Chapter 609: A Rather Memorable Night

Meanwhile, outside, the night air pulsed with rhythm and laughter.

The stage area was alive—sisters and maids filled the seats, their faces glowing beneath lantern light as the music swelled through the courtyard.

And every time someone stepped out onto the stage, the crowd erupted.

"Look at you! You’re beautiful!"

"Stunning! That color’s perfect on you!"

"You look like a queen!"

Each new model—maid or sister—walked down the platform with as much composure as they could manage.

Cassius had told them that real models walked with grace and poise, so they tried—heads high, steps steady, smiles restrained—but the moment the cheers hit, they couldn’t help themselves.

Some covered their faces in embarrassment.

Others blew little bows or waves before scurrying back behind the curtain.

And of course, those enjoying themselves the most were the Sisters of the Church.

For the maids, life in Cassius’s mansion was always full of surprises—chaotic perhaps, but never dull.

From bizarre breakfast feasts to magical experiments gone wrong, to Cassius hosting spontaneous games in the middle of the courtyard, their days were unpredictable but full of laughter.

Most of them didn’t even care about their salaries anymore; they stayed because life beside Cassius was fun.

But for the sisters—women accustomed to solemn hymns, scripture readings, and endless service—this was a kind of joy they had long forgotten.

For once, they weren’t standing in pews reciting verses or tending to the sick. They were cheering, clapping, and laughing till their cheeks ached.

They ate good food, drank sweet cider, and hollered at each other like children set free from years of silence.

Many of them were glowing with joy, the holy composure long gone.

And just as one of the maids in a lovely lavender gown finished her walk and stepped back through the curtains, the crowd began to murmur excitedly again.

"Who’s next? Who’s coming up next?" One sister whispered.

"I think it’s Sister Viola." Another guessed eagerly. "She hasn’t come out yet!"

"No, it’s Sister Angela. She already walked the platform once but I heard that she liked it so much that is currently putting on a new dress and is going to come out soon"

"Honestly, if this keeps going, she might quit the church and become a fashion model instead!"

That made everyone burst into laughter—the kind of laughter that felt like it came from deep in the chest, warm and full of life.

But their giggles were quickly cut short when the curtains rustled again and the lights dimmed for the next appearance.

The spotlight flicked toward the center of the platform, and the music picked up in rhythm.

All eyes turned to the entrance, breath held.

And then—

A figure stepped out.

But the moment she appeared, the entire crowd gasped as one.

It wasn’t a maid. It wasn’t a sister.

It was Aqua.

She strode onto the stage like she owned the night—radiant, poised, and brimming with confidence.

The sapphire-blue gown hugged her form perfectly, glittering with silver threads that shimmered like starlight every time she moved.

Her hair, the same vivid blue as the dress, flowed freely behind her, reflecting the light and completing the vision like a celestial painting come to life.

"LADY AQUA?!" Someone finally cried, utterly stunned.

The crowd erupted in a wave of cheers and astonished laughter.

"Oh my goodness, it’s Lady Aqua!"

"She’s actually walking the stage!"

"That dress! It’s gorgeous! Look how it sparkles!"

"Her hair and that gown—the combination is divine!"

"She looks absolutely devastating!"

Meanwhile, Aqua, who reached the center of the platform, turned with her hands on her hips, and struck a confident pose—chin raised, smile radiant.

She even twirled once, letting the skirt fan out dramatically before flashing the audience a wink.

"She’s an absolute natural!" One maid exclaimed.

"Look at that confidence!" Another shouted.

"Her brother really outdid himself—that gown looks like it was made by the gods themselves!"

Aqua laughed, clearly having the time of her life.

"Thank you, thank you, everyone!" She called, waving both hands like a celebrity on a red carpet. "You’re all too kind! I’ll make sure to tell my little brother how much you loved it!"

The crowd went wild, and with one last exaggerated kiss blown to the audience—Aqua strutted back behind the curtains, basking in the thunderous applause.

The sisters and maids were still cheering, some even whistling—

—when suddenly the curtains moved again.

"Already?" Someone said. "Who’s next?"

The crowd hushed, leaning forward in anticipation.

But the moment the lights hit the stage, the entire audience froze.

Then, chaos.

"What—what am I seeing?" One of the sisters gasped.

"This can’t be real!" Cried another, eyes wide.

"Am I dreaming?!"

Because walking down the platform hand in hand were two figures—Maria and Carmela.

The sight was so surreal it nearly broke the audience’s composure.

Maria walked with regal grace despite the tight-fitting rose-colored gown hugging her every curve, her cheeks flushed pink as she smiled shyly under the lights.

Carmela, beside her, wore the fiery red dress Cassius had given her, the silky fabric gleaming like molten rubies.

Her usual composed demeanor was gone, replaced with an adorable blush as she tried to keep her expression stoic and failed miserably.

