D-Day Dinner
Arthur walked alongside the King around the Palace's hall to check the finishing preparation for the dinner gathering tonight.
"Good afternoon My King, The Preparation has been finished."
"Make sure to keep this place sterilized until tonight. I want to have some words with my son."
The Guard bowed down before leaving the place while Arthur continued to talk to his dad. He stepped forward and amazed with how they were all prepared for him and Gwen.
"Your wedding will be bigger than this…no need to feel shocked yet."
Arthur smiled at his father's words. He turned to him, "How did you feel when you came back to the Palace to marry mom?"
"It was weird. A part of me didn't want to go home–you know–The burden already welcomed you as The King. But the wedding itself made me giddy. That was the only thing that made me feel alive."
"Because of mom?"
"Of course," The King walked around and sat at one of the tables while Arthur kept following him around. "We are lucky to be able to decide whom we could marry. This isn't applicable to many monarch countries out there…That's why I treasure your mom so much. How about you? Is she good?"
"I won't marry her if she's not,Father."
"She has to be good. As a future Queen, she has to be approachable by our people, not just someone who wants to marry you because you're the prince."
"I can assure you that she is not that kind of person."
"Okay. I trust you." In the midst of father-son bonding, A guard came to them.
"I just want to inform you that the people from Helvia have already arrived at the castle."
Arthur exchanged looks with his father, "They belong to our union, right?"
"Exactly. They're our closest neighbor. We've planned to have tea time once they arrive here," The King got up from his seat and was followed by Arthur and the guard.
"All of them came here?"
"No, Just the King and his son, Eric. He is 2 years older than you and is about to marry soon, next year, I guess. I think you can create a bond with him since you two will be the kings in the future."
Arthur followed The King to the castle's lobby where The King of Helvia, Edmund Christopher Eric Archibald and his son, Eric Christopher Archibald, waited for them for the afternoon tea time.
"I apologize for making you wait. Must have been a tough journey–"
"We're the closest neighbor, remember?" Said King Eric and both of them laughed. "Ah, I brought my son here. Please introduce yourself."
The young man with a pair of huge beautiful eyes. He had the appearance of one who saw right to the heart and would take your entire soul as his friend, keeping it safe come what may. His hair was woven from the black heavens, fine strands of spacetime and starlight.
"My name is Eric. I sincerely congratulate you for your upcoming engagement and wedding, Prince Arthur."
"Thank you," Arthur shook his hand and let them sit comfortably to talk more together.
—
After the afternoon tea time and diplomatic things discussion, Arthur invited Eric for a short golf session at the backyard of the palace while the kings continued to have a light chit-chat.
"I'm glad you don't invite me for a cricket game," Eric was talking more comfortably with Arthur since he is only 2 years younger than him.
"We rarely play it ... .there is a competition for it every year, but not a kind of game where people love to play here. Helvian still play it?"
"Yea….kind of a part of my monthly physical exercise."
"No wonder you have such a nice figure."
"Thanks…you must have loved your woman a lot?"
Arthur paused for a moment and stole a questionable glance at Eric, "I-I am…how do you know?"
"The look on your face says it all," Eric hit the ball into the hole, "You know–The aura of a groom-to-be."
"I'm kind of embarrassed–Is that weird?"
"Well….Royal wedding is a feast for people but not exactly a feast for us…because, You know–"
"Yea the burden as a future king. I understand that."
"Right? But I kind of envy The Astorian Palace's culture–that one, What is it? The tradition where The Prince could look for his own spouse-to-be?"
"The Finding tradition?"
"Yea, That one! I wish I grew up with that tradition too."
"Can't you marry the woman you love?"
"I can. If I'm able to convince my parents well about it…but the reality is not that simple. I cannot just marry a commoner like you unless it's a special case."
"But I heard you're going to get married next year?"
"Right. But not with the woman I love. Unlike you."
—
The dinner night has started. It was aired live throughout the country. Many are gathered at the small park across the palace with a huge LED screen so they could watch together, even Gwen's cafe held the same event inside it. They did this, because later on,Arthur would greet them through the palace balcony and officially introduced his fiancee to his people.
Meanwhile inside the Palace, many important people were attending the gala dinner, being invited by The King, personally.
Eric entered the hall alongside his father and some of the Helvian people and the prime minister.They were there to discuss some diplomatic things with the King and stayed there until tomorrow morning.
One of the waiters guided them to their table. The event was about to start. The King and Queen walked side by side, greeting the guests on their left and right.
The host then explained that the event was held to celebrate the ending of The Finding tradition and welcomed the Prince back to the palace after living outside for years.
Arthur came and greeted the audiences. He had a chit-chat with the host while sharing about his memorable moment when he lived outside the palace and let everyone know what kind of problems are shared by their people and explained his idea to solve it in the future. That talk then led to the reason for the main event; Arthur's engagement night.
Arthur explained his point of view and how he fell in love with the woman whom he would marry soon before he introduced her to the guests. The main hall's door opened and Gwen appeared in a beautiful sparkly blue night sky. Her dark long hair styled in a formal bun with a bit of strong make-up that enhanced her beautiful facial features.
"She's my work of art," Helena smiled proudly at how beautiful Gwen looked that night.
"You did that?" Asked Max who sat on the same table as her.
"Of course! The gown looks pretty–radiates the beauty of Astoria's night sky–"
"Nightclub's lamp you mean–ack!" Max quickly covered his mouth with his hand when Helena smacked his chest.
"But it could be like that too…."
"Should we have a romantic dinner too after this? Just the two of us?" Max brought himself closer to Helena and whispered to her ears.
"We'll sneak out and make out?"
"That would be a great idea." They were about to kiss until realized that they were not alone in that place when their fathers started to cough.