Two weeks had passed since Violant had accepted Wynkin’s proposal. Currently she was in Kingsborough again – in the meantime she had frequently fought at the borders of the other march, usually remaining victorious – and had to patiently wait for her maids and sister-in-law to arrange her bridal dress. For the redhead this was some kind of torture though, since she abhorred feeling restricted by the fancy silk dress gorgeous enough to let her appear like some elven queen from the other march. Abigail, Millicent, and Sybil had no mercy with her in this regard. They said: “Today is your big day, so be quiet and let us take care of you. If you would not sparkle so much that you will leave the bridegroom and all the guests speechless, what kind of wedding would this be?” The inhabitants of Avallach appeared to think the same, for the “uselessly extravagant” dress the young lady was currently wearing was a gift the otherworldly inhabitants of the margraviate had prepared for her. Otherwise a timespan of two weeks would have been much too short to prepare a suitable dress.

As for why the engagement was cut short so drastically, reducing the usual timespan of a year to two measly weeks: It was because Yteland was currently at war and both fiancés frequently roamed the battlefield. Thus, for the marriage to come into fruition when death permanently loomed over them, on royal decree wedding preparations were begun almost instantly. Additionally, the marriage of the two well-known war heroes took place in the capital for the reason that King Baldwin sought to use this event to further boost morale nationwide.

“I beg your pardon, Milord, but I believe it to be in your best interest to not enter this room and wait for Milady to exit it herself.” the muffled voice of Malford could be heard from outside the door. The loyal vampire butler with the childlike appearance had been tasked with the duty of ensuring that the bridal preparations could finish without any kind of disturbance – be it from outside or inside.

“But I should assure that my little dear Violant looks as beautiful as only possible on her great day, should I not? To believe that my sister’s child is already going to leave the nest, I can’t believe it!” a sobbing voice replied that doubtlessly belonged to Orderic, the father of the bride and the man who would lead her to the altar today.

“Father, don’t.” Mortimer, who apparently was also present, said with a stretched intonation that revealed that his normally hardly strained nerves were almost at their limit ever since his extremely sentimental father had been dumped on him this morning. “Violant has two excellent maids with her and then there is Sibyl too. Those three will definitely ensure that Violant will look as gorgeous as possible, if necessary even against her will.”

Only after Mortimer had said so the clamor caused by the margrave abated.

Especially for this very day, all of Violant’s family had come to Kingsborough to be able to witness her wedding, including Parcie who they had to literally drag off the battlefield.

Although Avallach still suffered under the different problems caused by the war, it was temporarily left in several capable hands. Sir Thopas of the garrison took care of the safety of the margravial capital. Urgent administrative issues were handled by the librarian Augustine who, though a scholar, was well-versed in aspects of territorial management as well. Additionally, the genius strategist Arinnefja helped out with official business wherever needed, no matter if civilian or military. Medical care and hygiene measures especially regarding the often disastrous state of newly accepted refugees from the other march was without a doubt old Alarun’s métier. Of course she got actively supported by Doctor Wace and his assistant Ottiwell. Members of the wild hunt added to the defense of the margraviate, particularly now as Banadietrich had successfully fended of the attackers at Mt. Hackelberg and had reinstated his territorial claims on the surroundings of his lair.

Although Alarun couldn’t be present to witness the wedding ceremony herself, she sent a letter to her pen friend Wynkin to congratulate him for the occasion. She still got called Granny Alarun by him, and her words were like a true grandmother’s indeed. She also had congratulated Violant warmly when the latter had stopped by in Avallach sometime during the last two weeks.

