I knew Giselle and King Maximillian were on their way when I spotted Nathanial exiting the palace through the courtyard doors. He was as prim and proper as ever with his nose turned up and a serious look pasted on his face. He dipped his head at me as a sign of respect. Now that I was marrying Giselle, it placed me in a position of superiority. But I had to admit that it made me feel a little weird to not have him looking down on me anymore. Perhaps I’d finally earned his respect through my resilience and charm. Maybe thanks to a bit of luck too.
“His Majesty, King Maximillian, and Her Royal Highness, Princess Giselle,” he announced clearly, words all clipped and perfect.
Jenny fanned her face with her hand. “Oh my goodness.”
“It’s just a formality,” I whispered. “Their entrance has to be announced wherever they go.”
My sister shook her head. “No, that’s not it.” Out of curiosity, I followed her line of sight. Jenny was staring at Nathanial, blushing redder than I’d ever seen her. I immediately rolled my eyes, but held my tongue. That was way more information than I needed.
King Maximillian and Giselle walked down the stairs and entered the garden area. The king’s health had improved significantly over the last couple of weeks. His cheeks were once again a little fuller and of the right complexion, he didn’t look as sleep deprived, and he was finally walking around—albeit with a bit of assistance from Giselle. Since they’d just arrived from the throne room, they were dressed in formal royal wear. The king had Nathanial take away his silver crown and deep blue cape, while Giselle slipped off the golden sash that draped over her shoulder down to her left hip.
Jenny and Ava gave the king and Giselle deep, well-practiced curtsies. “It’s such an honor to meet you in person, Your Majesty,” my sister said. “Thank you so much for inviting us.”
King Maximillian chortled. “No thanks needed. We’re going to be family now, after all.”
“You’re a real princess?” Ava was mesmerized, her eyes lit up as she gazed at Giselle. “You’re so pretty.”
“Why thank you, Miss Ava. You’re a gorgeous wee-one yourself. Are you excited to visit the palace?”
Ava ran toward Giselle and jumped up into her arms, who caught the child easily as they burst into a fit of giggles. “Yes! Can we go see the horsies later?”
Giselle nodded. “For my favorite niece? Of course, we can!”
Ava turned to Jenny and gasped, “Did you hear that, Mommy? The princess called me her niece? This is the best day ever!” Ava’s excitement was palpable, and I could see from the light in Giselle’s eyes that it gave her so pleasure to bring happiness to a child.
“I did, sweetie.” Jenny tucked a strand of hair out of Ava’s face. “Hello, Giselle,” she greeted, turning her attention to Giselle. She didn’t speak to her as though she was royalty, but as if Giselle were a normal plain Jane, and I felt Giselle appreciated that. It showed Jenny was comfortable in Giselle’s presence. “I hope you’ve been keeping my little brother out of trouble.”
Giselle grinned. “I’ve been doing my best, but it’s really hard work.”
I rolled my eyes, but found myself smirking. “I knew it was a bad idea for you two to meet.”
Jenny threw Giselle a casual wink as she placed Ava back on the ground. She then skipped over to me and planted a kiss on my cheek. It still felt surreal to wrap my around her waist and pull her in. “I’ve got some great news,” she said ecstatically.
“What is it?”
“You probably haven’t heard yet, but the Pramorian Empire is withdrawing from Weles.”
“Seriously? What happened?”
We all took a seat around the table and helped ourselves to tea and sweet treats. Since Ava was so small, she couldn’t reach the biscuit she wanted. Luckily, King Maximillian seemed to have a soft spot for children and helped grab her a plate full of snacks.
“Our intelligence officers have suspected the Empire’s been running off of a massive deficit for a number of years,” Giselle explained simply. It amazed me how much she sounded like a ruler already. “Wars take a lot of money, manpower, and supplies. Since Weles wasn’t their first target, and they’ve actually been running this territorial campaign for a number of years, Father and I knew they couldn’t keep going the way they were going.”
