"Oh, and the patrons can divide the house in any way they like," she smirked. "My lord, you might be leading yourself to revolt inside your own house." Kris let out a small laugh as he smiled a small smile, causing Peterson himself to smile as he looked at him. Even Beth couldn't stop looking at him. While Kris doesn't smile much, when you get him to smile, you are paid by a lovely sight. Cinder could attest that during the moments they had alone during the war, his smile made up the worst days.
“That would be a sight to see,” he said.
“I might hold you up at that offer,” she said, pointing at him. “Alright, my other term is that my other sister, the one I just can’t leave alone, can’t have sole interactions with you.”
“May I ask why?”
“Well,” Cinder shifted in her seat, “You see…”
“She is afraid of men,” Beth injected.
“Yes! Yes. Poor thing had such awful experiences that she-”
“She can’t stand to speak with one without shutting down,” Beth added.
“So it is best to limit interactions with her, my lord.”
“Would that include limiting staff interactions, too?” Kris asked.
“Only for her personal room and bath,” Cinder commented.
“Then I would also see that my male staff doesn’t integrate with her.”
Cinder nodded, “And lastly, can you give me your Fridays?”
“Of cou-huh?” Kris stopped his drink before his mouth. He stared at Cinder, who pushed her hair to the side.
“I hope we have an outing together on Fridays. I don’t mean attending balls and meetings together; I already expect that. What I want is quiet time with each other.” That and the fact that if Cinder wanted to integrate into Marbleland society without failure, she needed a solid foundation. And nothing is more foundational than having the backing of the Grand Duke out in public; besides, Kris looked absolute Godsmack, which was so cute to Cinder. While he lacks emotional expression, what he does have to show is a treat for the eyes. “My, does the cat have your tongue?”
“I-I…why?”
Cinder shrugged, “This may be a contractual marriage, but it doesn’t mean we can’t have fun and get along together.”
"Well," He glanced at Peterson, who nodded like an excited puppy. Kris sighed, "I reckon my calendar will be opened before you know it."
"Thank you."
The last of the terms were discussed and written on the paper. As the conversation ends, Cinder hands the paper over to Beth. They agree that they will discuss this with Cinder's family before responding with the final conclusion. Peterson cleared the table as Kris decided to see them out of the hall.
Beth leaned over to Cinder as they were trailing behind Kirs. She whispered, "We secured a way for Estell; what about you?"
"Hm?"
"How are you sure Kris will not figure out you are his former comrade when you spend time with him like that?"
"Simple, I'm different now."
To that of the grand entrance and the yard, the carriage was ready to set sail. Kirs helped Beth into the carriage; he turned over to Cinder, his hand reaching her. She took it with a smile. As she was helped up, she turned to him.
"I forgot to mention this to you, my lord," She said.
"And what's that?"
"You looked lovely today."
Kris's eyes widened before he dropped his tense shoulders. He smiled back. "And so do you," he responded.
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The white veil weighed like a gambit of jewelry pushed onto Cinder's head. Brimming with pearls in the streams, Cinder couldn't see much out of it. She lifted the veil from her face; she shifted around an overt size chair that her butt ached sitting at for hours-well minutes. At a church, she sits in a room, waiting for the horns walling to signal her to start walking down the aisle. Two figures came in: a man and a woman dressed in the finest green embroidery.
Cinder sat up and bowed her head in their graces. "Lord River Ironheart and Lady Ursula Ironheart, it's an honor to meet you again," she said.
"You can stop bowing; you will soon be our daughter. Has Kris been treating you well since we last saw each other?"
"Of course," she said. Her eyes solely focused on River; Kris was like a splitting image of him, and she dared to turn her eyes to Ursula in the hope of not getting into view of her, sending daggers in stares.
"The dress seems to fit properly," Ursula said.
"Yes, my lady. I'm grateful you were so kind to give me this dress since my mother's is lost to time," Cinder said.
"You're welcome, my dear, though I wish my daughter could have worn it; it wouldn't be too tailor-made."
Cinder places her hands behind her back, balling her fist up. If she heard one more time how her muscles were inconvenient for Ursula's thin dress again, she might spend her time in jail. She smiled despite her clenched teeth.
"My apologies," she said.
"Perhaps the dress could be better tailored if we weren't rushed. My son usually gives us months' notice, but he insisted on marrying you so soon," River said.
"A week is so soon," Ursula sighed.
Cinder chuckled, "We are just so in love with each other."
