Chapter 24: The ceremony- Act 3
Spring, a season of ups and downs, of sun and snow, proved right to its reputation of unpredictability as the weather shifted.
Riding home blessed by the sun's strong glow the weather was now changing again as the softest clouds moved to block the light.
A cold breeze blew across the crowd of cheering people.
A few of the elderly women and younger girls quickly rubbed their upper arms in response to the cool chill.
Not so Shizuo.
His chest was burning.
Excitement more fitting a child threatened to bubble to the surface as a delighted smile spread across his lips.
There she was.
His bride- no, his wife.
Kururi.
She had come.
The king couldn't quite tell why, but somehow up to this point he had had the slightest hint of fear that she might not appear.
He didn't even have any reason to believe so- and yet the worry had been there.
But now, watching her step forward with her father's arm, Shizuo realized she couldn't be more real.
A veil was dropped above her face so he couldn't make out her expression for certain, but he didn't need to, to know that she was beautiful.
It was funny, really. Usually Shizuo hated occasions like these.
Everything titled with the word tradition held this bitter taste of force. People attending were forced to appear. Forced to speak what others expected. Forced to think what was the norm and forced to want what everyone craved.
But watching his bride step forth to join him on the altar he couldn't have felt more free if he had wanted to.
He had asked her.
And she said yes.
With no obligation, no one forced her to do anything.
"Your sister wishes you a happy wedding," Kururi's father spoke with what had to be a fatherly smile.
He had to be happy too.
Seeing his daughter get married to the king he wouldn't need to worry about her well being.
"I will take care of her." Shizuo quietly spoke so as to not interrupt the ceremony.
A short glance met his eyes and the father's smile brightened all the more as he retreated from the altar.
One if the bridesmaids stepped up from the side to uncover the veil.
She was gorgeous.
Too mesmerized to pay attention to the bishop, Shizuo found himself trapped in Kururi's face.
The color of red had been the perfect choice for the dress, but the jewelry matching her eyes only enhanced her beauty even more.
The hair that had barely brushed her shoulders while moving had settled by her collarbone. A soft scar from the first night of the castle was partly hidden by strings of gold.
She looked amazing.
Everything paled compared to her.
This woman-
He was going to spend the rest of his life with her.
Yet her expression seemed a bit off.
Was she nervous?
Nervosity glazed Shizuo's own mind as he grasped her hand softly.
It was funny.
She had made it quite clear that she could stand her own grounds and that she didn't wish to be protected and yet he couldn't stop this urge to scoop her up in his lap so that no harm in the world could reach her.
He had never felt like this before-
A soft breeze blew past the scenery once more and a little girl's ribbon went flying all the way over like a snake gliding through the sky.
The whole town seemed to have gathered around them. Probably some important people from god knows where as well.
Shizuo knew his servants had placed notices all over the land. There was no church whose front door had not been struck with the announcement of their wedding.
It was an obligation more than wish, and Shizuo certainly couldn't care less about anyone who traveled far to be present.
But there was one face he loved to see.
James.
Crying like the world was ending Clarence handed him her handkerchief and he thanked her before wiping the corner of his eyes.
"Does anyone have a reason to oppose the marriage between these two? Then he shall speak now or keep forever silent." Redirecting his attention back to the ceremony at hand Shizuo faced the bishop.
No words were said and no objection spoken of course but the bishop waited the prescribed time.
"Well then, my king," the man of the church pointed towards one of the maids. Quickly scurrying over, she handed Shizuo the rings.
They were old, heavy and not particularly beautiful, but Shizuo wouldn't have liked any others.
His mother wore it when she was still alive, and now his wife would continue to do so.
Like a mantra the king repeated the bishop's hint before the wedding in his head as he slipped his mother's ring on Kururi's hand. The rings were placed on the fourth finger.
Holy shit-
Almost dropping it on the way Shizuo's heart stopped for a second.
Good heavens this was not the time to be clumsy.
"My King, do you take this woman as your wedded wife, pledge and swear to love and protect her until you die?" The bishop continued his speech meanwhile and the warmth returned to Shizuo's chest as he answered.
"I pledge." An approving nod was given by the bishop as he turned to Kururi.
"And you, my lady, do you wish to marry this man, of your own free will?"
Cords of iron tightened their hold on Izaya's throat as he realized he had to speak.
"I do." The words felt cold and his stomach nauseous.
Cheers flowed past their ears like fresh waves of an ocean and yet Izaya heard nothing as the voices drowned.
Shizuo was standing in front of him wearing the happiest smile. The bishop must have announced them as hereby married. Izaya just felt so much worse looking at that happy expression.
