The Ice Queen of Lessaenes (Book 5)

Royal Wedding- 2

I decided to update today, to wish you all a happy Fourth of July! (Even though the day's almost over)

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"They shall be united in stance," Armetorius said in his heavy, important Mystic voice, signaling Fenorel and I to stand closer to each other. 

"United under Lumys." We stepped forward, simultaneously performing a low, ceremonial bow before the marble statue of the moon goddess. 

"United in blood." We each took a small, decorative knife from the silver platter in front of us, making a long cut from the tip of our middle fingers to the center of our hands. Then, we pressed our palms together, holding them up to a chorus of cheers. Thanks to our Iceheart skin, the cuts healed as soon as we brought our hands back to our sides. 

"United in love." My ears automatically drowned out the applause and the clicking cameras as Fenorel kissed me. 

"You're so perfectly devious," he whispered into my hair as he pulled away, making me smile softly. However, I couldn't help but harbor an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. 

"Something's wrong," I muttered discreetly as Armetorius rambled at the podium about pompous Mystic stuff that no one actually listens to. 

"What are you talking about? This is amazing!" Fenorel gave me a confused look. 

"No. Something- or someone- is missing. I don't feel as complete as I should..." 

"Nonsense." 

"Raliyel!" I gasped, my eyes widening with shock. I scanned the group of nobles assembled before us with my eyes, and sure enough, the strong willed Rhenan was not present! I searched one more time, just to be sure, but I was absolutely certain that she wasn't in the room. "How could she?" I sucked a deep breath in, struggling to control my Aura. "How dare she slight the Empire by failing to attend such an important event?" 

"This isn't like her at all," Fenorel frowned. "Perhaps she had a family emergency." 

"Her family's not even on this planet!" 

"Maybe that's what's taking her so long." 

"Fenorel Soren, do you formally agree to dissolve all past and present ties with the Keeper Clan and rights to titles and property thereof, wholeheartedly become part of the Holy Bloodline, and serve as as a faithful member of the Royal family?" Armetorius asked.

"Yes." 

.............................

Raliyel rubbed a handful of dirt into her cheeks and pulled a coarse overcoat on top of her velvety crimson dress. Then, she tied her hair back and wrapped it in a handkerchief- a symbol of bondage. 

She held her head low as she had done in years before, speaking to no one and not expecting to be spoken to, as she slipped through the slaves' entrance, scurrying through the interior hallways of Icicle Hall. She knew that she could easily get to the Sanctum, she knew these hallways like the back of her hand, but the problem was finding an excuse to go up there... 

As she passed by the kitchens, she began to overhear a frantic conversation.

"I need this taken up to the Sanctum at once!" Someone- probably a cook- barked. 

"Yes, sir," came the almost robotic response of a slave. 

"If you dare lay a finger on the Queen's wedding cake, you filthy Rhenan..." the cook trailed off threateningly. 

"I would never dream of it, sir." 

"Good. You can never be too cautious when entrusting a starved child with a two foot tall gourmet dessert." 

"Indeed, sir. I shall deliver it exactly as it is, sir." 

"Very well. Take it and go." 

Raliyel watched as a girl who looked to be about twelve years old waddled out of the scullery, struggling to balance a gigantic five layer cake in her scrawny arms. 

"That looks quite heavy for you," Raliyel frowned. "If you'd like, I can take it."

The girl stopped in her tracks, staring. 

"Is something wrong?" Raliyel raised an eyebrow. 

"No. It's just quite rare for someone to show kindness to a slave...even another slave. You do realize you'll be killed if anything happens to this cake?" 

"Yes, I do." 

"And you'll still take it?" 

"Yes." 

"Then, by all means, have it!" The slave girl exhaled deeply, visibly relieved, as she handed the cake over to Raliyel. 

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"Then, let it be done. All hail King Fenorel and Queen Saralee of Lessaenes!" Armetorius announced, raising his hand in a celebratory gesture. Fenorel wrapped his arm around my waist and we stood motionless on the dais, posing for the sea of cameras before us. 

"It seems that someone is missing," Selaeyah shook her head, craning her neck to speak to me. "How impudent of that Rhenan not to show up." 

Just seconds later, as if on cue, a slave cut through the crowd, carrying a large object covered by an opaque plastic shell. 

"Ta da!" She beamed, placing the covered object on a glass table to my right and knocking away its shell, revealing the most luscious chocolate cake I had ever seen, exquisitely decorated with glittery blue icing. Then, she untied the kerchief around her head and the strings of her brown overcoat, tossing both to the floor. 

"Raliyel!" I gasped, running away from the makeshift stage as fast as my constricting gown would allow me to and pulling her into a tight hug. "That was the best surprise ever! Dressing up as a slave and bringing in the cake...how do you even get these ideas?" 

"Oh, all the credit goes to our wonderful Chief," she gestured to Selaeyah, a knowing smirk playing playing on her lips. 

"Really, Selaeyah?" 

"Well..." the Chief trailed off, her cheeks turning red. "Look what you've done!" She nearly shouted, running up to the cake, pointing a sharp, blue fingernail at a slight mark in the icing on the bottom layer. The imperfection was so slight, it was practically invisible. "Now it's inedible!" Selaeyah fumed. 

"As King of Lessaenes, I order you to eat five slices of this 'inedible' cake," Fenorel proclaimed, crossing his arms confidently. 

"Ugh...well, of course...Your Majesty," she winced, skulking over to a stack of golden plates. 

"This is going to be so fun," Fenorel grinned.