Chapter fourteen

It finally arrived.

Empress Cassiopeia's wedding.

She breathed in, and the she-knight walking her to the entrance of the hall squeezed her arm.

"It will be alright. You look beautiful."

"Miss Morrigan," she smiled, touched. "Thank you."

"Announcing the glistening flower of this Empire, Empress Cassiopeia Dorothea Saol I."

Two trumpets, and then piano music.

Her brother took the knight's place.

"Are you ready?"

"I was born ready", she bluffed.

"Don't overthink it."

"Do you think... in another life, maybe..."

"Mh-mh?" He asked, waiting for her to continue.

"Do you think our father would have been the one to walk me down the aisle?"

"Maybe in another life, he would have been good enough to deserve holding your arm."

"Is it wrong of me to long for it?"

"No, it's not. He wasn't a good person, but he did a good thing."

She pondered about it for a bit.

"The introduction of compulsory training for farmers?"

"What? No."

"Then what is it?"

"You. He gave me you. I have an amazing sister, no matter what anyone says. That's enough family for me."

She chuckled, "ewww".

"Oh shut it. I was trying to be nice."

"Never do that again."

"Let's go, they're all waiting for you."

She nodded, and the guards promptly opened the large brass doors.

As the music played, she slowly reached the altar for the ceremony.

Lord Dorkas looked dashing in white.

"You look good", she said in a whispered.

"You're not too bad yourself", he whispered back.

The ceremony thus begun.

"I, Lord Sigismund Dorkas, ask for Empress Cassiopeia Dorothea Saol I's hand in marriage, and I offer the Duchy of Dorkas as mohar for our marriage."

Writer note: a mohar is a marriage gift in Hebrew (coming from the marriage in the Bible).

She smiled. How cunning. By gifting her his heritage, he wouldn't lose a single coin. Who else would she have administer the Duchy, if not the man that was taught how to since birth?

He bowed deeply.

"I, Empress Cassiopeia Dorothea Saol I, accept your gift, Lord Sigismund Dorkas, and bestow upon you the title of royal concubinus."

The Pontifex maximum thus spoke, "if the parties are in agreement, with this holy hand I will bless this union."

The two nodded. "We are."

"May God's love be greater than evil, and may yours be an echo of that love."

"May we seek light."

"May the husband care for the wife, and may the wife care for the husband, in sickness, in sorrow and in poverty, as they would in health, in happiness and in richness."

"May we seek light."

"May this union bless this Empire and flourish like the sacred Tree."

"May we seek light."

The Pontifex maximum held the aspergillum and sprinkled blessed water twelve times on the couple.

Some short formulas were repeated some more, and after fifteen minutes it was time to exchange rings.

It was a small golden ring with amethysts weaved in. His, on the other hand, was a thicker wedding band with a ruby.

The wedding ring of the wife always must match the eye colour of the groom, while the wedding ring of the groom must always match the hair colour of the wife, it was the custom theree. Moreover, inside there must be engraved the names of the wife and the groom, as well as the date of the wedding.

Coming down from the aisle, the couple was supposed to parade through the capital on a carriage, while the citizens threw rice at them. Rice signified abundance.

He held her hand the whole time, shielding her from the rice, smiling and waving at the river of people cheering for them.

She breathed deeply, taking in how much they worshipped her.

She half expected the population to welcome her. While her father was always ready to please the nobles, she had little social skills when she entered high society. Eventually, she did find some friends, but the time she spent alone was not in vain.

She had designed a welfare system to put in practice once she began her days as Empress, and founded the very first help house. A place where all uneaten food from the Palace could be taken by the peasants.

Although many would not think that there were a lot of wastes, it was not the case usually.

Many fruits and vegetables, bought in large quantities, often went bad, as the appetite and preferences of the staff and nobles are fleeting. Fresh bread of the day also usually went bad, as well as the cakes and dairy products.

Thus, she used the old scriptorium of the temple (with the invention of the press it became useless), and turned it into such a place.

It was easier for the maids to bring the food there, than to have gardeners burying it for compost. The gardeners did not protest either, as they had less work to do.

After the parade was over, the royal consort was to give a speech to the people. Nothing much, just enough to let them think he was on their side and that he would do his best for the country.

The speech was brief and concise; perfect, as was everything he did. Empress Cassiopeia huffed.

The last thing on the checklist was the evening celebration. They were supposed to open with the first dance, eat dinner, mingle with the other nobles for a while and then retire to the bedchamber.

She was tired already, the dress weighed on her and she couldn't eat too much, or her corset would burst open.

"You don't seem too content." He whispered in her ears as they were dancing.

"I'm tired."

"Why? Do You want to go to our room already?" He teased.

Her face heated up, but she didn't reply. Empress Cassiopeia had not had her first kiss yet, how was she supposed to sleep with a man she knew so little?

Flirting was a thing. It was fun, not real. Action was scary. Was that what she was feeling? Fear? She wasn't sure.

You just have to stay still, and it will go by fast. Her maid's advice went back to her ears. She was right. She would have to stay still, and the night would pass.

"Are You alright, Your Highness?" He made her turn, then they took two steps to the left and two to the right.

"I am. My head is spinning a bit."

"The dance is almost over, so bear with me for a little more Your Highness. If You feel like fainting lean on me, I will keep You standing, one way or the other."

She lightly chuckled, "how reassuring."

He smiled, "it's part of the charm."