132 Commitment and Happiness (1/2)

The great hall of the palace of Nirvana was as bright as day. Beeswax candles and lamps were scattered all around, gifting illumination to the guests. White and gold decors, colors of the two kingdoms, lined the walls.

The music and the food were also the best Lucia had ever seen in a celebration- a weighty remark if coming from a royal of Vanadis such as herself. Hundreds of people were inside the hall, laughing and dancing and eating and doing whatever nobles do in a celebration such as this- albeit in a more formal manner as she and Timothy were at the front. A lot of these nobles must have wanted to gain favorable first impression in their eyes, she mused.

”Are you sure of what you heard earlier?” Timothy asked beside her, secretly cupping her hands below the table. She met his eyes and saw that her husband was anxious. His frosty hands also confirmed this.

This won't do, she thought. Seeing Timothy worry about things saddened her. What she experienced earlier can be discussed later. It was blasphemy to soil this celebration with worry.

She pinched a single grape from their shared plate and put it on Timothy's lips. Timothy wiggled the fruit with his lips into his mouth and chewed, still looking at her.

”Fine” said Timothy ”Not now right?”

”You know me too well Your Majesty” Lucia teased with a sweet smile.

Timothy chuckled and slumped on his chair.

Lady Maria walked towards their table. She was flanked by Erik and Sylvie who were both wearing formal attires. Sylvie shyly smiled at Lucia but still avoided looking at her.

”A great day King Timothy and Queen Lucia. Congratulations to the two of you.” Lady Maria greeted with a smile.

Erik made a small courteous bow towards them. He then grinned at Timothy ”I will be the one to follow you Tim. I'll probably tie the knot in less than a year's time”

”With the lady beside your mother I suppose?” Timothy sprang a rapid reply,

”No!” Erik glanced back at Sylvie ”We… we are not like…”

”Oh they are like that” Lady Maria interrupted and grinned, her old white teeth showing. ”Isn't that right Sylvie? Didn't Erik promise to take you to Greenwater?”

”He did. Like a noble prince he made an oath to me.”

”And didn't my Erik once rode to your rescue, alone and unarmed?”

”Oh I can still remember how gallant he looked that time. More gallant than a knight” Sylvie put her two palms of her cheeks.

”See?” Lady Maria wrapped both her arms on Erik and Sylvie ”These two are lovebirds. I could only wish they hurry and make me some grandchild already”

”Ma!” Erik exclaimed with flushed cheeks.

The next ones who congratulated them were Freya and Henry. Freya looked beautiful with her red gown and Henry- well the Knight was wearing what appears to be a soldier's uniform.

”Congratulations to the two of you” Henry put a palm on his chest and bowed ”May the Omniscient bless you with joy. May his eternal light shine on your marriage.”

”May the Omniscient bless you too Henry” said Lucia. She turned her head towards Freya and gave a grin ”So… when will you follow us?”

Freya was holding Henry's hand. She looked at Henry and then back at Lucia ”We don't have plans yet. With Castonia and Tulosa still technically at war, the legalities are difficult to solve”

”I say legalities don't matter as long as we make our oaths to the Omniscient. But if it needs be, I am willing to take Castonian citizenship” Henry declared

”Are you sure?” Timothy asked ”I thought you still wanted to go back to Tulosa”

”Just a visit probably. I want to see my father, mother and sister again. But I don't think I will live back there. I am now hated by many Tulosans for..” Henry shook his head ”obvious reasons”

After Henry and Freya, Lucia's father and Arthur greeted them next. Her father was as extravagant as ever with robe made of Abicut silk and expensive rings on multiple fingers. Arthur was also the same but unlike before, his proud demeanor was gone. Like Sylvie, he also avoided looking at them.

”Your Majesty” The former King bowed ”I have a gift to both of you”

”A gift?” Timothy turned a short look at Lucia.

”Yes. Well since my Lucia is now the Queen a gift feels like taking from her pocket and then gifting it back to her. But still…” her father leaned forward and said in hushed tone ”Availability is the real issue here. It took me a lot of effort and connections to buy my gift.”

”So what is it father?” Lucia asked with a chuckle. Her father seemed so excited to show the gift.

Her father smiled and gestured for a servant. After a while, the servant put a bottle on the table.

Lucia was not familiar with the bottle. But as she turned her head towards Timothy, she saw that her husband's eyes were glittering.

”Is this…”

”It is”

”How… even…” Timothy caressed the bottle.

”Connections Your Majesty”

”May I ask what that is?” Lucia voiced.