For the two days that passed since Lucinda's birthday, news about Lucinda and Leonidas' upcoming wedding spread to a fair distance around Hyrule. During that time Zelda had made sure the servants would prepare for the wedding and carefully chose who would have the important roles to play for the event.
That morning after breakfast, Zelda told both Leonidas and Lucinda to meet her in her office to discuss some important things.
"So what do you wish to talk to us about Mother," asked Leonidas in the office.
"Well I believe it's time for Lucinda to prepare for when she is married to you and becomes a princess," explained Zelda leaving confusion to Lucinda.
"What do you mean by prepare," asked Lucinda, feeling like discomfort might be coming.
"Well first of all," said Zelda to Lucinda, "You will start with dance lessons with the person I once hired to teach Leonidas how to dance." "Knowing that person, it should take six days of dancing lessons for you to be experienced enough at it." "Secondly once you and Leonidas are married, you are supposed to wear dresses as befits a princess of Hyrule." "For that reason, you will be accompanied by one of our new servants and one of our new knights to Malo Mart for dress shopping right after your dance lesson today." "And lastly, you will be with me in a noble meeting later today which is needed for experience."
"Ok I guess," said Lucinda, feeling worried about the dresses and the meeting."
"As for you Leonidas," continued Zelda, "You are to tell the people in charge of the wedding preparations what they need to do since it will be your wedding and they will want your opinion as well as Lucinda's later on." "You will also be involved in the noble meeting as well when it happens."
"Yes Mother," replied Leonidas while feeling bad for not being with Lucinda for a chunk of the day," What will you be doing though Mother?"
"I'm to make the invitations for the guests who will be at the wedding until the meeting," answered Zelda, "Now I suggest you both go before the dance instructor and those preparing the wedding get impatient."
Having been told what they would be doing for the day, Leonidas and Lucinda left the offices and went to their respective destinations.
After some walking, Lucinda made it to the ballroom where a big woman was waiting for her.
"You must be Lady Lucinda, Prince Leonidas' fiance," said the woman, "My name is Sari and I was once a famous dancer in Castle Town." "Now I teach younger people my methods of dancing."
"Pleasure to meet you," replied Lucinda, "So what kind of method do you have for teaching?"
"Well I advise my students to pay attention to their feet and their surroundings," answered Sari, "There are other things but first let's see how you do on your own for now since I hear that His Highness gave you some pointers."
Lucinda then showed Sari what she could do and after that, Sari began to show how things were properly done which led to Lucinda following all the advice and demonstrations as carefully as she could.
Meanwhile, Leonidas was in the throne room, where the wedding ceremony would be held as was tradition for Hyrulian royal weddings, and he was talking with someone about decorations
"Your Highness," asked the decorator, "do you think the carpet for the march should be pink or blue?"
"Blue," answered Leonidas, knowing Lucinda and himself both preferred blue compared to pink.
"And what flowers do you think should be used," asked the decorator.
"Some kind of green flowers," answered Leonidas, "Lucinda and I agreed on that color to represent the fact we both look up to Link though she said that her bouquet should be orange flowers because they remind her of Ordon."
After more discussions with the decorator, Leonidas then had to go to the kitchen to tell the cooks what food should be served. At the time he already felt tired and worried that Lucinda was having a harder time.
With Lucinda, she had finished her dance lesson and was currently heading to the castle entrance to meet with the servant and knight who would accompany her to Malo Mart.
"Greetings Lady Lucinda," said a maid Lucinda didn't recognize once she was at the entrance, "I am Meora, and I was told this would be my first duty as a maid here."
"And I'm Chelsea," introduced a knight who was standing next to Meora that Lucinda recognized from her birthday," "I'll be guarding you and helping you while you shop for dresses."
After introductions, Lucinda and the others went to Malo Mart. A little while after getting there, Lucinda was being fitted in several dresses that she was told were recommended by Zelda in advance.
"At least these simple dresses are more comfortable than the gown I wore at the ball," said Lucinda to herself in a quiet voice after she finished trying on all her new dresses and they were purchased by money Zelda had given her.
After buying her new dresses, Lucinda along with Meora and Chelsea returned to the castle. As soon as they entered, they were greeted by Leonidas.
"So how did things go with the lesson and shopping," asked Leonidas to Lucinda while Lucinda's companions for the shopping trip left for other duties.
"I feel like I'm getting the hang of dancing, though I feel like I'm going to miss my old clothes once I start wearing the dresses," answered Lucinda, "How are the preparations?"
"I had a hard time with showing everyone what our preferences were," admitted Leonidas, "At least I think you'll like how they'll turn out."
With knowledge that the noble meeting was next, Leonidas and Lucinda then went to the room where the meeting would be and there they saw Zelda and tons of nobles but noticed the prime minister was absent.
"Well it seems that everyone is accounted for except for Prime Minister Jerold," said Zelda, "Since I've been told that he couldn't make it, we'll just have to do this without him."
"If I may Queen Zelda," said one of the nobles starting the meeting, "I still remember when Kakariko Village and Death Mountain were attacked not too long ago." "Do you think that's a bad omen?"
"Dodongos are common inside Death Mountain," explained another noble arguing with the first, "It's likely their numbers grew too much somehow." "I will admit that those Gorons should keep a better eye on their volcano."
"I for one think we should be on alert," said a third one, "Peace doesn't last forever and it could end at any time." "Besides I don't really trust Wanlo yet even if Link is the consort there."
"Do you not trust Link's judgment," asked Lucinda, "I may have only met him once but he seemed like everything that I was told about him."
"I agree with Lucinda," added Leonidas, "Besides, he also killed the one responsible for the war fifteen years ago."
"Please calm down," said Zelda silencing everyone who started to argue, "I understand that peace shouldn't be taken for granted but I have proven that we will be safe for a long time under my rule."
"That is true Your Majesty," said a fourth noble, "I suppose we should focus more on your son's wedding and hope it goes well."
"That would be appreciated," said Zelda.
For the following two hours, the meeting continued focusing mainly on the wedding while sometimes drifting to conditions Hyrule was currently having. By the time it finished, Lucinda and Leonidas were the first to leave.
"Nobility is hard isn't it," asked Lucinda once she and Leonidas were in the garden to relax after the events they experienced.
"It is," admitted Leonidas, "At least despite any problems they have, those nobles won't cause big trouble." "I for one am just glad I'm not ending up with any of their daughters."
"I suppose that would have been a problem for you," said Lucinda.
"Yeah and I'm also very glad that I am going to marry you Lucinda," said Leonidas with a smile.
"Same here," replied Lucinda, "No matter how difficult it will get for me, being at your side will make it worth it.
Unknown to the couple, Zelda, who after leaving the meeting room was watching them with a happy thought that they would do just fine at leading Hyrule when it would be their turn.