Chapter 23: The Wedding (3)

The sound of piano began, and the couple of the day walked to the priest waiting at the front of the pavilion.

Balloons, bright ribbons, flowers, and different ornaments were used to decorate the pavilion. The chairs which the nobles sat on were enveloped with white chair covers. A ribbon was tied around each one.

Tables held drinks, wine, desserts and many delicacies on one side and another set of tables held gifts that nobles brought to congratulate the couple.

It was a simple and perfect wedding. Not too extravagant for the mistress's origin and not demeaning the duke's prestigious status.

Even if the nobles were not satisfied with the union, they were pleased with the wedding.

Once the annalise and Dante reached the front, the music stopped, the nobles sat down and the priest began a small sermon about marriage and then the exchange of vows.

''Are you prepared, as you follow the path of marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?"

Annalise and Dante faced each other with smiles on their faces. ''I am.''

''You may begin the exchange of vows with heavens and the congregation serving as the witnesses,'' The priest said and looked at Annalise, signaling her to begin.

''The woman..''

'' I, Annalise Cromwell, take you Dante Hayes to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.'' Her smile never left her lips as she said those words from the bottom of her heart.

''And the man..'' The priest turned to duke hayes.

Just as Dante was about to begin his vows to annalise, the scene of his first wedding to the duchess flashed across his mind.

' My husband, my duke…' Her smile that day told him just how much happiness she had for their union and here he is, declaring the same vow he had with her to another woman, the woman of his heart.

The priest and annalise noticed his slight pause, making them a little worried.

''Dante?'' Annalise's whisper brought him out of his stupor, and he blinked twice, then smiled at her to ease her worries.

Why?

''I Dante Hayes..'' He began his marital vow.

Why is she coming to his mind?

''..Take you Annalise Cromwell as my lawfully wedded wife..''

'..Take you, Isla Elrod, as my lawfully wedded wife..'

For some reason, the scene of his exchange of vows with the duchess resurfaced as he continued his vows with annalise.

'' ..to have and to hold, from this day forward..''

' to have and to hold, from this day forward…'

''..for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health..''

'..for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health..'

''..Until death do us part..''

'..Until death do us part..'

''By the vested in me, I now pronounce you..'' Different priests at both weddings, but their lips uttered the same sentences.

''..Annalise Cromwell and Dante Hayes as husband and wife.''

'..Isla Elrod and Dante Hayes as Husband and wife..'

''You may kiss the bride,'' the priest said, and annalise went forward to seal her lips against the duke. Her lips against his brought him out of his stupor again.

Why was he having these flashbacks?

Does he regret...this marriage? That thought appeared in Dante's head. For him to have these scenes played out while getting married to annalise meant one thing.

He is having second thoughts about this marriage, and that did not sit right with him.

'You have annalise now, Dante,' He told himself as he returned her kiss with his hands around her waist. 'The duchess…would be someone out of your life...soon.'

After their kiss, the nobles clapped their hands and rejoiced as if they were truly happy, making annalise smile at them and then at her new husband.

Dante also smiled at her, but somehow his eyes traveled to the empty terrace that belonged to his wife. He knew that she loved the garden. She was the one who wanted her room to be the closest to it.

The window closest to the terrace was far from his position, so he could not tell if she was there, but somehow he felt she was watching the wedding.

Watching him kiss another woman…

Again, he felt another discomfort in his heart, and he turned away to look at his new wife. The woman who will stay in his life forever.

''Dante,'' Annalise called out his name lovingly.

''Annalise,'' Dante also called out her name lovingly, then leaned forward to peck forehead.

''Let's enjoy the party, wife.''

That's right...this woman by his side was now his wife and would be the mother of his future children, including the one in the duchess's belly.

So there was no need for him to feel this way.

—--

''His majesty sends his congratulations, Duke hayes.''

At the familiar voice, Dante looked at the neat-looking man in spectacles in aristocratic clothes.

''Baron Sylvester,'' He acknowledged the handsome man, then gestured to annalise in his arms, ''Meet my wife, Annalise.''

''Hello,'' Annalise smiled with a small curtsy.

Baron Sylvester nodded slightly and then looked back at the Dante like his action was nothing wrong. But his action was wrong in the dante's eyes. Other nobles enthusiastically greeted annalise. Even if it was because of his presence, he was happy, as she deserved their acknowledgment.

''His imperial majesty hopes you reconsider his words and that you wouldn't regret your actions,'' Baron Sylvester's violet eyes went directly to annalise. He did not hide his words about the emperor's dislike for the latter, making dante frown and annalise pale as she somewhat understood the meaning behind his words.

''What are you doing, baron?'' Dante growled.

''Waking you up to reality.'' The baron immediately replied to him, then added, '' The utmost respect I have for you has disappeared since her imperial majesty's tea party, Duke hayes. I know her imperial majesty very well, and what she said to the emperor, I will stand by it.''

''Don't destroy your ancestors' hard work, duke,'' The baron turned back after talking brutally to the black-faced Dante. He pushed his thin frame spectacles on the bridge of his nose and tilted his head to glance at the couple.

For a long time since the beginning of this fiasco, he wondered what happened to the Duke Hayes, that helped his majesty to claim his rightful throne.

''I am sure the grand duke is not one to be idle while you thoroughly disgrace her grace, the duchess.''

He left the garden after giving a subtle warning to the duke.

>>>Meet another one of my side characters, Baron Sylvester. I hope you are enjoying the story my dear readers. As always, Vote Vote Vote, everyone🥰<<<