The flowers were spectacular, my dress fit me like a glove, the guests were all arriving on time at the church and the priest, orchestra, and choir were all in place under Brice's watchful gaze. But because it was my life, something had to go wrong.

"Eadlyn, please do not throw up on the dress," Hale pleaded, looking unsure about my ability to hold back my vomit.

I held up a finger at him and swallowed thickly. "I'm fine."

"Drink," Ean urged, holding a glass of water toward me.

"I'm fine," I insisted. Mom's eyebrows were drawn together as she told Eloise to get more powder foundation ready to cover the sheen of cold sweat on my skin.

"Josie, can you get some seltzer water for Eadlyn?" Mom asked the closest person I had to a bridesmaid. Josie ran out to find a guard to ask for some seltzer water but we were already in the church – it was no use. We weren't going to find seltzer water there.

I ignored them all and clamped my mouth shut, dashing into the water closet set off of the narthex we were using for final preparations. What little food I had managed to eat that morning for breakfast came back up as I tried my hardest to suppress the natural instinct to cry that I always had while getting sick. Mom stood behind me, pulling the skirt of my dress tight behind me to make sure it was well out of the way and keeping my hair in place behind my head.

In the narthex, I heard Brice ask, "Where's Eadlyn? Everyone is ready and the boys are about to take their places."

"In here," Mom called to her.

Brice's heels clicked toward us as another wave of nausea forced me to face the toilet again. "Oh no. Oh no. Okay. Um, Maxon is out in the hallway with the photographer ready for the first look. Should I tell the coordinator that we'll be running a few minutes behind?"

"No," I groaned.

"Yes," Mom corrected. "Can you tell everyone to leave except for Eloise? I need a few minutes alone with my daughter and we'll need someone to touch up Eady's makeup."

"I can do that. Oh, and here. For her breath." I didn't look back but I knew that Brice was handing Mom the package of mints she always had in her pocket.

The worst of the nausea seemed to have passed so I straightened myself, leaning against the wall for support. "Does this count as my something borrowed?" I asked Mom.

She smiled pitifully and held out the container of mints, one of the tabs open so that I could reach in and get one. I let the strong taste settle my stomach. I leaned my head back against the wall, staring at the ceiling. "I've been ready for this day for the last five months. Why am I so nervous now?" I asked Mom.

"Becoming a wife is a big deal. It's not a huge transition for you, truthfully," she said, carefully putting one of my dark curls back in place. "The change in title, though, is everything. There is a lot more pressure in being a wife. At first, every little disagreement will feel like a complete loss and will shake you and you'll wonder if you made a mistake but eventually you'll find that it's okay to disagree with your husband. Healthy, even. In moderation, of course."

"Were you nervous on your wedding day?"

She smiled, her eyes twinkling as she thought back to that day. "I don't know a woman who wasn't nervous on her wedding day. Even Marlee, who got married with no one around but Carter, a priest and your father, was nervous. You're ready, Eadlyn," she urged me gently.

I met her honest gray eyes fully and asked her one last question. "What if I fall?"

"What if you never try flying?" she countered, recognizing the question I asked her frequently while I was a teenager, trying to navigate my early years of being a princess and the pressures that came along with that.

I joined her and Eloise out in the narthex then as Eloise reapplied my powder and my lipstick. Mom made me take one last sip of water just to be sure. Mom poked her head through the door and confirmed that the photographer was in place to capture Dad's first time seeing me in my dress. This moment was one of my top requests for my wedding day. I wanted to have this one moment with my father because I was his only daughter and I knew that this day was hard on him. It wasn't easy for him to let me go and we both knew that. This quiet moment with him before the wedding madness ensued was not just necessary but crucial.

"Go ahead," Mom said, swinging the door open.

Dad's back was turned to me and I walked up to him so I was just ten feet away, the photographer clicking away. "Daddy?" I asked softly, anxious for his reaction. Was I pretty enough for him? Did I still look like his little girl?

He turned and gasped softly when he saw me, putting a hand to his mouth. We both laughed giddily. "Eadlyn," he whispered from behind his hand.

I was barely aware of the photographer clicking away a few short paces from us. I only had eyes for Dad, mostly because I wanted to treasure this moment for the rest of my life but also because I was scared that he was about to pass out on the spot. I smiled gently at him, waiting for him to say something.

