Once at the palace, people were waiting outside for the traditional balcony speech. When the window opened to let the couple come out, the audience was almost hysterical. Julia was the first to speak.

"I am very proud to be your Queen. I make the promise to guarantee you a joyful leaving, to cherish you as if you were my own children. I am also honoured to be married with a man who has proved his concern for Galbadia. As a wedding gift I bring with me the land of Timber. I thank you for trusting me with your lives, as I do with my own.

The crowd replied and applauded. "Long life to our Queen, Hyne protects her!"

"Being your King is a great proof of your trust. With Hyne's protection I swear to do what's in my power to protect you and make Galbadia shine. In return to my wife wedding gift I ensure that Timber will be run as an autonomous land of Galbadia."

"Long life to our King, Hyne protects him!" the crowd cheered.

Then they left the balcony. Before the party began, every VIP came to swear allegiance to the royal couple. Then Laguna, Kiros and Ward kneeled down and bowed.

"I Laguna Loire, commander of the royal guard, put my life to the service of his majesty. We all three are devoted to you and Galbadia."

"Rise Mr Loire, said Caraway. You did a lot already by assuring us victory. In reward of your loyalty I give you the land of Winhill. Do what you want, as long as you rule it under the Galbadian law. Hyne be with you!"

"Thank you my lord! May Kiros and Ward accompany me?"

"Take all the help you need. You will go there as soon as the festivities are over. You will be the messenger of our wedding." He glanced at Julia who was seating on a throne next to him. She was staring at her laps. Thoughts rushed in her mind as she heard those words.

"Oh no! It would have been so much easier with him by my side, here in Deling City. I feel like Hyne already abandoned me. Life is cruel'

"Before leaving, I want you three to join this evening celebration as guests. Forget about the code and your duty for tonight, just enjoy yourselves." The music started and he turned to Julia.

"My dear wife and Queen of Galbadia would you please grant me this dance?" She looked up at him and offered him her hand which he kissed. She stood up with grace and he led her to the dance floor. Opening the bal, hundreds pairs of eyes were watching them. The crowd was amazed by her beauty and her composure. They all felt her charisma and agreed that she was the Queen Galbadia had missed all those years.

People were chatting. A group of old women were talking about Julia. Ladies from the court were jealous that Caraway did not choose one of their daughters. All of them were planning things up when it was announced he was looking for a wife. The women dreamt of ruling the kingdom from behind the throne; so they all came to introduce their daughters in age of marriage.

The young suitors were in competition and they did not even bothered to ashamed and disgraced each other, just to attract a gaze, a smile or even more from the future king. But then the unthinkable happened; he fell in love with the princess of the smallest land on the continent right after Winhill.

"I wish my daughter could have her beauty and her grace." Sighed a fat lady before drinking a glass of champagne.

"We have to thank Lady O'Hare. She perfectly raised her. The poor girl lost her parents when she was 7. Fortunately they paid someone to take care of their unique child if something had to happen!"

"Well, my dear you know you get nothing for nothing. I even heard that she refused to let the people do a task she could do. She couldn't bear seeing poor people working, while she just sat all day long, reading, studying or having fun. That is why she really understands what the people want." Gossiped another one

In a group of men:

"What a joy to have such a Queen. Galbadia will soon shine in its splendour. However I don't feel like those two were meant to be" stated an old man frowning and puffing at his pipe.

"Nevermind, answered a young adult on his right who seemed to be his son. At least he had the right to choose his fiancée, him!" He said glaring at his father. "Everyone would be happy to wed a lady such as Julia Heartilly!"

"Your cousin is the King, not you. Be glad he considers you of close relatives and allows you to live here in Deling City. And there is no point in discussing the choice I made for you. Sarah is a good match for you!"

"Yeah, yeah, she is rich and everything, but not as hot as our Queen!"

"How can you speak of our Queen this way? My son you're deceiving me. I thought commander Loire taught you how to behave. Hyne I thought he did a good job on you!"

"Oh he did, at least he stopped swearing!" the mother came saying.

Laguna heard this and giggled. He was resting his back on a wall. Slowly the music faded. The spouses bowed and went to pickup another dance partner into the crowd. General Caraway asked his sister whereas Julia was searching for Laguna. Everyone was watching as she made her way to him.

"Would the Commander Laguna Loire grant me this dance?" she asked.

Fainting surprise, he bowed and took her hand to lead her to the dance floor. She wanted to get closer to him, but those eyes watching her, she knew were all related to gossips mouths. But their gaze crossed and once again she let herself drown in his eyes; forgetting her surroundings.

Kiros and ward were watching.

"What can we do Kiros, they really are inseparable!"

"For once, I don't know. Let's just hope he won't take the risk to corrupt himself with her, now that she's married."

"Well, I fear he already had too many glasses to stay lucid on this situation.

Suddenly, the background noise became stronger. Julia was crying and running away, leaving Laguna standing alone in the middle of the dance floor. As General Caraway stopped dancing, Laguna glanced at him meaning he would deal with it. He followed her. As he arrived downstairs he just had time glimpse a piece of the very long dress, before it disappeared. He stepped outside. Running faster he grabbed her arm forcing her to turn to him.

"Leave me alone!" she screamed trying to escape from his grip.

"Julia! Julia! Calm down" he replied harshly

Surprised by his abrupt tone, she cried more. He took her in his arms

"Come on! I am sorry! Shh! It's over I'm here!

She tightened the embrace.

"Please...don't... leave me" she whispered in his ear between two sobs.

"I wish I could Julia! I wish I could!" He broke the embrace and took her head in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs.

"Julia, I will never forget those beautiful moments we had together. The first time we met in this bar, how foolish I was not being able to say a single coherent word. And we spent the night talking in your room. You can't imagine how it hurt me when General Caraway proposed to you. I didn't care knowing whether you're princess or not. But you were born princess and I was born a soldier, and...

"Shh! Don't say anymore!" she put her finger on his lips. He kissed it. "I only decided to marry him because I thought you would stay in Deling. But he sends you away! Oh I feel like Hyne already abandoned me!"

She watched him through wet eyes. He put his hands on her shoulders. None of them spoke; they could read into each other like open books. He leaned down and was going to close the gap with a kiss when Kiros and Ward interrupted them.

"Sorry to interrupt, but you've been gone quite a long time and people start wondering..."

"Kiros! Ward! Yeah, well...anyway Julia's better now so we're going back inside. He said confused; rubbing the back of his head, while Julia was looking away trying to act like nothing happened.

He offered her his arms and smiled. She hesitated but she took it and looked at him. She regained her composure.

"Let's go, my life awaits me! She stated firmly.