Chapter 34: The Wedding Begins

YUKI finally accepted her fate after days of in-depth thinking. It was, without a doubt, painful to acknowledge the truth. She could not return to her family in the Human Realm. Not now. Grace could not help with that, but she suggested Yuki to move away. And Yuki agreed. She had little choice in the first place, anyway. Either leaving for a safer and better place. Or staying in this estate with her life betting on the line.

The conversation she had with Grace a week ago still lingered in her mind. After the wedding ended, Yuki would follow Grace to the Central Domain for the coronation. And Yuki would spend some time with Grace before Damien admitted his little sister into the academy. After that, Yuki would go to the Western Kingdom and settled down there.

However, there was one thing Yuki did not mention to Grace. Yuki told her she already gave up the Human Realm. But the truth was, Yuki still searched for ways to return home. Until Yuki could get home, she would follow the flow and laid low in the Western Kingdom. But Yuki could never give up. She wanted to go home. Maybe she couldn't now, but who could predict the distant future, right? Miracle stuff might happen, as a miracle previously brought her to this realm.

Now she was busy packing up her stuff. But there wasn't much to pack. Yuki only stowed some books; the old books she borrowed from the manor's library and the books she received from the old guard named Albert, and a few pieces of clothes into her suitcase. The books' cover was a little damaged, but they were gifts from her acquaintance in the second manor. Yuki truly cherished those books.

Grace said to Yuki before; she did not have to bring anything. Because the servants already prepared everything in that new manor. And the manor had a library with millions of books. But Yuki insisted to pack up something at least. And she packed those reading materials for her to read along the journey to the Central Domain. The journey might be a long one and books would help her kill some time.

Yuki came close to the windows, and she saw the guests were arriving. But instead of coming inside the second manor, the guests strolled in the Rose Garden. Yuki also could hear the wedding march, although she was in her room on the third floor.

'Does the wedding already begin?' she thought. Oh, no! She was still not done packing her stuff, and she dressed plainly. Yuki thought she was late for the wedding.

Suddenly, there were knocks on the door. And it was Grace in her sweet pink-colored dress. The servants dolled her up as a lovely flower girl for the wedding. Based on what Yuki knew, a flower girl symbolically led the bride forward, from childhood to adulthood and from innocence to her roles of wife and mother. Ergo, being the flower girl was the most significant role at a wedding.

Yuki finally discovered there wasn't much difference in traditions between the Human and Underworld Realms. But Yuki never attended a wedding before. Not even once when she was in the Human Realm. So this would be her first time joining a wedding ceremony, and Yuki was agitated.

"The wedding has begun? I heard the wedding march." Yuki asked Grace.

Grace shook her head. "No. The performers are just rehearsing." Grace took off the uncomfortable flower crown on her head and jumped onto the bed. She tossed and turned in bed. Grace had puckered brows on her pretty face. Grace thought she could hide them, but Yuki clearly saw them. This little girl looked very unhappy, and she babbled something indecipherable.

"Grace! You look adorable," flattered Yuki. "So why are you looking sad, dear?" Yuki patted Grace's head gently. "Hey. What's wrong?" Her voice softened as she talked.

"I don't want to be the flower girl!" Grace's voice faltered as she protested. But her brother begged her to take the role. Why must it be her?

"You hate being a flower girl that much?" Yuki asked again.

Grace slowly raised her head to face Yuki. "No. It is not about that." Grace fixed her position and sat on the bed appropriately.

Yuki looked confused. "Then?"

"I don't want to be the flower girl for that woman!" Grace replied.

"Who?"

Grace sulked. "That Vanilla or whatever her real name is!"

Yuki chortled. "You meant Lady Vanessa?" Even Yuki knew about the bride's name.

"Yeah!" Grace rolled her eyes in disgust. "Honestly, I want to enhance the aisle with thorns and stones instead of flower petals." She had that thought ever since last night.

Yuki was speechless for a moment. "Hmm? Why is that?" She gave a big hug to Grace, trying to calm the little girl.

"I never like Vanessa," Grace said. "I don't know why. But I never like her." She paused. "And her family. They look like a hypocrite, and they are obviously after our money. And Vanessa looked like she had mental disability sometimes." She added. "I cannot imagine her become my sister-in-law. But worst, I can't picture her become Brother Damien's wife."

Yuki thought for a moment. What would be the best answer in this situation? She finally responded, "But maybe you will learn to like her soon. Your brother chose her as his wife because he loves her. Right?"

Grace disagreed. "Nah! But I like Sister Yuki more," she said aloud, as she imagining Yuki becoming her actual sister.

The girls laughed happily. And they almost forgot about the wedding.

___

YUKI took a few glances around her surroundings. The interior of the hall was indeed well designed. Perfect for a grand wedding. The guests were already waiting inside for the groom and bride to enter. And a vicar was standing at the altar. Yuki and Grace sat at the second front row, the seats for the groom's family members and closest friends. While Yuki was busy adoring the interior designs, Grace escaped, and Yuki saw her speaking with some adults before Grace finally returned to the seat beside Yuki.

"Who are they?" asked Yuki. She saw them once at the victory ceremony, but she never got the chance to talk with them.

Grace replied, "Brother Damien's best friends from the academy." She looked at the people mentioned, "The siblings that look almost identical are Lord Eric and Lady Nora Belmont. And the loving couples are Lord Harry Maignes and Lady Claire Jouvessac."

Yuki nodded. At that very moment, two men in black robes entered the hall, and all the guests quickly raised to greet those men. 'Who are they?'

Grace seemed like she knew what was on Yuki's head. Thus, she answered, "Those are the elders of our family, the Three Pillars. Lord Nicolas and Vladimir Gregory. They are like the great-great-great-grandfathers of the family." Grace explained. "The long-haired man is Lord Nicolas, and the shorter man was Lord Vladimir."

"They look..." how to say this? "–intimidating." Yuki tried to avoid meeting their eyes.

"Yeah. Anyway, Lord Vladimir is the Duchess' grandfather." Grace added.

Yuki looked surprised by that remark. "Really! They look nothing alike," she was half-whispering.

"Yeah." Grace agreed. "The Duchess is a madwoman and her grandfather is a trusted pillar. They are nothing alike! So before she married our father, the Duchess was his second cousin."

"Wait, a sec. I thought you said that there are three elders?" Yuki tried to confirm her uncertainty. She heard clearly that there were Three Pillars.

"Well, yeah. But the chief elder rarely shows up. He preferred to lock himself in the Elder Tower and read. I only saw him once in my life."

Yuki was interested to ask more about the chief elder, as she found out they shared the same hobby. But before she could ask further, Yuki realized, "Grace. Shouldn't you be outside right now? You are the flower girl."

Grace sighed. She was trying her best to avoid that question since they entered the hall. But Yuki still discerned about it. "Alright. Fine." She stood lazily and walked outside.

Not soon after, the vicar announced, "THE GROOM HAS ARRIVED!"