The Knight Queen

Chapitre Onze: Mariage

After a ten-day carriage ride, Estelle and Rafael landed on the humid and exotic land of Zejardo. They passed through the village where the country's Crown Prince was welcomed back with much joy and felicitation. Many tried to peep inside to see who his companion was, however, the said companion had hidden themselves to the other side. Some had managed to catch a glimpse and without a doubt, it was a female.

Before they could be able to look any further, the horses had already trod away towards the castle.

As they neared it, Estelle couldn't help but satisfy the curiosity eating its way in her gut, so, she opened the window and stuck her head out where her hair was ruffled up and sweet, salty wind cooled her down and blew away the drops of sweat which had gathered on her forehead. For a moment, she closed her eyes in ecstasy, relishing the nice breeze.

When she opened her eyes, she was met with a castle grander than she had ever seen. Multiple turrets peeked out from the ground, as tall as the eye can see, a red and yellow flag flying at the tops of each. At the centre, a large dome made itself prominent. To think that she had been marvelled by Clervaux Manor; that did not hold a candle to what she was seeing now.

"Magnificent, is it not?" asked Rafael, squeezing himself in the space left at the window. He turned towards her, coming up close to her stale greys. The carriage rattled as it flew past a stone, knocking them out of their trance, each clearing their throats and returning to their places.

"And you haven't seen anything yet. I'll give you a tour on–"

"Is that them?" came a female voice from beyond the gates.

"Or someone else will," said he, turning to her with a smile she had never seen before.

The carriage wheeled into the castle gates, the door facing the main entrance. Rafael jumped out and stood firmly on the side, helping Estelle out and as she set foot on the ground, he turned to her and winked, then walked a few steps ahead, opened his arms wide.

"I'm home," he said in a sing-song voice.

"Rafa!" said a girl with wavy and bouncy dark-brown hair shaping her heart-shaped face. Soon enough, he was engulfed in an embrace by his younger siblings, tossing him down to the ground at the force. They all exploded into laughter, one by one peeling themselves away from him and moving over to the side to sit on the ground.

Estelle watched with a smile on her face the way Rafael interacted with his siblings so easily, bursting out into uncontrollable chatter, catching up with each other. Rafael stood up, dusted his breeches and walked towards her, placing a hand on the small of her back. Four pairs of eyes turned towards her, each the same hazel as Rafael's. They wrinkled their brows, wondering who the intruder was.

"I'd like you to meet Queen Estelle Valerie Devereux of Troyes, my betrothed," said he, turning to her and putting on a smile that turned Estelle's innards to mush and an adoring spark in his eyes that made her feel special. "Line up," said he, in a commander-like voice to his siblings. They all got up and formed a queue, Rafael leaving her to stand at the front of the line.

"We've arranged ourselves in order of birth, just so you won't get confused. Crown Prince Rafael Hernandez," said he, taking her gloved hand in his and placing a lingering kiss on it that sent satisfying shivers down Estelle's spine. Next up came a girl, roughly the same age as she was, with wavy, light brown hair wrapped up in a neat bun at the nape of her neck. She wore a simple baby blue day gown.

"Princess Catalina Hernando," said she, making a neat curtsey and giving her a light but beautiful smile.

"Prince Federico Hernandez," said a boy with dirty-blond hair, hazel-green eyes and a shy smile on his face. He was as tall as Estelle was, maybe a year younger. Bowing, he placed a coy kiss on her knuckles, and when he got up, he gave her a warm smile that touched his eyes and straightened the lapels of his light, white shirt.