While waiting for her sudden and hasty wedding, Rheannon remained "imprisoned" in the Palace. The difference is this time she occupies one of the rooms that deserve to be occupied by a noble lady, complete with super strict supervision. Not that Rheannon was constrained by it; there was an intruder from the Colton family among her overseers, Duke Colton himself visited every day to take care of her wedding preparations.
"Things like this should be left to women. I don't understand the needs of the bride," sighed Duke Colton, sounding sad and disappointed. "I should have put all the head maids in the townhouse, she's a middle-aged woman who just married her daughter last year."
Rheannon smiled amusedly. "No problem."
"How is it doesn't matter? It's your wedding." Duke Colton grabbed Rheannon's gloved hands and held them. "It should have been celebrated better and more appropriately – with new dresses and tiaras, make-up, flowers, and so on."
It was not that Rheannon didn't understand Duke Colton's anxiety. He has a daughter who one day will also marry. Moreover, his wife had long died, only a short time after giving birth to his daughter. His exhaustion in managing this marriage must have bothered him a little. Coupled with most of Colton's relatives are male, who else would take care of his daughter's wedding if not Duke Colton himself?
"But here you are now. Wearing my wife's wedding dress without knowing what your future husband would wear," continued Duke Colton. "At least I want you to look good together."
This was the first time Rheannon had heard her uncle complain like a parent.
Duke Colton smiled. "I'm worried about you," he said honestly. "Even though I thought, one day you could be truly free as a human, without the title of demon control or the Whitley family. You can live anywhere you want with a new name and a new life. While looking for you, I had everything planned. But..."
"I will… be back." Rheannon returned his uncle's smile.
"Yes, after this you will return. Don't be surprised to see Whitley's land on the way to Paiton later."
"Is it bad?"
"Not really. The land is managed as well as it was before. It's just… there isn't a single building there except for the workers' semi-permanent houses."
"Only fields?"
"Yes."
Rheannon's memory had faded. But from some of the past paintings in Axelle's castle, she could imagine fields of wheat and cotton, savannas with running animals, and vegetable plantations. Between the expenses, there will be small irrigated rivers…
Even though it was faint, Rheannon could feel her longing.
Then there was a knock on her door. A supervisor who was an intruder from Duke Colton came in carrying a dazzling bouquet of white and blue hydrangeas.
"His Highness Prince Axelle was not able to attend your wedding ceremony. But he left a present for you," said Duke Colton.
[To
Lady Rheannon Whitley,
Sorry for not being able to attend your wedding. Instead, I sent you a bouquet of flowers–Duke Colton kindly allowed me to pick flowers in his garden.
My most sincere prayers will always be with Lady Rheannon. I wish Lady Rheannon's marriage to Marquess Hadrian a happy ending.
Sorry that we parted in a bad way. Hopefully we can meet again soon.
Regards,
Axelle Rexton.]
"Prince Axelle has chosen his path now. Please be careful in Paiton later."
"Let's go."
***
No pounding while waiting. Whether this was normal or not, Hadrian wanted this whole procession to end soon.
Early this morning, he received a message from Axelle brought by a man from Duke Colton. A pair of rings and a letter. The angel-hearted prince still took the time to apologize and thank him for everything that had happened between them. Axelle also tells that the ring he sent has been blessed. In the final sentence of his letter, Axelle prays for Hadrian's marriage to Rheannon.
[...I wish Your Grace's marriage to Lady Rheannon to be blessed with all happiness...]
Unfortunately, Hadrian isn't sure if his marriage will "always be blessed with all happiness" by God up there. Oh my goodness, is God even willing to approve the marriage?
"The bride has arrived!"
At the end of the carpet, in the doorway, was a woman in an old Rexton wedding gown. The hood hid her face, her hands were clad in long gloves, the tail of her white dress was not that long but still swept across the floor, and everything was all white. In her hands, she held a bouquet of beautiful blue-and-white hydrangeas, a bouquet of hands that Hadrian seemed to recognize.
Duke Colton, Rheannon's guardian, reluctantly gave up his nephew. He ordered firmly and sharply, tending to threaten, "Take good care of Rhea."
It all depends on the will of the King, replied Hadrian in his heart.
"In the presence of the Great God, two beings will swear allegiance," High Priest Meical began the wedding procession.
Hadrian glanced at High Priest Meical, who was glancing at Rheannon meaningfully.
"On this blessed day, the Messenger of God came down to earth to witness and hear firsthand the promise that was about to be made, to be conveyed to Him," continued High Priest Meical. Both hands reached for Hadrian and Rheannon. His face smiled gently at the mention of their names, "Hadrian Melchoir, Rheannon Whitley, if there is any doubt, there is still time."
Hadrian and Rheannon faced each other, laying their hands on High Priest Meical without saying anything. There is no time to hesitate.
"Then, follow after me..."
Rheannon's voice was low and quivering repeating the sacred promise High Priest Meical had said. At the end of the sentence, she even coughed.
As Hadrian watched her hands and entire body tremble…
"With this, you are legally husband and wife," said High Priest Meical, slightly surprising Hadrian who couldn't even remember when he made the promise. "Your Grace may kiss your wife now."
Wife?
Kiss?
In front of him, Rheannon seemed to be waiting. So Hadrian moved to remove Rheannon's hood and studied her face for a moment. Her expression was too calm with a faint smile, just like the one Hadrian had seen recently in prison. Well, but Rheannon isn't in jail right now. Her face is much cleaner and more colorful now.
It was only then that Hadrian realized that the person in front of him was his wife. And, his wife is the only demon controller in Rexton.
Hadrian kissed Rheannon lightly on the forehead, silently praying,
[Please smooth all our life choices, keep us from harm even though we can't be happy. Amen.]