Alison sniffled and wiped at her eye with the back of a finger. “I love you too, Sebastian.”
“Alison Smith, will you marry me?”
She nodded furiously, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. “Yes!” she exclaimed.
I gingerly took her left hand and slipped the ring onto her finger. I stood and wrapped her in a tight hug, pressing our lips together to share a passionate, deep kiss. My heart was beating widely as pure joy surged through my veins. People chased happiness. They found it in money, fancy cars, flashy jewelry, or sometimes at the bottom of a bottle. They’d chase that high until they croaked. But I knew, standing in the middle of the dance floor with Alison in my arms, that I was done running. I’d found happiness in her. I’d never have to look for it again, because it was just a bright smile and a kiss away.
33
Alison
Wedding preparations had taken nearly a year to complete, but the day was finally upon us. If it had been up to me, I would have hosted a private civil ceremony and only invited close friends and family. I never really understood people’s needs to spend exorbitant amounts of money for a singular day, when it really should just be a day to celebrate a love between two people. But I understood that Sebastian’s status as the Crown Prince meant we had to go all out. He was about to make me the happiest woman alive. So if he needed a massive wedding, we’d have a massive wedding. The people of Wyvernbank and Sunyata were anxiously awaiting the day of the royal wedding, which was to be televised for all to witness.
I was with my sister and Klaus in the south wing’s dressing room. King Regis had kindly sectioned off the wing for Sebastian, Adam, and I to use. The dressing room was probably one of my favorite places to be, right after the royal gardens and the dining hall. I looked about the space, admiring the gentle glow of sunlight off of the walls, which were covered from floor-to-ceiling in expensive white wallpaper decorated with a pattern of golden flowers. The room was brightly lit by the sparkling chandelier dangling from the arching ceiling and the lights that had been installed around the edges of the vanity mirror.
I was sitting on a small bench in front of the vanity as Kamrin helped me with my hair, and Klaus browsed through the Wyvernbank Royal Family’s collection of tiaras to pick one for me to wear with my veil. He looked incredibly conflicted.
“There’s too many to choose from,” he sighed in frustration.
“Just pick,” I said. “I trust your judgment.”
“But there are so many different styles and colors and materials and–” Klaus took his glasses off to polish. “This is stressful work.”
“Which is more stressful, the time you helped me negotiate treaty terms or this?” I joked.
Klaus glared at me, but there wasn’t any heat behind it. “Ha, ha,” he said dryly. “You’re hilarious.”
“I know.”
“I like the one with the dangling bits,” commented Kamrin as she pinned my hair up into a voluminous bun. She reached for the curling iron and worked on the loose locks of hair that framed my face, giving them an elegant twist.
“The dangling bits? They all have dangling bits.”
Kamrin finished my hair off with an overly healthy amount of spray to keep everything in place. After placing the curling iron down on the vanity’s cool glass surface, she practically skipped over to take a look at the selection. I stood slowly, my head feeling absurdly heavy thanks to all of the jeweled clips Kamrin had added on. I made my way over too, because I thought for sure the bride-to-be should have a say in what she was going to wear.
“We should have chosen weeks ago,” complained Klaus. “I can’t handle this kind of pressure.”
I patted him on the shoulder. “You’re doing great.”
“You’re surprisingly calm,” noted my sister. “How are you feeling? Do you think you’ll get cold feet?”
I laughed. “I’m feeling good, actually. And no, no signs of cold feet.”
“No butterflies at all?”
“None.” I smiled wide. “I don’t think I’ve felt this prepared for anything in my entire life.”
Klaus plucked a tiara up from the burgundy velvet cushion it was sitting on. He held it up and presented it to me. “What do you think about this one?” It was a pretty little thing, but it was so heavily encrusted with diamonds and pearls I thought for sure that it would crush my skull if I wore it. Since my hair already felt like it weighed ten pounds, I thought it best to consider other options.
Kamrin screwed her face up. “Ugly.”
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
“It’s… It’s nice,” I managed.
He rolled his eyes. “Not that one, then.”
One of the tiaras happened to catch my eye. It looked incredibly delicate, the silver of the tiara hosting a discreet number of diamonds and small rubies, all of which twisted into an amazingly simple, yet radiant pattern. I picked the tiara up and smiled, knowing deep down in my heart that this was the piece for me.
“That one’s beautiful,” said Kamrin, nodding in approval.
“For once, I agree with you,” said Klaus.
“I think we’ve found a winner,” I giggled.
Kamrin tugged me by the arm toward the changing area she’d set up in the walk-in closet. “Come on, sis. You’ve got to get dressed. We’re running out of time.”
With my sister’s help, I slipped into the flowing white gown. It was a custom-made fitted bodice with a dramatic full skirt. The train of the dress was nearly three yards long, and the delicate lace cathedral veil I’d selected—with pearls beaded into the intricate embroidery—trailed an additional four. Kamrin helped zip me up in the back and straightened out some of the fabric of the train, which had twisted slightly during my effort to put the dress on. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and couldn’t hide how happy I was. I felt like a million bucks.
