Wedding (7)

“……”

Josephina looked at Alicia with an expression as if she had been deeply betrayed.

Daisy’s face, usually expressionless, had been fixed into a broad smile.

Annie looked tense and happy, as if she were the bride herself.

“Rei.”

As Alicia stepped out into the waiting room, she looked for Reichardt.

Reichardt had also changed into the Imperial Guard Cavalry full dress uniform.

“Alicia.”

Reichardt held out his hand toward Alicia.

Alicia took a deep breath with a more resolute face than ever before.

“Um… do you think I can do well?”

“You’ll do well.”

Reichardt cheered Alicia on with all sincerity.

“I’ll do well.”

Alicia spoke like a general on the eve of battle.

She firmly clasped Reichardt’s hand and headed for the audience chamber with unwavering resolve.

Reichardt, being pulled along by Alicia’s hand, let out a quiet laugh.

The Chief Steward, who had been kneeling before the audience chamber, opened the doors upon seeing the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Tessen.

“Your Majesty, the Grand Duke of Tessen and the Grand Duchess have arrived!”

Seated side by side in the Grand Real Session, the Emperor and Empress wore benevolent smiles.

Perhaps because it was a place to receive family, the Emperor and Empress were seated not at the highest dais, but on specially prepared chairs.

Reichardt and Alicia walked arm in arm.

As he moved, Reichardt clasped Alicia’s hand linked through his arm again and again.

The Emperor did not show it, but the Empress was delighted like a young girl.

With childbirth drawing near, the Empress did not bother hiding her enlarged belly with dress adornments.

She looked tired, as expected in late pregnancy, yet Eleanor’s face was the most vibrant Alicia had ever seen.

“Your Majesty, we pay our respects.”

“Your Majesty, we pay our respects.”

Reichardt and Alicia approached to stand directly before the imperial couple and offered their bow.

“Your Majesty the Empress, we pay our respects.”

“Your Majesty the Empress, we pay our respects.”

Alicia and Reichardt finished the greeting they had agreed upon and rose.

“Congratulations on becoming a beautiful married couple today, Reichardt. Grand Duchess of Tessen, welcome to the family.”

“Grand Duke, congratulations on your marriage. Alicia, welcome to the family.”

The Emperor and Empress offered greetings that were ceremonial, yet sincere.

Alicia bent her knees and took the hand Eleanor extended.

“I am honored.”

Alicia replied with a face full of smiles.

The Emperor watched the friendly Empress and Alicia, then cast his gaze toward his youngest brother standing before him.

“I am honored.”

There was no bright wedding-day smile.

At Reichardt’s usual blunt reaction, the Emperor looked away as if he had expected as much.

His sky-blue eyes regarded Alicia with kindly warmth.

“Grand Duchess of Tessen.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Alicia carefully released Eleanor’s hand and looked to the Emperor.

“When the Grand Duchess previously told me…”

The Emperor tried to voice a question he had carried for a long time.

“Your Majesty, I must not speak of it any further.”

Alicia, daringly, cut the Emperor off and spoke with solemn gravity.

Her violet eyes, fixed sternly on the Emperor and Empress, shone with a mysterious light.

“……”

Reichardt stayed quietly at Alicia’s side.

Empress Eleanor surveyed the three faces with an expression that seemed to half-understand and half-not.

The Emperor did not intend to let it pass so easily.

“I…”

“Your Majesty, please recall my rudeness that day. You must not ask for more words from me. Even saying this now frightens me and fills me with worry.”

Alicia acted as if saying anything more would bring disaster.

It made her look like an extraordinary prophet.

The torment of a prophet who had accidentally spoken an unpermitted secret felt heavy in the air.

The Emperor’s sky-blue eyes faltered.

He flicked a glance toward Eleanor.

“Your Majesty?”

Eleanor gave the Emperor a look asking what was wrong.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress. Thank you for your congratulations. We will now take our leave to greet the other family members. We will see you at the Grand Theater.”

As if helping the hesitating Emperor, Reichardt stepped in.

“You may withdraw.”