"Oh, Eady, you look so beautiful," he whispered. "More than beautiful, if there is a word for it."

I stepped up closer to him so that he could embrace me and I reveled in the feel of being hugged by my father. "I have something for you," I said quietly, waving to Eloise to pass me the small black box I had tucked away in the various suitcases that came with us to the church.

"You didn't need to get me anything," he said to me.

"No, but you say that every time I try to give you a present. Consider it as a thank you for everything you've ever done for me. It's impossible to put my thanks into one present or even one hundred presents but I hope that this is at least something you can hold onto and always remember me as your little girl," I told him. He slowly opened the box and looked inside, pulling out the silver watch I had designed for him at the royal jewelers. "Flip it over," I gently urged.

He frowned in confusion as he flipped the watch to stare at the backside of it, the side that traditionally had the battery and tiny screw heads visible. Tears started falling from his eyes in earnest as he read what was engraved on the underside of the watch. "To the first man I ever loved," he read aloud. He shook his head. "Oh Eadlyn. You will always be my little girl."

I didn't even know that Mom was there until I felt her hand on my shoulder. I rested my head against Dad's shoulder as she fastened the watch under the navy blue cuff of his military dress coat. The cuffs were tight and it wouldn't show but he would at least know that it was there.

"Are we ready?" Brice asked softly from where she stood by the doors of the narthex.

I turned to Dad for confirmation. He nodded. "We're ready."

Brice spoke into a headset that the ceremony could begin. From the other side of the closed doors, I could hear the music begin. My hands began to shake around my bouquet and I felt the nausea returning. "We're right here, honey," Mom whispered to me. "In just a few moments, you'll be with him."

I nodded. Of course. I could do this. I could suffer through the nerves for another minute and then I would see Eikko and have his hands in mine and then maybe, just maybe, I'd feel less like I was about to float away. Dad looped his arm through my right arm and Mom was on the left, both of them helping to guide me to the door.

They swung open right on cue, just as it had been practiced many times before. The congregation of guests rose to their feet and turned in my direction, some craning their necks to get a good look at me. As soon as we crossed the threshold into the cathedral, cameras lit up the space and I panicked, trying not to blink ferociously amidst the bright flashes. Mom squeezed my arm and that small gesture was enough for me to take a deep breath and get the rest of the way down the aisle. Ahren was sitting next to Camille and they both broke decorum and waved at me like lunatics. Their antics worked though because I laughed and the last of my nerves trickled away.

And then there he was.

My Eikko. Dressed in a formal military uniform similar to Dad's but lacking some of the medals and badges he had accumulated over his years as king. His dark hair contrasted perfectly with the golden crown sitting atop his head, gleaming in the sunlight pouring through the stain glass windows around us. Behind him stood Henri, because we didn't know who else we could have possibly asked to stand with him on this day.

"Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, family, and friends, you may all take your seats," the priest said from his place in front of the four of us. Mom took a step away, sliding her arm out of mine gracefully. "We are gathered here before God and before all of Illéa to witness the unity of Her Majesty the Queen Eadlyn Helena Margarete Schreave to Sir Eikko Petteri Koshinen of Kent. Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"

I glanced at Dad, praying he could get the words out. "She gives herself, by the blessing of her mother and father."

Dad held my hand in his for a moment longer and my breath caught, waiting anxiously for him to proceed. He lifted my hand to his lips in an impromptu, gentlemanlike, paternal kiss before he placed it in Eikko's waiting hand. He and Eikko shared a meaningful look as Dad leaned forward to whisper something in his ear that made Eikko beam. Dad kissed my cheek one last time before he and Mom took the last two seats closest to the front of the cathedral.

Eikko held my hands in vices as we repeated the same vows that thousands upon millions of other couples had said in the same public display of their love for each other. There was no wedding ring for me since it was tradition for the king (now queen) to wear his signet ring in place of a wedding ring. Eikko's was just a simple platinum band that we would get a ring to match for me once I passed on the signet ring.