Once I was decent, Klaus came in with all the jewelry I was going to wear. King Regis had gifted me a beautiful layered diamond necklace that gave the illusion of a longer neckline. Patrick and Klaus had gifted me an adorable teardrop crystal bracelet. Adam and his Auntie Kamrin were the ones who gave me my set of pearl and crystal floral teardrop earrings that helped give my face a little more length. And of course, I had on the engagement ring Sebastian had given me the night he proposed. Everyone who was special to me had given me a little piece of themselves, all of which I wore proudly. I didn’t see the jewelry as some symbol of wealth, but of the love my friends and family had for me.
When a flare of horns sounded, we all looked to the grand doors of the room. Two house attendants opened it and made way for the King. We all bowed our heads. King Regis made his way over and took my hands in his, leaning down to kiss me on the forehead.
“You look stunning,” he said.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
He held his arm out for me to take. “When you’re ready, the carriage is waiting outside to take you to the cathedral.”
I closed my eyes and willed my heart to steady. I had been looking forward to this day for so long that everything felt like a dream. I couldn’t believe this was finally happening. I was finally going to be married to the father of my child, the man of my dreams. I opened my eyes and nodded, hooking my arm in the King’s.
“I’m ready,” I said.
We rode about the city on a predetermined route in an open-air carriage. It was pulled by a team of four lovely white mares, their manes sporting freshly picked flowers woven into braids. The streets of the city were packed with people, young and old, all waving little Wyvernbank and Sunyata flags. The sidewalks had been sectioned off with high metal gates for safety, and a patrol officer was stationed every few yards to keep a lookout for any unruly business. But their precedence didn’t affect the festive atmosphere in the slightest. There were fresh flowers everywhere and colorful banners streaming from building to building over the roads. People cheered my name, shouted heartfelt wishes of a happy marriage, screamed th
anks to the King. It was easy for me to get swept up in the cacophony, a build-up of nervous energy making me feel bubbly. I tried to expend it through constant waving, which the people seemed to adore.
When our carriage pulled up at the cathedral, trained footmen opened the carriage door. King Regis was the first to step out—as was protocol—and was greeted with a raucous roar from onlookers. He held his hand out to me for support. I stepped down from the carriage, and the cheers grew to a deafening volume. I smiled through it, focusing on the front steps leading up to my future husband inside. There were several news reporters lined up on the other side of the protective metal barriers, the flurry of flashing cameras leaving me dizzy. Everybody gawked at my dress and accessories. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that my image was going to be plastered across every major newspaper, magazine, and social media site for days to come.
I climbed up the steps, arm in arm with the King, and turned occasionally to wave at the crowd. We entered through the cathedral’s massive arching double doors. The sound of the organ playing the wedding march, accompanied with the angelic voices of the choir, echoed off the high vaults of the building. Rows upon rows of pews were filled with foreign dignitaries, important celebrities, and almost the entirety of Sebastian’s extended family. Elena, Ambassador Clavets’ daughter, had also been invited. Sitting next to her was a man, Tomas, who had a protective hand on her hip. A fancy red carpet with golden embroidery had been spread out over the center aisle on which I walked. As King Regis and I passed by, the wedding guests stood and smiled, nodding at us as we went. The whole place smelled like sweet perfumes and fresh flowers, and the air was nice and warm thanks to the sun streaming in through the cathedral’s large stain glass windows.
Kamrin and Klaus took a separate car than us and took a more direct route to the ceremony. They stood in the front row, dressed to impress. Kamrin held Adam in her arms as he giggled happily while Patrick discreetly slipped his hand into Klaus’. Adam was dressed in a little suit, built from scratch to fit his tiny frame. His hair was gelled back to reveal his big eyes, the ones he shared with his incredibly handsome father. Even though he was only pushing five years of age, he was already a little heartbreaker. All of Wyvernbank seemed to adore him and couldn’t wait to find out what kind of Prince he’d grow up to be.
My focus was drawn to the man standing up at the front of the altar next to the minister. Sebastian was in his official military dress, as was custom for members of the royal family. His lapel was covered in the same number of medals and ribbons as when I first laid eyes on him, mainly because there had been nothing but peace. We thought the news would crucify our relationship. Instead, our relationship did wonders for the relations between our two countries. The tension that had existed before had all but dissipated. If a Wyvernbank Prince and a Sunyata diplomat could get along, why couldn’t the rest of our nations follow suit?
Sebastian couldn’t stop smiling as King Regis kissed me on the cheek and gave me away. I stepped up onto the altar and held Sebastian’s hand, feeling so light and elated that I felt like I was floating on air.
