FLOWER REALM
_three days later_
"Elena, her majesty is waiting for you, you have to leave now" Ava said to the orange lily princess who pretended not to hear her "Elena, it wouldn't be a good thing if you're late to the Heavenly Emperor's wedding" Ava said and Elena looked at her "I'll only leave this bedchamber if you're going with me" she said and Ava sighed then nodded "yes, I'll go with you" she said and Elena smiled "you'll be going as my friend and not my maid" she said and Ava felt like pinching her ear "I honestly feel like pinching your ear, do you expect me to go as your friend in my maid's outfit" she said and Elena laughed out then stretched her hands towards Ava.
Orange fog-like substance emanated from Elena's palm and shrouded Ava completely, after a while, the fog dissipated and Ava was now wearing an off shoulder yellow dress, with matching yellow shoes, her hair which was initially let down on her shoulders was now held by a hairclip and it fell loosely behind her back, golden hairpins were clipped to one side of her hair. "Wow, I never knew sunflowers were this beautiful" Elena said and Ava scoffed "Chief Diana is beautiful so please don't even think of flattering me" she said and Elena grinned but it soon disappeared when she remembered Maya.
"I wish Maya was here, we all would have made heads turn together at the Emperor's wedding" Elena said and Ava sighed 'I hope Prince Riley doesn't take Maya to his parents' wedding' she thought and shook her head "do you want to mourn so I can tell her majesty to come pull you out of here herself or would you stand up" Ava said and the princess pouted "let's go" she said and stood up and they both left the bedchamber with heads held high.
...…
HEAVEN REALM
Sarah was getting ready for her big day when her sons arrived in her bedchamber "wow, mother you look so beautiful with all the makeup and the wedding dress" Riley said to his mother and she smiled. Sarah was putting on a white royal wedding dress with golden hems, the dress was embroidered with golden ornaments and a swan was placed on the chest of the dress, the skirt of the dress was floor length and it was designed with different kinds of flower ornaments. A golden crown and other hair ornaments graced her waist length hair which was now tied in a large decorated bun.
"I'm certain mother is the most beautiful empress the empyrean cloud palace has ever gotten and the most beautiful it would ever get" Dylan said and Riley nodded in approval, it's such a surprise how the rival twins are always in sync when around Sarah.
"You both should stop flattering me, your father might get jealous" she said with a smile and Riley chuckled "no one cares about that angry man" Dylan said and Sarah's mouth formed an 'ah' "you shouldn't say that about your father" she said and Dylan scoffed "he's right mother, we only care about you" Riley said and Dylan placed an arm on his brother's shoulder "you see mother, he agrees with me" he said and Sarah shook her head "both of you leave now, you're just so naughty" she said and they burst out laughing "take care, Empress Sarah" they said winking with a slight bow and they left her bedchamber.
Riley shoved Dylan's arm off his shoulder once they were out of Sarah's sight "easy brother, I don't plan on holding you any longer" Dylan said with a smirk "nor do I plan on seeing you any longer" Riley said coldly and left "we've only just started Riley, wait till I make you bow to me" Dylan said with clenched fists as he stared at Riley's retreating figure before he also left for his chambers.
.....
"Today is the Heavenly Emperor and Aunt Sarah's wedding but I can't attend it, this is so not good" Maya said to herself as she sat on the floor of her makeshift garden "I'm really tired of hiding" she said and sighed. She decided to revitalize her energy now that she was less busy; she transformed into her true form and rooted herself to the ground, she swayed to the cool breeze and started to bloom after some while.
The door to her bedchamber opened when she started to glitter really brightly, "Maya" Riley called out in a panic when he saw the bright glittery light that came from the balcony, he approached the balcony as the lights started to dim and finally disappeared.
He breathed out a sigh of relief when he saw the light came from Maya, "seems like she's revitalizing her energy" he said to himself and sat beside the glittery Vivory rose, he looked at her then smiled "I wish I could take you to the wedding, but the flower queen and her daughters would be there too" he said and just then she transformed back into her human form as she was done with the process.
"You mean, princess Elena is coming?" Maya asked him wide eyed and he nodded "the queen and her other daughter is coming as well" he said and she smiled "that means Ava would be here too" she said and her smile widened "I've missed her so very much" she said and her face dulled, then Riley held her by her shoulder "I'll make arrangements for you two to meet during the wedding" he said and her face brightened up again "I'm going to the wedding?" she asked "no, she'll come to meet you here, you both can stroll around my chambers for as long as you want" he said and she threw her arms around him.
Riley's eyes widened at her sudden action and he was left dumbstruck, he wrapped his arms around the slender figure hugging him and he smiled 'could she have fallen in love with me too' he thought and she smiled against his chest "thank you, Riley" she said and he stroked her hair "you're welcome" he said and she disengaged from the hug.
"Do you always shine so brightly when you revitalize your energy?" he asked her "yes, why do you ask" she said tilting her head a bit "I almost got blinded when I entered the bedchamber" he said and she smiled sheepishly "hehe, sorry" she said, making him chuckle at her cute face and she smiled when she heard his chuckle. Riley couldn't control himself and he poked her dimple, she touched her check and looked at him "why did you do that" she asked and he shook his head "nothing" he said and she silently looked out the balcony, enjoying the view of the empyrean cloud palace.
Riley stared at her calm face silently for a while and he smiled deeply to himself then went to his bedchamber to get ready for his parents' wedding.
.....
Dylan got to his bedchamber then he called for the maid who takes charge of dressing him up whenever there's an occasion in the palace. The maid was combing his hair when he remembered Stephanie then he scoffed "that beautiful warrior demon princess has stopped trying to take revenge on father and me, I guess I could have invited her over" he said with a smirk "she's so lucky Maya came into my life and I stopped thinking about other women" he said "otherwise, I would have brought her to my bed, maybe now that Maya's no more, I could give it a try".
"My dear Maya, forgive this handsome prince, he just can't resist a beautiful warrior princess even though he's in love with you" he said and sighed deeply, completely ignoring the maid who was present with him in the bedchamber. "Your highness, what colour would you like to wear" the maid asked him and he glared at her "are you stupid or you're trying to test my patience" he asked coldly and she instantly went on her knees "pardon me your highness, I would get the robe ready" she said and instantly brought out a blue regal robe.
After a short while, Dylan was fully dressed for the wedding, he looked at himself in the mirror with a satisfactory smile "indeed the most handsome man alive" he said with a nod and his cold aura instantly surfaced before he turned to the maid "leave now" he said and she bowed before leaving.
He called for Jimmy and the latter arrived out of thin hair "you called for me, your highness" he said bowing "yes, I'd like you to escort me to the emperor's bedchamber" Dylan said in a regal cold tone and the knight bowed "yes, your highness" Dylan nodded and he strode towards the door, heading for Richard's bedchamber with his guardian knight trailing behind him.