A/N: I apologize for missing line-breaks again. I've tried fixing them, but they just won't appear...

Disclaimer: Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure (the game, its characters, its plot, any in-text dialogue that has been, is being, or will be used, etc.) belongs to Atlus and its respective owners. I own this humble fanfiction and anything included that is mine (such as Hans, Franz, and the other OC guards and captains, etc.), but please rest assured that no money has been, is being, or will be made off of this fanfiction. No copyright infringement is intended. Many thanks also to threetimes' GameFAQs transcript, which has been used for reference.

Rhapsody: The Princely Chronicles

Chapter Twenty-Five

"There you are, Ferdinand!"

Sashaying toward him, the queen pulled Prince Ferdinand into a tight embrace. Pulling away, she sighed happily and said, "Look at you! You look so much like your father."

He had told his mother about dreaming of his father whilst he was stone, but his mother's comparison made a lump rise in Ferdinand's throat. If only— But instead of finishing the thought, he whispered, "Thanks, Mom."

She nodded, sighing contentedly again.

"And you look very lovely, Mom."

"Thank you!" Queen Siegrind said playfully, spinning around once to show off the bouncing, flounced skirt. Laughing joyfully, she teased, "But not as lovely as Cornet today! I should know, since I just saw the bride. She's almost ready!"

Ferdinand blushed. He looked around, but all he saw were entering guests. "Where is she?"

"No, sir." She whacked him lightly with her fan. "You know that the groom is not allowed to see the bride before the ceremony."

"I know, Mom!" Ferdinand dodged the second strike. "I was just—"

"No sneaking peeks."

"I'm not! I just—never mind."

Queen Siegrind sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yes?"

Ferdinand stared at the cobblestone beneath his feet, his face crimson. He opened his mouth, and closed it.

"Yes, Ferdinand?"

Should he…? Was it stupid?

"…Ferdinand?"

He murmured, "I just wanted to whisper through the door."

A second of silence passed between them. Ferdinand had almost dared to look back up from his shoes when Kururu flew up and exclaimed, "She's ready!"

The queen shut her fan decisively. "Kururu, would you please escort the groom to the bridal bower?"

Ferdinand choked as his head snapped up. He coughed as Kururu puffed out her chest and pointed a tiny finger at the prince. "The groom may not see the bride before she enters the church!"

"He won't," the queen assured, pointing her fan warningly at Ferdinand. "He will only speak through the door." Looking at Kururu, she added, "And you'll be present nearby to make sure he is not tempted."

"But Mom—"

"She'll be outside of hearing range," his mother reassured. "You'll just be in her sight."

"But—"

"You wanted to whisper through the door."

Ferdinand blushed deeply a second time, lost for words of defense. Kururu stared intensely at him, and then she heaved a heavy, dramatic sigh. "I'll be keeping a close eye on you, Prince." Then she turned around with a swish and flew quickly the way she had come, Ferdinand following after her.

Ferdinand wiped his sweaty palms on the sides of his pants, swallowing nervously. He opened his mouth and shut it just as quickly. He stood still, overwhelmed by the lovely scents emanating from the bridal bower. The wood was aromatic, like cedar, but he could smell also roses, lavender, and magnolia. He imagined Cornet with flowers in her hair and blushed. The doorknob was so close…

Kururu shot him a withering look, and Ferdinand pulled his hands behind his back, nodding. Satisfied, she flew away to hover in front of a nearby pillar.

Taking a quick breath, Ferdinand whispered, "Cornet?"

"Prince Ferdinand?" Cornet's surprised gasp slipped through the slats.

Ferdinand shook his head. Her nerves were almost as apparent as his. "Just Ferdinand, Cornet, remember? We'll be married shortly." How lovely and exhilarating was the thought! "Or have you changed your mind?"

"Of course not!" Her quiet laugh was clear and joyful. She whispered tenderly, "Ferdinand."

It was just a token of his presence, just his name, but at the sound of his name and the love in her voice, a jolt of electricity shot through him. How lovely was the sound—just his name, himself, Ferdinand, free of his title for a single moment, on the lips of the woman he loved.