Finally, the priest instructed me to step beside him so that we were both facing the congregation and Eikko. He knelt down on the small, plush red stool and bowed his head before me as I read out his vows that would make him prince consort. They were the same vows that I had sworn to, that Mom and Dad had sworn to, and every Schreave before them. His eyes gleamed as he smiled up at me and I knew that he meant every word as he pledged his loyalty to our land. The priest pronounced him as prince consort of Illéa and then had him rise. We both faced the congregants than and he said proudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with Her Royal Majesty, Queen Eadlyn Helena Margarete Schreave de Koshinen and His Royal Highness, Prince Eikko Petteri Schreave de Koshinen."

This was one of the very few kisses we would ever be granted to have photographed for the world and the only day where public displays of affections didn't have to be at an absolute minimum. With that in mind, Eikko leaned in and kissed me fervently, sealing our marriage with his lips pressed firmly against mine. Our hands stayed clasped together as he brought his other arm around my waist, bending me backward slightly. I laughed into him, making him laugh with me.

The congregants rose to their feet and applaused while we made our escape back down the middle aisle, practically running back to the narthex. When the doors of the cathedral closed behind us, he swept me into another kiss. "I love you," he whispered. "I love you, I love you."

"I love you too," I answered, hugging him tight.

Mom and Dad came in with Kaden, Osten, Ahren and Camille right behind them, all of them circling us and caging us in with excited chatter. Mom hugged Eikko tightly and I just barely heard her whisper to him, "Welcome to the family."

"Another brother!" Kaden exclaimed as if he was just now realizing this.

Osten scrunched up his nose. "Another brother? I'm tired of brothers. You couldn't have married a girl, Eads?" I giggled and hugged Osten, ruffling his curly red hair playfully.

"I gave you a sister!" Ahren said in mock disgust.

"Yeah, but she doesn't live here," Osten argued.

Eikko hugged Osten from the other side. "Sounds like the one you need to talk to is Kaden." He winked to my middle brother, who blushed as his eyes flicked to Josie where she was standing with Brice and Eloise by the doors.

"Okay, okay," Dad said loudly, waving us in the direction of the car. "Let's go get these pictures over with so that we can relax before the reception."

This marathon photo shoot wasn't nearly as arduous as the one on the day of my coronation. That one was long simply because of all of the pictures with the Selected. Now it was primarily Eikko and I and our immediate family. Besides, there would be plenty of other photographs from the rest of the night.

The highlight of the reception came during the speeches. Ahren gave a wonderfully embarrassing speech, highlighting some of the most ridiculous things we had gotten into as kids. The crowd favorite seemed to be the outrageously recounted story of how we had decided that Dad's book of maps would make a great coloring book when we were four (it was my idea). Suffice to say, Dad had to get all new map books.

Dad and Ahren were really the only two supposed to give speeches but then, as Ahren took his seat at our table again, all of the guests seated at the table closest to us stood and took to the floor. The Elite stood in a single file line so that I could only see the one in front: Henri. My hand clenched onto Eikko's knee underneath the table as Henri withdrew a harmonica from his pocket and blew into it. It squeaked at first but he found the right place to blow into and then waved to the boys to do something. Then Gunner stepped out from behind Henri, reciting a poem that went along with the harmonica.

I pressed my free hand to my mouth as they each took a verse, slowly spreading themselves out on the dance floor. Their verses all had some sort of funny memory of myself and of Eikko in it. I shook my head when Fox said something about me having impeccable taste in asparagus and pointed at Kile teasingly when he said "The queen said no 'cause she thought Kile was vile."

All of the guests applauded loudly as the boys took their bows. They returned to their seats but Henri came up to our table and stood in front of Eikko and I. "You have good day, Eadlyn?" he asked me.

"Very good day, Henri," I assured him.

"Sorry I can't sing," he said.

I smiled and practically melted at his apologetic smile and bashful gaze. "You made the cake. That's probably the most important job of the wedding. At least for me." He blushed and gave a thumbs-up, saying something quickly to Eikko in Finnish before going back to the table. "What was that all about?" I asked him.

"Nothing," he said in a suspiciously high voice.

"Are you sure?"

"It's guy stuff."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Mhmm," I sighed, touching my forehead to his shoulder for a brief moment.

Guests took advantage of dinnertime to come offer us their congratulations, including Eikko's sister. This was really my first time meeting her. I saw her at the tail end of breakfast but Eikko whisked her away to catch up and I was surrounded the women making me wedding-ready, making the opportunities for introductions limited.

