Sorry for the delay...! Here's the chapter :D Weakly edited...
Chapter 108:
Black Swan
It was finally the day of the royal wedding. Nobles had already arrived in the Yursear Kingdom in advance, preparing for the wedding and the young prince's coronation. Some nobles gossiped about the change of power, curious as to what role the young prince's cousin would play. However, none of the nobles were brave enough to share their thoughts outside their immediate circle, afraid of the repercussions that could come with the change.
An absence that was unspokenly noticed was that of the young Marquis Cyneric, the closest confidant the young prince had. While his father, the duke, had made a grand entrance and mingled with the jolly crowd, the marquis's absence was noticed. Hushed whispers grew more fervent with the duke's nonchalance at his son's absence.
While the queen finished the final preparations for the wedding, she called for a servant to fetch her son, wishing to speak to him before his journey down the aisle to his new life. However, as her servant was sent to the prince's dressing room, they were greeted by an empty room. After a quick search of the palace, the alarmed royal family's servants continued their search as the queen's maid returned panicked, alerting the queen the prince was nowhere to be found.
The queen's eyes narrowed. She could only think of one place her son could have gone.
"I will go to his dressing room now." She said with a frown. "Let's hope he is there by the time I arrive."
…
Silas was watching the clouds through his small window, his eyes half-open as he looked out lazily, his body full of languidness. As he sat, his arms resting on his propped left knee, there was a sound at the door that startled Silas out of his relaxed state. As he looked up, he made eye contact with the prince, dressed in his wedding suit like a true adult.
"Hm? You look surprised to see me." The prince said with a raised brow, looking at Silas with a look of interest.
"Why are you here?" Silas knew what day it was, how meaningful it was to Clarence, however he was not surprised to see the prince on such an auspicious day. He knew the young prince would feel obligated to share his happiness with Silas, who had no choice but to listen. "I'm sure there are other places you should be right now."
"That's not important." Clarence frowned, responding with a sneer, "Anyway, you don't seem very happy." It was as if he were stating something obvious, but the intent of his words was lost on Silas, who took the young man at face value.
Silas's brows furrowed further, but he restrained most of his anger. "I have been locked here for over a month. What happiness would I find being here, Clarence?"
Hearing his name from Silas's mouth, the prince's face tinted red briefly, but the color receded faster than Silas could take note of. "Is there anything you would like to say to me? After all, you may not be here much longer."
"Ah, right." Silas muttered, as if an afterthought. "I wish you and your wife an auspicious wedding."
The prince opened his mouth but closed it again, huffing in annoyance, much like a child. The prince's arms were crossed against his chest, his right fingers tapping against the side of his upper arm. "You have an awful attitude for being my prisoner. You are lucky I treat you as well as I do, but that can end at any moment."
Silas did not say anything, allowing the prince to have the last word without a fight.
Clarence wanted to push further, enjoying Silas's annoyed, pained face, but time was passing faster than he could afford. Clarence felt a heavy weight lift from his chest just by seeing Silas's face, though he did not understand it.
What is this new feeling? Clarence thought to himself, confused. This sensation was not new to him, but he refused to recognize that every time he saw Silas, he felt this strange sensation. Even the first time they met, he was always drawn to the elf.
After seeing Silas, Clarence found himself at ease, leaving hastily before he was found missing by the servants. He did not want to be caught in the dungeon, especially on his wedding day. Charlotte had already expressed her displeasure at his random disappearances. He could not let her find out where he had been, otherwise his plans could fall apart. As unlikely as he believed it could happen, Clarence behaved as though the crown were only a step away, rather than already in his grasp.
With a hasty exit from the dungeon, the prince used the back halls to return to the royal family's corridor. Entering his dressing room, Clarence wore his wedding suit, having long since been prepared by the tailor. Clarence adjusted the lace trim on the sleeve of his coat as his servants sighed in relief at his sudden appearance. Clarence was finding himself growing impatient, hoping time would pass quickly, lighting his path forward.
He had been too busy to see Silas in the past few days, making Clarence feel anxious. He was concerned the elf would cause trouble in his repeated absence, but as Silas's wounds healed, he remained more and more obedient towards the staff, causing Clarence to feel displeased again and again.
