20 XIX. The Painting

Magnus was trying to tie his cravat as he was looking at the reflection in the mirror. Calm down, you idiot. It was just a wedding, yeah, nothing special about it, he thought as he was trying so hard to be shaken as his hands were pulling at the fine linen before someone was clicking his tongue behind him.

"Here, let me, Your Highness," James said before Magnus was rolling his eyes at him. His younger brother was being an ass on his wedding day right now.

What could go wrong with that, right?

Magnus was taking a deep breath before he was turning to look at James. His idiotic brother just smiled smugly before he expertly tied the cravat and brushed some invisible linen on his coat before he was nodding approvingly at Magnus.

"How do I look?" Magnus asked before spreading his hands wide. James smirked.

"Like a future prince of the realm," he said before Magnus was rolling his eyes but a smile was on his lips.

"You know, someday you will be marrying someone as well," Magnus said before he was smoothing the hair that has been pomaded. James smirked at him.

"Tell what you want, brother. But I think my life as a rake will never end and I will make sure that every lady in the realm will know that I am the most eligible bachelor that they could have but cannot," James said confidently before he was rolling his eyes. Magnus nodded at his own reflection before he was making his way to the door. James followed his pursuit.

"I mean, what's a great deal about marrying someone anyway? When you can have any wench that available for you," James said as he was strolling down the long hallway of the castle. There were so many people that will be attending the wedding.

After all, it was their princess that was getting married to one Lord Magnus Flemington, the Earl of Kensington.

Magnus sighed before he turned to look at James. His younger brother did not understand the concept of love and that was why he will never be accepting any female that wanted more than sexual pleasure.

I wonder who will tame the beast inside him? Magnus thought before their grandmother was greeting them at the end of the door before the union that will be held in the garden. The old dowager was looking at Magnus and his immaculate dressing before her eyes were looking at James. His younger brother was whistling before the old dowager was shaking her head, mumbling under her breath.

Magnus wondered what she thought of James.

"Now, children. Let's get you wed, Magnus," Grandma said before he was walking out of the garden and took his place at the end of the altar before the bishop that will be officiating the wedding today.

Magnus cannot wait to get over with it.

*****

"Oh, my word! You are a vision, dear," the queen said as Casey was looking at the mirror. She was adorning the ivory wedding gown that compliments her auburn hair and her grey eyes. She was turning to look at her mother before she was kissing Casey's cheeks.

"Oh, I cannot tell how happy I was when you decided to marry him. I must tell you, Magnus is the right choice for you, no matter what your cousins said," the queen was looking at her cousins, the Quinnstons as they were chatting on the bed before Casey winked at her mother.

"And you will be busy planning their wedding as well. I'm sure you will have your hands full later on, mother," Casey whispered before the queen snorted.

"And God knows when will your brother get married. And who's the lucky woman that will be his queen later on. He spent so much time in that chamber of his too much that I don't think any eligible ladies would be talking to him during the ball. His skin was too pasty for their taste," her mother said before she was addressing her cousins.

Veronica, Victoria, Violette, and Vanessa were greeting their aunt before they were looking at Casey. Then, they squirmed as Casey was making her way to the door to get to the altar.

It was time for her wedding.

"Oh, you look so adorable, cousin," Veronica said before Victoria was nodding in agreement with her.

"I can see why your betrothed would be delighted to have his hands all over you tonight," Victoria added with a smirk on her lips. The other gasped.

"Control yourself, woman,"

"You cannot say that, Tori. What would others say?"

"You're lucky we're not in the present company of lords. Or they might be thinking that we are too scandalous to be their wives now,"

Tori just rolled her eyes before she was looking at Casey. She was the only one that was not commenting on the vulgar language that Tori said.

Which was why Tori liked her very much.

"Come now, everyone. We have to get Casey to Lord Magnus before he thinks that she ran away," the queen said before the Quinnstons were mumbling against themselves.

"Like what happened last time?" Tori said before Casey was nudging her when they walked out of the room to the garden as the sun was shining for the perfect moment to exchange their vows.

*****

Casey was taking a deep breath before she was looking at the huge oak doors that will be opening before her to show the garden wedding of the century. She was nervous beyond any reason but right now, she was more excited than anything.

Finally, it will be the first night they will be sleeping together again after that moment in stables. And Magnus has been unable to keep his hands to himself these couple of days. Sure, they did not have any joining but they spent other ways to learn about each other.

And his skillful tongue was bringing pleasure to her like no other. As well as Casey's hands. Then, the door opened and the Wedding March was playing.

Casey was blinded by the sunlight before she was looking at the crowd. The gentry of Caga was coming here to witness the union of the princess of the realm with Lord Magnus Flemington, the Earl of Kensington. She took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Toward the future where she will be spending every moment with Magnus by her side as her husband and partner for life.

*****

Magnus was looking at Casey before he was smiling widely as the ivory gown was giving her skin the healthy glow that he knew everyone would be jealous of. Finally, she's mine, he thought as the music from the pianoforte was playing with every step that Casey took toward him.

He was taking a deep breath before there was heat behind his eyes. He will cry for today was the day that Magnus Fleming will cease to exist and became Lord Magnus Flemington, Earl of Kensington.

This was the step that he will be taking to forget his past life as Casey was standing in front of him and he was holding her hands before the bishop was clearing his throat, addressing the audience.

"Dearly beloved, we gather here today to witness the exchange of vows between two souls to become one…"

The bishop's words were falling on deaf ears as Magnus was focusing on Casey's face. Her hair was ornate with jewels and it was shining under the morning lights. The hair was arranged in coronet style before the bishop was clearing his throat again.

"The rings," he said before he was gesturing to his helper to bring forth the rings. Then, Magnus took the ring and repeated what the bishop has spoken to him.

"I, Lord Magnus Flemington, Earl of Kensington, bid thee to my life, my body and soul, as long as I shall live. I will cherish only your body and none other as my heart belongs to you as yours belong to mine. This is my Vow to you and by the spirit, Death will come after me if I broke it," Magnus said before he slid the ring on as the thunder was heard from a distance. Then, Casey did the same as she repeated the Vow.

"I, Her Royal Highness Christy Donavan, Princess of Cage, bid thee to my life, my body and soul, as long as I shall live. I will cherish only your body and none other as my heart belongs to you as yours belong to mine. This is my Vow to you and by the spirit, Death will come after me if I broke it," she said exactly like he did before the bishop was praying for their prosperity and well wishes for their upcoming marriage.

"With the power that has given to me by the spirits, I call thee man and wife. You may kiss your bride, Your Highness," the bishop said before Magnus was pulling Casey by the nape and sealed their Vows together in a searing kiss as the crowd was applauding and cheering for them.