"Eikko," she said brightly. Then she curtsied to me. She wobbled a little bit but for never having curtsied in front of a queen, I thought she did well. "Your Majesty."

"Lahja, please, call my Eadlyn. You are my sister, after all."

She beamed and smiled shyly. She had the same quiet presence as Eikko but didn't seem to suffer from the same crippling aversion to people he did. She actually seemed to thrive in social situations with her easygoing personality and uncanny ability to make people laugh. At least, it looked like she was keeping her table entertained. She flipped her long, black curly hair over her shoulder. "Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your special day."

"You're family now. We couldn't exclude you in good conscience." Eikko's eyes fell downward, as did Lahja's, as they both probably thought about their absent parents. "Have you met my family yet?"

"Yes! Ahren introduced us," she explained, nodding to where he was talking to Queen Nicoletta, Camille, and Mom. "Somehow they're even more wonderful in person than they seem to be on TV."

"Oh, just wait until the cameras are gone tomorrow. They'll be animals."

Lahja scrunched up her nose. "Actually, I'll be leaving again tonight."

"So soon?" Eikko asked.

"Unfortunately. Kaarlo needs to be back by Monday for work. I could find a substitute for my job but he's kind of important."

Eikko laughed out loud and nodded in agreement. I frowned and asked, "Why? What does he do?"

"He's a rancher. He and Lahja own over one hundred cows and going into winter…well, it's crunch time for them to be able to earn their profit." He put an arm around my shoulders as he explained.

"You need to go home to kill cows?" I asked, looking for clarification.

She shrugged. "It pays the bills. He's really enjoyed telling me these past few months that it would lighten the load if some smaller farmhands out there to help him. I kindly remind him that before they can be farmhands, they're reliant on me," she joked.

Eikko stood and walked around the table to hug her. "Thanks for coming," he said to her as they embraced.

"I'll look after Mom and Dad for you," she promised him. "And I'll get them to visit you, don't worry. Once Mom hears that I got to share my dessert with Queen America, she'll be dying to come."

"But Dad—"

"Dad would follow Mom into a fire without even thinking about it. It's her you need to convince. And she just happens to love me. Maybe if I give her a grandkid or two, we could thaw out her cold Swendish heart," Lahja said sarcastically.

"Maybe."

"It was lovely meeting you, Lahja," I said, hugging her when Eikko released her.

"You as well, sisko," she said tenderly. "We'll keep in touch. Call me if you need help keeping this boy in line"

I smiled fondly at Eikko. "I will, don't worry."

Lahja went back across the dance floor to meet Kaarlo and we watched them both leave the reception, hand-in-hand, waving at some of their newest friends. No sooner had she left than Kile was there, holding his arm out to me. "Care for a walk through the gardens, Your Majesty?" he asked me, his eyes meeting Eikko's as if he was really asking my husband for permission.

"Of course," I said, squeezing Eikko's hand before walking out to the gardens with Kile. "Today hasn't been too hard for you, has it?" I asked him once we were alone. I loved my wedding day and I loved having a day to simply celebrate being Eadlyn and Eikko but it didn't stop me from worrying about Kile.

"Eadlyn, I've always wanted you to be happy and I haven't ever seen you happier than you were today. That makes today pretty easy for me." He paused. "It does hurt a little though," he admitted.

"You'll find someone, Kile. Someone who can be right there with you as you follow what you're passionate about."

He laughed. "Yeah, while you pay for it," he joked.

"We all do what we can to help those we love," I told him, holding his arm closer to me as he steered us through the hedge maze. We weren't really paying attention to where we were going but we both knew the maze like the back of our hands; he would get us out. "You are happy, right?"

Kile took a long time to answer, clearly thinking through his response carefully. He was quiet for so long though that I was scared he simply wasn't going to answer. He pressed his lips together and then opened his mouth, only to close it again. Finally he said, "I'm happy rediscovering myself."

"Okay," I said slowly, trying to figure out how that made sense.

"I'm happy figuring out who I am outside of the palace, away from the spotlights and cameras and makeup. I am finally doing what I've always wanted to do in life. I'm doing something meaningful and impactful and I'm not doing it at a distance like I thought I would have to. It's been hard, moving across the country with a broken heart and being paid by the person who broke it, but it's been an adventure."