The lord and the lady's eyes were firmly sending venom over to Cinder, who was close to losing control of her tongue. The horn wailed; Clyde walked in in a blue coat and black hat. He bowed with his hat to his chest.
"My lord and my lady, the wedding is about to start," Clyde said. The Ironhearts nodded and left the room. Cinder grabbed Clyde's arm before letting out a sigh of relief.
"Clyde, if you didn't come here faster, I honestly thought I would've started a fight at my wedding," she said.
He laughed, "You punch your own husband's parents? What a wife you would be!"
"Oh, Clyde, you do way worse in my position."
"Probably pull the dress off worse than you."
"Is it that bad?" Cinder looked down at her dress, her eyes wailing up.
"O-oh no! Cinder, you look lovely! You look like the sun! Like a sun-"
"Got ya," she said with a smile.
Clyde looks down at her face, no tears in sight. "By gods," he said. "Come, let me hand you over to the poor sap so he can deal with you."
With a laugh, they ventured off the church's main hall. The horns walling again as they stepped through the entrance. Cinder pulled her dress up to gain more room for her legs. They felt like they were being fried together under thinly wrapped cloth. Sweat builds up between her thighs as they keep rubbing so closely with each other. Ursula's face twisted in hidden disgust at the display, which Cinder, to add salt, sent her a cheerful smile.
The little pitiless between didn't last long when River shot glares at both of them. Cinder let go of the helm of her dress, her eyes now only focused on her side of the family. Mary and Olivia gave her a smile even though Mary was balling her eyes out. Estell sat between them, her own face covered with a veiled hat. She lifted up in Cinder's view and mouthed, 'You look beautiful.'
Cinder mouthed back, 'You too."
Then, finally, the walk ended as they stood up to Kris at the podium with the priest. Clyde leaned to her ear. "Good luck, kiddo," he whispered. He let go of her and joined his seat with the others. Cinder grabbed Kris's arm as they faced the priest.
"You seemed content to give my mother a heart attack," Kris whispered as the priest started his sermon.
"She forced me into this dress, I deserve some sort of comeuppance," Cinder whispered back.
"Perhaps. But I think you look wonderful in it."
"Thank you. I can't walk in it."
"Well, you won't be in it for long."
"Ooo, is our bridal night coming sooner than I thought?"
"N-not in that way! I-i misspoke. I meant that you can change for the reception."
Cinder giggled, "I know what you meant. I'm messing with you."
"Is this something I should expect to happen on our Fridays?"
"Yes. Hope you don't dislike it so much."
"Strangely, I don't."
Cinder glanced at his side, "Where's your brother and sister?"
Kris gestured his head over to his parents' right side, where a girl dressed in a dark blue ballgown sat. She had the color of Kris's hair and eyes, and her face was like her mother's. She looks at Estell's age. Her eyes wandered between the podium and Cinder's side of the family; no eyesight for Cinder yet solely focused over at Estell. Next to the young lady lies a young man who seems bored in his seat. He had black hair from his father, while his eyes were golden. Like Kris, his ears were pricers. Both of the siblings were instead dressed expenses, befitting of their status.
"They look thrilled to be here," Cinder said.
He chuckled, "That's just their demeanor. My mother always stresses the importance of looking above any events. Makes people want to give you more consideration."
"Even at your brother's wedding?"
He flashes her a small smile, "They're young and protective of their status. Don't be too hard on them; it's all they know despite my best efforts."
Cinder grabbed his arm with a soft smile. "And here I thought they just hated that they met their beloved brother's bride at the wedding."
"That's also plausible."
"Duke Ironheart, do you swear to love and worship your bride until the Gods wished for your departure?" The priest announced, breaking their little tangents between each other.
"I swear under our Gods," Kris said.
"Lady Feathers." Cinder cringed slightly as the priest called out her last name; well, fake last name. She lets Beth pick the name and makes a note to never let her do anyone again. "Do you swear to love and worship your lord until the Gods wished for your departure?" the priest continued.
"I swear under our Gods," Cinder said.
"May you seal your eternity."
They turned to each other and leaned into each other, placing a kiss. Kris's lips felt relatively soft, Cinder thought, and somewhat inexperienced. His kiss felt like he was afraid of putting his weight more onto her as if she would tumble like a piece of domino. After the kiss, they linked arms and walked down the aisle to everyone's cheers, mainly on Cinder's side.
Cinder leaned to Kris's ear. "I'm not that tumbleable."
A stuffed laugh nearly went through the hall.
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