If she kisses me

Charlotte and Édouard arrived at the palace. The servants were standing on either side of the cobblestone pavement. Édouard was holding Charlotte's hand and smiling. 

She was nervous thinking everyone would be present at the wedding feast. She and her family might be ridiculed for marrying the Duke. She might be called a woman with no dignity. 

Her thoughts were interrupted when Édouard wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her. She gaped at him, wondering why he did that. 

Before she could ask him, he answered her queries. "It's a ritual to carry your bride in your arms," he stated and asked her to hold him tightly. Charlotte didn't lift her arms and continued to stare into his eyes when Édouard grasped his arm and brought it to his shoulder. 

"I don't want to do this ritual," she stated and pulled her hands back. She asked him to put him down before others saw them. 

"It's fine if you don't want to hold me," he said with a smile and started walking carefully. She asked him if they would not go to the wedding feast because that was the most important part of any wedding. Feeding the guests with lavish food and then gifts. 

"We are heading to the grand dining hall," he stated. 

"Your Excellency, put me down. Many eyes will be on us, and you cannot carry me like this. I do not want to get embarrassed. I know that you are doing this intentionally," Charlotte requested with him first, and then got furious at him when he didn't listen to her. 

"You used to be a calm woman. Since when did you become aggressive or are you aggressive towards me only?" Édouard arched his eyebrows as he took a halt for a brief moment. 

"Now, put me down," Charlotte glared into his eyes and then hit his shoulder. 

Rainard was standing a few metres away from them, smiling to see them arguing. However, he was still concerned about Édouard, who had been living with his unrequited feelings for years. 

"I will put the Duchess down if she kisses me," Édouard said, and his lips curled into a smirk. Charlotte's ears turned red, not because of shyness, but of the anger that had grown tremendously by that time. She averted her gaze from him, and it made him smile. He resumed the walk, and soon, they were outside the grand dining hall, where every guest was present. 

The guests had arrived earlier because of the shorter route that they followed, while the Duke and the Duchess had to cover the longer route that was used by commoners. 

The doors of the hall opened and the sounds died out. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the door. Édouard had already put Charlotte down, and she felt better. It would have been a super embarrassing moment for her if Édouard had walked in, taking her in his arms. 

She had lowered her head when he whispered near her ear, "Don't be nervous. In my territory, no one is allowed to say anything bad about you."

She looked at him for a brief moment and felt the assurance. They walked into the hall and then stopped before the King and the Queen to bow before them. 

Queen Anneliese smiled, looking at her son. He looked extremely happy after a long time. This moment she wanted to capture and had already instructed the photographer about it. 

Édouard and Charlotte turned towards the guests to give them the curtsey. After that, they went to the platform where the King was seated. Édouard helped Charlotte sit down first, and then he took his seat. On his right were his parents, seated. 

The wine was poured into the glasses and King Christian toasted them in the name of Édouard. Everyone raised their glasses and then drank the wine after the King. 

The meals were served and everyone began eating. Charlotte looked at her father, who had begun eating. He seemed happy to her and it brought peace to her heart. After all, she decided to re-marry for her father's sake more than for herself. 

She was only moving the spoon on the plate when Édouard brought the fork in front of her mouth. It had a steak in it, and he gestured to her to open her mouth. Charlotte opened her mouth a little and ate a tiny part of it. She chewed it and looked away. Édouard ate the remaining steak and felt happy. 

His two younger brothers came to him to toast a glass of wine, which he could not even refuse. Anneliese looked at Charlotte, who was seated on her right. 

"How have you been?" The Queen asked Charlotte. 

"I am fine. Thank you for asking, Your Majesty," she humbly replied. 

"I am glad that you decided to give yourself a chance. Édouard will keep you happy," Anneliese stated with a smile and asked Charlotte to eat her food. However, Charlotte wasn't hungry. She had lost her appetite. She suddenly recalled how she had had her first wedding meal with Mathieu. Her hold on the spoon tightened and her eyes turned misty. 

She came out of her thoughts when she felt a gentle pat on her back. It was Édouard. She confusedly glanced at him. Unbeknownst to her, a tear poured down her cheek. He used his thumb to wipe that tear before anyone could notice it, and then looked at the front. He picked up the clean spoon and hit it lightly against the wine cup.

The guests looked in his direction.

"Forgive me for interrupting everyone in the middle of the feast. My wife and I are tired, so we will take our leave. Charles will show the rooms to you all after dinner." Édouard stood up and pulled Charlotte up. He bowed at the King and the Queen before leaving the hall from the front side door with Charlotte. 

Rainard and Charles followed them when Édouard stopped. He tilted his head and asked him not to follow them anymore. They both went back to the feast hall while Édouard left with Charlotte. 

"I didn't want to hold the feast, but my mother would not be happy. She had been waiting for this day for such a long time," Édouard stated. He looked straight because if he met her gaze, he knew that she would end up crying again.