We reached at the venue of the wedding. It was already crowded with people outside of the barrier. But they stood both sides, making a way for our carriage to move forward on a red carpet.
The barrier was surrounded with soldiers of emperors so the people couldn't go inside. People were trying to sneak a glance at my face or they would whisper about their excitement.
I was sitting inside and the curtains of the carriage were hiding me from their glances. Kora and Calla were with me as well as Hana and Hiroshi. In a normal occurance, Kora and Calla wouldn't be with me but they were equipped with water andy food. I was getting hungry and sleepy as I slept all through the journey of going to my groom.
Hiroshi woke me up only when we entered the barriers of the holy place where the marriage would take.
I yawned. "Did we reach?"
"Yes and it is time for you to join Prince Rian." Hiroshi said as I straightened my back and suddenly I felt a cram on my left foot. As I went to soothe my pain there, I got a back strain. "Ow! Ow!"
I moaned as all of them looked at me with wide eyes. "Wha—what happened?"
"My back and my foot is hurting..." I said.
Kora and Calla looked at each other and Hiroshi's thoughts ran on his head as his eyes stayed on me for a while. He asked, "Do you think, you can climb a hundred steps?"
I looked at him with even more wider eyes. "A hundred steps!"
They all nodded.
I asked, panicking, "So, was I supposed to climb a hundred steps here before I could join my groom?"
Hiroshi said, "No, Prince Rian and you will walk the steps together until you reach the holy tree."
My feet were hurting so much that I couldn't even move them. How was I supposed to walk now?! Sweat covered my forehead as a thick duvet of silence fell on us.
We were prepared for my nausea, my cravings, my overly sleepy-ness. They even arranged rooms not far from here so I could go to do some private business time to time. Everything was set but we forgot my soreness and cramps that I was getting on a whim.
Hiroshi said, "Don't worry. Stay here. I will just go there and will think of something."
"Go where?" I asked but as soon as he said his words, he left the carriage while it was still moving.
I looked at my maids as they proposed, "Your Highness, shall we massage your back and feet so it may release the tension while we reach there."
I nodded because I had no choice.
Firstly, everyone would be disappointed and rumours would start to spread about how I was limping all the way to climbing the steps and secondly, they would learn that I was pregnant. It would be scandalous.
The both started to give me a massage and although it felt really amazing the pair hadn't went away fully.
I knew it wasn't easy to climb the steps with this condition and moreover why the heck did they chose stairs for the rituals?!
I asked my maids about the other rituals since Hana didn't know about it either.
"Why they choose stairs?!"
"That's the old rituals of Wansai royal family. More like it is the tradition marriage but our Prince had opposed it. However, the emperor wanted Prince Rian to have it since everyone before him had married their brides the same way."
I nodded. But still why the hundred steps...
And then I recalled Arashi and I had already climbed the hundred steps in Godoyama when we were visiting the shrine of Hina and her grandfather.
Looked like we had already followed the Wansai tradition without knowing. I smiled at myself as my heart thumped with joy.
And then I heard the carriage being stopped.
Had we arrived already? Now I was a bit panicked.
I tried to tell myself that I would do it. It won't be a problem but my foot said otherwise.
At the same time, Hiroshi peeked inside the carriage and said, "Alright. Everything is set and you don't have to worry about the steps anymore."
I beamed with joy, "Really? How did you change it?"
He smiled and said, "The rituals are now changed to the old traditions so, you will be fine. The 'giving the bride's hand' will be done here."
I smiled.
Phew. That was a relief.
And as I looked at my maids' way I noticed both of their faces were sparkling with excitement. Their cheeks were red but there was a kind of grins that said they were teasing me. I gave them a suspicious gaze but they only smiled at me.
Hiroshi stretched out his hands as I took it and slowly I came out of the carriage. My heart beating in my ears as now people's eyes were on me. From now on, it was all the nobles and royals who were standing both sides of the stairs and our ways. All of them had flowers in their hands as I looked down shyly.
The vicinity was filled with people but I could see cherry blossom everywhere especially both sides of our ways until we reach the top of the mountain with these stairs. The road looked like it was flower bed as we stood on it.
Hiroshi said, "Let's go."
I nodded as I followed Hiroshi and I saw Arashi was standing just a few distance away from me before the long stairs.
My heart skipped a beat as he turned around, his long hair tied into a pony swayed with the winds as flower petals fell from all around us. It seemed even the trees knew when to shed their flowers.
He was wearing a kimono like shirt and a vest over it with trousers and long boots. A long robe hung from his back. A black one with beautiful patterns in golden and silver threads which displayed the Wansai crest. He looked so handsome that I couldn't even look away.
His sharp eyes fell on me and for a second I felt like he was surprised to see me in my bridal dress. However, it went away immediately as his face became stiff and emotion less once again. But his eyes had the glint in them as I knew he was just as happy as I was.
He didn't smile but his eyes were gentle on me as I reached him. I looked away as my heart started to hammer against my chest as it wanted to hide from his gazes as well. I had been living with him for long yet I was still so shy around him.
I was still holding Hiroshi's arm as Hiroshi came before Arashi.
Both stared at each other's eyes as they gave curt nods at each other.
Hiroshi said, "Prince Rian of Wansai, I, the general of Kuro soldiers, Hiroshi Katayama, is entrusting my sister, Princess Bianka, to your hands. From this moment and until you depart this life, her responsibility, needs will be be taken care by you. Are you swearing in the name of this holy ground to protect and care for my sister?"
Arashi nodded, "Yes, I am swearing in the name of this holy ground that I will always protect princess Bianka and will take care all of her needs."
They both nodded again as Hiroshi gave my hand on his palm and my face started to burn. I was glad that I had a veil on my face but it still wasn't enough to hide my reddened face.
Hiroshi bowed before Arashi as Arashi caught my waist.
I blinked at him and looked up in confusion.
He looked down and said, "Well then, shall we climb the stairs together, my bride?"
My face must have gotten more redder than my wedding dress as the corners of his lips curled up in a faint smirk.
I whisper-asked him, "Climb the stairs?! But I thought the rituals were changed...?"
He said, "It did changed to the very old tradition but this time the bride wouldn't have to climb the stairs."
I glanced at the stairs and then to him. What did he mean by that?
'What do you mean?' I wanted to ask but before any words could come out of my mouth, he caught my waist and placed the other hand at the back of my knees and pulled me up as he carried me into his arms.
I blinked.
What just happened?
Why was he carrying me in a bridal style? Well, it wasn't like he hadn't but there were tons of people around us! As soon as I realised there were people around us I muttered in a low voice, my heart pumped all the blood to my face, "Arashi! Wha—wha—wha—what are you doing?! Why are you carrying me?!"
I looked at him with a gap in my mouth and wide eyes as he smirked as he caught me off-guard, "Because the groom is the one who would be carrying his bride."
Nani!!!
(What!!!)
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20th February, 23
(1545)
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A/n: Whehuehue XD
There was no way I wouldn't add some cheesy and dramatic things in the marriage.
Where's drama, there's me! Mwahahah <(￣︶￣)>
Besides, who doesn't like drama? I love cheesy lines too fufu...