Arranged: A Future Decided

The Reception

June 15th, Amalienborg Palace

Once they arrived at Amalienborg, Nikolai got out first, helping his bride down. They quickly walked inside, Vallea and two other assistants holding her gown and veil. 

"You have half an hour to change and rest before official portraits will be taken. After that, a car will arrive to take you both to Christianborg palace for the reception," Stated the Queen's private secretary, "You will be expected in the piano nobile in thirty minutes."

Eva nodded before they continued inside, Eva going into a different room to be helped out of her gown and veil. The dress was lovely, exactly what Eva wanted, but it was also heavy with all the layers of fabric. Nikolai luckily didn't have to really change, he just had to remove his medals and freshen up a tad. 

"Oh please don't let me make a fool out of myself tonight," Nikolai said to himself in the mirror, sighing as he applied a bit more cologne to his wrists and neck. 

Eva, of course, was thinking along the same lines as Nikolai. She didn't want to appear a klutz or idiot at their reception. She sighed, letting her reception dress be zipped up. This one was a tea-length dress with flowery lace on the skirt and sheer muslin for the illusion collar. She also changed from her heels to a pair of simple white flats, much more comfortable to dance in. She was just a bit nervous about Nikolai really seeing their six-inch height difference. 

"You look lovely Signora," Vallea said softly, looking at Eva in the mirror. 

Eva nodded, smiling softly yet sadly at the same time. A knock came at the door, Nikolai opening it slowly as if he wasn't sure if he was allowed to open it or not. 

"I'll leave you two," Vallea said, nodding her head respectfully before leaving with the other two ladies' maids. 

"Hi," Nikolai said softly, sitting down nervously on a chair, "You look absolutely lovely." 

Eva chuckled at his blushed cheeks before replying, "Thank you. You look nice yourself. Um, this is obviously awkward and weird for both of us. I know like nothing about you."

"Yeah, right, I know nothing about you either lol," Nikolai said with a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck, "Do you play any sports?"

She nodded, "I ride horses. English Hunter, and I play badminton. What about you?"

"Football," Nikolai said, "We've got a club going in Bispebjerg that some of my friends and I play on." 

Eva nodded in acknowledgment, smiling slightly, "I look forward to seeing you play. I assume your parents told you that I'm going to the University of Cambridge for school."

He nodded, "Yeah. I've already made the arrangements with the modeling agency I'm signed with. It won't be a big deal."

Eva nodded, biting her lip slightly, "Good, good. I've changed my mind on what I'll be studying though."

"Oh? What are you going to study instead?" Nikolai asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.

"Archaeology with an anthropological focus," Eva said, chuckling at Nikolai's confused expression, "I'm going to be focusing on human remains and culture in a prehistory context."

He nodded slowly at that, "Okay, so like skeletons and shit?" 

She nodded at that, smiling, "Basically." 

A knock came at the door, Vallea letting them know they should make their way to the piano nobile. They nodded, standing up and starting to walk out. Nikolai glanced down at Eva as they walked down the hallway, smiling slightly.