The Wedding

Princess Rizelle was standing before the door to the biggest hall of the main palace where the wedding will be held.

Everyone including Nicien Vamieres was already inside and now that the time for her to enter was fast approaching, she struggled to calm down her nerves.

Why was the situation so nerve-wracking yet scary at the same time?

She will be exchanging the wedding vows and doing the rituals with the man whom she barely knew. The man who didn't love her and... the man whom she didn't love. Somehow, the thought hit her hard.

Finally, the door was opened which meant she was supposed to enter now. She remembered her intention to always stay calm and collected before the Esrivenians. So, she slowly let loose of the wedding gown that she tightly squeezed out of nervousness and maintained her composure. Holding her head high as a royal should, she made her way inside and walked towards Prince Nicien who was waiting for her like everyone there.

The Prince was also wearing a red ceremonial coat that matched her wedding gown while the breeches and the long leather boots he wore were black. His red coat had many decorations that came in golden colors and as it was only deemed for royals, it made him give off a powerful aura.

As expected, the guests in the hall were much larger in numbers compared to the time Rizelle was introduced to the royal court three days ago. Considering the fact that all the guests had their observing gaze on her, the pressure was there but the Princess was trying hard to cope with it. She was now finally standing next to the Prince and though it only took her a minute, it felt like hours!

Prince Nicien Vamieres was as calm as that day but Rizelle had already gotten used to it. Then she looked at the King, the Supreme Princess, and the Crown Prince who were now sitting on the first row in her right. All of them had a smile on their faces but she believed that each of the meanings will be different.

The royal officiant was there to officiate the wedding and he was standing before Rizelle and Nicien.

At one point, Rizelle was curious about what might be in the Prince's mind.

Didn't he feel anything at all?

Again, what was she expecting?

As per the rule of Esriven, they both faced each other and kneeled down on the kneeling cushion provided for them when the royal officiant told them to. They were meeting each other's gaze yet they both appeared very calm.

Next, it was the wedding vows that weren't much different from the ones they used to exchange in Linolia. Rizelle Verona was trying her best not to hesitate while Prince Nicien had no problem in saying the vows as if they were a mantra that he strongly believed in.

He sure was strange, right?

Rizelle was struggling a bit when she was supposed to say 'to love' while exchanging the vows but... Nicien Vamieres didn't hesitate even in the slightest bit.

Just for once, it would feel so great to know what was on the mind of this mysterious Prince!

The third part was exchanging the wedding rings and it passed soon.

The last and final part seemed to be the easiest one as they were both supposed to drink a cup of sweet and sour wine. Rizelle had heard that the wine sealed the vows that they just exchanged. Just like the flavor was sweet and sour, drinking it proved that their marriage life will have good and bad days. However, swallowing would be their way of announcing how they would cope and overcome them.

Now that Rizelle thought about it, drinking the cup of wine appeared to be the easiest part of this wedding ritual but... it had the deepest meaning.

Can't they just cut it off considering the fact that this was an alliance marriage?

Well, even if the other marriages were not an alliance marriage like hers, it was always an arranged one. Love marriage was more than rare in the world they lived in, especially among the royals.

Once they finished drinking the wine, they both got back on their feet, still facing each other. The officiant proclaimed them husband and wife which was immediately followed by the sound of clapping and hailing for the new royal couple.

When the royal officiant said her name as 'Rizelle Vamieres' and not Rizelle Verona; that's when it hit Rizelle that she was now officially an Esrivenian. She was now the Princess Consort of an Esrivenian Prince and not the Princess of Linolia.

It's strange how a ritual that last just 10 minutes was powerful enough to change her name and even her nationality and at one point, it made her feel empty. She felt like she lost half of herself.

*

The wedding was held in the evening as per the royal customs of Esriven and it was instantly followed by a huge feast.

Princess Rizelle was sitting next to her newlywed husband. The Supreme Princess was sitting beside the Prince on the other side and next was King Hamon Caderin. The Crown Prince was sitting on his father's left.

As it was a wedding reception, the atmosphere was very lively and it seemed like everyone was enjoying themselves along with the dinner.

"I can see that everyone else looks forward to this as much as we do," Supreme Princess Selova remarked when she looked at the guests. She then shifted her gaze to the newlywed couple and said, "After all, your wedding unite the two kingdoms. We will finally have peace in the western border."

King Hamon nodded in approval. "I should invite King Richard soon. We must celebrate this."

At the mention of her father, Rizelle's face brightened up. Now that the wedding ceremony was over to ensure peace between the two kingdoms, her father will be able to visit her soon!

"It's your wedding reception but you're still quiet as ever," Supreme Princess Selova Vamieres pointed out and sighed at her son. "People might think that you are forced into this, Nicien."

As if he was snapped out of his deep thoughts, Nicien Vamieres dumbfoundedly glanced at his now wife who was sitting beside him. Then he turned to his mother who was sitting on his left. "I don't know I do that, Mother. It wasn't intentional."

Somehow, her husband's response took Rizelle by surprise!

It seemed like he indeed had many things going in his mind, just like her. He just admitted that his mind wasn't on the reception.

Once again, Rizelle felt the desire to have a guess of what was going on in his mind.

Why was he so hard to even examine?