Forcing a smile on his tired lips he tried to mirror the action.
There was an act he needed to uphold at all costs.
Seeing as the ceremony had ended the more pleasant part started as the newly wedded were showered in gratulations, gifts, poems and songs alike.
Wine was offered a couple times and as the weather had changed they relocated to the inside of the castle.
The dining hall was amazing.
Entering the usually not exactly bright room Izaya realized what it was their servants had been working on so diligently.
The chandelier was hanging up high sparkling like a falling star in the darkest night. Music resounded from polished walls, floor and tables.
All kinds of flowers and decorations had been placed all over, transforming the dining hall into a location of joy and happiness.
Urged on to dance, the most beautiful girls of the town quickly took up the offers of young men.
Even the cook seemed to have been instructed with quite a special menu as dozens of servants streamed back and forth from the kitchen.
Sitting on the fine velvet chair right next to Shizuo Izaya couldn't have felt more out of place even if he wanted to.
Hearty laughter resounded from all sides and joyful stories were told in quick succession.
Food was placed in front of Izaya. Some kind of bird. Small.
Izaya didn't feel like taking a single bite.
"What a fine bride you have indeed!" one of Shizuo's younger knights cheered as he raised his mug for a toast.
"Happy now, my lord?" Another spoke sly, sitting right next to Shizuo and the king seemed quite abashed by his question.
"Hey, stop it-"
"My lady, would you care for another drink?" Mika was there too. Standing in front of Izaya she held a gorgeously crafted decanter filled with fresh wine.
Nodding softly he did her the favor and extended his glass. His chest felt tight, his stomach like he needed to throw up and his head felt thick. He didn't need anything to drink and he didn't intend to even take a sip, but seeing how much joy he was bringing to the maid by such a simple action he saw no need to deny her.
And so evening came. Faster than Izaya wished for it. It was funny.
He had been so impatient the past few days and every moment passing seemed to take ages. So how did time all of a sudden move so fast?
The candles had burnt down. Half of the guests had returned home and the other was too drunk to hold a straight conversation.
Only Shizuo seemed to have remained fairly sober as he leaned over.
"You can retire to our room if you want to. I don't think anyone would mind." The slightest hint of insecurity trailed in the king's voice as he brought the topic of 'their' bedroom up.
Right.
After today the queen would leave her own chambers behind and sleep in one bedroom with her husband. Just as it was expected.
Feeling his stomach drop even lower, Izaya realized this was the last time he would move around in the castle. It was the last time he had seen the sun, felt the wind and smelled the food that came ever so fast from the kitchen.
The vial hidden in his left sleeve felt heavier than a pile of stones.
Only reluctantly he felt himself nod while his entire being simply wanted to scream-
"My lady," Mika offered her arm as it was hard to move around with all those layers. The rest of the staff was already gone, busily cleaning everything up and catering to the rest of the guests.
It seemed somewhat fitting that Mika was the one who had been assigned to attend to the queen.
With heavy shoulders Izaya rose from his seat. The steps he took had never felt heavier and the silence never as quiet as it felt when they exited the hall.
Dark and cold the corridor in front of them unfolded as they made their way up.
"Was the wedding to your satisfaction, my lady?" Mika asked curiously as the broadest smile spread across her lips.
The wedding, huh?
Izaya wanted to assure her and tell her she did a good job, but somehow his lips just didn't move. They felt heavy, tight and his tongue was even worse.
Mika's expression lost a bit of her joy as she tilted her head. Worry followed next and before Izaya knew it she had grasped both his hands in a comforting manner.
"Don't worry everything will be fine," she hesitated, unsure whether or not she was overstepping some boundaries. A soft blush spread across her face as she continued. "I'm sure he will be gentle so you have nothing to be scared of, alright?" An assuring smile decorated her features and somehow Izaya wished he could just continue to play the queen.
She had understood that Izaya was unsettled albeit not knowing why she searched for the most logical reason.
The wedding night.
She thought the new queen was nervous upon fulfilling the duty of a newly married couple.
Honestly, Izaya felt like crying.
This day had been beautiful for everyone present.
Even the staff.
Shizuo was loved all over
by his servants, his people, hell even the bishop had looked extremely pleased by their marriage.
Swallowing hard, Izaya softly squeezed Mika's hands before moving them off.
"Thank you, Mika." Relieved that she had not displeased her queen, the maid nodded as she opened the door to the king's chamber.
"I wish you a good night's rest, my queen." She smiled, empathizing the new title as she bowed slightly.
