The city was bustling with cheers and people, many drinking, laughing, and people enjoying each other's company. Mystras looked beautiful this summer day, flower were hung everywhere, the roads were crowded, and every business within the city was packed. The wedding ceremony of Constantine had arrived and all were there to celebrate
"Hmm, a small tournament, we must also ensure plenty of food is prepared for the guests as well…."
a man would scurry around thinking,
"Oh yes! We must ensure plenty of fine wine also! I believe i've mad an order for all of this… they're taking their time!!"
Constantine would then walk into the room to look at the man looking frantic
"George, my friend, calm down, all is in order, you've done great!" shouts out Constantine
George then takes a seat before taking in a deep breath, the pair sitting down and relaxing a bit. They had both been working together to organize everything for this massive event, as Madeline Tocco was arriving tomorrow. Constantine was nervous and Sphrantzes was anxious for what was to happen. It had only been the afternoon and yet they were overworked. Soon the Palaiologos family would be meeting in Mystras to celebrate along with many nobles and Clergy, and Constantine knew that he'd need to show the strength of Morea and its prosperity.
Soon, they would both be disturbed by Domianus busting into the room,
"my friends! It's good to see all of you!"
"Ah welcome Domianus, any further news?" asks Constantine
"Well, i'm glad you asked, the army is ready, and i've talked with the Czech's given a quarters here to begin with the creation of cannons for us, with our budget i believe 5 have already been ordered, it's impossible for any more though. The soldiers have high morale and are trained well, better than many mercenaries i've seen." replies Domianus grinning
"Perfect, I want them on display for the celebration, to not only show the power of Morea, but also to give them some time to enjoy the celebration, everyone wins in this situation! The shopkeepers earn lots of money and the soldiers get to fill their stomachs!" says Constantine
"Now, I'd like you to instruct some of the men to escort many to their quarters written here on this list for those invited, noble guests will have quarters in this building. Also, put the guards on high alert to ensure there aren't any criminals trying to try anything within the city. The soldiers will be walking through the city gate, and all the way to the Palace, in which they'll then be dismissed for the day tomorrow, make sure they know their path and their responsibilities"
"Yes my friend, i'll get right to it!" happily replies Domianus
Over the course of the day, the pair would continue to prepare with the help of servants. The townspeople would decorate the city and many would work to keep the city street's cleaned. In the blink of an eye, tomorrow had arrived, and Constantine was even sooner to be married. He would meet with his own family members, John, Andronikos, Demetrios, Theodore, and Thomas, and many other distant relatives and friends of his. Along with many other noble families. Soon, the Tocco family would arrive with many carriages housing Carlo Tocco himself with many of his nieces and nephews within them along with many others, whom it was rumored to be his illegitimate children.
Constantine would look at tocco, the description of him being much different from expected as he was now old and frail, he would shake his hand before saying,
"you've been a grand opponent Constantine, if I were younger I'm sure we would've had a grand time on the battlefield, it's a shame my bastards don't have even a portion of the capabilities I had."
Tocco then continue moving on through the city with his carriage, each visitor or coming through noting how beautiful the city looked. As tradition, Constantine would be unable to look at his bride until the day of the wedding, so would sit anticipating the day he would see and meet her. The day would continue with Constantine preparing for the celebration with drinks and food being gathered for all of the visitors. Quickly 3 days would pass and the day of the wedding would arrive, all excited and happy as a result of such, however, soon, a note would arrive to Constantine's quarters,
Congratulations on your wedding Constantine Palaiologos, but be wary of the Tocco's, they bring misfortune to those involving them
Constantine would look confused at the note, and then ask,
"Who gave this to you Gregory?"
"A cloaked man, i have no idea who he was, he would disappear soon afterwards." responds him
Constantine would lie the note to the side and prepare for the grand celebration, he would find himself getting dressed and then proceeding to grand church within the city to be married. Within the building, there being many rows of different people he'd known alongside his closest friends and family. He'd walk up to the altar next to the priest while waiting for his soon to be wife.
Soon a lady with a dress stretching long behind herself would arrive at the entrance of the church and begin walking, with many servants behind her carrying parts of her dress. She would slowly make her way with a man suspected to be her father walking alongside her. Soon she would make her way up to Constantine and the priest.
"We may begin"
says the priest,
Soon the pair would say their vows and eventually Constantine would lift her veil to see her face. The best way he could describe such as being soft and cherry red, which he'd think would just be because of her being excited, though was just the stature of her face. He could notice behind her ears that she had black hair, and brown eyes, alongside pale looking skin with a sweet smile. He would smile while observing his wife, and eventually say I do, to his marriage with her, before kissing her on the lips.