He always fights back when I visit, even if it's just words. Clarence rolled his lip in irritation, withholding a frown as he stood by the mirror, glancing over his wedding attire as if it were his dailywear. Will he always disobey me like this? But, what am I supposed to do with him? Eventually, I will have to kill him. A sudden, sharp ache in Clarence's chest caused him to stop himself. Once I fully have sought my revenge, then I will kill him. But until then, he'll just have to stay under my thumb. And who knows how long that will take? Clarence smiled at the thought. Having already seen the elf today was enough to calm his nerves.
The prince's thoughts were interrupted by the call of a servant outside of his door, "Her Majesty, Queen Racliffe, has come to visit you, your highness."
Clarence did not have to respond, as his mother had already pushed the door open, holding the train of her lilac blue dress in the crook of her arm. Her makeup had been impeccably styled in a demure manner, making her appear older with the medium shades of purple and blue, however she was always beautiful. Her dark blue hair had been lifted and styled in an updo, pulling only a few curled strands to frame her face. As she stood in front of Clarence, her smile never faded, her eyes glowing with pride as she stared at her son.
"Now it is time for you to step forward and be a husband and a proper leader. Charlotte is a wonderful young woman, and she will help you lead this country." Queen Racliffe began. "Treat her well, as she will you."
"I understand, mother." Clarence smiled.
Queen Racliffe stepped forward, opening her arms as she hugged her eldest son, patting his back with her hand as she said, "I'm proud of you, Clarence. You will be a wonderful king."
Clarence hugged his mother back, patting her thinning back as he stared over her shoulder at the outside, watching as guests began to gather in small groups, preparing for the ceremony to begin.
…
As the sun had yet to rise, Charlotte was dressed by her maids, her ladies in waiting close at her side as they stood, dressed in their formal wedding attire, appearing much like young flower girls, anxiously waiting for their chances to be taken down the aisle by a handsome young man such as the prince.
"You seem nervous, Charlotte." Philomena said quietly as she adjusted the train of Charlotte's veil, her eyes fixed on the delicate lace edging. "Is everything okay?"
The smile on Charlotte's face lightened for a moment, her maids having stepped back to fix her bouquet, too focused to hear the quiet conversation between the two friends. "I'm just a little nervous. After today, I will be the next queen to the Yursinean throne." Charlotte smiled,
"It's a little daunting."
Philomena looked towards Charlotte and said, "You'll never have to worry about looking beautiful. With this dress, even Prince Clarence won't be able to take his eyes off of you." She stared at the glittered jewels adorning Charlotte's body, thinking of the day she too would be adorned in such an unforgettable way.
Philomena glanced around, a smirk on her face, "Charlotte, I have a gift for you. For your wedding."
Charlotte's curiosity was piqued, seeing Philomena's mischievous grin. She sent her maids away with a wave of her hand, leaving only her knight to stand guard over the two women as the room soon fell quiet, filled only with the sound of Philomena rifling through a small velvet pouch she had hidden in a secret pocket within her formal dress.
"I keep these hidden here, so no one can find them but me." She said, pulling an item out of the small bag as Basch kept watch, his eyes falling over the items in Philomena's hand with knowing eyes.
Resting in Philomena's left hand was a stack of cards, a strangely patterned stack of cards Charlotte had heard mentioned in passing. The cards were a well-known fortune telling tool in Maarit Country, but they were largely frowned upon across the rest of the continent, making it difficult for interested parties to find them. Seeing the cards so close, Charlotte fell silent, her eyes full of wonder.
"Those are?" Charlotte asked aloud.
Philomena smiled, "Tarot cards. If you'd like, I can read your future-" Philomena began with a proud smile before she paused and added, "Though, I'm still learning, so it may not be entirely accurate. Do you want to try it?" She asked, holding out the stack of cards for Charlotte.
Charlotte nodded with interest. "What do I do?"
Philomena frowned, "We don't have enough time to complete an official reading, but go ahead and pull a card out of my deck. Each of these cards has a different image, and each image has a different meaning, good and bad, depending on a variety of factors." Philomena held out the stack of cards towards Charlotte, "Take a card, and I'll tell you your reading."
Tentatively, Charlotte lifted her hand and took a card, staring at the image on the front of the card.
