Anthonette pressed her palms together after the priest had blessed her. She muttered a quiet prayer even though she wasn't that religious. She's met the priest a couple of times so the rites wasn't as strange as the first time.
She left the altar to meet Violette who waited for her to take her bridal vows. "I wonder if I'll be taking my vows anytime soon, someone should marry me already." Violette feigned her tears comparatively Anthonette couldn't hold back her amusement.
"Don't think marriage is easy Violette. Didn't you turn 18 last week ? Have a little fun cause once you're married it's you and your partner for life, their burdens are your burdens, your pain are their pain, your achievements are their achievements." Pushing her face towards Violette Anthonette continued.
"And if you decide to have kids you no longer live for yourself, you no longer worry for yourself for the rest of your life you will be a parent guiding and advising them." Violette was already spooked out thus and so she wanted to cry but a drop didn't fall from her eyes.
"I don't want to get married now. You're right I'm still young. I'll work hard save money and travel the world." Anthonette chuckled as she met up with the Duke's servant.
"Lady Anthonette, the duke sent us to escort you on your way to the Imperial Palace."
"Imperial Palace ?" Violette muttered. "Aren't we supposed to head back and perform the lady's farewell ritual ?" The farewell ritual was nothing different than a bachelorette party in this world.
"We apologize for the impromptu arrival but we have to work with time here. We will only let the lady pack lightly and we're off to the Imperial Palace." Anthonette nodded, she was pissed though.
The maids had something planned for her farewell ritual, she felt bad that they prepared it for her but she couldn't enjoy it.
They all went to the Hivera's mansion for Anthonette to pack, the maids muttered words of encouragement and consolation.
Soon they were done packing each of the maid hugged Anthonette. This might be the last time they see her. She was going to stay at the Imperial Palace for the custom that the bride spent two weeks in the house of the groom's father.
Unavoidably the Duke's father was the Emperor so she was technically walking to deaths door.
"Will I be able to see the new Lord of the house before I go ?" Anthonette asked. Previously when she was married she really didn't really care who was left to manage the Hivera's inheritance. Back then Lord Hivera might have taken care of it but now he no longer existed.
"Oh he would be arriving tommorow, I'll send him your regards if you want." Anthonette nodded. She said goodbye to every servant she could remember.
The maids were still weeping and she had not departed yet.
"How come Violette only followed you my lady, wasn't I good to you ?" Anthonette could not suppress her laugh. "I wish I could take all of you too but Duke Ezra appointed her as my personal maid." The maids seemed to understand but their union was cut short as they had to leave.
Anthonette waved goodbye to her servants including the butler who pretended not to be sad about the lady's absence.
"I'm going to miss them" Anthonette mummur finally settling down on her seat. "The journey will be long my lady. I bought a lot of board games so we can play on the way. I also bought some novellas, this one was recommended the retailer..." While Violette went on and on about the novel, Anthonette went to Ezra.
They hadn't heard from each other in a while. She refuses to write to him since there was no need to write for her. She already indicated that their relationship was professional so she couldn't just write to him out of nowhere.
Her mind went to what he told her days ago before their separation.
You will spending two weeks at palace to honor the rights of the bride living with the groom's family. I should be there with you but I will be very busy and will likely make it on our wedding night.
No matter where you are, always have my men by your side as well as your maid, be careful.
Anthonette could still feel the goosebumps that appeared on her skin. She knew the risk of being associated with the Imperial family but if Ezra knew it would be dangerous he wouldn't have sent her there. Besides in the book Anthonette doesn't die at the hands of the emperor. But still in the book there was no such rite mentioned. Anthonette was just married, the process wasn't explained.
Come to think of it, when she married her ex husbands she wasn't aware of this custom.
Was it only applicable to candidates marrying into the Imperial family ?
This seemed to be the only sensible explanation.
Anthonette grew tired of thinking and before she knew it she arrived at the Imperial Palace.
Two of Duke's Ezra guard was assigned to her, the moment she got down from the carriage they stood in front of her with their hands close to their weapons.
The person who welcome Anthonette was the 7th concubine Naomi. she reached out to hug Anthonette but she was quickly stopped by Anthonette's guard's.
"Well isn't that rude, I wish to greet my daughter in-law." She pouted out of fustration. "We cannot let you touch the mistress. Greet her from over there." So much for bonding with the groom's family.
Some of the Duke's servant as well as Violette helped her move her things to her room. The only person that came over to greet her was Naomi but she was always declined by the guards.
Days passed, Anthonette was at the Imperial garden reading one of the books Violette bought for her. She could hear mummurs, they weren't far off. "She is beautiful, they weren't kidding." She decided to pay deaf ears and focus on her book. "Do you think we can talk to her ?"
"Unless you want to lose your head."
"The Duke sure is strict, even Naomi wants to give up at this point. He won't let anyone see her and the Emperor hasn't even thought to welcome her."
"I'm sure the Duke had a hand in it."
Anthonette shut her book, she was already fed up with people taking her for some exotic pet.
"Let's head inside I'm tired." Violette agreed as she escorted lady to her room. On their way they met up with the second 4th prince of Cordenia. He was outside of her room waving way too excitedly.
The guards stood in front of her pointing their weapons towards the prince. "Oh my, the duke must really want my lady to socialize. Don't you get bored miss ?" Anthonette didn't want to answer him, she signalled Violette to unlock the door immediately.
"My lady before you dismiss me I'm..."
"Not interested.." Anthonette refused bluntly. Before the prince could throw a fit, 28 guards gathered at her dorm. The fourth prince immediately bowed slightly.
It was not the Emperor he bowed to just now.
Anthonette turned around to see a very familiar figure. Someone she thought she wouldn't see in this life as well. He was supposed to arrive less than two weeks from now.
He was early
She was in shock that she almost forgot to pay her respect. "Crown prince Eden..." She mummur.
The crown prince looked her up and down. Her guards almost stood in front of her but she stopped them. "How long has it been ? 10 years. We should catch up." All Anthonette could do was bowed and kindly decline him.
"We cannot your highness, I'm betrothed to the Duke, I'm merely performing my rites and I would like to steer clear from trouble since when ever we meet it's nothing but trouble." Anthonette hoped he recalled getting poisoned by her. He only shrugged.
"It's all in the pas.." Anthonette already went in her room before he could complete her sentence.
"So this was the girl my father fears more than death.." he quietly muttered to himself. Not bad Ezra, I seem to have taking a liking to her, I hope you don't mind if we share her.