Two Of The Same Piece || Book 1 (The Beginning)

EPILOGUE

Rave had never felt as lonely as she did at the moment. There was not a single person in that room who had known her for any significant amount of time. The women in this room were her new ladies-in-waiting, her maids, and her guards. She wished desperately for Leo. To enjoy this moment with him.

Instead, she just awkwardly stood there. Until a tall woman introduced herself to her. "I will be your chief lady-in-waiting, your highness. I am Elenor, wife of general Ivon."

"Then I suppose we need to be acquainted quickly," Rave replied.

"Indeed." Elenor laughed. "I have already prepared your wedding suite with the prince, and all the preparations for the wedding have been done."

"Good." Rave still felt awkward. She had a whole new entourage of Bellans who had followed her to Rayner. These people would settle here as she would. But she wasn't familiar with any of them. They were distant cousins and new faces.

"The wedding will happen soon, your highness." Lady Elenor told her. "We must prepare quickly and start your life anew in Rayner."

As she had been told, and as she had partially predicted herself, the wedding was just later this week. While Bellan weddings were quick and short, Raynerian weddings could stretch into weeks of celebrations. Rave had to prepare herself for at least a week of just smiling and smiling.

The wedding almost felt rushed to her. The entire ceremony felt like a blur. But when it came time for her to walk to Aurilean, through the temple of Leona in Rayner, she felt nervous. Leo would walk behind her, in full armor. Even at that moment, they didn't speak. Rae wanted to speak with him, but Leo kept his eyes on the floor.

She had always hoped that the day she got married would be a happy day, but it wasn't that. But it wasn't that. She and Leo had joked about this moment for so long, but this was nothing like what they both had hoped for.

Rave momentarily forgot all of that as she came face to face with Aurilean. When he looked at her, she felt like she was in heaven. He smiled at her so sweetly. "You look beautiful." He whispered.

"You too." Rave wasn't lying. Aurilean looked majestic in his blue robes. Rave almost felt threatened by how beautiful he looked.

"How long have we waited for this?" He asked her.

"Four years maybe?"

"It's been too long overdue." Aurilean kissed her forehead. "It has been pushed back for too long."

The feast after the wedding went a little better. Leo had at least acknowledged Rave's existence. Both Leo and Ragnor had knelt together, swearing to protect both Rave and Aurilean. Rave still felt assured knowing that Ragnor would be with Leo. If Ragnor was around Leo, at least he didn't look so uncomfortable then.

"Are you still worrying over Leo?" Aurilean leaned to kiss her.

"You know I can't stop worrying about Leo," Rave replied.

"Today is our wedding day. It's supposed to be about us." He pouted at her.

"I know that, but I don't exactly think I can just stop worrying."

"You'll stop worrying once I take you to bed tonight," Aurilean whispered to her.

"I am sure you most definitely will," Rave said.

Aurilean kissed her once again. "Don't worry about Leo. You will be fine. Both of you will be fine now."

---

Leo sat with Ragnor as they watched the numerous Raynerian nobles slither up and offer Aurilean and Rave wedding gifts. He had thought about Rave's offer, but he wasn't just going to leave her. He couldn't. He had promised he would stay with her, and he had broken enough promises to Rave already.

He knew Rave, and he knew she was uncomfortable right now. Her smile kept dropping whenever she thought no one was looking. He knew he should be there for her, helping her settle into this new place. After all, Rave was surrounded by strangers. The new ladies assigned to her from Bellayong were distant cousins, women who knew little of the princess they served.

But Leo couldn't bring himself to. He didn't blame Rave, but she seemed to trigger rather unpleasant memories. Josephine had used Rave as bait, threatening him to 'behave' or she would do worst. So he had let her torture him. He knew Josephine had just used Rave for no reason. He had a feeling Josephine would have done the same with him, regardless of what happened to Rave.

He wanted nothing more than to go back to their old ways, but he couldn't. Not yet, at least. It would take him some time to heal. He knew Rave was hurting too, both physically and emotionally. But she had Aurilean, right? He would take care of her. He would take care of her just as well as Leo did. Even he knew he was lying to himself at that point.

--

Rave took a deep breath as Archad and another woman walked up to them. Both of them had open boxes of jewelry in their hands. Alongside two matching crowns. They bowed before them and presented them with the boxes.

"Merely a small gift from those of us in the Southern Tides Islands." Archad only stared at the floor, refusing to meet Rave or Aurilean's eyes.

The crowns were beautiful, the pattern of starfish and seashells done in gold. It wasn't the most creative, but it was lovely nonetheless. "Thank you, Lord Archad and Lady?" Rave stared at Archad's wife, a pretty light-skinned woman.

"Camira." The lady replied curtly.

"Lady Camira." Rave nodded awkwardly.

She thrust the box at Rave. "We welcome you to our court, princess." Her tone was not welcoming at all.

--

Josephine laughed as her servants ran off to wherever they were needed. She didn't care about anything anymore. Why would she? She had better things to worry about now. She was pregnant.

"Your majesty?" The midwife kneeling in front of her was staring at Josephine. "It is quite the joyous news."

Josephine cackled a little more. "Yes. This child will be the ruler of beggars, whores, and debts!"

The midwife had the grace to look concerned. "I would suggest your majesty lay off the wine until the baby is born. It may bring harm to the developing life growing inside you."

Josephine scowled at that. "I know what's best for myself and for my child. I don't need the advice of menials."

The woman simply bowed her head. "Yes, your majesty."

Josephine ran a hand over her stomach. Still, there was no sign of her child growing inside her, but in a few months, no doubt she could be big and fat with this little brat. "Is there any way
To tell who the father is?"

"To know the father?" The woman seemed to ponder on this for a long time as if deciding which is the best answer. "I am afraid not, your majesty. The only way to tell the father is after the baby is born. Even then, it's hard to tell completely." The woman shifted uncomfortably. "May I ask why, your majesty?"

"No, you may not." Josephine snarled. "If you breathe a word of this conversation to anyone, I will personally make sure that your head is no longer a heavy burden upon your shoulders."

The woman stood up. "I have helped birth many children, your majesty. Many children born in usual or unideal circumstances too. I know how to keep in a few secrets."

Josephine waved her off. "Get out."

"You think the child, it's mine?" She turned to look at Rachid. He was standing behind a pillar. Hiding, more likely.

"I should have you whipped for eavesdropping."

His eyes widened as he crawled to her. Josephine had trained Rachid to her good little pet these past six months. He was stubborn, but he broke nonetheless. "I- I am sorry, your majesty. It won't happen again." He rested his head on her thigh.

Josephine pushed him off, disgusted. "I hope this brat isn't yours. I don't want my child to be some spineless half bastard. I hope it's Leo's. At least he didn't break. Unlike you, you weak little piece of shit."