"Husband-" Yuki started, whirling around in his arms in a dizzy dance.
"Now now," Mirai spoke, tapping her nose with his dark gloved hand. "I know the rules say that is how you address me, but I would prefer if we remained equals. That makes a powerful union."
Yuki blinked, almost asymmetrically, and then put her hands on Mirai's chest. "Okay- um. Mirai. Your Highness-"
"Yes, Your Highness?" Oh he was laughing at her, she could tell.
Her eyes were closed as she tried to regain her senses. The music was louder like this, as were the sounds of the many attendees talking, laughing, enjoying each other's company and the vast array of food and drink provided by the talented chefs. "I wanted to talk… about who will… attend to me… at-" She paused, almost saying Isklan. "Home."
"Hmm. Is that something we need to discuss now?" Mirai asked, leaning back and tapping his chin. Yuki peered up at him, watching the way the lights bounced off of his black and white hair. Was that natural? He was definitely only around Yuri's age, so how in the world did the streaks come in? Bah, she shouldn't be thinking about that.
"There's just someone… very important I want to have with us." Yuki was adamant, a free hand moving from Mirai's arm to clutch at her shorter dress. The long train had been unhooked and packed away into the trunks of precious items and other dresses coming with her to the colder north.
Mirai tilted his head, gazing down at her curiously, before his eyes lifted and raked over the crowds. Yuki caught sight of Yuri off to the side just as Mirai looked over. He was dancing with a pretty lass from their homeland, making small talk and putting on his charm. His fake charm. He knew how to act and how to plaster a smile over his otherwise morose expression when he was around anyone that was not his past wife. "Your brother, I presume?"
"Yes." Yuki nodded, staring Mirai down. She hoped her expression was fierce, but alas -- she knew she still had a baby face. Round, rosy cheeks and large golden eyes with short-ish hair in a braid crown to match. She really did look like the younger sister, here, pouting and insisting on having the toy she wanted from the toy aisle.
"And what would you have his role be?" At Yuki's confused twitch of the brows, he continued, "What would you have me tell others his role? His rank? How will he be helping you?"
Besides alleviating homesickness? Besides trying to find him a partner or a friend at least to heal his heart? Yuki was glad for her makeup that hid her embarrassed blush as she wrung her hand on her skirt. "Um… my… proxy? Because I'm still very young…?"
Mirai snorted, shoulders shaking with laughter. "Oh? Your proxy? So when the time comes to consummate the marriage, would you have me take him instead?"
Yes. Oh goodness, Yuki's face was burning even warmer. Thank you, makeup and rich red cheek powder. Thank you. "Um- okay. Well, Your Highness, when you put it that way…" Yuki glanced back toward Yuri, who was dipping over the lady's hand and offering a kiss to her wrist. "My… attendant?"
"You have ladies in waiting for that. And, of course, I will have only the best tutors here to help you learn our customs and ways." Mirai began to back up, pulling Yuki with him. As she stumbled along, thankful for also wearing low heels to the event, she noticed a lot of eyes were on them. Probably noting the conversation that was taking place. With his arm around her slim wait, Yuki figured he was putting on a show, wanting to whisk his young bride away from everyone. She let him. "While I know he has experience in court in the west, the west is not the same as the north."
Yuki's shoulders slumped, then shivered as he pulled them out into the cool night air. The stars glimmered brightly overhead, decorated with moths and fireflies dancing around them, as if celebrating the great event of the wedding as well.
"Okay…" Moving from Mirai, thankful to shake his hands off of her, she leaned against the stone banister before her. Negotiations were a part of the job, she knew, but goodness knew it would be a while before she could look strong enough to fulfill her narrow eyed stares and her challenging expressions.
"How about… my chaperone!" She snapped her fingers, turning to look at Mirai with a triumphant grin. "That makes him my proxy in several affairs, as well as my attendant… and he can also be like my bodyguard!" Yuri would probably have choked at being told he could be a bodyguard, but he was still inside, dancing with ladies and wishing he could escape to his quarters probably. "Obviously I cannot bring my mother or father with me, and he is my older brother… he can stay until I am of age!" Yes, Yuki thought. That would give her almost six years to try and get his happiness secured.
Mirai came up to stand beside Yuki, leaning on the banister as well, finally her height albeit by having to lean over. He lifted his hand to his lips in thought, nibbling on the pad of his thumb. "Well, my dear, have you spoken to him about it?"
"He said to talk to you about it." Yuki chanced a look up at him, rocking back and forth on her heels. Sway, sway. "So, I am." Nevermind that Yuri's exact words had been "we" -- Mirai didn't need to know that.
"So you are." He chuckled. "I can tell you're going to grow into a smart woman, someone I and my country will be happy to have at the helm." Such a thing did not really ease Yuki's tense shoulders, waiting on bated breath for Mirai's next lighthearted response. "Well, that's that, then. If you want to bring him as part of your entourage and he doesn't fuss, then by all means. He will be welcome."
Yuki's eyes lit up as she jumped, enthusiastically tossing her arms around her bowing husband and kissing his smooth cheek. "Thank you! Thank you. thank you!"
With a startled laugh, Mirai straightened, carrying the happy Yuki around his neck like a heavy necklace. "You must really love your brother," he mused. "How awful it would be for me to be painted as the husband who entrapped his wife away from her family! Heavens no. Let's go tell him the news so he can get himself situated, shall we?"