The Wedding

Iria Alewine never once thought that there would come a day when she wore a red wedding dress that had an eagle tailored in it.

Eagle - the symbol of the Qalagon Kingdom.

She just realized today that only the heir apparent and his bride had the right to wear a dress that had the symbol of the kingdom on their wedding day. It was the custom in Qalagon which even the other royal princes were not granted.

It will be a huge honor if she was from this kingdom but... the Commander had a bitter feeling. In the past, whenever she saw soldiers who had eagle tailored on their uniform, she won't have to think twice before she unsheathed her sword. Right now, she was wearing the same symbol!

The wedding will take place in the main hall of the palace. She didn't care much about that but... after the wedding, she was supposed to move into the Crown Prince's palace. That only means more risk. She shouldn't be exposed by any means!

*

The number of people who came to attend the wedding was much more than the people who attended the feast that was held on the night of her arrival. What's more, thousands of people gathered outside the palace to congratulate their Crown Prince on his wedding. It seemed like the influenced Arin Helev had on the people was huge!

Iria Alewine was making her way to the platform once again with a huge audience standing on both sides. The King and Queen were sitting on their throne on the platform and Crown Prince Arin was standing before the platform, wearing a wedding dress which also had an eagle tailored in it. He was turning in her direction.

A middle-aged man who was in charge of officiating all royal events was standing on the platform a step away from the Crown Prince.

All eyes were on Iria right now. Yesterday, she was briefed on the custom of the royal weddings here and she was always a fast learner.

When she reached the point where the Crown Prince was standing, the latter offered his hand to her and they stood together before the platform. Once in a while, Arin Helev would give a side glance to Hanson who was standing on one corner in the right.

Before the wedding, Hanson had told him that he had double-checked everything and there was no fault. However, the Crown Prince still couldn't feel at ease.

It's the palace where it's impossible to trust anyone. With the enemy around, things were never predictable.

"We will start the wedding ceremony of His Highness Crown Prince Arin Helev and Her Highness Princess Iria Aventine of Jerivia." The marriage officiant said. "This alliance marriage is arranged to stop the bloody rivalry between the two Kingdoms. On behalf of His Majesty King Regan Helev, I informed everyone to give their all in maintaining this peace, so that it will last for more generations to come." He added.

It's just a cover. Why did they have to try so hard to put on an act? That's what Iria thought. However, she maintained a calm demeanor.

"I will ask His Highness Crown Prince Arin Helev. Do you promise to take Princess Iria Aventine as your wife and protect her for life?"

Crown Prince Arin narrowed his eyes before he glanced straight again. "I do."

"Now, I will ask Princess Iria Aventine. Do you promise to take Crown Prince Arin Helev as your husband and respect him for life?"

If her real name was called rather than the Princess name, Iria won't be able to utter anything. She never made a promise which she won't be able to keep. She inwardly apologized to her friend for using her name to make a fake promise.

She fell silent for a while and murmurs soon erupt. Did the Princess had a second thought? Why didn't she give an answer? When everyone in the hall was staring at her with a flustered yet curious face, Arin Helev still remained calm. He only narrowed his eyes once.

The people started to lose hope until...

"I do." She finally muttered the two words with much difficulty which made the murmur faded.

Then the rings were brought to them. Arin took the diamond ring and before he let her wear it, he gave a side glance to the Queen who was sitting beside the King.

Queen Lorey Helev glanced at the wedding ring and when she had a good look, she raised a brow and clenched her fist. Secretly gritting her teeth, she barely managed to sit still on her throne.

Crown Prince Arin turned a blind eye to this and put on the ring on Iria's ring finger. Iria simply took the other ring and did the same, having no idea of the story behind her wedding ring.

"Now, I proclaimed you husband and wife." The officiant declared and it was followed by continuous clapping hands of the audience but it wasn't over yet.

An enchanting tiara decorated with sapphires and many different types of gems which was always passed on to the Crown Princesses of Qalagon was brought in.

Crown Prince Arin stepped up on the platform and took the tiara, ready to crown his new wife as the Crown Princess.

A kneeling cushion was brought in as it was the custom to kneel when one was crowned and it caught all Iria's attention right away but... the Crown Prince stretched out his right palm to the servant who brought the kneeling cushion, making him halted. This made everyone flustered.

"It's not necessary to kneel. I can do it from here." He said and turned to Iria, placing the tiara on the crown of her head.

"Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Iria Helev of Qalagon!" The officiant announced her new title but...

Everyone glanced at the King with a confused face, hoping that he would say something but... all King Regan did was staring at his son with a smile. He didn't care about the breaking of the custom at all!

When Iria was informed of the wedding customs yesterday, this was the thing that bothered her the most - kneeling before the future King of Qalagon. She really wished to skip this part and... it was gone just like that?!

She was so lost in her thought and she realized only now that the Crown Prince already offered his hand again to her. Then she promptly holds his hand and they walked out of the hall together and the audience shouted in unison.

"Hail to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess!"

Unbeknownst to everyone, the Crown Prince inwardly sigh in relief for wrapping up the wedding quietly but... will it last long?