During the high priest's congratulatory remarks, the signatures of the two, and the chorus and blessings, the faces of the guests watching the ceremony were filled with happy smiles. Some people hastily sketched the backs of the two people standing facing each other, and some whispered that wedding dresses similar to those worn by Judith would soon flood the costume shops.
Franz and Judith walked out of the Corne Hall, holding hands, to the sound of a lively yet elegant orchestra. The people who had gathered outside, unable to enter the hall, had not left their seats until then and cheered as soon as the two appeared.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Crown Princess! Congratulations!”
“I sincerely congratulate you on your wedding!”
“Your Highness the Crown Princess! You are as beautiful as a Goddess!”
When someone shouted out loudly and mischievously, laughter erupted from all directions. Judith, blushing with embarrassment, lowered her head and smiled, and those who saw her also exclaimed how pretty she was.
The next step was to ride a carriage out of the palace and circle around the Place de la Michiel. The wedding of a King or a Crown Prince was an important national event, so it was mandatory for the people, other than the nobles who were allowed to enter the palace, to see the couple.
As soon as Franz and Judith sat down, the carriage began to move slowly. Since it was an open carriage, the wind could be felt.
“Aren’t you cold?”
Judith shook her head, gently stroking the cape draped over her shoulders.
“I’m fine. Aren’t you cold?”
“This robe is quite warm. Or perhaps it is because my body is warmed by the heat in the hall.”
The applause and cheers of the standing guests were enough to make the entire Corne Hall excited. Cheers flushed and hearts raced in the storm of joy that spread from one person to another and from top to bottom. Leaving all those shouts behind, the world felt so quiet that it felt like their ears were empty.
Judith looked down for a moment at her and Franz's hands clasped on her lap.
They've been a couple for a long time and have been together every day, so she didn't think it would feel like anything new if they had a wedding.
But when Judith saw the dress when she tried it on, and when she looked at herself in the mirror this morning... With each experience, her mood changed, her thoughts changed. Excitement, anxiety, and nervous excitement alternated, making her heart pound and my mind go blank.
In the blank space that had been erased white, thoughts about Franz took their place. Things that were clear or blurred, beautiful or scary. Emotions flowed like rainwater between the memories of him that remained in her head, heart, and hands. It was an irreversible feeling. There was a love that was inevitably precious and ecstatic to touch.
Franz probably didn't know the depth of those feelings. It was natural for him not to know. He had no way of knowing what had happened to Judith before she came here, to survive to this moment.
But, Judith thought, that was enough. She needed no more pain, no more worries, no more sighs and tears. No more nights spent curled up in anger and loneliness, with nowhere to vent. What she had thought hundreds, thousands of times over the past few years seemed to emerge in a new, clear form at this moment.
“Are you happy?”
Franz turned his head towards Judith and smiled.
“Aren’t you happy?”
“No, I’m happy. I don’t want to trade it for anything.”
After concluding her speech, Judith lifted her gaze slightly and looked at the sky. It was so bright blue that it was almost blinding as if it were winter.
“Actually, I never thought I would feel this good.”
It was the same for Franz himself, but instead of agreeing, he kissed her cautiously.
While Franz and Judith rode in a carriage and marched out to the square, the crowd gathered at the Corne Hall moved to the grand ballroom and attended the reception that had started early without the main characters.
The Duke of Vergy had fervently and enthusiastically brought flowers from all over the place to decorate the banquet hall. The flowers used in the Corne Hall were white and light-colored, as befitting a wedding, but in the banquet hall, flowers of dozens of colors were in full bloom, like fireworks at a festival. Since it was a season when it was difficult to see flowers in full bloom, people were even more excited by the sight.
As soon as the ceremony was over, Queen Gilsis shook off her shame and returned to the Queen's palace, but King Jedekayer attended the reception. He looked happy, but also very tired, as he received congratulations and greetings one after another without a moment to catch his breath.
“Your Majesty, I have prepared a quiet place for you. Would you like to rest for a while?”
The Duke of Vergy, who had been by his side the whole time to assist him, spoke with a worried expression. But the King shook his head, leaning back on his splendid but not very comfortable throne.
