Reincarnated to save a broken heart ✓

Chapter 4

The wedding day had arrived. Two days passed quickly, perhaps too quickly. My only consolation was that Fury was ready to help me and then Auteur would stay by my side as a servant sent by that idiot.

I heaved a melancholy-tinged sigh of despair as the servants prepared me. What should have been a wonderful day for me was turning into a funereal one. I closed my eyes, not even wanting to glance in the mirror. Someone approached, it was Mariana. She seemed deeply distressed.

"I'm sorry, Soliès..." she apologized.

I shook my head and stood up, the maids having finished, my long red dress rubbing against the parquet floor.

"You can't help it, Mariana, I don't blame you," I reassured her, taking her hand.

She shook her head, then changed the subject:

"Come on, I'll go with you, it's the least I can do".

I nodded and followed her outside, Auteur at my heels, remaining stubbornly silent, then climbed into the carriage, heading for the imperial palace.

The ride was one of complete silence, with me brooding over dark thoughts, Mariana engrossed in her own, and Auteur still wondering what she was doing there.

"We've arrived," the young woman said abruptly, sadly.

We got out of the carriage, struggling to keep up with Mariana because of my long, impractical red dress. Auteur had to take the train in her arms, to prevent me from tangling my feet in it and sprawling on the floor.

The palace... looked like any other palace in China. I mean, I didn't even know enough about them to describe them. At least, i can try.

The palace was actually divided into several "small" palaces, then scattered everywhere, all surrounded by gardens, and located around the imperial palace of the emperor. The roofs covered with yellow and varnished red tiles spread out as far as the eye could see, dazzling multicolored decorations criss-crossed the delicately chiseled coffered ceilings as well as the white marble terraces and balustrades. The beams and columns surrounded and supported the entire palace, itself sheltering between immense walls, separating it from the rest of the world.

We passed through the gates, immense, proudly standing, showing the full extent of the royal family's power. I breathed my umpteenth sigh of frustration as we passed through the palace gates, guided by Mariana who led the way, and followed by a few guards, escorting us.

Surprisingly, we were led around the side, through several halls, away from the hustle and bustle of the Court. In the distance, I could see the crowd gathered, the altar of vows and the long red carpet.

It's right, I can't show my face until the ceremony has begun, just as I'm not allowed to see my future husband before the wedding.

I was ushered into a room and asked by my "sister" to wait there. I sat down on a chair, waiting patiently for her to return. My "parents" had vaguely wished me a happy wedding, if you could call it that, and Méaline had cried her eyes out. I smiled sadly as I thought of her, she had become inconsolable.

"Hey Soliès ≈ Not too stressed?" questioned a voice I knew all too well, emerging from the shadows.

"What are you doing here? You bugger!!! (ﾉ｀□')ﾉ⌒┻━┻"

Auteur snarled at Fury, who had just arrived, and gave him the middle finger.

"Why it will be the case? asked I, turning in his direction.

- Hmm..., said Fury, coming to stand opposite me and pretending to think, the make-up's a bit too heavy, let me remedy that."

With a snap of his fingers, I felt a different material on my face. The makeup was indeed lighter. A little white powder had been deposited on my face, without giving it the color of snow. Red lines underlined my eyes and lipstick had been applied, making my facies more presentable.