Arabella
The day of our small wedding came and to my surprise, I woke up excited. Only a little. The idea of marriage was always something I thought I'd have when I met the right one but over the last few days Luca and I spent each morning wandering the gardens of the castle, playing chess and discussing the ways of the world from his perspective.
He knew so many stories about history, things that were lost in time or were never written down. He'd met Kings, Queens, seduced Princesses and even a few Princes in his time. If it wasn't planned that we were to wed, I'd perhaps kept him around as an advisor. His knowledge about battlefields and warfare were something I'd never thought I'd have an interest in.
We were lucky with the peace within the Empire. I had a deep feeling in the pit of my stomach that was going to change. Once news of my marriage spread, as I was sure it would. Nothing was ever truly a secret within these walls and if it hadn't already reached outsider ears, it would by the end of the day.
"Oh! You look wonderful, your Majesty."
Exclaimed May as she brushed out some loose curls around my face, while Lea dotted some pink blush against my cheeks.
There was a time when the idea of my wedding dress wasn't what I saw now mirrored back at me. A plain white dress with small sprinkles of glitter and jewels, nothing fitting of an Empress but pretty enough for the ceremony. Dotted in my hair were light pink rose petals to give my hair some eye-catching colour but other than that, I looked plain.
"Thank you May."
"Did you think you were going to ever get married?" Asked Lea as she helped May slip on my white slippers.
"I don't think her Majesty thought she'd marry a vampire, that's for sure."
Trying not to laugh out loud, I could only smile while they continued to finish dressing me until finally I saw the finished image. Tristian's reflection in my mirror brought a small smile to my lips as we caught each other's eye, and he smiled back.
"No matter what you wear sister dear, you will always look lovely to me."
"That's good to know, now to see if Lord Luca will approve of such a boring gown."
"He'd be a fool to say otherwise — shall we then?"
Extending his hand out to me, I took it gently. May and Lea followed me, one of them lifting the train of my dress and the other holding my small bouquet of white and pink roses. Just something to tie everything together they said.
The walk to the castle chapel was only a short walk but Tristin insisted we take one of the plain looking carriages, so no one noticed us as the castle was a bustle with bodies as everyone continued to prepare for the banquet we'd planned on later than evening. Thankfully no one would be none the wiser as I had another dress ready prepared for the party.
As we pulled up to the chapel doors, the minister was standing waiting outside. Lord Luca and his companion would already be waiting inside as directed. Tristian was out of the carriage before I could even take everything in and had his hand held up to help me out. My shadow guards stood waiting at the entrance of the chapel, lurching in the shadows as that's what they were good at. Fast killers and you wouldn't see them coming.
"Good morning, your Majesty. Your betrothed is waiting inside but first, I need to ask you a few questions before we can head in."
The minister was one my mother hired to take over the chapel after the last one passed and I was sad to say I didn't know him as well as I should have. The chapel and I weren't a place I mixed in, even though I should always make time. Any praying I did was mostly done in the comfort of my own rooms before I slept.
"Are you sure you'd like to go ahead with this marriage?" He asked me in a worried tone, his heavy-lidded grey eyes watching me closely, as if I were to give anything away.
"Yes, I wish to go ahead." I nodded before taking a step towards the door and the Minster placed his hand on my elbow, to which my guards and Tristian stiffened, each with their hands on their sword handles.
"Empress, this is a safe space. You can speak freely if you are being forced to marry that creature."
Eyeing Tristian as I felt his eyes on me, we both stared at each other for a second, he could read me like a book and I him. We'd been discreet about what Luca was but obviously not secret enough.
"Minster, I am unsure of what you may have heard but Lord Luca is from one of the highest orders. It is not only a blessing but a gift to marry someone as esteemed as he is — If you cannot bless this marriage, then I will seek someone else to do your duty from here on out." I commanded, giving him a look of control masked with temper. He let go of me seconds later and stepped back, bowing in respect.
