The wedding day.
Morning.
Erinette stood with her usual calm and serious expression, supervising all the preparations that morning. The space had been transford, a long red carpet led to a flower-adorned altar, rows of chairs were neatly arranged, and delicate floral arches frad the aisle.
She directed the household maids with precise, clear instructions, her voice carrying softly across the open space.
"Ensure the floral arrangents along the main aisle are symtrical and fresh. The silk runners must be perfectly aligned, no wrinkles, no misplacent. The silverware for the reception must be polished properly. This is a royal wedding. Every detail reflects the dignity of the Armand family."
Erisa stood beside her, attentive and poised, ready to relay orders or step in where needed.
Erinette nudged her glasses slightly and spoke to Erisa, her tone formal and asured, befitting her position as the second-highest-ranking authority among the estate staff.
"The Armand High Priest is currently residing in the guest wing, correct? Please ensure he has been provided with everything required for the ceremony and that his schedule for today has been confird."
Erisa nodded, placing her palm over her left chest in a gesture of respect. "Yes, Mrs. Erinette. The High Priest arrived last evening and has been accommodated in the east guest suite. His needs have been attended to, and his itinerary for the ceremony has been reviewed and confird. He is prepared to proceed at the appointed hour."
"Good. I will leave the final preparations in your capable hands, Erisa. Ensure everything proceeds perfectly as planned. I must now attend to my usual duties and escort His Majesty, King Garius
"As you command, Mrs. Erinette." Erisa bowed again, her posture respectful and assured.
Erinette gave one last sweeping glance over the bustling courtyard, before turning gracefully and walking with purposeful elegance toward the manor.
anwhile.
Groom Designated Room.
Javier exhaled softly as he leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching Marcellus and Cedric fuss over their hair in the mirror. Heres stood nearby, simply looking at his own reflection with a small, content smile.
Javier sighed again, more audibly this ti. "Why do I even need to be here?"
"Huh?" Marcellus chuckled, not taking his eyes off the mirror as he smoothed a stray strand of hair. "How would we know? You’re the one who showed up at the door looking like you’d been ordered here."
Cedric smirked and chid in, adjusting the cuff of his formal, deep-blue velvet tunic embroidered with silver thread, the new Armand royal wedding attire for grooms. "Yeah. I bet Mother forced you to keep us from sneaking off to the brides’ designated room before the ceremony."
Javier rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide a faint grin. "Maybe. Or maybe she just wanted to make sure none of you passed out from nerves."
Heres finally turned from the mirror, his smile gentle. "It’s nice to have you here, little brother."
Javier smirked. "Oho~ The one that bratty... oops... Kliatana fell in love with."
Heres just smiled and shook his head again.
Marcellus smirked. "You don’t need to keep an eye on us, you know~ We’re adults, and we rember what Mother told us about not eting the brides before the ceremony."
"Yeah, yeah... Still... Marcellus. Harny and Lithia..." Javier’s grin turned playful. "You’re lucky and weird. Marrying both mother and daughter... eheheh... I wonder how that’s going to work. Since Lithia is marrying you too, how are you going to address Harny? ’Mother-in-law’ doesn’t quite fit when she’s also your bride."
Marcellus just chuckled, unfazed. "That’s not hard. I don’t need to call Harny anything but her na. They’re both my wives, and they both want this. I bet you’re just jealous~"
Javier pushed off the wall, his posture relaxing. "Yeah, yeah. Just don’t ss up your vows. I don’t want to have to console sobbing brides later, especially your soon-to-be wife, Heres. She’s annoying."
He glanced at both of his brothers, Marcellus and Cedric, who maintained an outward calm despite the excitent of the day, and his half-brother Heres, whose love-struck expression softened his otherwise princely deanor.
Everyone is getting married.
In three more days, it’ll be Aelius and Athine’s wedding.
It looks like everyone is moving forward with their lives, building their own families. Even though they won’t be far, their new hos are still within the Armand estate grounds, it feels like another Chapter is closing.
I know it’s not a bad thing.
But... I don’t know why I feel like... they’re all stepping into their futures, and I’m still here, watching from the sidelines. Even though I have my girls with .
I don’t know if it’s happiness... or perhaps...
"Oi, little brother. What are you smiling about over there alone? High?" Marcellus wiggled his eyebrows with a smirk, his teasing eyes fixed on Javier, who had slowly walked over to a plush cushion and sat down.
"No... just thinking."
Cedric raised an eyebrow. "Thinking about what?"
Javier smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Thinking about how Father ntioned that after the wedding, he wants everyone to face him in a mock battle."
Marcellus, Cedric, and Heres froze. Their expressions shifted from calm to sheer disbelief.
"W... WHAT!?" they shouted in unison.
Javier tried to hold back his laughter but failed, a snort escaping before he burst into full, unrestrained laughter. "Pffttt... Bwahahaha!"
"O... Oi! Are you serious!?" Marcellus glanced around as if looking for an escape route, his earlier composure completely gone.
Javier wiped tears from his eyes, slowly calming down. "Nah... just kidding, brothers~"
Marcellus exhaled sharply before glaring at Javier. "Don’t scare us like that!"
"Yeah!" Cedric rubbed his chest, visibly relieved. "My heart almost jumped out."
Heres shook his head before letting out a long, slow exhale. "Yeah, little brother... don’t scare us like that. Every ti you joke about sothing like that, it sohow ends up happening for real."
Javier snorted. "Hah! Even if it did happen for real, I’m sure you’d all shove toward him and run like usual." He chuckled, then his expression softened into a genuine smile. "I just wanted to calm you all down a bit. You might look composed, but I can tell you’re all nervous. "
( End Of Chapter )
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