“The long and short of it is,” said the king, “Princess Giselle and I were in long talks with our neighboring countries. We’ve organized an embargo the size of which no one has ever seen before and collectively threatened the Empire.”
“There’s safety in numbers,” Giselle went on. “If Idolia acted alone, there was a good chance the Empire would try to attack us for openly opposing them, and that’s not something Father and I could allow. So now that over fifteen nations are taking a stand, many of which the Pramorian Empire heavily relies on for trade, the Empire can either choose to fight a war against all of us and risk collapsing on itself, or it can surrender.”
The corner of my lip ticked up as a sense of pride warmed my heart. I always knew Giselle had it in her to be a fantastic leader. She hadn’t even been crowned queen yet, and she was already making a huge difference for our country. Her mind was so radiant that it shone through in her smile, in the fire behind her amber eyes.
“That’s amazing,” I said.
Jenny’s mouth was wide in surprise. “Man, the media’s going to love you.”
“I’m fairly certain they already do,” I piped up.
“But seriously, though. Like, first all the hype around the wedding, and now the brokered peace deal? That’s what I call starting off on the right foot.” Jenny turned to face the king. “So, the abdication’s official?”
I mentally slapped my forehead. Jenny really didn’t have a filter. It didn’t matter if she was talking to a two-year-old, or if she was talking to the literal King of Idolia. She was a natural chatterbox. Her mouth was known to run a thousand miles a minute ahead of her brain. Luckily, the king didn’t appear to be offended by the abrupt question. In the few months that I’d been allowed to stay with Giselle at the palace, I’d learned that there were a number of topics that were considered taboo. The first thing that was never to be discussed openly was the death of the reigning monarch. It wasn’t in good taste to talk about that kind of thing. And the second thing that was never to be discussed was the king’s decision to step down as ruler.
King Maximillian nodded. “Yes. I think it’s for the best. I’ve watched over Idolia for nearly fifty years. I think it’s time I take a well-earned vacation. Maybe to some island where I can sunbathe on the beach. My Royal doctor recommends getting as much sun as I can to bolster my immune system.” At this comment, King Maximillian flashed me a toothy grin.
I’d grown incredibly restless ever since I left the military. But since the king was in need of constant monitoring on account of his recovery, he had me named the palace’s Royal doctor. Not only was I in charge of taking care of the royal family, but I was also awarded a generous stipend to do with as I wished. Naturally, I used the funds to help Giselle with her public clinic program she hoped to launch after the wedding.
“The announcement won’t be made until after we get married,” explained Giselle as she took my hand in hers. “But Father’s abdication and my following coronation will come right after. So I suppose the people of Idolia will have a lot to look forward to.”
Ava slipped off her chair and crawled into King Maximillian’s lap. He chuckled and happily bounced her on his knee as the two got to know one another.
“Do you think you’re ready?” Jenny inquired.
Again, I mentally slapped my forehead. “Come on, sis. What kind of question is that?”
Giselle squeezed my hand and giggled. “I’m ready. Nervous, but…” She took a deep breath in through the nose and then glanced to me. “I’m definitely ready.”
26
Giselle
The day of the wedding arrived faster than I imagined it would. Between finding the perfe
ct dress, to picking out all of the jewelry I’d wear, to arranging floral bouquets and deliveries, to plotting out the parade route, to slowly taking up Father’s responsibilities as monarch, I’d managed to find very little time for myself. This was going to be the perfect test to see if I had what it took to be the queen. Being a ruler meant rolling with the punches, learning on the fly, reacting on a dime. And between getting married, Father stepping down, and my coronation to be held the following week, this was definitely a make or break scenario.
I was in my chambers, slipping into my white wedding dress. It had actually belonged to Mother when she got married to Father. As the palace tailor helped make last minute adjustments, I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. I wondered what Mother was thinking when she wore this dress. I wondered if she was in love with Father, even though the two of them had been arranged. I hoped she was as happy as I was. Every inch of my skin was tingling with excitement, and the air in my lungs was heavy, yet delightfully warm. I was shaking, but in a good way. There was just so much anxious energy building up inside of me that the only way to expel it was to constantly shiver.
