TEN

Samantha Clarkson, the top wedding planner in the country, was busy instructing the people around her. "Please put that in the altar, Clover. Perfect. Be careful with the flowers, Mason."

White and red roses adorned the front of the organ loft inside the Lionheart Cathedral. Pedestals with a bouquet of roses on top of it were also placed at the end of each pew and floating candles were added below it making the ambiance inside much more serene and elegant.

Everything must be perfect and they can't afford to make even a single mistake. After all, it's the wedding of the most powerful couple in the country, the emperor and soon-to-be empress.

Finally, after an hour of constant nagging and instructing, they were able to finish everything. Samantha heaved a sigh of relief as she sat down on a chair. 'Two more hours to go and the wedding will officially start.'

On the other hand, inside one of the luxurious suites in Whitelion Palace, people were busy going back and forth whilst the bride was sitting in front of a vanity mirror staring at herself. She's wearing a gold wedding dress and cathedral veil embroidered with exquisite designs. A crown was also placed on top of her head completing the look.

"Your Ladyship?" Luisa called with a nervous smile on her face. "Are you all right? Do you need anything? A water perhaps?" She asked with concern apparent in her voice. Somehow, she knew that even though her mistress looked so calm and indifferent, she's nervous. After all, it's her wedding day.

However, Celestine just smiled at her genuinely and shook her head. "I'm all right. You don't have to worry about me."

Luisa nodded with reluctance. 'Ah, I wonder how did her ladyship do that? Isn't she nervous or something?' She stared at Celestine with admiration. 'Truly, she deserves to be crowned as the empress. Her ladyship is not just beautiful but she's smart and composed as well.'

A soft knock on the door stopped Luisa's train of thoughts. She hurriedly opened the door and bowed her head towards her Young Master, Celestine's older brother.

She opened the door wider and let him in while still tilting her head. Jasper walked inside and smiled as he stared at his younger sister. "You're very beautiful, Tine."

Celestine stood up and engulfed her brother in a warm hug while grinning widely. "Jasper, I missed you so much!"

He chuckled with his sister's remark. "We met yesterday, silly."

"But I still miss you so much, though. We barely see each other since I've awakened from the coma." Celestine said with a sad look on her face. Now that she's going to get married, she will have a lot of responsibilities that she might not be able to see her family whenever she wants, especially her nephew. Just thinking about it made her heart constrict painfully.

"I miss you so much too. Don't worry we would still be seeing each other after this. I promise I will visit you often and I'll bring little Jasper with me too."

Celestine smiled sweetly while nodding. "Well, it's time to go now. I'll be escorting you there." Luisa opened the door for the pair as Jasper held Celestine's hand and accompanied her towards the waiting limousine.

•

•

•

After a ten-minute travel, they were able to arrive safely in front of the gargantuan and sumptuous cathedral. Dozens of reporters were already waiting outside and hundreds of citizens were lining up at the side of the road whilst waving the New Lionheart Flag.

The chauffeur opened the door and the first one to come out was the bride's handsome older brother. Cameras flashed consistently but no one dared to approach nor surround the car.

Lord Jasper extended his hand towards the bride with a warm smile on his face. A porcelain-like hand reached out and accepted Lord Jasper's. The crowd gasped in surprise and amazement as they stared at the bride.

Silence engulfed the entire place and time seems to stop at that moment. They were all enthralled and bewitched by her otherworldly beauty.

With unparalleled elegance and grace, Celestine walked towards the gigantic wooden door. Her parents were already waiting for her at the entrance.

Jasper kissed her goodbye before going inside. "God will be with you, sister."

Celestine nodded her thanks to her brother before approaching her parents. Her mom engulfed her in a warm hug while her dad gave her a smile but it didn't reach his pair of purple eyes. Why? Isn't this what he has always wanted? He would rather sacrifice his own daughter than lose all his title and money, so, why would he look so sad?

Celestine's chest tightened and she could feel the unwanted tears threatening to spill from her eyes. No. She gripped the bouquet of flowers tightly in her hands and exhaled a long breath. Be strong and don't cry. You can do this, Celestine.

The two guards opened the door and the trio started walking on the aisle. An old high priest was standing on the altar while the groom stood below him. The emperor is wearing a full body armour suit made of gold, except the helmet. The coat of arms of the royal house was also put on the plate armour.

When the heavy double doors opened, the waiting guests stood up and turned towards the bride but what they saw made them gasp. Kyrios, on the other hand, caught his breath as he stared at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his entire life.

He noticed how her dress hugged her curves perfectly and how it made her skin glow. She looked like a celestial being. A living Aphrodite.

Only when Celestine reached the Emperor's side did the crowd and the groom awakened from the spell. The pair stood in front of the altar while the crowd sat down. A goblet and a dagger made of gold were placed on the medium sized table which also separates them from the high priest.

"We are here on this magnificent and beautiful day to celebrate one of life's greatest moments — we are all present to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love — and to publicly witness the creation of an outward marriage bond that Celestine and Kyrios have already been creating inwardly."

The priest stared intently at the pair before continuing. "Your Majesties, you are about to pledge the most sacred vows that one person makes with another. As you stand before the witness of God and this company, it is important that you give careful consideration to that which you are promising. You are accountable to your precious mate and to God for that which you pledge. It is advisable that you soberly examine the vows you are about to make. These vows are as binding in adversity as they are in prosperity. They should be broken only by death. If you are prepared to make such a serious commitment, will you now turn, face one another, and join hands."

Kyrios and Celestine turned and faced each other. Not even a forced smile could be seen from their faces. They held each other's hands reluctantly as the high priest once again spoke while looking at Kyrios.

"Kyrios Alexander Lionheart IV, vis accípere Celestine de Merville, hic præséntem, in tuam legítimam uxórem iuxta ritum sanctaæ matris Ecclésiæ?"

[Kyrios Alexander Lionheart IV, do you take Celestine de Merville, here present, for your legal wife according to the rite of our holy mother, the Church?]

"Volo."

[I do.]

The high priest, then, turned to Celestine and asked. "Celestine de Merville, vis accípere Kyrios Alexander Lionheart IV, hic præséntem, in tuam legítimam vir iuxta ritum sanctaæ matris Ecclésiæ?"

[Celestine de Merville, do you take Kyrios Alexander Lionheart IV, here present, for your legal husband according to the rite of our holy mother, the Church?]

"Volo."

[I do.]

"Vestrce Majestatis merca, et promittere tibi in iudicio praeerunt benevolentiam et ad populum tuum?"

[Your Majesties, do you both promise to rule with justice and benevolence to your people?]

"Volumus."

[We will.]

"You will now seal your vows, 'to honor, to love, to cherish,' by the blood compact. Please extend your right hand." Aaron, the high priest, started walking towards the table in front of the pair and took the dagger carefully. He cut a small portion of their palm and poured their blood into the goblet filled with wine. After a few drops, two ministers approached the pair while holding a bandage and wrapped their palm with it to stop the bleeding.

Kyrios drank the wine first, then, Celestine followed after him.

With a smile, Aaron spoke. "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you His Majesty and Her Majesty, the Emperor and Empress."

The crowd cheered and shouted simultaneously. "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"