The crowd collectively lost their minds.

"Wait—Lady Maria?!"

"No way! She’s actually wearing something that sexy?!"

"The heavens have blessed us tonight!"

Laughter and cheers mixed with gasps of disbelief.

"I always knew she had an amazing body." One of the sisters confessed, fanning herself dramatically. "Whenever she bathed with us, I could barely stop myself from staring!"

"But to see her in that dress? I’m sinning just looking!"

"Goddess forgive me." Another whispered. "but that’s not temptation—that’s salvation!"

Maria, hearing the flood of voices, blushed so fiercely she had to cover her face with one hand—but she couldn’t help smiling proudly beneath it.

’Still got it.’ She thought, her confidence surging like it hadn’t in years.

Meanwhile, the maids’ attention shifted to Carmela.

"Look, look—it’s Miss Carmela!"

"She’s actually wearing it! Young Master’s red dress!"

"I thought she’d never do it! She looks adorable!"

Another giggled, clasping her hands. "I used to be terrified of her glare, but look at her! She’s so cute I just want to pinch her cheeks!"

Carmela immediately turned and glared at the maid responsible—but her flustered expression and crimson blush only made the audience squeal louder.

"She’s looking at me! She’s looking right at me!"

"Me too, look over here, Miss Carmela!"

Carmela’s face went an even deeper shade of red as she growled under her breath.

"Why do I feel like I’m being harassed..."

Beside her, Maria giggled softly and squeezed her hand.

"Oh, don’t be shy, Carmela. They’re just admiring you. You look absolutely precious right now."

"I—I do not—!"

"Oh, but you do." Maria said warmly. "You look precious."

The cheers grew louder, filling the courtyard as the two reached the end of the platform and twirled once before heading back behind the curtain.

The crowd rose to their feet in applause, shouting their names, clapping until their palms ached.

It was no longer a simple fashion show anymore.

It was joy.

It was release.

It was a celebration of laughter, beauty, and humanity—something none of them had experienced in far too long.

As the crowd finally began to settle back into their seats, a collective sigh swept through the garden.

"Oh my Goddess." One of the sisters groaned, slumping back into her chair. "I didn’t think cheering could be this exhausting. My voice is gone!"

"I know, right?" Another nodded weakly beside her, clutching her throat. "My throat hurts! I swear, if I try to scream again, I might just croak like a toad."

A maid sitting nearby raised her hands, wincing.

"Forget voices—my hands are hurting! I’ve clapped so much, I think I bruised my palms."

Several of them broke into laughter at that, the tired kind that comes after an adrenaline rush.

"Honestly, this is their fault." One sister said dramatically, gesturing toward the stage. "Who told them to send out those three together?! Lady Maria, Miss Carmela, and Lady Aqua—at once?"

"It’s true." Another agreed between breaths. "When those three walked out, it was like an explosion! I nearly passed out from excitement!"

"Exactly." A maid sighed. "But at least whoever’s next won’t have to deal with that level of chaos. We can finally calm down a little."

"Poor soul though." Said another, giggling softly. "She’s going to have to walk out right after that performance. Imagine trying to follow up those three!"

The others nodded sympathetically.

"She’s either extremely brave or extremely unlucky." One said with mock seriousness. "Either way, may the Goddess bless her."

Everyone laughed—right until the curtains began to rustle again.

The laughter died instantly and the air thickened with anticipation.

"Oh, here we go." One of the sisters whispered. "Who’s next?"

The music swelled, the spotlight swung toward the curtain—and then, as the fabric parted, the entire audience froze.

And in the very next second—

The garden exploded.

The maids gasped first, all of them clutching their mouths, eyes wide as plates.

"Wh—what?!"

The sisters’ reaction was even more dramatic—several actually fell off their seats, shrieking in disbelief.

"No way!"

"This—this isn’t real!"

"Th-that’s not possible!" One sister gasped, eyes wide. "No—no way! This can’t be real!"

"I must be dreaming—someone slap me, quick!"

Another cried, actually smacking her own cheek and then gasping in pain.

"Nope, it’s real! Oh Goddess, it’s real!"

Standing beneath the bright lights, walking reluctantly onto the stage with the stiff posture of a soldier sent to her doom...was Joy.

Their commander. Their idol. The woman who struck fear into criminals, who made demons tremble and nobles kneel.

And that very Saintess of Judgment, the Blade of the Empress—was now standing under the soft pink lights, her cheeks flushed crimson, fists clenched tightly, and her eyes full of humiliation and fury.

And she was wearing a wedding dress.

Not just any wedding dress—but the very one Cassius had crafted earlier, the masterpiece that seemed woven from moonlight itself.

The fabric shimmered with layers of delicate silk and lace that flowed like rippling water.

