251: The wedding of the season (part 2)

The wedding of the season (part 2)

Music recommendation: "Can't Help Falling in Love" (Cover by Kina Grannis)2

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"Let's excuse ourselves for a moment," Grace suggested, taking Larissa by the arm and leading her to the summer garden, giving Adela and Kaiser a moment of privacy. The Baroness followed closely behind.

"What is it, Father?" Adela inquired, her cheeks losing their rosy hue as she composed herself with an expressionless mask.

"I requested Claude not to attend today," he revealed.

Her breath caught for a moment, but she managed to steady herself before exhaling.

Lately, her father had been addressing the Crown Prince in less formal ways, indicating a shift in their relationship, but asking Claude not to attend his cousin's wedding went far behind that, it was a direct insult to the crown.

She held her father's gaze, trying to understand his intentions.

Did he want her to become the queen of the land? Or was he aligning his thoughts with hers, ready to embrace the responsibility of governing all of Emoria, not just Lanark? 

A hint of uncertainty crept into his expressive eyes, "His chair will remain empty. I thought I should let you know."

"...Thank you."

Her intuition told her that her father might have changed his mind about revealing more to her.

"Now, let us proceed to the summer garden. A certain young man has been looking impatient for quite some time now."

Adela's smile was infectious, spreading joy to her father like a delightful contagion. The palpable pull of the mate bond surged through her veins, more potent than ever before, and she embraced the sensation with serenity.

"Then let's not keep him waiting." 

With her arm lovingly linked with her father's, the Lady allowed herself to be swept away by the magic of the bond. Yet, her eyes couldn't resist admiring the magical scene around her—the mild glow of twinkling fairy lights that surrounded the meandering pathways, the lanterns strategically placed to guide her every step. The setting seemed like a dream, the perfect backdrop for her journey to the man she loved.

As they approached the final door that separated the Manor's back entrance from the entrance of the summer garden, the lanterns lining the pathway transformed into two parallel lines, forming an aisle that undoubtedly led her to her soon-to-be husband. On either side of this aisle, a sea of various shades of pink bloomed with roses of all sizes and types, while magnificent jasmine arches intertwined with the green vines and the blush pink roses.

There was one thing missing—Egon's presence by her side.

"Are you ready?" Asked Kaiser.

"Yes," she breathed, her heart visibly pounding in her chest.

When the tug of the mate bond took on a malicious edge of impatience, she took a deep breath and swallowed, trying to moisten her dry throat.

Kaiser chuckled, "My strength is your strength."

Leaning on her father's strong arm provided a reassuring anchor as she sought support. Yet, with each step down the seemingly endless aisle, her palms grew clammy, and her knees trembled.

Her eyes shifted up and to the right, as if in response to an unspoken call she inwardly caught, locking with mesmerizing onyx eyes that guided her.

They belonged to her mate, the man she was marrying.

In that moment, nervousness transformed into a jubilant kind of happiness. A wave of shyness washed over her as she continued to stare. There he stood at the end of the aisle, next to Bastian, Leopold, and Andreas von Conradie. Egon wore her favorite boyish smile, looking tall and proud, dashing in his formal Emorian attire. His presence alone dispelled any remaining anxiety, and all she could feel now was pure joy.

As if responding to a certain signal, music began to play.

Adela couldn't see the singer, but she recognized her voice instantly when she started singing. It had to be the same stunning brunette from the masquerade the von Conradies had thrown seasons ago. Her voice was just as captivating as she sang a beautiful melody about falling in love.

As Adela walked closer to her beloved, the world around her seemed to fade into the background, and all that mattered was the man waiting for her at the end of the aisle. The soft murmurs of the guests and the gentle rustling of leaves in the summer garden mingled with the sound of her own heartbeat and the sweet melody of the singer's voice. The moment was etched forever in her mind, a memory she would treasure in the depths of her heart.

When she finally reached him, Egon looked as if entranced, mesmerized by the vision of beauty in white before his eyes.

"You take my breath away," he whispered, his voice saturated with awe.

With a proud smile on his face, Kaiser de Lanark stepped forward, releasing Adela's hand. "Sir Egon, today I deliver a treasure to you. Take care of each other always."

Egon gently clasped Adela's hand in his gloved one—a touch she now knew and valued. They gazed deeply into each other's eyes, savoring the moment, before both broke into bright smiles.

"Let us take our seats," Egon suggested.

Behind them was a round table, an exclusive gathering of select guests who had the privilege of witnessing the wedding of the season.  And as he helped her sit, Egon handled the long train of the precious heirloom with utmost care. 

He bent forward, "Are you comfortable?"

She nodded at him.

While Egon was taking his seat next to her, Adela's eyes were drawn to one conspicuously empty chair, and she was glad for her father's small warning.

Claude's absence reminded her of a strange proposal she had received from him some time ago, a memory she preferred not to revisit. She brushed the thought aside, choosing to focus on the man next to her instead.

"Congratulations!"

Princess Sasha, breaking the Emorian tradition, congratulated the couple before the vows were exchanged. She looked happy, beaming from her seat next to Leopold von Conradie. Next to him was Arkin, the Baron and the Baroness, and the dukes of Emoria, all smiling warmly with their wives.

Rauul was the odd one out, sitting with a serious expression on his face and nodding to himself repeatedly.

Adela's eyes then met someone she did not expect to see, as he was invited solely for courtesy purposes, but apparently, the young King had no shame.

Aldric's sinister gaze was cold and calculating. She did her best to ignore it, refusing to dampen her spirits. She shifted her attention to the warm gazes of her mother, sister, and father, who took his seat across from her.

As Egon's hand gently rested on her knee under the table, Adela's heart skipped a beat, and a rush of excitement surged through her. In just a moment now, their long-awaited union would be sealed, and Adela and Egon would finally be married.

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