The card had the image of a woman sitting on a throne, a wooden stick in one hand, a sunflower in the other. The woman was beautiful, her long brown hair resting next to her head as it trailed to her feet, making her appear courageous and strong. A black cat sat at her feet, staring forward at the viewer with a piercing gaze. The strange image piqued Charlotte's curiosity as she showed the card to Philomena and asked, "What does this mean?"
"This card…" Philomena hummed aloud, stepping back as if thinking before she stared at the card again and said, "I remember. It's the Queen of Wands. It means self-transformation and courage. It could signify your change from princess to queen." Philomena smiled, the light in her eyes bright as she looked down at the imposing woman on the card.
Before Charlotte could ask any more questions, Basche interrupted the pair as he stared at the card, his eyes fixed on the image with subtle disgust. "My lady," Basche stepped forward, his arm separating Charlotte from the tarot card in Philomena's hand as he said, "The wedding will begin shortly."
"Of course." Charlotte said, releasing the card as she handed it back to Philomena, her eyes falling on the woman on the card again as Philomena held the card in her hand.
Philomena placed the tarot card away and summoned the maids to assist the young princess, Charlotte lifted her dress, sighing quietly as she adjusted her demeanor, preparing to step down the aisle in her veil, taking the last step before finalizing her position of power in the Yursinean royal family.
…
The day began strong, the weather clear and bright, bringing the warmth of summer in early Spring. The ceremony was garish, mixing Bethellian and Yursinean traditions in a tasteful manner as the wedding was held outside in the mild Spring air of the palace garden. Large drapes of ivory and navy blue were circled around the palace pillars and into the air, embellishing the large, floral garden. A long rug had been prepared for the couple to walk down the aisle, situated in the middle of the various neatly lined rows of ivory cushioned chairs.
At the end of the aisle was a small gazebo, a structure that had been made for the young couple as they recited their vows. Vines of flowers were circled around the pillars, bringing the sweet smell of french lilac and lilies, mingling with the other cultivated spring flowers. The bright light of the sun brought a fresh warmth of spring with it, allowing the guests to wear thin shawls and their light, formal jackets as they meandered about the outside, greeting others with excitement.
Charlotte's family had arrived at the palace nearly a week ahead of the wedding. Both of her parents prioritized her future spouse, congratulating her as she married into the high standing Yursinean royal family. Her mother stayed with her each passing day, making sure all Bethellian wedding traditions were followed until the day for the wedding finally arrived.
Queen Racliffe had already met Charlotte's parents, and their discussion was pleasant, formal with a tone of familiarity as they became inlaws. At the wedding, the queen was placed in a small section with the king and Clarence's younger siblings, Julian and Eloise, surrounded by the strongest of Yursinean knights. Even Captain Laurent had been temporarily stationed at the palace to provide extra protection, which led to his assignment at the ceremony, standing near the prince.
Dressed in his royal armor, Beau had styled back his hair, making him appear more polished as he stood guard, watching the various guests settling in as they were led outside by the palace servants. He smelled the air at random, but there was not even a hint of mana hanging in the air, as if any traces of it had been purposely erased for this very day. Beau frowned but stayed motionless, maintaining a close watch on the crowd.
Once the guests had all been seated, Clarence came into view, stepping down the long, white stone path as he was led by his feet, walking tall. His white coat tails fluttered in the wind, lightly moving his golden tassels on his jacket with a gentle push. The chains and other golden embellishments on his jacket helped keep his outfit neat and still, like a porcelain doll. Even his hair, his bangs pushed back, made him appear more mature and refined than usual.
Clarence noticed an empty seat near the front of his seating area. The head of curly blonde hair he had been expecting was nowhere to be found. There was only an aging blonde haired man in the seat next to it, undoubtedly Alywin's father. Alywin would have never missed such a day. What is wrong with him? Clarence smiled and waved his gloved white hand, his eyes bright as he continued to walk forward. After this wedding is over, I'll make a trip out to see him again. Hopefully he is in better health by then.
What Clarence did not see was Malcolm sitting near the front row, his eyes glancing over the back of Duke's Cyneric's head with a dark light, as if threatening to bore a hole in his head. After a carefully hidden glance, he turned away, his eyes moving towards Clarence as he smiled politely, his golden eyes dark, full of seething anger.