A soft veil framed her pink hair perfectly, and tiny white roses embroidered along the edges glowed faintly in the lantern light.

The gown was pure, radiant, and impossibly elegant—as if it were made for her and her alone.

It was the kind of beauty that hurt to look at.

The sisters could barely breathe. Some were so overwhelmed they clasped their hands in prayer; others simply stared, dumbstruck.

"She...she looks divine..." Whispered one.

"It’s like the Goddess herself descended..." Murmured another.

"Oh heavens...Lady Joy...in a wedding dress?!" Gasped a maid, her voice trembling.

"I never thought I’d live to see the day." Someone muttered reverently. "This must be what miracles look like."

Even the toughest of them looked ready to faint.

Joy, seeing their wide-eyed stares and stunned silence, immediately scowled, her blush deepening.

"What?!" She barked, though her voice cracked slightly. "Why are you all staring at me like that?!"

No one dared answer.

She turned halfway, clearly intending to march right back behind the curtain, but then a familiar voice called out firmly from backstage—Maria’s voice.

"Go on, Joy! Don’t you dare stop halfway!"

Joy froze.

"If you don’t make a full round on that stage." Maria warned sweetly. "I will personally make you wear that gown for the entire day!"

Joy’s eye twitched violently. "...You wouldn’t."

"Try me." Came the response, calm and motherly—and utterly terrifying.

Grinding her teeth, Joy turned back toward the audience, her hands trembling with frustration.

"Fine." She muttered under her breath. "Fine! I’ll do it."

And so, with the grace of a knight marching to execution, she began to walk.

The moment she took her first step, the light caught her gown, and a collective gasp swept through the crowd again.

"She’s so beautiful..." Whispered one sister in awe.

"She’s glowing..." Said another, clasping her hands.

"The white of her dress—so pure! So holy!"

"I can’t believe I’m seeing Lady Joy like this...she’s like an angel!"

Soon, the whispers grew louder, spreading through the audience.

"Someone get a painter!" Shouted a maid. "We need this immortalized!"

"I already painted it in my heart!" cried another dramatically. "I’ll never forget this moment!"

"She’s too beautiful—it’s divine blasphemy!"

"I’m switching religions! From now on, I worship Goddess Joy!"

Even the most pious among them were muttering prayers to her instead of the heavens.

Joy, meanwhile, was dying inside.

She walked stiffly, her fists clenched at her sides, her face an adorable mixture of rage and embarrassment.

Every step was reluctant, every breath a struggle not to yell at them all.

And then—

Aqua’s voice cut through the daze like thunder.

"WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING?!" She shouted from the side, waving her arms. "I get it, she’s gorgeous—she’s practically a goddess—but she deserves some cheering too instead of prayers and awe!"

"So come on, people, raise those voices!"

The sisters blinked, startled, and then, as if a switch flipped, the entire audience exploded.

"Lady Joy, you look amazing!"

"You’re breathtaking!"

"I’m your fan now, Lady Joy!"

"I’m switching sides! Forget the Young Master—it’s Lady Joy for me!"

The flood of cheers crashed over Joy like a wave, making her face heat until it reached the tips of her ears.

She tried to glare at them, her composure breaking.

"Shut up!" She barked. "Every last one of you—shut up already!"

But of course, that only made things worse.

"She’s even cuter when she’s angry!" One cried.

"I didn’t think I’d ever call Lady Joy adorable—but here we are!"

"I need to tell everyone about this!"

"Don’t you dare!" Joy yelled, pointing at them furiously. "I swear, if any of you—!"

But by now the crowd was beyond reason—sisters waving their arms, maids laughing and squealing, all of them completely enchanted.

Defeated, Joy growled under her breath, turned sharply on her heel, and practically marched off the stage, her veil fluttering dramatically behind her.

"Don’t gooo!" Someone wailed.

"Just one more lap!" Another cried.

"Please, stay a little longer!"

But Joy didn’t look back. Her face was burning, her heart pounding, and she all but bolted through the curtain like a flustered little girl running from a confession.

A collective sigh rippled through the crowd—half disappointment, half bliss.

"Oh, I can die happy now." Said one sister faintly, fanning herself.

"I can’t believe I saw Lady Joy like that." Whispered another. "I’ll never forget this day."

"Truly." Said a maid reverently, clasping her hands. "This was a miracle. The Goddess herself must’ve guided Young Master’s hands when he made that gown."

And just like that the crowd was thinking that this was one of the best days in their lives.

Meanwhile, on the other side Aqua and Maria were teasing Joy who wanted to tear off the dress, all the while Carmela tried to hide her smile at the hilarious sight.

As for Cassius—well he met Nala, Vivi and Diana who also wanted to join in on the fun—only for them to be caught by him and now he was taking turns pounding all four of them.

And overall, it was memorable night for everyone for completely different reasons of course.