It was another day in Bellezza but it was a very special one. Bellezza was getting ready for the big celebration, especially the Duchessa.
"Good morning, milady. It seems like you woke up early than I have expected," Barbara greeted her then went to the Duchessa to help her get up and put her simple white mask on her.
"Oh, I'm just so excited!"
The Duchessa twirled around her private apartments humming the wedding march, getting excited every second for she, Arianna Rossi, Duchessa of Bellezza, will be wed to her one true love, Luciano Crinamorte.
Luciano was busy in Rodolfo's laboratory preparing himself for the wedding. Rodolfo entered the room checking on Luciano.
"Are you ready Luciano? We need to get there in half an hour"
"I'm almost done."
He went to the small coffee table to get the rings.
This is it.
The cathedral was full of Bellezzans, young or old, men or women. In the front row chairs were Luciano's foster parents, Leonora and Dr. Dethridge together with Rodolfo. Arianna's whole family were there. Then followed by the city's counselors and senators.
A woman in a green silk dress entered the cathedral. The woman walked towards Rodolfo gracefully. Rodolfo saw the woman coming over him. This surprised him because no ordinary woman even dared to come near him in public.
"Good morning, Senator," the woman greeted him in a low voice. Her violet eyes sparkled behind her mask.
"Silvia!" he gasped, "What re you doing here? You might be recognized," Rodolfo was always over-protective when it comes to Silvia.
"What kind of a mother am I if I won't even come to my own daughter's wedding?" Rodolfo smiled at her reply, "And besides, no one will even bother to notice me especially in their beloved Duchessa's wedding," she added with a smile.
"But you can't stay here with me. Everyone might get suspicious at you because you're beside me. Of course they know that Arianna's mother is dead."
"I'll stay with my fellow citizens, of course," she replied calmly. "See you later."
A few minutes later, the campanile rang loudly meaning the wedding is about to begin. Luciano stood near the altar to wait for his bride. At last, the wedding march began and everybody stood up and faced at the entrance of the cathedral. The march was very solemn with the hymn. Arianna was the only person that Luciano saw the moment she entered. Luciano was blinded by the beauty of the Duchessa. She wore a white dress with white beads and sequins that matched her white feathery mask. Made by her grandmother in Burlesca.
When the Duchessa reached Luciano, she first hugged her father then took Luciano's hand. They both went to the altar together and was ready to be man and wife forever.
"Greetings my fellow Bellezzans!" the bishop greeted happily. "We are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses, to join Luciano Crinamorte and Arianna Rossi in holy matrimony."
Arianna wasn't even paying attention to what he was saying. Her eyes flickered to Luciano's direction. He flickered back at her. Then they both tuned back to what the bishop was saying.
"…We shall now move on with the I do's," he turned to Luciano, "Do you, Luciano Crinamorte, son of Guglielmo and Leonora Crinamorte, take Arianna Rossi to be your lawful wedded wife, in sickness and in health, until you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Do you Arianna Rossi, Duchessa of Bellezza, daughter of Rodolfo Rossi and the late Duchessa Silvia Bellini, take Luciano Crinamorte as your lawful wedded husband, in sickness and in health, until you both shall live?"
"I do"
"Let us now proceed to your vows and promises,"
Arianna nodded and stared deeply into Luciano's eyes.
"I, Arianna Rossi, Duchessa of Bellezza, take you as my friend, my lover, the father of my children and my husband. I will be with you in times of happiness and sorrow, in times of failure and triumph. I promise to love you and respect you, to comfort and protect you, to care and encourage you, to stay with you forever, for all eternity."
Luciano returned to her gaze.
"I, Luciano Crinamorte, take you Arianna Rossi to be my wife, my one true love. I will love you more each day from now on. I will laugh and cry with you, respect you and cherish our love every day. I promise to make you happy and face every challenge in life together. I give you my heart, my soul, my love, from this day on, until we both shall live."
Rodolfo got up and presented the rings to the couple. They wore it in each other's fingers with smiles never leaving their faces.
"I now pronounce you, husband and wife."
The crowds around them exploded in cheers to the newly wedded couple. Arianna flung her arms around Luciano's neck and kissed him passionately, he gladly complied.
The crowds cheered louder to the happy couple. Arianna took off her mask, held it up for the last time then threw it up high in the air to the crowd that caused her own mother to catch it. The former Duchessa smiled and was proud of her daughter. She stared back at Luciano and gave him a kiss on the lips. Their weeks of effort for the wedding paid off a lot. Luciano squeezed her hand and presented themselves as man and wife.
A/N: I hope you liked it! I just read the first book, so this is my imagination of their wedding somehow. Review please!!
