Leo stared into my eyes and squeezed my hand.
"Regina, you have been the most positive part of my life in recent years. You made every single day worth it. I was in so much pain when my first wife passed. I thought I would be in pain for the rest of my life. B-but you wiped away 5 years of pain and sadness in 5 hours."
We both shed a few tears in remembering how things were in the past.
"I promise to love and protect you. Even in death, I'll keep you safe and hold your suffering hands with the warmth of hell's fire."
A look of shock flashes over my face but is quickly quelled behind a look of awe and admiration. This is different. He'd never said that to me in my last life. He never said anything like it..... but now it's changed.
I look into his eyes as it's my turn to speak.
"When I first met you... I thought you were the most hysterical person I had ever met."
The crowd gives a few chuckles and some giggles.
"And you were and still are. But, it's exactly what I needed. You are so caring and-"
"Handsome." He smirks and gives me a shameless stare.
The crowd laughs for a minute before going silent again.
"Yes..." I roll my eyes and stare at him defiantly. "But you're also incredibly funny, generous and loving. You had no reason to put your faith in me, but you did. You saw me for who I really am. Not a commoner....just me. I'll always love you for that. I promise that as long as I'm alive I'll live to protect you from forces seen and unseen, you'll always have me, even when I'm gone. In every life and reincarnation, I'll choose you." I look at him with tears in my eyes and he leans over to kiss me.
"Ehem- Not yet. You haven't signed the documents yet."
Leo looks down annoyed which sends everyone into a fit of chuckles, including myself. I stop as he looks up at me with a frown. I smile sheepishly and blush slightly.
"Now, if you'll just both sign these papers. Then we can announce and celebrate."
I step over to the podium and take the feathered pen in my hand. I smile brightly as I dip it in ink and sign my name on the line. I feel Leo come up behind me and take the pen from my hand and sign his own name next to mine.
"Do you Leon White, take Regina Ingrid as your lawfully wedded wife and Queen? To cherish and love her through the toughest of times, in sickness, health, and uncertainty."
"I do"
"Repeat after me then..." He says the words and Leo repeats.
"Let this ring be a symbol of my promises to you and a reminder of my devotion to you. I would be honored to call you my wife. With this ring, I thee wed, and with it, I bestow upon thee all the treasures of my mind, heart, and hands. Regina, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love."
"Regina your turn."
"Let this ring be a symbol of my promises to you and a reminder of my devotion to you. I would be honored to call you my husband. With this ring, I thee wed, and with it, I bestow upon thee all the treasures of my mind, heart, and hands. Leon, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love."
"You may now kiss-"
Leo picks me up off the ground by my waist and kisses me passionately. The crowd laughs as he puts me down and looks at my red face.
"...the bride. I now pronounce you husband and wife. May I present the new Queen of the kingdom, Regina White!"
I feel Leo grab my hand and spin me around. I scream and laugh as he spins me around in his arms and kisses me again. I'm finally able to be genuinely happy, after so many years of pain.
I look up into his beautiful eyes and tell him. "I love you, Leo."