The prince was led to the end of the aisle, where he stopped, standing in front of the officiant with a peaceful smile, appearing youthful and joyful, as if marrying the love of his life. His pink lips were twisted in a shy smile, and a faint blush was painted across his cheeks, but only he knew his heart was cold, and his thoughts were elsewhere as he stood, staring at the palace with an expectant gaze, as if waiting for the moment he could storm back inside, take what was his, hidden away inside.
As Clarence's mind began to wander, there was the sound of the palace doors opening to the garden, and a figure began to step forward, followed behind by her ladies in waiting, faithfully carrying the long train of her veil as if it were made of glass. Charlotte led the woman, holding her head high as she stepped down the narrow stairs in her heels, appearing unhurried as she leisurely stepped forward.
Flower petals from the nearby white jasmine trees floated through the air, bringing a sweet scent with them as they fluttered through the air, making it difficult for any of the attending guests to look away from the young bride as she walked down the aisle, the smile on her face hidden by a long, lace cathedral veil intricately embroidered in a Yursinean fashion. The pearls on her dress glittered under the natural sunlight, highlighting the sapphire blue gemstones in her golden necklace and earrings. Even the crown on her head was tastefully garish, made of gold and various expensive white gemstones as it framed her small face with a youthful glow.
She was breathtaking in the eyes of the audience. Her dark brown hair had been curled to frame her face, decorated with small pears. The upper layer of her hair had been pulled back behind her head, hidden from view by her long, sheer lace veil. In her hands was a bouquet of Bethellian blue roses wrapped with soft white silk. The scent of roses carried with each step, making her appear as noble as a queen. The attending nobles were enamored, feeling their chests well with pride for their kingdoms at the sight of such a perfect wedding.
Once Charlotte was led to the end of the aisle, she stood hand in hand with Clarence, their gazes on each other as they stood in front of the officiant, their faces full of pride. As the man read his lines, Clarence and Charlotte responded as practiced, speaking aloud in a clear tone.
Their vows were read, and soon, it was time for the young couple to kiss.
"You may now kiss the bride." The officiant said with an aged smile.
Clarence smiled as he lifted the transparent veil from Charlotte's face, her delicate makeup coming into view as Clarence used his left hand to lift her chin, bringing his face closer to hers. Charlotte had closed her eyes, lifting her lips to meet Clarence's as the pair brushed lips, the crowd cheering as the chaste kiss was quickly withdrawn as the pair turned to face the crowd, walking down the aisle.
Charlotte took Clarence's outstretched hand, her face full of smiles as she thought. Even though this is a loveless marriage, it's still been a beautiful wedding. So much more than I could have imagined. She held her bouquet, her grip tightening on the tightly wound silk base.
As the official ceremony came to a close, guests were directed inside by waiting servants as they led the nobles to the reception hall for hors d'oeuvres and light beverages as Clarence and Charlotte greeted guests together by the garden entrance, their hands intertwined much like young lovers. The two were greeted and complemented by all of the attendees, taking the flattery with grace as they sent the guests inside the palace.
"Charlotte, you look beautiful." The queen said as she stood, the king at her side, speaking to Clarence with a face full of pride. Though the king looked unwell, his complexion was still warm, and he had some of the vigor he used to before he fell ill, most likely from the excitement from the festivities.
Charlotte curtseyed, "Thank you, mother." Her face was warm, her smile almost infectious.
The guests had almost all cleared the garden, allowing the small group of royals to enter the palace, surrounded by a group of watchful knights. No enemy was brave enough to spoil the young first prince's wedding, and the day was uneventful, allowing Clarence to spare more of this thinly-burning patience as he paraded around the palace halls with Charlotte holding the crook of his arm like a conjoined twin. Her movements were graceful and gentle, following beside Clarence with ease, however she could feel the unpleasant taste lingering around her and Clarence, causing her to feel distant.
Inside the palace ballroom, the couple still held arms and maintained expressions full of love and adornment, their hearts were cold. Clarence welcomed the guests with his bright, youthful smile. "The coronation ceremony will begin shortly. In the meantime, please enjoy some light refreshments." Clarence announced, using his free hand to hold a glass of wine, lifting his hand as he lifted the glass and took a sip, spurring the other guests to partake in the refreshments, including Charlotte, who sipped at a glass of wine at Clarence's side.
