In the kingdom of Aeziris, a rebellion is rising, but its reins are not in the hands of its citizens. With a fine string entwining her heart with that of its chieftain, Esméralda must walk a knife-edge while navigating her way through a palace of ma...
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E s m é r a l d a A l b y
Twined and draped over the front two pillars of the church, the sweet pea climbers were in full bloom, bursting a vibrant pink. Although they reminded me of promises, I shook my head, clapping with every aisle as the groom kissed his bride, their faces beaming. Promises and vows belonged where trust quaked; maybe that was why marriages only on paper were valid. Lacking this realization, the new couple was congratulated like today validated their life of togetherness. The noble couple walked down the altar, hand-in-hand, a Viscount and a Baroness, and that was the one thing they got right. Nobles married nobles.
Beyond those sweet pea climbers, the sky was bright with life.
Feeling too heavy to stand for so long, I sat back down when the flower girl came to me, a rose in her grasp. She bounced on her heels, her eyes filled with wonder as they lay on my stomach, then she forwarded the rose to me, saying. "This is for your baby. Ma gives one to every lady with a baby and tells them to teach their child that we honor roses. She didn't give you, so—"
Her hand was swatted down by an older woman, probably in her forties.
"Lady Elina," she scolded the younger. "Your mother gives our honoured rose to married ladies with a child. This woman is not a noble, now go, find your mother and stay with her."
"Yes, Aunt Melissa. I didn't know."
Knowing what was coming my way, I turned; two steps away, then, "where do you think you're going, woman? Who even invited you to my son's wedding? My daughter-in-law needs blessings today, not curses from someone like—"
"I work for the wedding planners, and I was the who wrote your invitations, not with the intent of curses but blessings. And as you can see, I need rest time-to-time, I'm more than six months in now."
"Sulk in your home then. I'm going to have to talk with these planners for employing and bringing unwed mothers to a Viscount's wedding."
"You noticed my lack of wedding ring, Lady Melissa, but not what it means." I was alone through this. "I need money to live, and for that, someone has to employ me, for there's no one else who'd provide for me."
I walked away with the knowledge that wearing Aedric's ring still around my neck was the toughest decision I'd made. A woman left by her husband was bad enough; a woman that left her husband, worse, for both cases blamed the woman. I wonder almost daily if widowed would have been my best option, but how could I speak of him as if he were dead? I loved him regardless of whatever he did, whoever he loved. What would I even say, I was married to Aedric Emsworth, or Eirik whoever? Where was certification? My landlady demanded it the moment I told her I was pregnant.
