Another way (Young Royals)

The Wedding ceremony

I stood next to my brother on one of the most important days of his life. He was getting married to the girl who cared for him back to health after his car accident. My mom was less than pleased with the arrangements, which on the other hand just made me a bit happier. Anything that annoyed my mother a bit I found extremely satisfying. That Simon and I had been walking into the church together, hand in hand, was also an annoyance to her. I knew that. If we ever married, I would not invite her. I wanted people who were actually happy for us to be there. I wished that Erik could have that too. August was sitting a few rows back in the church. When I saw him I had to hold myself back, to not send him death glares. I was after all there for Erik. Erik and Hanna exchanged vows. When Erik was supposed to put a ring on her finger, he stood up. He had worked really hard in rehab to be able to stand, just for a moment. Hanna held him close, so that he would not lose balance. I had never seen them smile that big at each other like that day. When they had kissed, Simon got up on a small stage where he was supposed to perform a song.

"I want to congratulate the bride and groom on their big day," Simon said. Then he sang to them. He could produce the most melodic and beautiful sounds with his voice. I felt so proud of him. I saw my brother and my now sister in law wipe a few tears. I had not realised I cried myself if I had not noticed that others did. Simon got back to my side after his performance. When the ceremony was finished, Hanna and Erik were the first to leave. Erik had been at the front, waiting for her before the ceremony. When she appeared in that white wedding dress he looked the happiest he had ever been in his life. She had truly been gorgeous. He always had special sparkles in his eyes when he looked at her, but that day it had been even more than usual. Per tradition Erik and Hanna were to travel in a horse carriage throughout the city. The wedding dinner was to take place in the royal palace, in the banquet hall. My mother had hosted countless big dinners there. Simon and I took the few hours between the wedding ceremony and the dinner to rest. Simon took some calls for work and the rest of the time he spent on the bed in my old bedroom with me.

"A royal wedding was something special, I must say," Simon said. "Do you even know half of the people that attended?" I shook my head.

"Well, I should know them, but I am terrible with names," I replied.

"Aren't you related to like half of them too?" Simon asked. I nodded. Old royal houses were usually related to each other. It was a way to maintain power in the past.

"Yeah. Royal families are the definition of inbreeding. In the old days I would probably have been married off to some crown princess in south Europe that might or might not also have been like my second cousin or something," I replied. As the youngest prince my role would have been to create connections and expand the Swedish crown's power. To marry for love was overrated back then. Even if most royal families could choose their own partners nowadays, I was thankful to not be part of that anymore. Now I could be free, entirely.

"Lucky me we were not born in something like the 16th century then," Simon replied. His fingers caressed my naked chest. "They would only have dared to marry you off to someone else." That made us both laugh. I could not even see myself with anyone else. I belonged with him.

"I would not have let them, honey," I replied. My fingers were exploring the curls on his head. The skin on his neck.

"What if they would have forced you?" Simon asked.

"Then I would have run away with you. Or if you had agreed you could have been my lover," I replied. Simon laughed against my chest.

"That would have been something," Simon said. "But probably not a waterproof plan since we have a tendency to be caught."

"So run away would be your goto?" I replied. Simon nodded and pressed his lips to mine.

"I would run away to be with you any day if that's what I had to do to be with you," Simon said.

Author's note

Here is a short update for you guys. I hope you like it!

A.A.