250: The wedding of the season (part 1)

The wedding of the season (part 1)

1Nestled in the heart of the countryside, far from Lanark's bustling center, Baron Gustav Grosvenar's fief, a cherished gift from the Commander of the First Order to his beloved wife, offered a perfect romantic retreat.<ins id="1067137" data-width="308" data-height="298"

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Affectionately called Rosewood Manor, the wooden exterior displayed gentle hints of pink during the tranquil moments of dawn and twilight. The ancient manor, surrounded by rolling hills and expansive grassy meadows, had been recently upgraded with spires and grand archways.

Truly a magnificent fortress, it now served as the backdrop for the wedding of the season.

***

In the Baroness's suite at Rosewood Manor, the bride put the finishing touches to her preparations, eager to meet the man of her dreams. The spacious dressing area boasted a large vanity mirror, while comfortable seating accommodated Adela and her only bridesmaid, Larissa, who looked stunning in a peach-colored gown.

"Mother is late," Came Larissa's worried remark.

"I am here!" Came Grace's nervous response.

In her haste to enter the room and close the door behind her, the Archduchess nearly tripped over her flowing green gown, but she managed to compose herself just in time. sighing in relief when she noticed that the beautiful bouquet of white jasmine in her hand was unharmed.

White jasmine. Egon had filled the Manor with it, setting the tone for their intimate and highly private ceremony.

Tears welled up in Grace's eyes. "Your betrothed sent this to you." 

"Oh, Your Excellency! Our makeup is on, please let's not cry and ruin it again!" Frieda interjected, dabbing her embroidered handkerchief on her face.

With a graceful gesture toward her daughter, Grace beamed with pride. "Just look at her! Has there ever been a bride as radiant as Adelaide?"

Wearing the adjusted vintage wedding dress that once belonged to the last Empress of the continent. Adela's hair was elegantly pulled up in a chignon, and a delicate veil cascaded from beneath it, draping gracefully over the long pearly train of her gown.

Excitement filled her as she hurriedly reached for the letter that came with the jasmine bouquet.

"Frieda! Say something!" The Archduchess complained, "She will ruin her hair and makeup!"

Amid the loud beating of her heart, Adela's trembling hand picked up the letter, and she read it aloud. "Let these flowers touch your hair on my behalf."

Blushing, she continued reading the rest with her eyes only.

/I will be the one to release them later tonight./

She folded the letter and smiled at the Baroness. "Please, put a couple in my hair for me."

As the Baroness finished arranging the jasmine in Adela's hair, a soft knocking on the door accompanied by the knight on duty's voice broke the moment.

"Commander Arkin has arrived."

Adela gasped, her smile shining brightly as she said, "Let him in."

Arkin entered the room giving a quick bow to the Archduchess and Larissa who stood next to the Baroness, both flushed and smiling. He came to a sudden stop as if an invisible wall had halted him when he finally focused on the beauty before him.

He closed the distance between Adela and himself, taking her hands in his.

"Adela," he breathed, shaking his head in awe. "You look like a man's dream come true."

Adela's smile grew wider, her eyes shimmering with happiness as she looked at her brother. "I'm so glad you could make it back in time."

"I wouldn't miss this for the world," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "You're getting married... My cousin is the luckiest man in the world."

As a few tears escaped from the Commander, Adela's transparent happiness was suddenly tinged with an inexplicable feeling in her heart. It was an inkling of unease, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

"How was the expedition?" she asked, trying to ease the heaviness she sensed in him.

"Never mind that now," he replied, forcing a smile and looking away. Despite his efforts to hide it, she knew he was hurting. "I'm going to walk you down to the summer garden," Arkin said, trying to regain his composure. "I wouldn't trust anyone else with that honor."

Adela squeezed his hand, touched by his words. "Thank you… You've always been there for me, and I'm so grateful to have you as my brother."

As Adela proudly took his offered arm, the three women accompanying her busied themselves with adjusting the long train that gracefully glided behind her. Together, they left the bridal suite and began their journey to the summer garden.

They were not even half their way there when Arkin suddenly spoke with a sense of urgency. "On second thought, Adela, you need to know what happened on the expedition," he said, his shoulder and arm beneath hers tensing. "We were lost."

Adela looked up at him, her long eyelashes casting a shadow on her cheeks. "What do you mean, lost?"

"Strong witchcraft, a mind maze… Whatever caused the animals to mutate, it is hidden deep inside the western part of Lanark's forest where nobody wants us to venture, or are they hiding something they don't want to be found?"

Uninvited, her conversation with Aldric in Lanark's forest flashed in her mind—the eerie description of the mythical mana mines and how they were a tomb for Andreas's first mate, who may or may not have been buried inside those empty mines.

Noticing her distress, Arkin placed a comforting hand atop hers. "Let's not talk about all of this today… I only mentioned it because I might… No, I will be leaving Lanark soon. This might be the last time I see you for a while."

As they descended the long staircase that led to the summer garden, Adela almost stumbled on the last step, but Arkin's strong arm steadied her.

Her lips parted to say something, but her father's voice interrupted her.

"I'll take it from here, Sir Arkin."

Arkin gave Adela an apologetic look before giving her that same sad smile once more. "I will be watching you among the rest of the guests." He took her hand and planted a kiss on it before giving it to her father.

Her worried eyes followed her brother's back before her father gave her hand a light squeeze.

"Adelaide."

Her heart clenched when she looked up and saw her father's sky-blue eyes glistening with tears.

"My dear Adelaide. I am so proud of the woman you have become."

Her smoky eyes shimmered as she swallowed, but her smile remained bright.

"As I have always been proud of you, Father." She thought of a recent time when she had chased him around the kingdoms, rushing to see if she could heal his heart. "I am so grateful to have you by my side today."

His face turned serious.

"Hear me carefully before we go out. I have a couple of things that I urgently need to discuss with you."

The radiant smile slowly faded, and she steeled herself for what the Archduke was about to say.

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