His fiancé, his princess—and soon-to-be bride! Soon-to-be Princess in true title!

Soon-to-be could not come soon enough! He was running out of words to describe all of the emotions running through him. How exhilarating was the thought of forever, but also, how equally—

"I'm nervous," came Cornet's quiet voice.

I'm terrified, Ferdinand thought, but he murmured, "Me, too, Cornet."

"Why are you nervous, Ferdinand?"

Feeling playful in the midst of anxiety, he asked, "Why are you?"

Cornet chuckled, but then she fell into a contemplative silence. "I love you, but I know that, someday, I'll be queen. I'm afraid that… I am unfit for a crown."

"Who is ever truly fit?" Ferdinand asked rhetorically.

"No, I mean…" Cornet struggled with her words. "All my life, I've only ever looked after myself. Yes, I helped Grandpa, but… can I really look after an entire country?"

"I believe you can."

"What makes you so certain?"

"You rescued me, didn't you?"

Cornet chuckled. "You saved me, too, remember?"

"Yes, but you traveled the entire kingdom—and into a neighboring kingdom—to get the Heart Stones in order to rescue me. Didn't you see the towns of the kingdom?"

"Yes, but—"

"Did you see a perfect kingdom?"

"No, but—"

"You've already seen the bounds of the kingdom with your own eyes. You don't know every town or citizen intimately, but you can recognize their needs and wants. In some ways, you've already worked to better their conditions, like when you took the dragon back to Fire Hot."

"But that—"

"When the town of White Snow relied upon the Ninetails, didn't you refrain from hunting them?"

"Yes, but—"

"When you discovered the huge Imotium room, you needed money desperately to continue the quest. But you didn't steal it. Those guardians gave you the Wind Stone in return, didn't they?"

"Yes, but—"

"You weren't able to avoid fighting, but you did your best to avoid bloodshed. You sought peace whenever you could, and you were still concerned with the people's welfare even after you rescued me. Aren't those good traits for a ruler? Alongside a willingness to serve for the good of all?"

Her voice wavered, and Ferdinand imagined that her eyes were glassy. He prayed that he hadn't made her cry. "Thank you," Cornet whispered.

"You're welcome, Cornet."

"Are you afraid of anything, Ferdinand?"

Ferdinand had thought of this recently, so the list came easily to mind. But it didn't make the fears any less real as he murmured, "I want to be a good king, Cornet, but I want equally to be a good husband. And when the time is right, I want to be a good father. I'm afraid that I will fail."

"Don't we all fail sometimes, Ferdinand?"

"Yes."

"Do you love me, Ferdinand?"

Was that even a question? "With all of my heart, Cornet."

Cornet's breath was shaky. She whispered, "After I fought Marjoly and released you from the spell, I thought of everything that had happened. I felt like I had failed, that I could not redeem myself. But you helped me stand back up. I know that, if I fall again, you'll do it all over again."

"Of course."

"I love you, Ferdinand. If you fall, I will help you, too. A day won't go by when we won't say I love you. If we get angry at each other, we'll apologize. Then we'll face the kingdom again—together."

Footsteps approached from down the hallway. Glancing to the side, Ferdinand saw Hans approach Kururu, who then gestured agitatedly in his direction.

How close he was to Cornet. How desperately he wanted to open the door and close the distance! But for the second time, he pulled his hands away from the doorknob. "Hans is here. I've got to go, Cornet," Ferdinand whispered, "but I'll see you very soon."

"Soon." He could hear the rustle of her gown as she leant against the door slats. She whispered, "I love you, Ferdinand."

"I love you, Cornet," he whispered back.

Ferdinand stood at the altar, the new crossroads of his life. Cornet's grandfather had just left to the hall, and the queen followed after, fanning herself vigorously. He hoped that his mother had packed her handkerchief, because the wedding had not begun but she looked already about to cry.

He fidgeted, his palms sweating in his gloves. They were cold and clammy, yet he was hot in his suit. He glanced at the imperturbable castle priest, the edge of whose mouth had curled into the barest hint of a reassuring smile. Ferdinand looked away, took a deep breath, held it, and then released it quietly and quickly. What if—

The music rang out from the orchestra. Everyone rose.

