The ecstasy of tonight had died down just when I entered the hall. Dressed in my mother's softest silk gown, with pearls and diamonds encrusted in its pure white sleeves, I knew I looked ethereal. The silver of my hair shone with radiance akin to the moon while I wore the clouds- their softness, and purity drawn into threads of my gown.
"The last dragon of this world…." A whisper erupted from the hall.
"But she looks just like a human…"
"Is this the dragon robe? So beautiful…."
"Why are they letting this asset of the kingdom marry that man…"
I clutched the bouquet of lilies tightly…Yes, it was a wedding, that's what it was. At least that is what everyone claims it to be. My whole clan went extinct, and my family dead and burned on the pyre a three years ago. The only person who 'claimed' to 'help' me was the royal family of Callista, who wanted me to act as the guardian and keep them under my so-called 'protection'. This marriage… was nothing but a deal.
A deal to produce more of my kind…
I walked to the alter with my head held high. No veil prevented my view from seeing the man in front of me…my soon-to-be husband.
He wore the military uniform, shining with the gold of medals under the light of the lamps. His curly hair were slick back with oil and water. The gold and white of his uniform somehow matched the white of the gown and the amber of my eyes. We looked so much like a pair, like lovers etching to marry and love.
The man took my hands. His grip was strong yet protective, they were strong from holding the sword, the gloves hiding his calloused fingers.
I stared into his verdant eyes that were looking straight at mine….
We meet again Hadrian…
Once again in this life, we were bound together, the strings of fate holding us tightly and not letting us fly away from each other.
It truly was unfortunate…
**
"Let this matrimony bring prosperity to the empire…" Alfred finished his speech. It was a short one, with slurring words. The first prince of the empire was always seen with a glass of wine at parties. But more than wine, he loved violence. Huge brawny man, his thick arms marred with scars. He had fought, crushing the enemies with bare hands since he was a mewling child. Many wars were fueled by his inflated ego
"Thank you, my dear friend." Hadrian smiled, assisting the drunk prince who wrapped his arms on his shoulders. Alfred was Hadrian's purpose.
"I shall take my leave then," I announced in the bustling crowd that at once fell silent.
"Sh-ure…" Alfred shouted from the platform barely able to maintain his balance. His beard wet with wine that spurted out from his mouth.
"Don't shout Al and please stay still," Hadrian whispered, his neck buried in Alfred's thick arms. He was clearly struggling to maintain balance.
"Ha! You should accompany her Hadrian. After all she is your wife now."
Hadrian looked at me helplessly, his lips pursed in embarrassment. He averted his eyes and whispered something in Alfred's ears.
I went outside the garden lit blue with the argent moon. Here in the Dragon Spire, hidden under the snow blizzards will be our Duchy. He was awarded the title of the duke after he became a war hero and this will be his land to rule now.
I can imagine his silver armor shining with the blood splattered on his chest, his sinewy arms reaching out to receive the highest honor possible for a commoner…the title of Duke. The grit and muck on his face could not hide the valiant smile and the brilliance of his eyes.
"Lady Leto…" a familiar voice beckoned me.
Lady Leto….it has been a while since he addressed me like this. No wife…No Duchess…it almost feels- empty.
"Duchess Alynthi, my duke," I said turning back.
He was wearing a black fur-trimmed cloak, the slick hair was tousled and lost its sharpness. His green eyes although not visible to a human in such darkness were clearly shining.
"So-rry?" he tilted his head.
"I am now Duchess Alynthi. We got married just a moment ago,"
A deep blush crept on his cheeks,
"Ah! Yes, I suppose so. Duchess Alynthi…Duchess Alynthi…duchess…duch…" He whispered under his breath.
"Duke?...Duke…DUKE!" I rose my voice a little.
"Oh! I am so sorry. I was just thinking about something and then somehow I got lost in another thought. Anyway isn't it so cold now, I wonder if there will be a snowstorm but rest assured the guest will leave before dawn to the City of Desmond. I do not want them to stay here, especially since they are so mean to you. Even Al-Alfred will leave for the Royal Capital so he will make you feel uncomfortable anymore. Not that I am assuming anything about you I just thought that it would make you uncomfortable so please tell me …"
"Why are you here?" I interrupted with surprise, this was the first time I heard him talk so much.
"Huh?" He raised his eyebrows, the blush becoming redder.
"Don't tell me you are here because Prince Alfred told you…"
"NO!' He screamed, eyes wide with defiance
"I am here because I wanted to gift you something."
He took out a black box from the folds of his cloak, fingers fumbling while taking it out.
"This is a jewelry box I came across during the expedition to Lumer City. The flowers on the lid are made from sea shells. I suppose you have never seen the ocean, but sea shells are like the jewels of the sea. I brought it from a young girl with sparkling grey eyes which resembled just like these flowers, but never had anyone to gift it."
He extended the small lacquer box with lilies and birds, white sparkling roses entwining the tails of the sparrow. I ran my hand on the sea shell carvings, their white color, a stark contrast to the lacquer body. The box was warm from the heat of his hand.
He spoke in a quiet voice, his eyes fixed on the ground. His cheeks were so red that it seemed all the blood from his body rushed to his face. "B-ut to-day." His voice cracked.
"But today when I saw you…sparkling like the seven colors of infinity. I thought that finally found the recipient of this treasure."
It really was a treasure. The city of Lumer had ceased to exist since the war with Abalone two years ago. This box was the only testament left of their craft.
"I shall always treasure it, Duke." I gave him a small smile.
Hadrian looked at my expression with a sigh of relief, a smile crept on his lips as if he was satisfied with this outcome.
"But I am afraid that this box will remain empty forever. Dragons don't adorn themselves with jewels."
"Ah! I suppose you are right. As if someone as beautiful as you with hair like melted silver and luminescent like the moon will need anything to adorn herself."
"I am not talking about your personal preferences. There is, no- was a tradition in dragon folk to not adorn oneself with any kind of jewels. Only our ceremonial garb will be adorned with a few precious stones blessed by the temple of the first Dragon Methuselah."
"That's a pity…I thought this box will have a diamond hairpin that will illuminate your hair and some jade bracelets that you can wear with green and red gowns. Your pale complexion would have looked exquisite with pearls or rubies and emerald too but I think you would look prettiest with jade and diamonds…." He prattled on, with his head swinging side to side.
I sighed…. "How about you give me a piece to treasure in this pretty box?"
Hadrian fell silent, his face inscrutable.
"D-uke?" I called.
"Yes? Yes."
"What happened? I just asked you a question."
"Nothing I was just surprised...I would love to pick out an ornament for you. I will leave for the best jewelers in the Royal Capital with due haste tomorrow. It would certainly be difficult to find just one piece but I will do my best.
"Please don't be impatient. It would probably be the first and the last piece of jewelry I will ever receive from anyone."
"Then I will dedicate my whole life to find such a piece…one of a kind and so beautiful that it would take everyone's breath away. You will look like a goddess. Not that you don't look now. I believe that any amount of jewelry will pale in your comparison." He smiled proudly.
I sighed, his face made him so delectable to tease, "I am a dragon though…."
"Then the most beautiful dragon of this world." He replied without a moment of hesitation.
"I am the last dragon so there really is no one to compete against me." I prodded, shaking my head.
"Hmmmm…." He scrunched his brows, and an unfamiliar pout formed on his lips. Moments passed and he did not speak.
"How about the most beautiful wife in this world?" blush painted his cheeks red again, a bashful laugh hiding the cuteness.
I smiled, I was a fool in my previous life. This man never deserved to be treated that way. "Looking at your expression I think I have already achieved that."
"Yes…" he whispered.