The pair would proceed to walk outside of the church, which had been near the center of the city, and had a long road leading from there to the city walls. There, he would signal to a servant to begin playing a horn to let his army outside of the city to begin marching in. Domianus would begin riding on his horse in the front leading a large army of men to fill the streets of Mystras, marching slowly to the church in full gear, a marvel to many who witnessed such a force, their armor, their weapons, their determination, all very grand to see. Though for many more, it would show them the power of the Despot, and show that he was not one to be messed with. An army risen out of nowhere that was constantly training and well armored, alongside being at the immediate command of Constantine showed all that attended that he could make the decision when wanted whether to attack them or not.
They would continue marching until making it in front of the church, before the Despot himself, and would halt at the command of Constantine.
"All of you have done well," yells out Constantine
"Be sure to clean yourselves up before enjoying today and the next few days, though don't get too drunk! All of you are dismissed, Domianus i'd like you to accompany me!"
The army of Constantine would disperse afterwards, many going back to their barracks to change clothes or just to relax, while many others would go straight it to the markets to purchase something with their pay. Domianus would kneel before Constantine and congratulate him on his marriage before being lifted up by the Despot, telling him that they're practically brothers.
All apart of the wedding would go to enjoy in the festivities, Constantine and the families involved would celebrate by drinking, playing games, hosting tournaments in which Constantine himself would even participate in, and by feasting. In the middle do the feast, Constantine would leave the festivities to get some air, finding himself on the balcony of the imperial palace, Domianus would join alongside him before smacking him on the back,
"An excellent display don't you think my friend?" he grinned wildly
"It was perfect, you should have seen the face on Carlo Tocco himself!" replies Constantine
"He looked almost terrified in a way, though he's not a target… yet… First we have to deal with one problem, which i'm sure you remember well correct?"
"Very very well, i've informed the men that they are free to drink today, however tomorrow they are forbidden from such, as we will be setting out soon." responded Domianus
"Wonderful" smiles Constantine with a grin
"And the Czechs? How has progress been?"
"They have worked all day and night, those poor souls, though it has seen much needed results, we have the 5 cannons ordered ready, some gunpowder, and the cannonballs required to do something with it." happily replies Domianus
"Perfect, give them a bonus for their haste," happily says Constantine
"Now! Let's talk about your wife my friend!" yells out Domianus while grinning
"It's clear she's dedicated, she converted and changed her name to a Greek one, Theodora is a very suitable name! You do know your duties now as a married man don't you..."
Constantine would look at him and shake his head,
"yea yea yea I know I know... and she does seem very dedicated…."
Domianus looks at Constantine closely before saying,
"don't tell me... you've never done it before have you?" yells out Domianus while laughing
"You should have told me before you got married! I know many good brothels for you ahh you poor man…"
Constantine begins getting red before the doors to the balcony open and out comes his newly wed wife
"This is my time to leave my friend! Don't be scared!" whispers Domianus while giggling
He proceeds to kiss the hand of Theodora before making his excite, though would pop back out to make a crude gesture to the Kephale. Constantine would roll his eyes and chuckle a bit before smiling back towards Theodora who was standing next to him on the balcony overlooking the town of Mystras.
"I was hoping to talk to you today, without my family or yours staring us both down." speaks out Theodora while looking at him
"I'll bet quite honest with you, my uncle Carlo Tocco has asked me to spy on you and report your movements, though i've already informed him I have no intention of doing that."
Constantine raises his brow at this news, before looking back at Theodora to say,
"Why wouldn't you, he's family, and i'm a stranger, I don't see why you wouldn't…"
"You fascinate me and being with you liberates me, it's simple as that, after my father died, I stayed practically locked up in a tower, waiting to be used for some political reason, and here, I am not that. Not to mention the stories i've heard about you, my brother has heard about what you've done and is fascinated by you as well. You see, in the court of the Tocco's, you have everyone plotting against each other, the illegitimate children of Carlos Tocco, whom his wife and me and my brother are against, and the illegitimates who strive for glory and recognition. You defeating his illegitimate son on the seas has pushed the favor of the court towards our side, which I believe will be seeing my brother Carlo inherit, at least the main parts of my uncle's territory. I converted and changed my name, so that I can get away from all of my past, and so that I can focus on my new life, as your wife and as a new woman." replies Theodora
Constantine would grab her and immediately realize his love for the girl in front of him, she fascinated him, someone so unique to him that he fell in love almost immediately. He loved her strive for independence, her ambition, and her dedication. After, they would end the night together, and would begin the life of Constantine and Theodora.