"My apologies, I only wish to serve you, my Empress and the Empire. I will not question your judgement again."
Nodding in response, Tristian and the guards relaxed and as a guard opened the chapel door, the minister walked in first and then I did. My arm linked in Tristian's as my heartbeat loudly in my chest. This moment was really happening and unlike the wedding for an Empress, this would do just fine.
Entering the chapel, what greeted me was not only the beautiful sunlight that shined through the stained-glass windows decorated with our Gods, but Luca turned towards me, and I felt my heart skip a little in my chest.
He wore a dark black dress jacket, a high neck white shirt decorated with a red ruby brooch and a dark red waistcoat, along with his red hair loose and tidy. He looked just as he did that night on the balcony, enchanting and deadly.
As we reached the end of the aisle, he held out his hand for mine and as I grasped it, I was surprised by how warm it felt. Linking my other arm into his, Tristian stood on my left while Luca stayed on my right.
As the minister began the small and intimate ceremony, we skipped the part about vows and if anyone opposed and went straight to agreeing to be kind to one another, to support and care for each other. Those were the only promises we could make for one another, our marriage would surely only last the eighteen months I promised Luca and if it lasted longer than that. With everything working out in some magical way, then we would renew our vows in front of the Empire. Or at least, that's what I'd decided last night while I laid in bed wondering what today would bring.
Turning to face each other as directed, we held one another's hands and began our promises in front of the God's.
"Do you, Lord Luca, vow to always protect the Empress even if at the risk of your own life?" Asked the minister, something I'd not agreed to be asked.
"I swear it." Luca smiled at me faintly, his forest eyes dancing as he looked me up and down.
"Do you, Empress, promise to support and protect Lord Luca, in any way you can?"
These promises weren't what we planned, and I was beginning to wonder if the minister had other things in mind for this ceremony. I would send Tristian to question him once this was done as a small shiver ran down my spine.
"I promise." I replied, smiling softly at Luca, playing along.
"I believe Lord Luca's companion has the rings."
As instructed, Darc stepped forward and handed over the wedding rings to the minister who went on to bless them both. Another surprise, one I'd not been spoken to about before this. Even Luca appeared to have a ring. A silver plain band. He moved to take hold of the ring that would become mine and my breath caught at the sight of it.
A delicate silver diamond encrusted ring, with a halo setting that split down either side of the band. The figure diamond, a pale pink and the small circle around it were smaller white diamonds. It was breathtaking as it caught the sunlight before sliding halfway onto my wedding finger.
"Do you, Lord Luca, agree to cherish, honour and care for the Empress Arabella Rose Wolfe as long as you shall live?"
"Much longer than that." Luca winked at me as he pushed the ring further onto my finger with ease. As if the ring was made to fit only me.
I then did the same with his ring, promising the same to my surprise. This marriage was surely only for the time we agreed and there would be nothing but respect here? No love or longing. Only friendship and a debt being paid.
"Wonderful, with the marriage bands now blessed and the vows made. I will now proclaim you husband and wife. You now may kiss the bride."
Neither of us willing to move first, I wasn't sure if I wanted a kiss. I'd settle for perhaps a graceful kiss on the hand or cheek but as Luca stepped forward, I felt myself unable to move away.
Just a breath away, his warmth radiated towards me and my breath caught once again. This time he smelt of firewood and rain, it was intoxicating.
Looking up at him, he licked his lips and seconds later placed a small, delicate kiss on my lips. A peak, but it stirred something deep within me and it felt as if we were frozen in time for that second, until he pulled away and left a gentle kiss on my wedding ring.
Tristian and Darc clapped lightly as we walked out of the chapel and back into the carriage together. Tristian and Darc taking the one Luca had arrived in, but instead of us following them back to the castle, we took a short ride towards the summer lodgings on the grounds to take a few moments to ourselves, before the fun began this evening.