The Emperor permitted Reichardt and Alicia to leave.

“We will see you at the reception.”

Alicia offered her greeting as well and turned with Reichardt.

Their steps as they left the audience chamber were elegant and unhurried.

But unlike their refined movements, their pace was extremely fast.

The attendants following behind them moved so busily it looked like they were running in quick steps.

“You did well.”

Reichardt whispered, stroking the hand linked through his arm with Alicia’s.

“Do you think he bought it?”

“Yes.”

At Alicia’s whisper, Reichardt answered firmly.

The two of them glanced at each other and grinned.

Meeting the imperial family in the Great Hall, Alicia’s face looked noticeably more at ease.

“Your Grace, Grand Duchess.”

“We pay our respects, Your Grace, Grand Duchess.”

Alicia lightly received the greetings of Marquis Lennox and his Marchioness.

“Your Grace, Marquis. Marchioness, thank you for attending the wedding.”

Marquis Lennox treated Alicia with friendliness that stayed just within proper etiquette, but showed Reichardt intense affection.

He abruptly pulled his stiff-standing younger brother close and pounded his back with loud thumps.

“Congratulations on becoming a married man, Your Grace Grand Duke Reichardt.”

“I congratulate you as well, Your Grace!”

Marquis Istevna, ignoring the order, pounded Reichardt’s back as he exchanged greetings with Marquis Lennox.

Because it was a good day, Reichardt did not use much strength as he politely peeled the hands off him.

“Aaagh!”

“My wrist, my wrist, my wrist! It’s breaking!”

With their arms and wrists seized one apiece, Marquis Lennox and Marquis Istevna wailed dramatically.

“Thank you for the congratulations, Marquis Lennox, Marquis Istevna. If you do anything strange at the reception, brace yourselves—both of you.”

Reichardt threatened them with perfect politeness.

“Reichardt, my little brother. We were just…”

“How can you say that? He’ll notice. We won’t do anything, Reichardt. Trust your brothers, right?”

At the two marquises’ words, Reichardt made a gesture that he wanted to have a serious talk with them.

“Alicia!”

Pauline called Alicia in a loud voice and hugged her tight.

Seeing that, Marquis Istevna tapped Reichardt with his finger.

“Pauline.”

Alicia looked startled at Pauline’s sudden change to a louder voice.

“Your dress earlier was so pretty! The second dress is so pretty too! I’m looking forward to the third dress as well. Ah, the outside air. These days I fight with the twins every day. They can’t understand what I’m saying. Alicia—no, I should call you Your Grace, Grand Duchess.”

Pauline poured out her words quickly in a bright, lively tone.

“No, we’re friends. Calling me Alicia is enough. But the twins were only born recently.”

“Come visit the marquisate, Alicia. Welcome to the family. We’re truly family now. I’ve been upset because I argue with the twins every day, but going back and forth to the imperial palace while you prepared for the wedding really lifted my spirits. We should go change into our reception dresses.”

Pauline withdrew while hugging Alicia tightly and patting her back.

Alicia failed to respond properly to Pauline’s change in attitude.

All she could manage was to widen her eyes and smile.

She blinked in surprise at Pauline saying she had felt refreshed coming and going from the palace, when she had been having nightmares starting a week before coming to the palace.

“I’ll see you later.”

Pauline waved her hand and gently hurried Alicia along.

Her urging was sound advice.

There was little time if they had to change into reception dresses and reach the Grand Theater.

Now that Alicia looked, Pauline’s dress was extremely ornate.

The bright coral dress had large accent ornaments at the shoulders and waist.

It suited Pauline’s crisp features and the bold lines of the dress.

Alicia welcomed with a smile the change in Pauline, who had always worn dresses where you had to look closely to find any hint of dressing up.

Alicia gave Pauline a light hug, stepped back, and greeted her.

“I’ll see you later.”

Reichardt caught Alicia’s hand as she turned away.

The two gradually increased their pace, moving almost like they were running.

It was time to change into the reception dress.

The space the imperial family had provided for Alicia and Reichardt to prepare was the Crown Prince’s Gallery.