My hair was done up in a messy bun, loose locks curled at either side of my face to frame it. My lips were bare, save for a bit of colorless lip balm I applied. It would have been immodest for the future queen to smear her husband’s mouth with bold lipstick. My eyes were made up with a bit of winged eyeliner and mascara, my lashes curled to make them appear bigger. Diamond stud earrings adorned my earlobes, and little pearl clips had been fastened in my hair to match the intricate beaded design of my dress. The dress itself had a long train, but not so long that I’d need help carrying it around. When I was all dressed and ready, the sparkling tiara Mother wore to her own wedding was placed atop my head, pinning my sheer veil in place.
I let out a slow breath through the mouth as I studied my image one last time. Everything I wore represented something, had a significance. The detailed lace embroidery that trailed up the train of my dress, curved around my hip, and finished at my sweetheart neckline was full of symbolism with regards to the Idolian Royal Family. Hidden away beneath the fine needlework were little doves, the bird of my family’s crest. The pearls were also stitched in to honor Idolia’s strong ties to the seas. The bouquet of flowers I held in my hands was made up of purple periwinkles, once again found on the family’s crest.
A knock sounded at my door.
“Come in,” I called.
Nathanial poked his head into the room and asked, “Princess Giselle, the carriage is outside waiting for you whenever you’re ready.”
I nodded and turned, careful not to move too quickly in the white heels I’d borrowed from Jenny. My something old was obviously Mother’s dress and tiara. My something new were the stud earrings Father had gifted me the day before. And most importantly, my something blue were Leo’s handsome, deep eyes. I took a deep breath and started forward. There wasn’t a single doubt in my mind that would keep me from walking down the aisle to be with the man I loved.
The open-air carriage had six white thoroughbred stallions lined up in rows of two. Father was already sitting in it, holding his hand out to assist me with the difficult task of getting in. Nathanial followed close behind, making sure that the train of my dress didn’t get caught on the carriage step. Once the three of us were inside and seated, Father kissed me on the cheek and smiled fondly.
“You look beautiful,” he hummed, a little teary-eyed.
“Thank you, Father.”
“Remember, big smiles. This is being televised internationally.”
I grinned. There was something incredibly amazing about the fact that I got to broadcast my vows to Leo to the entire world. “I know, Father. Don’t worry.”
Father gave the driver of the carriage a curt nod, and just like that, we were off. The roads had all been repaved ahead of the wedding to make for as smooth a transit as possible, but we couldn’t avoid a few bumps here and there where the wheels met a bit of loose gravel. The carriage route took us down the winding road from the palace straight through the center of town. The roads had all been barricaded so that pedestrians had to remain on either sidewalk. As soon as the first few people caught sight of the carriage, a cheerful roar erupted from the crowds who’d gathered to watch.
People screamed joyfully, waved frantically as Father and I passed by. People threw little scraps of white confetti over our heads in celebration. Banners hung over the street, anchored from one building to another. It had been a long time since I’d seen so many people gathered in one place, a sea of unique faces all smiling and whistling at me in greeting. I waved graciously, grinning wide for both my people and cameras alike. It brought me an overwhelming sense of pride to see everyone together, unified in this moment of festivity.
We arrived at the cathedral ahead of schedule. The towering building had been built almost four-hundred years ago, but thanks to the fine detailing work the city had done in preparation for the wedding, it looked like it had been built yesterday. There were large stained-glass windows tinted an array of delicate colors, columns had been repaired for extra support, and the entirety of the front steps had been covered in red carpet and periwinkle arrangements. I stepped out of the carriage to a flurry of flashing lights. Reporters and photographers were eager to snap a picture of my gorgeous ensemble.