The minister cleared his throat before he began. “Marriage is so much more than an institution. It is my utmost honor to declare that we are gathered here today to witness the joining of two souls. Love can find us in the strangest of places and at the oddest of times, but when we find it, it’s imperative that we hold on to it, no matter the cost. Love takes work, marriage takes commitment. And I am happy to say that the young couple standing before you are on a journey to achieve just that.” He turned slightly to face Sebastian. “Prince Sebastian the Fourth of the House of Wyvernbank, do you vow to cherish this woman as your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer until death do you part?”
“I do,” answered Sebastian without a trace of hesitation. The glimmer in his eyes made me feel absolutely electric.
The minister turned to me next. “Alison Marie Smith, do you vow to cherish this man as your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer until death do you part?”
In the front row, Kamrin sniffled loudly and wiped at her eyes. “Oh, she totally does.”
A tiny wave of laughter washed over the room at her comment, and I couldn’t help but giggle. “I do.”
We exchanged wedding rings and laced our fingers together, gripping on tight.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Sebastian pulled me in close and dipped me back, kissing me deep as the room exploded into applause. His soft lips were all I could concentrate on. Sounds founded out into the background, and the corners of my visions blurred as I lay my eyes on him. I gripped at his lapels and kissed him back harder, happier than I thought ever possible.
34
Sebastian
People told me that the first year of marriage was going to fly by. I didn’t realize how accurate that was until our wedding anniversary snuck up on me. We had officially moved into the palace and claimed the southern wing. Now that my father was getting older, he thought it was only right that I settle down, especially for Adam’s sake. My son was going to need to get a feel for the place sooner or later, and raising him in one of my many alternative homes wouldn’t have provided as stable an environment in contrast to choosing one place. Alison didn’t have any objections to moving in with my father. The grand size of the royal palace really made it feel like we were neighbors, not living under the same roof. We still had all of the privacy we needed, and we were always just a house attendant’s message away to join for a family dinner.
After a long day stuck in the office overlooking trade agreements and policy changes, I stalked back to Alison and my private quarters. Adam was lying on the floor, flipping through a large picture book about different kinds of bugs that could be found in the area. He looked up and noticed me, immediately hopping up onto his feet.
“Papa!” he cheered. “Welcome back.” He ran over to hug me.
I chuckled as I ruffled his hair. “Thanks, buddy. Where’s Momma?”
“She’s taking a shower. She told me to go to bed, but I don’t want.”
“It’s getting pretty late. You really should listen to her.”
“I wanted you to tuck me in,” he explained.
I raised a curious eyebrow at him. “If I tuck you in, you promise to go to sleep?”
Adam crossed one of his tiny fingers over his small chest. “I promise!”
I laughed and picked my son up. He was starting to get heavy. The muscles in my back protested against the extra weight, but I pushed through it. One day, Adam was going to be too old for me to carry around, so I figured I should savor every moment while I still had a chance. I took Adam down the hall and entered his room, sniffing his breath to make sure he brushed his teeth. I was satisfied when I caught a whiff of spearmint. After placing him in bed, I pulled the covers up to his shoulders and kissed the top of his head.
His room was sizeable compared to the one I grew up in. Alison and I had spent months redecorating it before Adam officially moved in. We put up wallpaper that displayed constellations and completely ripped out the old carpet and put in hardwood floors to reduce Adam’s risk of allergies. All of his toys were neatly lined up on the shelves and tucked away in wooden trunks. The house attendants did a great job of keeping the place in order, though Adam was very particular about how everything was organized. He was just like his mother that way, headstrong and determined to have everything just so.
“Have sweet dreams, buddy,” I told him.
“Can you do me a favor, Papa?”
“Anything.”
“Can you check under the bed for monsters?”
I chuckled. “You know there are no such things as monsters, right?”
Adam clutched the edge of his blanket and nodded slowly. “I kn
ow, but I’m still scared. I hear sounds at night.”
“The palace is really old,” I explained, trying to teach him how to be logical. “The frames of the house expand and contract because it’s hot during the day and cold at night.”
Adam frowned, unconvinced. “I know. You’ve told me before, Papa.”
I sighed and smiled gently. It was hard to say no to a face like his. “Do you still want me to check, buddy?”
“Yes, please.”
I got on my knees and crouched to glimpse beneath Adam’s bed. Save for a few dust bunnies and a misplaced robot toy, there was nothing. I smiled at him. “See? Nothing to be scared of.”
“Thanks, Papa.”
I got up and kissed the top of his head again before heading to the door, hand hovering over the light switch. “Goodnight,” I said. “I love you.”
“Goodnight, Papa. I love you too.”
When I arrived back in my bedroom, Alison had just stepped out of the shower. She was in nothing more than a fluffy white bathrobe with a towel in her hands. She was busy drying her hair when she noticed me. A smile stretched across her lips.
“Well hello, handsome,” she hummed.
I walked over and kissed her. “How was your day?”
“It was good. I finally got a hold of the venue. All of the other one’s were too small for my liking.”
“Go big or go home, as I always say.”
“When have you ever said that?”
“Are you planning another charity event?” I asked instead of answering.
Royally Loved: The Royal Romances Books 1-5 Page 51
