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Only a second of silence before they both barreled toward me with a thousand questions, and I spent the next ten minutes calmly answering every one of them. I reassured them that I was doing the right thing when they reminded me of the red flags of marrying quickly and how Arkane was love-bombing me. I had no clue what that even meant, and they just labeled me as old school. But I didn’t know what that had to do with anything.
“Ari, Ella,” I said softly, placing a hand on their shoulder as I halted their ramblings. “Calm down, both of you. I’m fine, and Arkane is not love-bombing or whatever it is that you call it. I chose this because it makes me happy, and it feels right. I love Arkane, and nothing is ever going to change that.”
Ella sighed before she nodded. “Fine,” she said. “I just don’t want you to make the wrong choice, but if this is what you want, then I’m so happy for you, Bellebelle. Can’t believe my sister is getting married.” Her lips split into a wide smile as she engulfed me in a tight hug, and Ari joined in, smiling broadly. “I think it’s too fast, but I’ve never seen you this happy, so that’s all that matters.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Just then, a knock on the door interrupted us. I opened the door to find Mikhail standing in the doorway with three unrecognizable women behind him.
“Ms. Esteal,” Mikhail said, the look on his face composed as usual. Only there was a rare softness in his eyes as he regarded me. “These people will help you with the preparations.”
“Okay,” I muttered and watched in awe as the women set up a mini store inside the room in a matter of minutes.
“Thank you, Mikhail.”
He nodded stiffly and almost turned back when he paused, shifting his eyes to me. “Congratulations, Ms. Esteal. I couldn’t be happier for Arkane that he found a woman like you.” A slight smile tugged at his lips. I didn’t even know he was capable of that.
My eyes widened. “Call me Bellerose, and thanks,” I mumbled.
His smile tipped a little as he nodded and left like he didn’t just say that.
The next two hours were pure chaos, well, for everyone around me at least. I was quick to choose my dress, a classic, silky A-line gown with a lush skirt and long train, fitted around the waist like a corset. The thick straps and scooped neckline were adorned with a thin scattering of pearls, and the luminescent silk almost glowed like gold in the darkness.
Ella even shed a few tears when one of the women magically made the dress a perfect fit for me and draped it over me like a dream. My makeup was the same as always, with my hair in a simple braided updo and tendrils framing my face. My sisters settled on matching emerald-colored cocktail dresses, both a bit too emotional, considering it was my wedding and not theirs.
Seeing them like this made me think of Snow. If she were here right now, she would be standing beside them wearing the same colored dress. The color that would bring out her stunning blue eyes. Mother’s eyes.
“Heard someone was getting married and didn’t invite me.” Shouma-kun grinned just as my heels touched the landing. How did he even get here?
“I didn’t know I was getting married either,” I mumbled, smiling as I made my way to him,
He had a proud smile on his face as he took me in. “You look beautiful.” He pulled me into a half-hug and whispered in my ear, “If you want to ditch him, just say the word. I’ve got the horse waiting.”
I laughed, smacking his shoulder, only to stop when my eyes landed on Sensi standing behind him with a rare smile.
“Omedetto Bellerose.” He congratulated me, something fatherly in his eyes. “I couldn’t be happier.”
How the hell did Arkane manage all of this? I didn’t question it. Instead, I bent low to show my respect to the one man I owed everything to. Including this life of mine.
“You ready?” Ella and Ari asked, both smiling widely—for someone who had just been protesting hours ago, they seemed more excited than me.
Soon, I was walking through the twisting aisle in the backyard, carrying a lotus bouquet with the salty night air on my skin and the silver moon still high in the sky,
There were no seats, only a petal-covered aisle with my sisters, Shouma-kun, and Sensi to one side and the other house members, Mikhail, Georgie, Jon, and a grim-looking Grayson on the other side.
Again, I didn’t know how he managed it all, but the entire backyard was like something straight out of a fairy tale. Only twinkling fairy lights and candles brightened the place that was adorned with flowers of every kind, so much so that its sweet smell flowed through the air.
I couldn’t have pictured a better wedding.
Beneath the flowery arch stood the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. And that thought didn’t bring me immense happiness, but instead a certain calmness.
As soon as his eyes landed on me, they strayed nowhere. He stepped forward, meeting me halfway, and took my hand. “I’d never seen a more beautiful sight,” he whispered just for me to hear and pressed a kiss to my forehead.
And I smiled, ready to marry the love of my life.
We skipped the ceremony and went straight to exchanging our vows and saying “I do.” And I smiled like a fool the entire time.
“I love you,” I whispered, suddenly feeling emotional as I slid the simple gold band onto Arkane’s finger. He didn’t say a word, but a small smile tugged at his lips as he put on my ring. Even in the low light, the diamond glimmered. A perfect fit for me. It was a beautiful emerald cut in a delicate band, and something about the hue of the gray was oddly familiar.