Father tucked my arm in the crook of his and led me up the steps. The cathedral bells swelled, ringing loud enough to shake the very air to announce my arrival. Together, Father and I entered through the building’s gigantic wooden doors. The air was significantly cooler inside the large stone building. Sweeping arches and tile floors made for a great reprieve from the heat just outside. Little fairy lights hung across the back of pews, and even more flowers had been arranged to line every row.
Little Ava stood at the start of the aisle with Jenny. They both wore matching beige dresses with less frills and puffed sleeves. In Ava’s tiny hands was a little wicker basket full of flower petals. They both bowed at Father and I before proceeding before us, both of them tossing flowers in our wake. The church choir immediately transitioned into a beautiful ballad, accompanied by the gentle notes of a solo violin. All of our invited guests stood as Father and I tread down the aisle at a steady pace.
But my eyes were glued on the altar ahead of me. More specifically, on the man who was dressed in his formal Idolian Royal Navy Guard uniform. Leo’s hair was swept back so I had a perfect view of his ocean eyes. He was smiling brighter than I’d ever seen him, and I could practically feel his contagious happiness rising through me. If Father and I happened to quicken our pace, nobody watching my procession dared to say anything. At the base of the altar, Father kissed me on the cheek before giving my hand to Leo’s.
My fingers slipped easily onto the surface of Leo’s palm as he guided me up the altar steps. The choir eventually faded out, their voices echoing off the cathedral’s tall ceilings into an ethereal quiet. The minister had a prepared speech in hand—a good idea considering we were being watched on live television and couldn’t afford mistakes. The old minister cleared his throat and began.
“We are gathered here today to witness the joining of two souls in love everlasting. Princess Giselle, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
I nodded and said, “I do.”
“Lieutenant Commander Leonard Pratchett, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
Leo squeezed my hands. There was nothing but adoration and love in his eyes. “I do.”
Nathanial was the one to step forward from the front row to hand us our wedding rings. Leo and I slipped the gold bands over each other’s fingers. The gentleness of his touch, accompanied by the coolness of the metal against my skin, left my mind in a wonderful haze.
The minister continued, “Then by the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
I was the one to step forward, wrapping my arms around Leo’s ne
ck while he placed his hands on my waist. Our lips crashed together unceremoniously, but I didn’t think either of us cared. Everything just felt so right in that moment, everything had fallen into place. As long as Leo was by my side, I would never have anything to fear.
“I love you,” I whispered in his ear after our lips parted. My voice was nearly drowned out by the thunderous applause that our wedding guests broke out into.
“I love you too,” he whispered back, making sure that those sweet words were for me to hear alone.
27
Leo
Giselle paced around the room anxiously, picking at her fingernails and chewing on the inside of her cheek. Her brows were furrowed, and her lips were pursed. Despite the relaxed nature of the resort hotel we’d selected to spend our honeymoon, it was obvious that she was anything but. I was sitting at the dining table, located just beside the executive suite’s complimentary kitchen area. A large bowl of colorful fruit sat on the kitchen island, along with freshly baked croissants, apple fritters, and bite-sized strawberry tartlets.
“The second we land back in Idolia, Nathanial’s arranged for a car to pick us up on the tarmac,” she mumbled, more to herself than me. “And then the driver’s going to take us straight to the palace. The house attendants have already chosen everything that we’re going to wear for the coronation. And Prime Minister Bolton has apparently already organized everything, but I don’t really know if things will go without a hitch.”
“Sweetheart?”
“Yes?”
“Why are you panicking?”
“I’m not panicking. Who says I’m panicking?”
I shot her an unconvinced look. I stood from my spot and walked over to her, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind while resting my chin on her shoulder. I gingerly placed a couple of kisses on the delicate skin of her neck and drank in her scent. She smelled of the vanilla bodywash the resort had provided, and her hair smelled like coconuts and shea butter. “You have nothing to worry about, Giselle.”
Royally Loved: The Royal Romances Books 1-5 Page 66
