"First of all, I'd like to thank you all for coming to this wedding," Matt started. "Even if you came just to see the lost princess of Useses. Well, this is her. The lost princess. My wife."
The crowd cheered as Rosie waved. She smiled, tentatively at first. The crowd cheered even louder than before, and she grinned from ear to ear, enjoying the spotlight.
"Okay, thank you," Matt said, trying to quiet the crowd. "Thank you all. Yes, thank you. Okay, that's enough cheering. Be quiet. No, really. Stop cheering. Quiet please. Please. Okay, that's it. Be quiet!"
"EVERYBODY QUIET!" Rosie belted out at the top of her lungs. That shut everyone up.
"Thank you," she said, smiling.
"No, thank you," Matt replied, looking at her. "Now, as you all know, we're married. I hope you've realized this by now. And I just wanted to say thank you. To everyone. I love my wife, and the ceremony was perfect. I'm so thankful that my wife, Aurora, and I are in love and it is not just another arranged marriage. We got lucky enough to be paired with each other, soul mates. So thank you for coming, and thank God that we are fortunate enough to have each other."
The crowd cheered yet again. Matt turned to Rosie. "It's your turn to make a speech," he said quietly.
"Okay," she breathed. "Wish me luck."
"Good luck!" he whispered.
"Good people of Aruzic and Useses alike, thank you for coming to see my wedding!" Rosie said loudly. "Philip has taken many of the words right out of my mouth. But I have other things to add as well. I started my life as a village girl from the countryside. It was a difficult life, but not impossible. It was a quiet life, not like the life of a princess at all. This has given me many perspectives that you may not share. I hope that it will help me help the people of my future kingdom. I would love to help every person in this kingdom. Even if I can't, I will try to help every one I can. And so, I will do whatever I can to help the kingdom I love. Thank you."
The crowd exploded into applause. The cheering went on for a good five minutes. When it finally died down, Flora came fluttering onto the stage.
"Wonderful, wonderful!" she tittered. "Everyone loves the new princess."
The crowd started to cheer again, but Flora cut them off. "Yes, yes, woohoo and all that. Now, let the music begin for the happy couple's first dance!"
The string quartet behind Rosie and Matt started to play. Matt dramatically swept Rosie into his arms, and they began a waltz.
"It has been so long since I learned how to do this," Rosie whispered into his ear. "I hope we can pull this off."
"Don't worry," Matt whispered back. "I've got this. Just follow my lead."
"Okay," Rosie said shakily. "If you're sure."
Matt lead her through the steps that she hazily remembered learning. She was much better at the country dances, that she had learned from Jenny, Mikayla, and Aidan. She remembered the first time the three had taught her.
They had been eleven, and getting ready for the first Hallow's Eve ball they were allowed to attend. They were finally old enough to go. That day, after school, Jenny, Mikayla, and Aidan were walking Rosie home when she finally said she was nervous.
"Why?" Jenny asked, laughing. "You're pretty enough. Boys will be falling over themselves - and each other - trying to dance with you!"
"But.." Rosie said.
"Jenny's right, Rosie," Aidan added.
"But.." Rosie tried again.
"Relax, Rosie! Everyone will love you!" Mikayla said.
"But I don't know how to dance!" Rosie finally got out.
"Oh," Jenny replied. "Why didn't you say so? We'll teach you!"
"Really?" Rosie asked quietly.
"Of course!" Aidan exclaimed. "We're your friends. We'll always be here for you."
"Thank you," Rosie said gratefully.
"You're welcome," Jenny said briskly. "Now watch me and Aidan. One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four."
She said this last part as Jenny took Aidan and swung him into a dance. Rosie and Mikayla laughed. They started clapping in time as Jenny and Aidan twirled around the street.
