Chapter 10
10. The Wedding
The day of the wedding finally arrived.
At dawn, I was bathed and scrubbed from head to toe, my skin rubbed with fragrant oils, and my hair combed and glossed with the finest perfumed essence. My breakfast consisted of small, hand-held foods I could eat quickly, and after that, my attendants applied makeup — subtle and elegant, just enough to enhance, never to dazzle. Then I was dressed in my wedding gown.
By the time everything was finished, it was nearly noon. Lunch, too, was something I could nibble on delicately, for I could not risk disturbing my appearance. Once I was fully prepared, I boarded the carriage that would take me to the Imperial Palace’s Grand Hall, where the ceremony would be held.
His Majesty, Emperor Aleksanteri, had already gone ahead to greet the distinguished guests.
When my carriage arrived at the palace, my father was there waiting to escort me.
I was used to being guided by His Majesty, who was quite tall, so it felt strange walking beside my father. Still, he matched his pace to mine, walking carefully so I wouldn’t stumble in my tall-heeled shoes. When I began to wobble, his strong arm gently steadied me.
Only then did I realize something — I had never noticed such a difference in stride when walking beside Aleksanteri. He had always adjusted his pace for me without my ever realizing it.
My wedding gown was everything I had dreamed of — a dress of pure white silk embroidered with silver thread, matching gloves, a crown of white roses interwoven with pale red and violet blossoms, and a veil of delicate, translucent fabric embroidered at the hem.
Every piece was exactly as I had envisioned.
In the Grand Hall, a crimson carpet stretched from the entrance to the dais where His Majesty sat upon the throne. Father escorted me along that path, and when we reached the end, he stopped before the Emperor.
“Your High— no… my beloved daughter, Reisie. Be happy,” he whispered.
“Father…”
He gently pressed my back forward, urging me to step toward the dais. I fought back my tears as I climbed the steps. His Majesty rose from his throne and came to stand beside me.
“I, Aleksanteri Luxerion,” he declared, his voice solemn and clear, “take Reisie Dian as my Empress. I swear to love, honor, and live beside her for all my days.”
In response, I echoed his vow.
“I, Reisie Dian, take His Majesty Aleksanteri Luxerion as my husband. I swear to love, honor, and live beside him for all my days.”
At that, Chancellor Kayetan stepped forward, carrying the marriage documents. His Majesty signed his name in swift, graceful strokes. My hand trembled slightly as I took the pen and wrote mine beside his.
“Hereby, the union of His Imperial Majesty and Her Imperial Majesty, the new Empress, is formally recognized. Long live Their Majesties!” the Chancellor proclaimed.
A thunderous cheer rose from the nobles, foreign royals, and dignitaries in attendance.
“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!”
Holding my hand, His Majesty guided me down from the dais. As we walked along the crimson carpet, rose petals fluttered down around us like soft rain.
Following the ceremony, we moved to the banquet hall for the wedding reception. His Majesty and I were seated at the table furthest inside the hall. The nobles, vassal kings, and foreign royals entered and took their assigned seats.
On our table sat two handmade dolls, dressed in miniature versions of our wedding attire — I had made them myself.
When all were seated, His Majesty rose, raising his glass. I stood beside him, mirroring his gesture.
“Thank you all for attending the wedding of myself and my beloved Empress today,” he said. “We shall continue to work together for the prosperity of our Empire. Please lend us your strength and support in the years to come.”
He lifted his glass high, and the hall echoed with the chorus of “cheers!” from all corners.
After the toast, the food was served, but we hardly had a moment to eat — guest after guest came to offer their congratulations. The plates were cleared away untouched, and I could only watch them go with regret. Such is the life of an empress, I supposed.
The first to approach us was the Dowager Empress herself.
“I am so relieved that His Majesty has finally been able to welcome an Empress. Please continue to take good care of him,” she said kindly.
“Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” I replied with a polite bow.
“For His Majesty, this marriage must feel like the culmination of a long-awaited first love,” she added with a mischievous smile. “His affection may be… rather heavy. I hope you’ll receive it with patience and grace.”
“Y-yes…” I stammered.
His first love… surely that could not be me. It must have been Cecil. Yet the Dowager Empress only winked knowingly, her expression teasing.
Next came Chancellor Kayetan — tears already welling in his eyes. He seemed to have been holding them back for as long as he could.
“To think I would live to see the day His Majesty looked so happy… May you both know endless joy,” he said, voice breaking.
“My apologies, Your Majesties,” said Lady Ludmila, patting the Chancellor’s back gently. “He’s always loved His Majesty as though he were his own son.”
Following them, the Chancellor’s children — Lord Emeric, Lady Teresa, and Lady Augusta — offered their congratulations.
“Congratulations, Your Majesties,” said Emeric.
“Your gown is exquisite, Your Majesty the Empress — and to think you made it yourself! It suits you perfectly,” said Teresa.
“May you both be very happy,” added Augusta with a bright smile.
Since Chancellor Kayetan had long since renounced his claim to succession, should I and His Majesty fail to produce an heir, it was decided that one of these three would be adopted and inherit the throne. I hoped, of course, that His Majesty would one day be able to hold his own child, but I had already made peace with either outcome.
“Thank you, Lord Emeric, Lady Teresa, Lady Augusta,” I said warmly.
“I want the Empress to make a dress for me too,” Teresa said eagerly.
“Teresa,” scolded her brother. “Her Majesty is far too busy for that. If you need a dress, commission it from a tailor.”
“That’s not fair! His Majesty gets clothes from Her Majesty all the time!”
His Majesty only smiled and shook his head. “Even so, I still want one,” he said lightly, glancing at the little wedding dolls on our table.
Teresa huffed. “Fine then! I’ll have Father buy me the set of wedding dolls from the Dian family — the ones dressed like Your Majesties!”
“They’re already on sale?” His Majesty asked.
“Not yet,” Teresa replied. “But Lady Sophia Dian said they’ll start taking preorders soon. I’ll be sure to reserve mine!”
“I want one too,” Augusta chimed in.
“But Your Majesty already has one — that one,” Teresa said, pointing at the dolls on our table.
His Majesty laughed. “Even so, I still want it.”
It seemed the Dian family’s workshop would soon be flooded with orders again.
While His Majesty drank wine, my own glass was filled with grape juice — dark enough in color to look the same. Word had clearly spread that I did not handle alcohol well.
Many of the guests who came to greet us admired the dolls, and when they heard they were available for order from my family’s house, they eagerly hurried over to place reservations with my parents and sister.
When the reception finally ended, I returned to the Grand Hall, now cleared and prepared for the evening ball. I took my seat beside the throne — a magnificent chair crafted to match it in grandeur.
“This chair is for the Empress,” His Majesty told me softly. “For you, Reisie.”
“For me…”
“I want you to remain by my side for the rest of our lives. I love you, Reisie.”
“I love you too, Your Majesty Aleksanteri.”
As a noblewoman, I had long ago given up on the idea of marrying for love. Yet everything changed over the past year.
I love Aleksanteri with all my heart — and he loves me just as deeply.
And this love, I truly believed, would last forever.