I looked away from him, my bubble of joy deflating a little at that. I knew that banishing him and breaking his heart simultaneously was awful but I never let myself think of how it would impact him. "I'm sorry, Kile."

"I'm not apologizing to you for Eikko marrying you, am I?"

"No."

"Then stop apologizing to me for kicking my ass and reminding me of my dreams and plans." He laughed and faced me. "Honestly Eadlyn, you're the only queen who could give her people what they want while apologizing about it until you're blue in the face." He shook his head. "Sometimes the hard thing is the right thing."

My eyes grew warm as he smiled at me so softly and so wholly with love and I had to break away from his gaze to avoid bursting into tears. "You would have made a great king, anyway."

"Good thing I didn't marry you then. I wouldn't have been wasted as a prince consort." I elbowed him, shoving him away a few feet.

"Are you heading back to Panama then?"

"Yeah, on Monday. I'm spending some time with my mom just to appease some of her worries but I can't waste too much time here. You've heard about the hurricane."

I nodded grimly. "It looks terrible down there. Eikko and I will be down for a visit and to help on our way back here from France. Maybe you can introduce us to your new friends."

"Or I could give you a hammer and put you to work," he teased. "Unless that would endanger your manicure?"

"I'll tell Eloise to remove my nail polish on our way there."

"Good idea." We had ended up at the reception again, thanks to Kile's impeccable navigation skills of the garden. Ahren was standing by the door, craning his head and squinting as he looked for something in the darkness of the gardens. Camille and Eikko were speaking in the doorway behind him. "Ahren is looking for you, I believe."

"He's always looking for me," I said, rolling my eyes and meeting my twin brother by the doors of the reception. Kile slipped inside, shaking Eikko's hand as he went.

Ahren held a fancy key out to me. "For the chateau, madame."

"We really have to unlock the front door?" I asked. Never in my life had I needed a key to a hotel room or guesthouse we stayed in. Security was always in there first and they let us in. There was no way our honeymoon would be any different, especially since Eikko and I were officially the monarchs of Illéa.

"No, General Leger will have that taken care of before you get there, I'm sure. This is for the wine cabinet in the cellar. There's wine in there more expensive than your tiaras combined," Ahren clarified.

"And you're giving us the key?"

"Think of it was a wedding gift from us to you," Camille said, hugging Ahren from the side and smiling to me. "Really, do take it."

I frowned. "And drink expensive wine that doesn't even belong to us during our honeymoon?"

"Do you know anything about being on a honeymoon?" Ahren asked. "No, you don't. We do. Take the key, drink, enjoy. Just don't have too much fun. You should settle in as husband and wife before having kids."

I blushed, my eyes flickering to meet Eikko's. I had been waiting all day for Ahren to make a comment along those lines. Eikko came to my rescue by asking, "Speaking from personal experience, Ahren?"

"No!" he exclaimed, bordering on squeaking. "No, I'm just telling you what Mom and Dad would."

"What would we tell you?" Dad said, him and Mom stepping up behind Eikko.

"Just to stay safe while you're abroad," Ahren amended.

Dad squinted at Ahren. "Yes, of course that's what you all were talking about," he said. He looked between Eikko and I. "In all seriousness, though, please stay safe. General Leger handpicked the guards going with you but with all that's going on with North Africa and those rebels, I don't like how far away you'll be from here."

"If anything happens, France's sanctuaries and safe houses will be open to them," Camille assured him. "We want them to be safe as well and will do all we can to help."

"Okay," I sighed. "If you all are done talking about us like we're children going away to summer camp for the first time, we'll be leaving for our honeymoon. Actually, we're going no matter what."

Mom pouted and reached her arms out to me, officially starting the goodbyes. "Be good, don't get into too much trouble," she whispered in my ear. "And enjoy yourselves. You'll never get this time again."

"Thanks Mom." I walked into Dad's embrace, swaying slightly with him. "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you too," he said. He kissed my forehead and then gently nudged me toward Eikko. "She's all yours. Get her back in one piece please, and don't let her hassle you too much. Sometimes she needs to be told what to do."

I rolled my eyes. "God, can we please be going?"

Eikko took my hand and walked me toward my room where we would change into more comfy clothes to travel in. I glanced over my shoulder one last time to see Ahren shout, "Make sure you use protection!" and Mom swat him on the back of his head.