The Crown Prince’s Gallery stood on the southeast side of the imperial palace’s main castle.

The Grand Theater where the reception was held lay in the Grand Theater Grove, and the Grand Theater Grove stood at the very northernmost end of the palace grounds.

To go from the Crown Prince’s Gallery to the Grand Theater Grove, they had to exit the Crown Prince’s courtyard and pass through the Crown Prince’s vast grove.

Only after following the path that ran between the Dragon Promenade, the Water Grove, and the Morning Fountain, then passing the Horseshoe Pond, could they reach the front of the Grand Theater Grove.

Thinking of the distance to the reception hall, Alicia sent the bridesmaids out early.

She sent everyone else ahead as well.

Back in the preparation room, she put on the third dress by herself.

Alicia’s reception dress was the simplest of the six dresses.

Instead, she wore long, glamorous earrings that nearly brushed her shoulder line.

Her hair ornament, necklace, and bracelets were all matched with the same gemstones as the earrings to create a unified look.

As Alicia put on the earrings her friends had set aside and looked into the mirror, she paused for a moment.

Perhaps because she had been left alone in such a lavish space, a strange feeling rose up within her.

Only now did the reality of getting married truly sink in.

“Alicia?”

From outside the door, Reichardt called to Alicia.

It was not a voice urging her along.

It was a voice filled with concern and worry.

“I’m done.”

Alicia snapped out of the strange reverie.

Then she briskly opened the door—and froze.

Reichardt, wearing the red uniform of the Golden Order of Knights with a blue sash, was waiting for her.

He stepped closer and draped the blue sash he held over her.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Alicia and Reichardt held hands and ran out of the Crown Prince’s Gallery.

As they entered the Crown Prince’s courtyard, Reichardt gradually slowed their speed.

“You mustn’t get angry.”

“I won’t—”

Alicia, speaking toward that picture-perfect face, closed her mouth.

In the Crown Prince’s courtyard, a creature was wandering around—one that would make the palace folk faint if they knew.

It was the largest Lusa Alicia had ever seen.

“You said you wouldn’t get angry.”

Reichardt said, tugging Alicia by the hand.

His smiling face looked thoroughly amused.

Alicia did not argue that she hadn’t finished her sentence—it felt too petty.

Reichardt climbed onto the Lusa.

He held out his hand, and Alicia took it and rose onto the Lusa as if she were flying.

“We’re getting off at the Morning Fountain.”

Alicia said with a rare, strict demeanor.

“Fine. I was going to get off at the Water Grove anyway.”

Reichardt kissed Alicia’s cheek and set the Lusa into a run.

Alicia could not bring herself to insist they follow the original plan.

The Lusa charged forward at a speed far faster than Alicia had ever known.

From behind, Reichardt wrapped his arms around Alicia seated in front and laughed.

Seeing that face, Alicia soon laughed as well.

The Grand Theater Grove stood at the very northernmost end of the palace grounds and was grand in scale even among the palace groves.

Everyone had assumed the bride and groom would arrive much later.

The guests leisurely waited while enjoying the banquet bestowed by the Emperor and Empress.

“The Grand Duke of Tessen and the Grand Duchess of Tessen have arrived.”

At the Chief Steward’s announcement, everyone stopped eating.

The Emperor rose to welcome the grand ducal couple.

The guests who rose with the Emperor lifted their glasses in unison to offer their courtesy.

“Reichardt, you came quickly.”

The Emperor, glass in hand, spoke to Reichardt and Alicia.

“Brother, thank you for your hospitality.”

Reichardt replied lightly.

“Grand Duchess, welcome.”

The Empress, still seated, raised her glass toward Alicia.

“Your Majesty the Empress, thank you for your hospitality.”

Alicia offered her greeting according to etiquette.

“We’re looking forward to your dance.”

The Empress fluttered her fingers in greeting.

Alicia felt a phantom throb at the back of her head, but kept her smile.

Ever since Empress Eleanor entered the palace, a tradition had formed at palace receptions where the bride and groom performed a dance.

Alicia did not hate dancing.

But she did not like it, either.