When The Cherry Blossom Fades

The delegation leaves

Securing the final hairpin, Nanny Na took a step back, her breath catching in her throat as she scanned Han Aeng with a mixture of admiration and bittersweet nostalgia.

Han Aeng sat before the mirror, dressed in Shangwei's wedding attire. Her hair meticulously fashioned into an intricate bun adorned with delicate pearls and shimmering ornaments, each one chosen with care to highlight her radiant beauty.

Without her everyday braid, Han Aeng appeared more mature, the vibrant red dress she wore enveloped her in a regal aura, accentuating her features and casting a mesmerizing glow.

Nanny Na's heart swelled with pride, mingled with a twinge of sorrow, as she realized that her beloved ward was no longer the little girl she had cared for all those years. Han Aeng had blossomed into a woman, ready to embark on a new phase of her life. The weight of this realization pressed upon Nanny Na, a mix of joy and wistfulness intertwining within her heart.

Countless times, Nanny Na had envisioned a day like this, imagining the joy of helping her daughter prepare for her grand wedding. But life had unfolded differently, and Nanny Na's dreams remained suspended, forever unfulfilled. She knew that she had a duty to prepare Han Aeng for this momentous occasion, yet never in her wildest dreams did she anticipate that Han Aeng would face it at such an early stage of her life.

It felt too surreal as if history was repeating itself!

Kneeling down beside Han Aeng, Nanny Na whispered softly, her voice tinged with a blend of longing and love,

"You look just like your mother—so elegant and real. She would be immensely proud of the brave woman you have become."

Han Aeng's met Nanny Na's reflection in the mirror, curiosity and fascination swirling within her gaze. "Do you think my mother would have felt the same way when she made her choices? She had to make a big decision in choosing to have me. Well, it's not like she was given much of a choice."

Han Aeng abruptly stood up and turned to face Nanny Na with a brilliant smile, "Do you think it was worth it, Nanny?"

Nanny Na's breath caught in her throat, her eyes conveying the depth of her emotions.

Was it worth it? Oh, my child, if only you knew the weight those words truly carried.

Nanny Na held within her heart secrets even Han Aeng didn't possess about her own life. She was the only one who could articulate the immense effort and worth of what everyone had sacrificed. She alone knew if it was worth it.

Her eyes softened as she gently clasped Han Aeng's soft hands in her own weathered palms. "I'm not sure if she thought that way, but I wouldn't trade the path we have walked together. Her sacrifice allowed me the privilege of raising the extraordinary young woman standing before me."

"I suppose anyone would be fortunate to have me in their life. I am a ray of sunshine, after all." Han Aeng's laughter filling the room as she headed out, leaving Nanny Na behind.

Meanwhile, near the entrance of her room, Prime Minister Han paced back and forth. The anticipation in the air weighed heavily on him. His eyes occasionally glanced towards the grand doors as if searching for answers or a fleeting moment of escape.

Han Aeng's observed her father, recognizing the turmoil he concealed beneath his composed facade.

"Hem," she cleared her throat and lightly twirled around, seeking her father's validation. "How do I look?"

Prime Minister Han turned around to see her meeting his eyes with a brilliant smile. He opened his mouth, but the words didn't form as he wanted them to. It was wretched because he wanted her to hear proud and delightful it was to have her as his daughter, how boundless his affection for her was.