The young couple mingled, speaking to the foreign dignitaries and familiar nobles as they were congratulated and paraded around as the future face of the Yursear kingdom, welcoming a new era of ruling. All of the attending guests wanted to be on the side of power, vying to be in the young prince's good graces.
As the event continued and the guests walked to and fro, only half an hour had passed, leaving only another half hour before the true festivities would begin, however, there was a disruption that caused the party to fall to a momentary stand-still.
It was the king's illness.
Speaking to Willis with Queen Racliffe at his side, the king fell silent for a moment before he retrieved his handkerchief from his jacket pocket with slow movements. Holding the handkerchief in front of his face, the king's shoulders were shaking as he stood, his back bent forward as he bowed his head, lightly coughing into his handkerchief, appearing as though it were only a passing cough, and nothing else. However, the queen's eyes fell on the handkerchief, and the king spoke only a few more words to the two before he walked to a side room, surrounded by his guards.
After the king's departure, a nearby guard walked forward and whispered something to the queen, making her pause as she stood. As the guard stepped back, she spoke aloud, appearing calm and collected as she let out a breath and said, "Please enjoy the refreshments as we prepare for the coronation ceremony." She bowed her head lightly before turning away to follow the palace physician, who had walked through the crowd and towards the side of the room to meet with the king. The queen's expression was tight.
The king and queen's sudden departure caused unease to quell in the crowd, but Charlotte commanded her role as future queen well, walking around the ballroom with her knight nearby, greeting the guests as Clarence continued to accept well-wishes from the attending nobles. He could not see his father yet. If he were to leave the ceremony to visit him, it would only bring more attention to the king's illness.
Father did not look well. If something were to happen to him, the coronation ceremony would be delayed… that cannot happen. Clarence's eyebrows were furrowed as he stepped out to the side, enjoying a moment of peace as he found himself standing next to Captain Laurent, whose expression was nearly as tight as the queen's.
"My, you look stiff as a board. Enjoying the party?" Clarence asked with a raised brow full of sarcasm, taking a moment to stand to the side, near the now-deserted refreshment table. "The juice is fresh. You should taste it."
Captain Laurent sighed quietly. "It's too dangerous to be so relaxed, your highness." Beau rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, as if tracing the delicate handle with his gloved hand. "But I hope you enjoy the event nonetheless." Beau's tone was formal, but his words were chilly, keeping some distance
Clarence smiled, "I'm a newly married man, of course I am happy." The prince downed the rest of the juice in his glass, placing the empty glass on the table, "You should take a day off, Laurent. It seems you need it, frowning so deeply on such a joyous day."
Captain Laurent did not respond, watching the crowd as he and the newly-married prince fell silent together, enjoying a moment of peace
The prince stepped away, rejoining the festivities as his empty glass rested at the edge of the table, waiting to be picked up by a passing servant.
"Just one wrong event and the change of power could drastically change." Beau whispered as he stared forward, his eyes falling on Malcolm's wandering figure, his back turned to face Beau as he spoke to the king's advisor, Willis, his words full of greeting.
A dark feeling began to sink into the air, falling unnoticed by the attending guests. This feeling hung like a heavy mist, lingering as the coronation ceremony came to begin.
…
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Yo, and we're back! I got back from my work training Friday, but I think I've slept most of this weekend recovering sleep. I had to drive almost two hours to get there, but I got to meet my coworkers in person for the first time and I got to stay in one of the buildings one of my coworkers manage, so it was fun! This will be the last chapter before the big reveal. I expected it for the end of this chapter, but Hunny and I decided to push it back. I can't wait for you all to read it! I don't think you'll see it coming, but oh is it my favorite part of this arc C: hehehe
The next two weeks are my busiest time of year for my job, so there may be a short bit of spotty delays, but we'll try our best to keep up! Hunny is also opening her business soon, so it'll be mostly just me for the next few weeks (I'm dying ;; )! I'll still be streaming most likely (see my twitch (catmasseuse) if you're curious~), but the chapters will be slower for a bit! We appreciate your patience and support! See you all most likely Saturday.... late Saturday in EST..... ;A;