Luca jumped forward, clapping his hands with enthusiasm.
"Congratulations to both of you!"
Eyan shot him a quick glare, though a small smile tugged at his lips.
Then Luca turned to Eyan.
"Father is waiting for you."
Eyan nodded, taking Eva's hand gently as they walked together toward the grand dais. There, standing tall and regal, was King Thalor Therald, Eyan's father, his silver-lined cloak flowing behind him. His eyes glimmered with pride and a hint of emotion as he looked at his son and daughter-in-law.
Eyan and Eva bowed deeply before him.
King Thalor's voice carried softly but firmly.
"Eyan… I still cannot believe my eyes. You are finally married."
He sighed, his gaze darkening with a touch of sadness.
"If only your mother were alive to see this day…"
Eyan lifted his head, his eyes meeting his father's.
"Father… don't worry. I am sure mother is watching from heaven, smiling, and giving us her blessings."
King Thalor's lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile.
"You are right, my son. May your union be blessed, may your hearts always remain steadfast in love and loyalty, and may Velmoria prosper under your reign together."
Eyan bowed again, gratitude shining in his eyes.
"Thank you, father. We will honor your wishes."
King Thalor nodded and gestured toward the grand hall.
"Now go, Eyan. Go and greet the people of Velmoria—they are waiting for you both."
Eyan gave a final nod and, hand in hand with Eva, stepped forward. The doors opened, revealing a sea of nobles, citizens, and soldiers gathered to celebrate their emperor and new empress.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Eyan and Eva moved among them. People bowed, curtsied, and shouted words of joy.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live Empress Eva!"
"Congratulations, Your Majesties!"
"May your reign be glorious and blessed!"
Eyan offered a gentle smile, bowing and nodding to those who approached.
"Thank you… thank you all for your blessings."
Eva, her cheeks still faintly flushed from the ceremony, curtsied gracefully, her smile radiant.
"Thank you for welcoming me. I hope to serve Velmoria faithfully as your Empress."
Children waved from the balconies, elders clapped, and noblewomen whispered in awe at the beauty of their young empress.
Together, they continued down the hall, greeting their people, their hands intertwined.
---
After the wedding ceremony and the formal greetings, Eva retreated to a quiet room with Aranel. She sank onto the couch, her back leaning against the soft cushions, and let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"Ahhh… I'm so tired," Eva murmured, closing her eyes for a moment.
Aranel's brow furrowed in concern. "Your Majesty… you're tired already? There's still the banquet and your first dance to go."
Eva opened one eye and gave her a small, playful glare. "First of all… stop calling me 'Your Majesty.' It feels so strange."
Aranel's lips curved into a gentle smile. "But… can I? You are a queen now."
Eva lifted her hand slightly, as if to hush her. "Then call me by my name when we're alone, okay?"
Aranel nodded immediately. "Okay."
Eva stretched her legs, wincing slightly as the weight of her gown pressed against her. "Aranel… when will the banquet start?"
"In about fifteen minutes," Aranel replied.
Eva exhaled and shifted more comfortably on the couch, one leg draped over the edge while the other rested on the floor. "Then let me rest a little before the banquet. My legs hurt, and this dress… it's so heavy."
Aranel gave her a reassuring nod. "Alright, Eva. Rest well. I'll go and make the necessary preparations… I'll let you know when it's time."
Eva closed her eyes fully, letting the exhaustion wash over her. "Okay."
Aranel quietly stepped toward the door, pausing to look back with a small, affectionate smile before shutting it gently behind her.
---
After some time, the door opened again. Eva was lying on the couch, her eyes closed, trying to rest.
"Oh, Aranel, you're back already," she murmured, stretching slightly.
She turned onto her stomach, pressing her face into the cushions.
"Aranel… can you massage my back? It's killing me," she sighed.
Without a word, Aranel moved closer and began kneading Eva's shoulders and back gently.
Eva let out a soft, relieved sigh. "Aww… that feels so nice."
"Aranel… can you go a little lower?" she asked, relaxing further into the touch.
The hands moved carefully, easing tension from her muscles.
Eva furrowed her brow. "Aranel… why do your hands feel so big? I thought you had small hands…"
Curious, she turned to see Aranel—but froze mid-motion.
Eyan stood there instead, his hands resting on her back, a small, teasing smile on his lips.
"Your Majesty… what are you doing here?" Eva panicked, sitting up slightly, her cheeks flushing scarlet.
"I came to check on you," Eyan said softly, his eyes warm.
"I… I'm sorry," Eva stammered, "I thought it was Aranel, that's why I asked for a massage…"
Eyan's smile widened. "It's alright. You don't need to apologize, Lady Eva."
Eva blinked, still embarrassed. "Your majesty… how long are you going to keep calling me 'lady Eva'? We're married now… you can just call me by my name."
Eyan tilted his head slightly, leaning closer until his lips were near her ear. "Can I?"
Eva's breath hitched. "Of course."
He lowered his voice, a soft murmur meant only for her.
"Then how about I call you… .My Queen instead?"
Eva's face heated, and she turned slightly, trying not to show how flustered she was.
Eyan's smile was teasing. "What… you don't like it?"
"No… I like it," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
He chuckled softly. "Are you feeling tired?"
"Yes… this dress is so heavy," Eva replied, only to realize she had been speaking while lying on the couch and he was standing above her. Her eyes widened in panic.
"Oh! Your majesty… I-I'm sorry! I didn't realize I was lying down like this," she said, scrambling to her feet.
Before she could lose her balance, Eyan's strong hands steadied her at the waist.
"Slowly… you'll fall," he said gently.
"Thank you… for catching me, your majesty," she murmured, cheeks flushed.
He gave her a teasing look. "Eva… now that we're married, shouldn't you call me by my name? Not 'Your Majesty.'"
She smiled shyly. "Right…"
"Thank you for catching me, Eyan," she added.
Eyan's grin widened. "That's better," he said, steadying her fully on her feet.
He took her hand, his touch warm and comforting. "The banquet is about to start. Let's go outside."
Eva nodded, her heart still fluttering from their private moment. "Okay."
Hand in hand, they exited the room together.
---
The banquet had begun, the grand hall alive with glittering chandeliers, flowing music, and the chatter of nobles. An announcement echoed through the room:
"Now, it is time for the Emperor and Empress to share their first dance!"
Eyan extended his hand to Eva, his eyes calm and reassuring, and led her to the center of the hall.
Eva's heart raced, and she fidgeted slightly, nerves written across her delicate features.
"Eva… don't be nervous," Eyan murmured softly, his gaze locking with hers.
"How can I not be?" she whispered back, cheeks warming. "You already know how bad I am at dancing… and everyone is watching. What if I make a mistake?"
Eyan leaned closer, his voice gentle but firm. "Don't worry… just trust me, and only look at me, my queen."
Eva felt a shiver of warmth at his words, her blush deepening as her eyes met his.
"Perfect," Eyan said with a small, approving smile, guiding her into the steps.
The music swelled, soft and graceful, as Eyan led Eva across the polished floor. Their movements were in perfect harmony, the nervousness slowly melting away as she focused solely on him. Every spin, every gentle sway, felt intimate, as if the world outside the dance faded and only the two of them remained.
Eyes followed their elegant movements, whispers of admiration drifting across the hall, but Eva felt none of it—only the warmth of Eyan's hand in hers, the steady rhythm of their dance, and the quiet strength in his gaze.
Step by step, turn by turn, they moved together, the first dance marking not just the celebration of their union, but the beginning of a new chapter.