The sunlight, the stained glass, the roses and flowers, the decorations, the waxed and shining marble—all of it vanished as the entrance song played and the procession began. A small girl scattered more flowers, and then his mother entered, alongside Kururu.

Ferdinand's heart raced. Holding on to the arm of her grandfather was Cornet. As though blinded by the sun, the words that he had rehearsed and struggled to recall were lost once again. She was dressed in a delicately woven white gown with long sleeves and a train. It swept around her heeled feet amidst delicate lace. It had a high collar, and he recognized the jewels around her throat and wrist as Marl heirlooms. But the most beautiful and brilliantly shining jewel she wore was the ring on her finger, soon to be joined with the band he had selected.

Cornet and Mustaki reached the altar, and she turned to her grandfather for a second. With glassy eyes, he whispered something into her ear and, lifting her veil slightly, she gave him a final hug and kiss, and murmured back with a teary smile. Then they parted.

Ferdinand and Cornet extended their hands to each other at the same moment. Gently, he helped her step up on the altar and stand beside him.

Unable to take in more than Cornet's presence beside him, the priest's words bled away into a muted noise—until the important question.

"Do you, Prince Ferdinand Marl E., take Cornet Espoir to be your lawfully wedded wife and princess, future queen of Marl Kingdom, and to have no one but her until death parts you?"

Heart racing, Prince Ferdinand said, "I do."

"Do you, Miss Cornet Espoir, take Prince Ferdinand Marl E. to be your lawfully wedded husband and prince, future king of Marl Kingdom, and to have no one but him until death parts you?"

Ferdinand could see her blush through the veil as she said, "I do."

"You've said your vows," the priest said, "and now no earthly powers may tear your bond asunder." He gestured to a small boy. "The rings."

The boy held out a ring and a band on a small pillow. Ferdinand gently took the band and, Cornet handing him her mother's ring, he carefully placed it within the band. Joyful fire warmed his body as he slipped the ring and band upon her finger. It fit perfectly.

Cornet took the silver ring from the pillow and, removing his left glove, she placed it on his finger. It fit perfectly.

My wife. The words echoed in Ferdinand's mind joyfully as they held each other's hands. My wife! Cornet, my wife!

He thought his joy would split his face. Hers was beaming.

"You've exchanged the rings. Now, you may lift her veil and kiss your bride."

My bride! Steadying his trembling fingers, he gently lifted her veil. Her green eyes sparkled.

They kissed.

My wife!

Drunk on joy, Ferdinand almost didn't hear the priest proclaim, "Bring forth the crowns!"

Ferdinand turned with a jolt. Two boys came forward with pillows, each holding a crown. Ferdinand heard Cornet's intake of breath as he recognized the diadems of Crown Prince and Princess. Once they were his father's and mother's crowns.

Now, they were his and Cornet's.

"Please kneel."

They knelt.

Taking the first, smaller, crown, he said, "Cornet Espoir, as wife to Prince Ferdinand Marl E. of Marl Kingdom, I crown you the new Princess of Marl Kingdom. Do you accept this duty freely, in all that it requires of you?"

"I do," Cornet murmured.

He placed the crown on her head, careful not to disturb her veil.

Then, turning to Ferdinand, he took the second and larger crown and said, "Ferdinand Marl E., as Crown Prince of Marl Kingdom, your marriage makes you eligible for the throne of Marl Kingdom. Do you accept this duty freely, in all that it requires of you?"

"I do."

The priest placed the crown on Ferdinand. Then he said, "You both may rise."

They stood, turned around, and faced the audience. Ferdinand took Cornet's hand.

My wife—my princess!

He felt the weight of the crown on his head, so light yet so heavy, and he heard his father's words.

You'll be fine.

"Citizens of Marl Kingdom," the priest exclaimed, "I present to you your new prince and princess of Marl Kingdom—Prince Ferdinand and Princess Cornet!"

The applause thundered.

A/N: Truth be told, I almost cut the coronation scene. But then I was reminded that I should have fun, so I thought: Why not? :D

I hope that you enjoyed the wedding. Thank you for all of your support, and please share your thoughts!

Almost done~