“Even if I rest when I have time, I have to see what comes back.”
It was the story of Franz and Judith. It took longer than expected to ride a carriage around the square. The King glanced at the Duke's frowning face with concern but smiled quietly as if to tell him not to worry.
“You, you’ve been so worried about me lately that you haven’t had a single day to brighten up. If you get a wrinkle on that handsome face, your wife will resent me, so brighten up your expression a little.”
“I’m getting older now, so what’s the big deal about wrinkles?”
Although he responded as if it was a joke, Duke Vergy was still a handsome man who could make many women's hearts flutter. King Jedercayer smiled with a playful expression as he remembered how popular he had been in his youth before he married the current Duchess.
“Seeing those kids getting married today suddenly reminded me of the day you got married.”
Duke Vergy let out a short laugh as if to say, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“You suddenly thought of my wedding?”
“Don’t you remember? Back then, just like today, all the guests who came to congratulate us were silent. Because of you in your formal attire.”
“I don’t remember. My mind went blank, so I can’t even remember what was what or the order of the meals.”
“Well, you probably only saw the Duchess. It’s only natural that you don’t remember. Many ladies were sick at the news of your marriage.”
The King's gaze was fixed vaguely somewhere. Lately, he has often stopped talking and looked away, lost in thought. It was a habit that had become more frequent since Krald was sent south. Regret, longing, and regret for the irretrievable time seemed to overflow from his body.
“Where did Bartholomew and Cheraan go? I can’t see them.”
“They must have gone to the Palace of Argent. I heard that the court ladies of the Palace of Nation prepared the bridal chamber there.”
“To the Argent Palace... Yes, that would be good too. It would be nice if they could take a few days off and travel together, but the season is not right and the state affairs are not favorable...”
His voice slowly faded away. The empty space left by the interrupted conversation was filled with the harmony of the orchestra.
Judith's eyes, which had been half-asleep when she felt someone shaking her shoulder, opened wide.
“Cheraan...?”
“Your Highness, you should go to the Argent Palace now. If you stay here any longer, you’ll get really drunk and won’t be able to get up.”
Judith, who had been quietly listening to her, suddenly giggled like a child. Feeling the ominousness creeping in, Cheraan quickly helped her up.
“It’s my first time being drunk.”
Judith leaned against Cheraan, whispering softly. Fortunately, she seemed to have enough sanity to walk on her own, but her posture was not as neat as usual.
'What is Bartholomew doing!'
As Cheraan searched for him, she saw him held captive among the nobles together with Franz.
“Oh my, that idiot.”
Cheraan, muttering softly, grabbed Judith's arm somewhat forcefully.
“Your Highness, right now, there is no one else you can trust but me, so please lean on me.”
Hasn't she heard something similar before?
Franz and Judith walked out of the Corne Hall, holding hands, to the sound of a lively yet elegant orchestra. The people who had gathered outside, unable to enter the hall, had not left their seats until then and cheered as soon as the two appeared.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Crown Princess! Congratulations!”
“I sincerely congratulate you on your wedding!”
“Your Highness the Crown Princess! You are as beautiful as a Goddess!”
When someone shouted out loudly and mischievously, laughter erupted from all directions. Judith, blushing with embarrassment, lowered her head and smiled, and those who saw her also exclaimed how pretty she was.
The next step was to ride a carriage out of the palace and circle around the Place de la Michiel. The wedding of a King or a Crown Prince was an important national event, so it was mandatory for the people, other than the nobles who were allowed to enter the palace, to see the couple.
As soon as Franz and Judith sat down, the carriage began to move slowly. Since it was an open carriage, the wind could be felt.
“Aren’t you cold?”
Judith shook her head, gently stroking the cape draped over her shoulders.
“I’m fine. Aren’t you cold?”
“This robe is quite warm. Or perhaps it is because my body is warmed by the heat in the hall.”
The applause and cheers of the standing guests were enough to make the entire Corne Hall excited. Cheers flushed and hearts raced in the storm of joy that spread from one person to another and from top to bottom. Leaving all those shouts behind, the world felt so quiet that it felt like their ears were empty.
