her to become very vulnerable.
Faced with this situation, Sporz felt helpless and could only turn to his Aunt Anna for help.
"Aunt Anna," Sporz said, "heart's blood really can save her, right?"
His gaze toward Anna the Witch was authoritative, devoid of any gentleness, as if he were exerting pressure.
But from his tone, one could clearly sense his respect for the witch Anna.
Spohr's statement sounds more like a confirmation than an inquiry.
Looking into Spitz's slightly crazed eyes, the witch Anna sighed helplessly, "Spitz, my dearest child, you must know that heart's blood is the essence of a person. She loves you very much, which is why she feels sorry for you hurting yourself so drastically."
Schubert's eyes instantly filled with pain and despair, as if a thousand tiny needles were piercing his heart, making it hard to breathe. His eyes quickly filled with tears, as if he were releasing emotions he had hidden for many years.
His deep voice was like that of a wounded beast licking its wounds alone in a deserted forest, "Love? No, it's not like that..."
Schuberts lowered his eyes, his once bright, star-like eyes now dull and lifeless. His hair shimmered faintly in the sunlight, sparkling like golden threads. Yet, his heart had long been swallowed by darkness, devoid of its former brilliance.
His voice grew louder and louder, filled with endless pain and sorrow, gradually developing into a roar, "She doesn't love me! Not at all! If she loved me, why did she leave me? Why did she make me suffer so much? Is this what she calls love?"
His voice echoed throughout the room, as if he wanted to vent all his resentment and anger.
Looking at the suffering Spitz before her, the witch Anna felt a surge of sympathy and heartache.
She comforted her, saying, "Sapoz, you're wrong. She left you not because she didn't love you, but because she loved you too much. She was afraid that her changes would cause you more pain, so she chose to leave."
Schubert bit his lip tightly, as if trying to swallow all the pain, but tears still slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the cold ground, splashing up teardrops.
His voice trembled as he said, "But...but I really can't accept losing her! I love her, I need her! How could she just abandon me like this?"
When Anna the Witch saw Spitz's vulnerability and helplessness for the first time, she sighed softly and said helplessly, "Spitz, I will do my best to talk to her. Maybe I can move her and make her willing to drink a little blood."
Sporz nodded slowly. "Thank you, Aunt Anna."
Unbeknownst to Anna the witch, the moment she left, Spitz's expression changed; the sadness on his face vanished, replaced by an undeniable indifference.
He wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes expressionlessly, his gaze filled with a chilling light. His once handsome and bright face now appeared even more sculpted, exuding a sinister and unsettling aura.
"I'm sorry, Aunt Anna, I just used you. But I had no other choice," Sporz muttered coldly to himself.
"I can't force her to go against her wishes, that would only make her hate me more. So please forgive my selfishness."
After he finished speaking, he gazed silently into the distance, as if deep in thought.