Fanfares could be heard from inside the great temple of Kingsborough, announcing the start of the wedding ceremony. Wynkin and Violant had the honor to marry at the same place were Prince Edric and Princess Myrtis had held their ceremony. This was a favor to them granted by King Baldwin and Queen Beregaria, especially as the queen never had stopped doting on her son even after he had become afflicted with berserk syndrome. Mortimer, Sybil, and Parcie had already taken their seats in the temple. Duchess Adelaide, Princess Mabel, and Chief Minister Jocelyn also were among the guests. The Nussexes had sent their congratulations beforehand but were unable to attend due to the continuing warfare in their territory. Regarding the Wuldingtons, longtime friends of the Avallachs, both Count Alphege and his wife Mildred had come to give the bride their blessing. Their son Hubert was engaged otherwise though. As the captain of the royal knight order it was a given that he was terribly busy in times of war. The royal pair graced this wedding with their attendance, as did all their children and most of the royal consorts. It was undoubtedly very hard on Prince Gervase to be forced to witness this event as it was no better than a public slap to his face. His failed proposal two weeks ago was still far from becoming water under the bridge after all.

Orderic stood outside the great temple and turned his head to Violant who was standing next to him. He gave her a bright smile but his red eyes betrayed his last sentimental outbreak just moments before.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“As ready as I can ever be.” this foster daughter replied, nodding her veiled head.

“Then let’s go.” the margrave declared and took the bride’s arm to escort her inside.

Stepping through the opening temple door, the bride and her father got received with murmurs and shouts of amazement. Never had Violant looked as beautiful as now.

The bridegroom stood ready next to the altar and looked expectantly at his bride slowly closing in. The formal attire he was wearing was originally chosen to look elegant and noble but appeared rather bizarre instead. He wore the same festive garments he had been dressed in during his debut ball, for two weeks were too short a span of time to newly tailor appropriate clothes that fit his humongous body for this joyous occasion.

The high priest awaited the arrival of the bride with a dignified expression. He was ready to begin his task anytime.

As soon as the bride arrived at the altar, the groom offered her his hand which she took dignifiedly. Margrave Orderic retreated to sit down next to his sons.

Shortly afterwards the high priest opened his mouth. He spoke with a powerful voice:

“Wynkin of Ealdon, do you swear to take Violant of Avallach as your legal wife, to love her, to support her, and to respect her till death does part you? If you do, so answer with yes.”

“Yes, I do!” Wynkin replied with vigor. His voice, almost impossibly deep following his voice change, boomed loudly through the temple, announcing his conviction for all to hear.

The elderly high priest didn’t dwell for long on the duke’s answer and turned to the bride instead, speaking:

“Violant of Avallach, do you swear to take Wynkin of Ealdon as your legal husband, to love him, to support him, and to respect him till death does part you? If you do, so answer with yes.”

“Yes, I do.” Violant replied without hesitation. She had decided to accept this proposal and she would go through with it, come what may come. If at a later point of time she would regret her decision, that was something to deal with at that time, not now where the future was still open and at least would be different than what she had known it in her last lifetime.

“Hence, with the blessing of the gods, I declare you husband and wife. The husband may now kiss his wife to seal this bond in the face of the gods.” the high priest closed the ceremony.

The redhead felt her heart beating like crazy as Wynkin lifted her bridal veil. It wasn’t her first kiss – well, in this lifetime it was since the only person she ever had kissed was Gervase which was nothing short of impossible this time around. Nonetheless she was bashful and excited like it was the first time, and in a certain sense it was. Although she didn’t abhor her husband for being a berserk, deep inside her heart she wondered about a berserk’s kiss all the same.

When the spouses finally kissed, the bride had to admit that her groom’s passionate kiss was on a whole different level compared to everything she knew before. While left in a daze from this kiss, she nonetheless couldn’t help but smirk slightly. She had chosen correctly in this lifetime. Compared to Wynkin, her admittedly unusual prince on a white horse, Gervase was nothing more than a lame duck with the heart of a venomous snake, the gorgeous tail of a peacock, and the grandiloquent ambitions of a lion. No matter what, a lame duck would always lose out, and whoever got charmed by its peacock’s fan was a fool. Violant would never allow that to happen again.