The Royal Mark-Chapter 115: What Comes Next?
Drake anxiously awaited Elsa’s response, and to his delight, she approached him with a smile. "If you intend to escort me, shouldn’t you be offering your hand?" she teased. Reacting swiftly, Drake extended his arm, and together they strolled toward the awaiting carriage. Elsa couldn’t help but giggle at the sight of the elegantly adorned white carriage adorned with flowers, thinking, ’I feel like Cinderella, minus the glass slipper.’
Elsa’s grin widened upon spotting Andrius by the carriage, holding a bouquet of red and white flowers. Offering it to her, Andrius remarked, "Beautiful flowers for our lovely niece. Would you mind if I joined both of you in the carriage?"
"Thank you, Andrius, they’re gorgeous. And of course, you’re welcome to join us—after all, the more, the merrier, right?"
Assisted by her two uncles, one holding her hand and the other tending to her wedding dress alongside Laureen and Arla, Elsa was helped into the carriage. Once settled, her ladies-in-waiting occupied another carriage, while Kaizer, Dasher, and Baahu rode on horseback, escorting Elsa’s carriage.
As they headed to the church, Elsa observed a flock of civilians calling out her name and showering good wishes on her and Chris. The citizens of Zemaria lined the route, tossing flowers onto their path and wearing joyful smiles.
The route they traveled was adorned with banners displaying the emblems of both Zemaria and Arcanis, symbolizing a union between the two kingdoms. White flowers and ribbons adorned the banners, indicating the matrimonial alliance. Elsa also noted that the people they passed were dressed for the occasion, prompting her to wonder if they too were invited to the reception later.
Observing her expression, Drake remarked, "I see you’ve noticed the widespread celebration of your union with the prince, right?" Elsa nodded in agreement. "Chris requested the king to invite all the kingdom’s residents who could attend, and that’s because the mistress asked him to."
Elsa tilted her head in confusion, prompting Drake to elaborate, "Hera cares deeply for our people. When we were young, she mentioned her dream for everyone in Zemaria to be invited to her wedding if she ever had one. Of course, at that time, we were oblivious to the amount of work needed to feed such a large crowd. Nevertheless, the prince, as his final gift to her and the kingdom, was determined to fulfill her wish. For the past two days, he and his men devoted themselves to hunting and gathering as much meat and herbs as possible."
Elsa rendered speechless, displayed a surprised yet impressed expression. Andrius added, "They brought back a large amount of meat and herbs for the castle to prepare, with a portion allotted to towns and villages for their enjoyment. Perhaps we should consider hiring werewolves; they’d be highly efficient at ensuring everyone is well-fed." The trio shared a laugh as they envisioned Chris generously providing the kingdom with all the meat and herbs it required.
Upon reaching the church, Elsa noticed the king waiting outside, swiftly approaching the carriage as it came to a stop. Extending his hand, he said, "I may not be your father, and you may not be my daughter, but I believe I am still fit to walk you down the aisle, my princess."
Elsa’s eyes filled with tears, mirroring the emotion in the king’s eyes. "It is an absolute honor to be escorted by His Majesty. Thank you, Grandpa," Elsa tiptoed and placed a kiss on the king’s cheek before intertwining her arm with his, wearing a radiant smile.
The king wiped away his tears, his heart swelling with joy. While he may have lost a daughter, he gained a granddaughter who embraced him and his family wholeheartedly, without a shadow of doubt or hesitation.
Upon the kings’ signal, the ushers swung open the massive wooden doors of the church, and the enchanting music began to play. Elsa found herself captivated by the huge and majestic interior of the church. While she could compare to the old cathedrals in her world, this one exuded a more magical and grand ambiance.
Her gaze swept the length of the aisle, searching for Chris, but the distance was far and he remained unseen. The sheer number of attendees at their wedding ceremony overwhelmed her, and a touch of sadness crept in as she realized she didn’t know any of them.
Never in her wildest dreams had she envisioned her wedding unfolding in such a grand manner. Throughout her life, all she had yearned for was a simple ceremony with her dad and best friend by her side. Yet, this was her reality now, and all she could do was greet their guests with her most gracious smile.
The king gently tapped her hand to grab her attention and whispered, "Do you know what comes next after your wedding?"
"Grandpa, I’ve already assured you that I’m not that innocent when it comes to wedding night matters. I was a healer in my previous world, so I’ve witnessed my fair share of naked men and women, even assisted midwives. I know what typically happens after a couple gets married," Elsa said dismissively, not eager to discuss further details with her grandfather. Discussing such intimate matters with an elder family member was just too awkward.
The king chuckled, prompting Elsa to glance at him, curious about what amused him regarding her response. "Not that," he clarified, "after the celebration and your marking, you’ll have a ritual to be officially proclaimed as their Luna, or at least Luna to those who follow Chris. And after that comes the war."
Elsa furrowed her brow, puzzled by the king’s seemingly excited tone as if war was nothing serious. The king tapped her hand once more and gestured toward the end of the aisle.
As Elsa gazed forward, she unconsciously held her breath upon seeing Chris, fitted in an ivory and gold suit with matching trousers. Noticing his gray fur cloak draped on just one side atop his ivory and gold cape, she couldn’t help but be mesmerized.
At the end of the aisle, Chris was utterly captivated by his bride. The surroundings faded away, leaving only Elsa walking toward him in an all-white wedding dress, wearing a princess strapless neckline and a flowing ballgown skirt. Her hair cascaded down in loose curls, adorned with a tiara, and her captivating smile held his attention, making him wish he could take her away and mark her right then and there.
Even after the king handed Elsa’s hand to Chris and the priest commenced the ceremony, their gazes remained locked. Standing at the altar, oblivious to the onlookers, they stared at each other as if fearing they might lose something precious if they dared to look away.
