Chapter 36
Our Own World
Florina was more worried about going down the aisle than her sister. Fiora was beautiful and flawless as usual, Florina was busy fussing with her neckline. It was much lower than she would ever have chosen on her own. She knew it couldn't be that bad, Oswin didn't make Mirelle change it after he saw the adjustments so he had to approve.
She straightened her sister's veil and decided to focus more on Fiora than herself. Fiora on the other hand had not turned off her big sister mode even though it was her day.
"Stop fussing with your dress, you look fine," she told her younger sister.
Florina sighed, "I'm sorry, it's just…you can see a lot of my…"
"Don't be so self conscious. Just take a deep breath and put your shoulders back," she advised. Florina nodded and held her bouquet in one hand and took her sister's arm with the other.
"Shall I escort you down the aisle my lady?" the younger girl asked. Fiora laughed.
"Yes you shall," she replied. Florina did just as her sister said, still aware of the eyes that followed them as they went through the wedding procession. She wasn't thinking about those who watched Fiora, she knew they were smiling and approving. It was Hector she was looking at. He had to observe the proceedings and he and Oswin were pretty close so he was there.
She gave her sister's hand to Oswin and took her seat next to Hector in the front row. They were both silent, perhaps of respect for the proceedings or because neither knew what to say. Florina felt so terrible; she was supposed to be thinking about Fiora, but all she could think of was trying to hold Hector's hand or wondering if he noticed the changes that Mirelle made to her dress. What was he thinking about?
Oswin and Fiora were joined in holy matrimony under the laws of Ostia and the regulations of Saint Elimine. Together they left the chapel husband and wife. Just behind them, were Hector and Florina arm in arm, both preoccupied with their own thoughts.
"I do believe you arranged this day very well, Lord Hector," she commented. Hector smiled absently. Florina looked up at him curiously.
"Am I no longer on punishment?" she asked.
"No. There's an old superstition that if a bridesmaid gets kissed on the wedding day, she won't get married for another seven years," Hector explained. Florina laughed and squeezed his arm a little. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not the superstitious type, I'm just not taking any chances."
Florina shook her head and began to twirl a lock of her hair.
"By the way…your dress looks nice," he said.
The dress is what he liked. Yeah...sure Hector, that's all you were looking at.
Thank you for your continued reading of this fic. I promise to continue delivering the fluff until the end.