Izaya nodded, stepped inside, and the door closed like a trap falling shut.
He had arrived at his final destination.
A fireplace had been prepared and the flames licked eagerly upon a new brick of wood. The bed was covered in the finest fabrics. Flowers stood everywhere and gifts from their guests piled up in the corner of the room.
Funnily enough he spotted a very familiar object as well. The mirror table. It seemed they had brought it over to give their queen at least some familiarity.
Letting his hand glide along the oakwood that made up the texture he sat down in front of it.
His reflection looked back as he met the mirror and a bitter smile forced itself onto his lips as if to try and cheer it up.
What happened after death?
He had never concerned himself with the question as he was quite young still. Seeing as he had never been involved with any sort of danger apart from receiving punishments from his father that were far from deadly the question had never really occurred.
What was it that he was going to experience today?
His curiosity was going to be fulfilled soon.
"Hey-!" Loud noises startled Izaya slightly as the door burst open. As if kicking out a dog into the pouring rain Shizuo was shoved inside the bedroom. The door slipped shut as quickly as it had opened and fading laughter was to be heard from the hall.
Embarrassment was written all across Shizuo's expression as he glanced at his wife.
"Ah … sorry."
It was funny, but the sight somehow evoked comfort and Izaya couldn't help but snort at the expression he made.
"Quite straightforward aren't you?" His words only seemed to triple the king's nervosity as he quickly straightened his stance.
"It wasn't me, it was my knights." A short moment of silence followed in which both of them smiled at the actions of Shizuo's soldiers.
Words seemed to sit at the tip of Shizuo's tongue, but at the last minute he seemed to change them.
"Alright, I wish you a good night," he voiced and Izaya couldn't help but show confusion.
"You are leaving?" Hesitating the king seemed to struggle even worse to pick the right words.
"I know about our ... duty," he started slowly, "But there is no hurry, is there?"
Ah.
So that's why.
"Because of what I said in the library?" Izaya asked, recalling how Shizuo had asked if he even wanted to marry him. A nod followed with an explanation, "You don't love me yet. It strikes me as wrong to touch you in any way as if natural."
How sweet.
Kind.
So, so kind.
All of a sudden Izaya felt suffocated by the idea of him leaving.
That dorky behavior he was somewhat used to seeing was assuring to have nearby.
"Stay."
Izaya wanted his corpse to be found sooner rather than later. He didn't want to die alone.
He didn't want to die at all.
Cold clutched his already tight chest as he felt panic bubble to the surface. Despite not wanting to, he was terribly afraid.
"Are you sure? I-" Surprise laid in Shizuo's voice as he seemed quite overwhelmed with the request.
Izaya nodded. "Can you turn around?" Sheepishly, although he was planning to undress himself he asked and Shizuo acted upon the wish quicker than he could spell it as he moved towards the window, facing the gardens and night sky.
Just how cute could his wife be?
Feeling the nervosity spike, Shizuo glanced at the moon and stars.
What was he even supposed to do?
Not technical but- swallowing he touched his lips.
She was his wife-
He still couldn't believe it.
In all those years on campaigns he started to think he just wasn't chosen to have a peaceful life. But now? He had a wife, possibly a family soon.
James didn't stop ranting to him about it.
Feeling a smile spread across his lips Shizuo found himself enjoying the imagination.
Right.
His family.
Glancing to the side he couldn't help but sneak a peek.
His wife had told him not to look while undressing but for how long?
With surprise he saw that she had not moved.
The three mirrors in front of her reflected her expression.
An expression that didn't show joy-
Sadness, if not even fear, was what stood in her eyes and Shizuo felt his blood run cold at the sight as his mood dissipated into guilt. Into disappointment- and then he saw it.
Unmistakably the vial the merchant he had run into. The one that held deadly poison. The one he had snatched back within seconds as to not kill the king by accident.
As if stopping time he watched his wife move as those delicate fingers uncapped the top.
Rushing over so fast he knocked the mirror over he slapped the cursed object out of her hands as he pulled her up by her wrist.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
to be continued~
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Hello people~ Sorry I haven't updated last week, somehow time flew too fast xD But I got good news! I actually got an artist corner at an anime convention in Vienna xD
I will be selling my re-works and other books there and some self crafted shit haha xD If you wanna drop by just search for a huge BL stand selling Seelies along with some spicey light novels on the Aninite2023 in the vienna international center x'DDDD
Back to the updates, I didn't get to update anything apart from Impostor today sadly, but i promise to update all 5 stories again starting next Saturday xD
With that being said~ C:
See you in Act 4 xDDD