Edited by: ASaltedFish
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The reception was held in the largest garden of the castle grounds, which was near the front entrance. Ellery, Akimitsu, and their wedding party went to the second floor to change into more comfortable attire while the guests were guided to their seats.
Since the guests had been there since morning with only a few snacks provided, they were relieved to see the buffet-style food that they could choose from for their late lunch. With the large number of people, the chefs worked tirelessly to make sure there was always food in the chafers.
By the end of the lunch, the leftovers were sent to the staff so they could eat and celebrate.
Once everyone finished eating, it was time to mingle and dance in the center of the garden.
Ellery and Akimitsu, wearing plain matching black and white suits, walked together and greeted guests. They were social people, so conversations were endless.
Juniper, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the large social event, found an isolated place to sit where he was still able to see the whole garden. No one seemed to notice him as he sat with his food.
Edros wanted to join him, but many people stopped to talk with him, asking him about his and Juniper's wedding and if they were planning to have kids. He could only say that they had plans for a wedding, but needed some time to think about where and when.
Juniper finished his plate of food, and someone finally came over to talk to him. When he looked up, he saw it was Emperor Eliane, Empress Iris, and Edros' parents, Aurora and Robin.
"I heard that you weren't feeling well, so we came to check up on you." Emperor Eliane smiled, but it looked like she had something on her mind.
"Thank you for checking in on me. I should be okay if I rest here for a while," Juniper truthfully answered.
"That's good…"
"Sorry, Eliane doesn't know how to ask you, so I will." Empress Iris smiled while pushing Eliane away from Juniper. "We heard many people asking Edros about the marriage between the two of you. Most people think he's being polite, but we can see that he has a lot on his mind regarding that topic… Please excuse me if this is rude, but does it have something to do with you when it comes to postponing your engagement and wedding?"
Juniper appreciated that Empress Iris was straightforward with him, so he wasn't hesitant when answering her. Plus, he felt Edros' family had the right to know.
"Yes… I asked him to wait for me and give me some time. As you four know, I still have memories of my past life. Unlike those who were able to reincarnate as babies and come into terms with their lives, I died a horrific death and found myself in Ellery's body.
"I still remember how much my parents loved each other, but one died of a terminal and incurable disease, and the other died of a broken heart. I've been going to therapy to address my fears regarding marriage. I'm scared of losing Edros or Edros losing me. If I die, wouldn't Edros die too? If Edros died, I wonder if I would be the same as my past life's father and die of a broken heart."
This was the first time they had heard Juniper speak more than a few sentences.
"But seeing how happy Ellery and Akimitsu have been today, I can't help but think that maybe it wouldn't be so bad to marry Edros even if I fear the risk of premature death… I've been thinking about it all day today."
When Juniper's in-laws realized he was opening up to them, they let Juniper finish talking before grabbing chairs so they could sit near him.
"Honey, thank you for opening up to us. It must have been so scary to see your parents pass away one after the other." Robin, Edros' guide father, sat next to him and put his hand on Juniper's chair. He knew that Juniper wasn't comfortable with physical contact, but he wanted to show that he was comforting him. "I think it's amazing that not only are you in therapy, but you are also open to the idea even if it scares you."
"Robin is right. It's commendable…" Aurora, Edros' Sentinel mother, was just as awkward as he was and didn't know how to comfort someone.
Iris saw Aurora stop talking and knew that she was struggling to say more words, so she stepped in to help her father-in-law. "Juniper, your fears are understandable and valid, but we want you to know that you are not alone. You have Ellery, Akimitsu, and even us. Most importantly, Edros will be there, facing your fears together with you.
"Though marriage in this country is more for legal purposes, it still has its merits. You will not only have access to inheritances that could help you and your children should something happen to Edros, but it is also the same for if you suddenly pass. Not only that, but Edros would be able to help make decisions for your medical needs should you become incapacitated, and vice versa. And if the both of you pass, Ellery and Akimitsu, or Eliane and I will welcome your children with open arms. Hopefully, it doesn't come to that point, but we will make sure the horrible experiences you had as a child will not happen with us here.
"Other than that, you need to trust that Edros is strong enough to not only protect himself, but also you. He's been protecting the Empire for years, becoming a shield for all of us. As for incurable diseases, it's very, very rare with the technology we have now, so instead of fearing the .01%, we hope that you will look toward the future together with Edros."
Juniper's fears intensified as he watched Yang Eunseo, Yang Saem's little sister, pass away from an incurable disease. But he logically knew that Empress Iris was right. It was incredibly rare for there to be a disease that the Zephyrus Galaxy could not cure. Unfortunately, Yang Eunseo was unlucky. Still, it was no one's fault that she got this incurable disease that ultimately took her life.
He also had a body created by the Beast God himself, so there was no way he would die of a disease like that.
"Thank you, everyone, for talking things through with me and comforting me…"
Juniper felt that he should trust Edros and himself to live to an old age together, just like how Ellery and Akimitsu were striving to do the same. Still, he needed some time to think about this conversation. Thankfully, he had a therapy appointment in two days, so he could process and then regroup with his therapist about his thoughts on marriage.
"We will let you process this information, but if you need anything, we are one message away." Emperor Eliane felt it was time for them to go, or people would start to crowd around and make Juniper even more uncomfortable.
Juniper nodded and thanked each of his in-laws before closing his eyes to think about everything they had just talked about. He dissected every word, defining each one of them before contemplating the meaning of each sentence.
Thankfully, the spot he was in was hidden, so he stayed there until Edros came looking for him.
*****
After their conversation with Juniper, Emperor Eliane, Empress Iris, and Edros' parents walked over to Edros not only to save him from the endless questions, but also to talk to him about Juniper. They already got Juniper's permission to talk with Edros about their conversation, but it was still a very sensitive topic, so they brought Edros to a private area.
"Is everything okay with Juniper? I saw you all talking with him for a while." Edros looked at the area where Juniper was, thinking it was annoying that there were many obstacles blocking his line of sight.
Empress Iris nodded. "Juniper's fine. We just had a conversation about his fears around marriage. Still, he talked about being open to marrying you, so it's definitely a step in the right direction."
"Wait, you said he's willing to marry me?!" Edros was so excited he didn't process anything else.
"You didn't hear the other stuff she said?" Emperor Eliane karate-chopped Edros' head with a little bit of force. It was enough to stun him. "We came here to tell you that you should have a long and proper talk with Juniper about the plans for the future so he's not blind sided."
Edros coughed in embarrassment and then nodded. "Yeah, I know. Juniper doesn't like surprises because it makes him anxious, so I will be sure to talk with him about our future together."
Even though Juniper knows that some things don't go as planned, having a plan was better than not having one at all. At least with a plan, they could salvage what was left. Not having a plan would make him feel lost.
His guide father patted Edros on the shoulder. "He has a lot of trauma that he has to work through, so make sure you touch base with him and ask him about his therapy sessions. But most importantly, make sure you will always be a listening ear for him, like he has been with you."
"Thank you, dad, I will… And thank you, everyone, for looking out for Juniper."
He was glad that he and Juniper had an amazing support system to help guide them when they couldn't see clearly.