Judith looked down for a moment at her and Franz's hands clasped on her lap.
They've been a couple for a long time and have been together every day, so she didn't think it would feel like anything new if they had a wedding.
But when Judith saw the dress when she tried it on, and when she looked at herself in the mirror this morning... With each experience, her mood changed, her thoughts changed. Excitement, anxiety, and nervous excitement alternated, making her heart pound and my mind go blank.
In the blank space that had been erased white, thoughts about Franz took their place. Things that were clear or blurred, beautiful or scary. Emotions flowed like rainwater between the memories of him that remained in her head, heart, and hands. It was an irreversible feeling. There was a love that was inevitably precious and ecstatic to touch.
Franz probably didn't know the depth of those feelings. It was natural for him not to know. He had no way of knowing what had happened to Judith before she came here, to survive to this moment.
But, Judith thought, that was enough. She needed no more pain, no more worries, no more sighs and tears. No more nights spent curled up in anger and loneliness, with nowhere to vent. What she had thought hundreds, thousands of times over the past few years seemed to emerge in a new, clear form at this moment.
“Are you happy?”
Franz turned his head towards Judith and smiled.
“Aren’t you happy?”
“No, I’m happy. I don’t want to trade it for anything.”
After concluding her speech, Judith lifted her gaze slightly and looked at the sky. It was so bright blue that it was almost blinding as if it were winter.
“Actually, I never thought I would feel this good.”
It was the same for Franz himself, but instead of agreeing, he kissed her cautiously.
While Franz and Judith rode in a carriage and marched out to the square, the crowd gathered at the Corne Hall moved to the grand ballroom and attended the reception that had started early without the main characters.
The Duke of Vergy had fervently and enthusiastically brought flowers from all over the place to decorate the banquet hall. The flowers used in the Corne Hall were white and light-colored, as befitting a wedding, but in the banquet hall, flowers of dozens of colors were in full bloom, like fireworks at a festival. Since it was a season when it was difficult to see flowers in full bloom, people were even more excited by the sight.
As soon as the ceremony was over, Queen Gilsis shook off her shame and returned to the Queen's palace, but King Jedekayer attended the reception. He looked happy, but also very tired, as he received congratulations and greetings one after another without a moment to catch his breath.
“Your Majesty, I have prepared a quiet place for you. Would you like to rest for a while?”
The Duke of Vergy, who had been by his side the whole time to assist him, spoke with a worried expression. But the King shook his head, leaning back on his splendid but not very comfortable throne.
“Even if I rest when I have time, I have to see what comes back.”
It was the story of Franz and Judith. It took longer than expected to ride a carriage around the square. The King glanced at the Duke's frowning face with concern but smiled quietly as if to tell him not to worry.
“You, you’ve been so worried about me lately that you haven’t had a single day to brighten up. If you get a wrinkle on that handsome face, your wife will resent me, so brighten up your expression a little.”
“I’m getting older now, so what’s the big deal about wrinkles?”
Although he responded as if it was a joke, Duke Vergy was still a handsome man who could make many women's hearts flutter. King Jedercayer smiled with a playful expression as he remembered how popular he had been in his youth before he married the current Duchess.
“Seeing those kids getting married today suddenly reminded me of the day you got married.”
Duke Vergy let out a short laugh as if to say, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“You suddenly thought of my wedding?”
“Don’t you remember? Back then, just like today, all the guests who came to congratulate us were silent. Because of you in your formal attire.”
“I don’t remember. My mind went blank, so I can’t even remember what was what or the order of the meals.”
“Well, you probably only saw the Duchess. It’s only natural that you don’t remember. Many ladies were sick at the news of your marriage.”
The King's gaze was fixed vaguely somewhere. Lately, he has often stopped talking and looked away, lost in thought. It was a habit that had become more frequent since Krald was sent south. Regret, longing, and regret for the irretrievable time seemed to overflow from his body.
“Where did Bartholomew and Cheraan go? I can’t see them.”
