Elwanda

Chapter 22 - Roses and Woes

The Festival of the Old Kingdoms was curtained by heavy rainfall, marking the end of a jubilation like no other.

Elwanda spent the last few days receiving treatment from Remus, whom she was very glad to see again and whom showed no kind of queerness around her after hearing of all the dramatics surrounding hers and the Steward's facade. Instead, the physician expressed great relief and remorse for her.

"Let's thank the heavens that your life has been spared." He said with a soft grunt, replacing his medicine tubes in their special casing. "That's all that truly matters now. I hope you sleep well, my Lady."

Elwanda beamed, softened by his kindness. "Elwanda is my name."

Remus paused, staring at her with a kind of quiet. Then, he simply nodded and spared a little bow before walking out.

That night, she was unable to sleep. It was peacefully quiet in the whole of Raegros since the festivities had concluded much earlier than normal. Xainiss had been informed of her agreement to truly wed the Steward, and according to Lord Housley who brought the news a day ago, the King was "pleased".

It was an odd thing, but Elwanda decided to leave the thought for never. What stuck to her mind was the coming day. By morning, she would be wedded. Xainiss had ordered for the ceremony to happen in Raegros so that he could witness it and prevent no further deceptions. It was not to be a public affair as Elwanda was one nobody knew nor cared about. Were it the Lady Dove's wedding instead then the entire kingdom would have made attendance. She doubted she would have good things, like a decent dress or a bouquet of roses. It made her think back on Anneth's fantasies about the kind of wedding she preferred should her beau ask her to marry.

"I want dandelions and large bluebells in my bouquet. And I want a flowing blue dress, a cake that's much taller than Ingrith, and I want to get married in the winter, under the snow."

"Why during winter?" Ingrith had asked.

"That way she won't have to deal with seeing all of her exes." Aurae had responded, cackling. "There's a high chance Zyran might burst into the temple and yell out I object."

Memories streamed in bit and bit after that, brightening Elwanda's mood a little. In her heart, she promised to go to her family once she was back in Rauloring. How worried sick they all might've been for so long! Especially Miri. And what her sisters would think of her fortune was uncertain; would they be shocked, happy, angered to pieces, or simply relieved to see her again?

With a sigh, she turned in her bed. Her new room was a singular one located in a crook of the servant's quarters. If not that there were now multiple people who despised her, she could've easily guessed that her bedroom was handpicked by the Steward.

At the thought of him, her stomach traveled to her throat.

She blinked severally and sat up, as if realizing for the first time since. She would be married to him - for real. Nothing had ever frightened and excited her nearly as much as that particular thought did. It did cross her mind that he might move to divorce her immediately they arrived Rauloring. In that case, she would run right back to her foster family and live with them as if nothing ever happened. Besides, in his letter Alodie had declared her vindicated of all crimes, which meant she was no longer a convict.

Turning once more, she cursed under her breath. The bed was no better than the dungeon floors. It stiffened her arms and made her spine creak with discomfort. She would've done anything to have the lounge chair inside her old closet once more, but those days were gone.

Choosing to count sheep, she laid staring at the ceiling, until sometime in the wee hours of morning, the door creaked open. Elwanda stirred, realizing she had fallen asleep, but only briefly. Her eyes were heavier than a statue.