“They must have gone to the Palace of Argent. I heard that the court ladies of the Palace of Nation prepared the bridal chamber there.”
“To the Argent Palace... Yes, that would be good too. It would be nice if they could take a few days off and travel together, but the season is not right and the state affairs are not favorable...”
His voice slowly faded away. The empty space left by the interrupted conversation was filled with the harmony of the orchestra.
The King’s gaze, looking at the people dancing, laughing, and talking happily, was filled with deep sorrow. Since he could not help but know that, the Duke simply sighed quietly with a bitter expression.
Judith moved her body slightly and smiled defenselessly as she felt something pleasantly floating before her eyes. It was a strange feeling that she might fall asleep at this point, but also that she might follow without resistance if someone reached out to her.
“... She seems drunk, what do you think?”
“No matter what you think, you can tell that she's drunk just by looking at it.”
Bartholomew and Cheraan whispered. Franz had to leave the place at random times to attend to the celebrations that continued from the afternoon to the evening, and Judith could not refuse the people who offered her champagne along with congratulations. It was a weak drink with a low alcohol content, but since she did not usually drink alcohol often, she immediately responded to the one or two glasses she received.
“Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Cheraan looked around and whispered. Bartholomew, who had craned his neck, shook his head as he saw Franz still caught in the crowd of nobles.
“Wrong. It’ll probably take a while since Count Petua caught him. He’s a knowledgable chatterbox.”
“If things continue like this, the Crown Princess will fall asleep! Oh, my, I will go see the Crown Princess, so you go quickly and sneak the Crown Prince out.”
“No, take it out, how can I... Hey, Cher! Cheraan!”
Bartholomew reached out his hand in a panic, but Cheraan was already far away. He scratched his ear as if he had no other choice and turned around. It took a lot of courage to save him from the gossipy nobles.
“Your Highness.”
***
Judith moved her body slightly and smiled defenselessly as she felt something pleasantly floating before her eyes. It was a strange feeling that she might fall asleep at this point, but also that she might follow without resistance if someone reached out to her.
“... She seems drunk, what do you think?”
“No matter what you think, you can tell that she's drunk just by looking at it.”
Bartholomew and Cheraan whispered. Franz had to leave the place at random times to attend to the celebrations that continued from the afternoon to the evening, and Judith could not refuse the people who offered her champagne along with congratulations. It was a weak drink with a low alcohol content, but since she did not usually drink alcohol often, she immediately responded to the one or two glasses she received.
“Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Cheraan looked around and whispered. Bartholomew, who had craned his neck, shook his head as he saw Franz still caught in the crowd of nobles.
“Wrong. It’ll probably take a while since Count Petua caught him. He’s a knowledgable chatterbox.”
“If things continue like this, the Crown Princess will fall asleep! Oh, my, I will go see the Crown Princess, so you go quickly and sneak the Crown Prince out.”
“No, take it out, how can I... Hey, Cher! Cheraan!”
Bartholomew reached out his hand in a panic, but Cheraan was already far away. He scratched his ear as if he had no other choice and turned around. It took a lot of courage to save him from the gossipy nobles.
“Your Highness.”
Judith's eyes, which had been half-asleep when she felt someone shaking her shoulder, opened wide.
“Cheraan...?”
“Your Highness, you should go to the Argent Palace now. If you stay here any longer, you’ll get really drunk and won’t be able to get up.”
Judith, who had been quietly listening to her, suddenly giggled like a child. Feeling the ominousness creeping in, Cheraan quickly helped her up.
“It’s my first time being drunk.”
Judith leaned against Cheraan, whispering softly. Fortunately, she seemed to have enough sanity to walk on her own, but her posture was not as neat as usual.
'What is Bartholomew doing!'
As Cheraan searched for him, she saw him held captive among the nobles together with Franz.
“Oh my, that idiot.”
Cheraan, muttering softly, grabbed Judith's arm somewhat forcefully.
“Your Highness, right now, there is no one else you can trust but me, so please lean on me.”
Hasn't she heard something similar before?
Judith coughed slightly, trying to suppress the laughter that kept coming out.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment