Nilo hadn’t even noticed Gennadius move off of him, only shifted some now that she was gone. The man was surprisingly comfortable and the sleep was welcome and deep. He did feel a nudge at his shoulder at some point, though he disregarded it, only giving a soft grunt of protest. This had been the sleep he had needed and he was not giving it up. He was still warm from Gennadius’s body heat along with the tailcoat wrapped around him, creating a rather comfortable atmosphere.

That was until something pulled the absolute crap out of his hair. Nilo jolted awake with a loud cry of pain, groaning as a hand came up to his hair. Luna let out a cry of her own in fear, bouncing away at his uproar. Even Wicke took a few steps back, pawing the ground anxiously. The prince glared at the tiny creature who was evidently responsible, especially given that a few russet hairs dotted her mouth. Although, he did feel bad for startling them. It wasn’t as if the little thing had known what she was doing, the man had just been shocked and hurt.

Nilo sighed, rubbing his head for a few moments, satisfied when he found no blood. “Gods… that hurt like hell. Damn filly anyways...” He moaned, glancing over at Gennadius, who had been spending time with her foal. His gaze turned back to the foal who seemed more cautious before looking to Wicke, who eyed him skeptically. The prince raised his arms out towards her, fingers grasping in her direction. “C'mere Wicke,” Nilo called out to her, voice softening as his moment had passed, but he still kept an eye on the young mare, not convinced she wouldn’t try again.

His mare approached and lowered her head, nudging him. He let out a soft chuckle and pressed head to the bridge of his nose, eyes closing. Gentle fingers stroked over her coat and the horse held herself there, the gesture clearly a familiar one. After several moments Nilo pulled away running his hand down where his forehead had rested. “You’re such a pretty girl,” He cooed, reaching up to play with the part of the mane that hung down in her face, “and so are your babies, even if one filly tries to injure me,” He laughed, pressing a kiss to her nose before looking in the direction of Luna, who was making a slow and cautious approach.

He reached out a hand and the foal nibbled, with a surprising gentleness, on his fingers for a moment before prancing away. Nilo let out a soft snort and returned to stroking Wicke, who seemed to be enjoying the attention with half-lidded eyes. “Seems I’ll have to spend more time with you. Someone is a little starved of affection.” He commented as she leaned a bit heavier into his hands. At that point, it wouldn’t have surprised the man if she laid in his lap. “It’s unfortunate I can’t travel with you.” Unfortunately, she would have to stay with her babies during the honeymoon, but that was simply how it had to be.

“Looks like we have ourselves some rather unique fillies, don’t we Gennadius?” Nilo laughed again as Luna chewed on his pant leg from beneath her mother, only to bounce away once he wiggled his boot, the two small mares clearly in the mood to play. “I’m sure they’ll give the stablehands lots of trouble, isn’t that right?” Luna only snorted quietly in response, most likely attempting to plan her next “attack”, seeing as Nilo was giving her mother more attention. The little filly was not pleased with being overlooked, which was evident by the way she came up and tugged on his shirt sleeve.

“But it seems her tugging will be an issue, but I’ll leave that to dear Damien,” He wore a mischievous grin as he booped the filly on the nose, receiving a soft sneeze in return. “I think he’ll love that, won’t he Gennadius?” Nilo asked her, humor shining in his light eyes. He hummed as he continued to stroke Wicke’s snout, feeling rather relaxed and content for the time being. There was something peaceful about it all, even if his hair had nearly been pulled out of his head. “Seems these children inherited your stallion's wild energy, don’t you think? That coupled with Wicke’s top-of-the-line genes… we may never be allowed to breed horses again. We might have created some perfectly bred chaos.” He joked, reaching out towards the filly once again to entertain her.

Nilo’s cry had Gennadius’s hed whipping around and poor Dynasty making a sky high bounce before tumbling and pooping back to her feet, dashing to hid behind her mother’s legs. But the moment she realized what had happened, she couldn’t help but grin, her hand coming to her mouth to stifle her laughter. It seemed little Luna had decided to taste the russet strands not realizing an entire head was attached. Blue eyes sparkled when he looked at her, though she made no comment.

Instead, as he began to talk to Wicke, Dynasty came prancing back over to the woman, tail lifted some as she glanced warily at the man before pushing her nose against Gennadius’s shoulder and doing another one of her runs. It was clear the two little fillies were going to have the time of their lives when they were released into the pasture with their mother. It was a shame she would not get more time with Dynasty, but she wouldn’t trade the upcoming events for the world. And when she got back, she could certainly make up the time.

She paused the attention she was giving her filly to watch Nilo as he sweet talked his mare. She knew there was a reason she loved that man... who wouldn’t fall in love with him just watching him so gently stroke his horse and talk to her like she was his world? Then again, she was already looking through very biased eyes. However, she wasn’t allowed to fondly stare at Nilo for long because low and behold, one crazy filly came barreling into her, sending them both sprawling to the side. Gennadius couldn’t help her soft laughter as the little one got off her and began prancing around like she had just done the best thing in the world. There was no doubt she was Magistrate’s daughter.

“So it seems, so it seems,” she chuckled in response to the man’s statement, dusting herself off as she decided to stand before she got trampled by Dynasty who was coming back over to paw at her leg. Her hand came out to gentle pat the little mare’s head, getting a soft snort in return as the filly jumped back some flicking her tail and prancing off yet again.

“Everyone will have their hands full with these two. But yes, I am sure Damien will very much appreciate Luna’s habit,” Gennadius laughed, moving over to the man. “And I will have you know mister, that just because Magistrate doesn’t come with a pedigree does not mean he doesn’t have top-of-the line genes.” She gave a playful huff as if truly offended Nilo would dare imply her muscular temperamental silky coated stallion wasn’t high quality. “And their fillies are absolutely perfect. Watch them both be the envy of every noble and visiting royal.” She gave an amused snort and moved to stand near him, watching Luna play with the man.

And that was about the same time that Dynasty came back over, ramming into the back of Gennadius’s knees. Had they been in the pasture, the woman would have actually played with her more, but the stall was just too small so she had left her alone, which clearly she did not appreciate. She wanted her human to pay attention to her. And that was what sent her sprawling forward and falling on top of Nilo, laughing her whole way down. It wasn’t a hard fall for her considering she had a buffer in the form of her fiancé.

Shifting, she ended up being stretched out across him with a large smile and she could not resist wrapping her arms around his neck. “And it seems little Dynasty is going to have an issue with crazy. Which I think suits me well, don’t you?” Gennadius took the opportunity to peck him on the lips, laughing as she pulled back. “But I suppose we should let the stablehands take care of this bunch while you and I should get take care of our important event.”

It was at the end of the sentence that she felt a sharp tug on her hair and let out her own yelp, turning in time to see Luna skitzing off. “Damien is going to love that for sure...” she commented, reaching up to rub her own head, eyes narrowing at the filly. Luckily for both her and Nilo, Dynasty decided she wanted to play with her sister, which had the little mare nipping at the silver buckskin. “Perhaps we should escape while we can,” she chuckled, a little loathe to leave but knowing there were many things to be done.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Nilo laughed as the woman feigned offense, “I mean that Wicke was bred for speed and endurance. Traveling long distances fast and without breaking a sweat. If the rumors hold true, she’s supposed to be able to travel across the kingdom twice as fast as any horse, though I doubt that would be true now. She’s no longer used for working purposes.” Nilo explained, getting somewhat caught up in the stories. He had seen Wicke in action before, mostly since she was his mother’s favorite. For a moment, a soft, sad smile crossed his face as he remembered how his mother used to gush about the dappled mare.

Nilo glanced up at Gennadius as she loomed over him, not quite ready to leave yet, even though he had hated the thought of coming the night previous. The man was having fun and the experience had been priceless. It was nice to spend time with the horses, which wasn’t something he often did, on top of having a nice time with his fiance, who was overjoyed with her new steed. “I’m counting on them being the envy. Those nobles' ponies are all for show and are probably inbred to the point of stupidity. They better get some lookers, just so we can say they aren’t for sale.” The man joked.

And that was when Gennadius fell on top of him, his arms reaching out to make it even softer, though he supposed his body would have been enough. The man laughed along with her, finding it hilarious that the tiny foal had managed to down a war-hardened soldier. His arms wrapped around her middle as hers found his neck. “That was quite the tumble,” Nilo commented with a snort. Now being forced to share, Wicke released a soft huff and returned to watching her children meander about and be general nuisances.

“Oh yes, she certainly resembles her owner,” Nilo gave a puff of laughter, “Absolutely insane in every way.” The words were dripping with fondness as he spoke them, the man pressing a soft kiss to the bridge of her nose. It was no secret the man was hopelessly in love with her and one could tell simply by the way his eyes met hers and often without a purpose. Sometimes, he just loved to see the deep blue. Oh yes, the man could certainly write pages worth on the eyes that were dark as midnight yet not dark at all, just as much as he could write novels about all the reasons he loved her.

Pale eyes widened as she yelped, confused until he saw a mischievous Luna bound away, clearly taste-testing the couple's hair. He couldn’t help a humored snort at the fact both had fallen victim to the filly’s hair-pulling antics. “I think mine had better flavor.” Nilo teased, watching as the fillies went to play and Wicke settled down to rest, though she kept a watchful eye on the little ones. For several moments the man ignored her question as he watched the little ones prance around, holding her close as he allowed a small period of quiet, enjoying the rather adorable moment.

It was in the silence the man came up with an idea. “Why don’t you take today off, Gennadius? You should spend some quality time with Dynasty, especially since we’re going to be traveling soon.” Nilo offered, gaze turning back to her, “Or at least until the afternoon. We can talk about the wedding plans later instead of this morning. I can make some arrangements for your usual duties and such. It shouldn’t be that hard and you can have some fun with the foals.” A hand reached up to cup her cheek, thumb stroking across the familiar skin, “You’ve waited a year for this darling. I know we’re busy, but what can a few hours hurt? Let me do this for you.” The man told her with a soft smile, his offer a genuine one.

Nilo hadn’t answered her question right away, not that Gennadius was complaining. She rather was enjoying those few moments of silence while being relaxed and in his arms. It had been a rarer occurrence with how crazy everything was with the upcoming wedding, especially the closer they got to it. But the woman had not been expecting the generous offer that came with their quiet reprieve and she gazed into his face, dark eyes searching his lighter ones. There was still so much to do... and yet.

Her head turned to look over the fillies, particularly watching hers. Could she really be spared for a few hours? No... no, she couldn’t possibly leave so much for Nilo that long, but maybe an hour or two... maybe. “Alright. But! Not for too long, only for a couple hours max. I can’t leave you to have all the castle fun without me,” she teased lightly, unable to resist kissing him softly out of gratitude. “I’ll be back in before noon. Thank you so much.”

…..

One Week Later – Wedding Day

It was the first time in her life that Gennadius was ever grateful for Claude. The woman was standing in a room, a young female servant tightening the back of the white dress for her before doing a once over to make sure it all looked good. The young colonel looked quite stunning, to say the least, and while Claude had not been the one to make the wedding dress, he had been sure to put a large amount of input into its design, which was sure to have annoyed the daylights out of the seamstress.

The bodice fit snuggly to her waist, only needing a very light corset that didn’t need to be tightened all too much and which the woman felt not too uncomfortable in. The top was a beautiful semi-sweetheart with an illusion neckline made of a fine see-through mesh. The skirt was a stunning A-line that came all the way to the floor and flared out just the tiniest bit. A white floral lacing went up from the silver sequined waistline, into the mesh some from quite the effect along with less dense patterns coming down from the waist. It was both a simple, yet flattering design, and with her left down to spill over her shoulders, she certainly looked fit to be a bride.

That being said, the woman was also a bag of nerves, practically jittering as the servant kindly asked her to stay still, trying to reassure the bride-to-be... in less than an hour. It wasn’t that Gennadius was having second thoughts. Far from it! She was thrilled and excited to be finally getting to marry the prince, but how could she not be nervous when everything had been planned to be perfect. What if something went wrong? There were a lot of what-ifs involved that she was trying not to focus on, knowing this day had been planned for months.

She had already predetermined to meet her small procession outside the door to the throne room, which consisted of Bea, Isabella, Faust, and Claude. Nilo had snagged Theophilus which had resulted in a few mock and playful arguments, though she didn’t really mind. The main reason Gennadius had asked them to wait there for her though was because she didn’t want them to see the soon-to-be bride acting all skitzy, though other than a lot of shifting, she was hiding it decently well. Now if she had her sword, she would feel a lot better... but even she wouldn’t consider wearing it at her wedding.

With her time running out to be ready, she took a deep breath, did one final look over, and headed out the door to reach the throne room. Walking down the halls, she was hard-pressed to keep herself at a calm walk, really wanting to just rip through and come to a screeching halt at her destination. The amount of time everything seemed to take was killer. But at least she felt somewhat secure in the proceedings and how it would all go. Isabella would enter first, followed by Claude and then Faust. Bea, as her maid of honor, would follow them in last. Then would come the ringbearer who, at Nilo’s persistence, happened to be Flower. Now that one had her a tad nervous but, the dog seemed to have been trained well... It did bring a smile to her face though, knowing that it would really throw the nobles for a loop. That helped her relax some as did knowing that her flower girl was none other than little Tara from the engagement announcement, or Lady RaRa as she was deemed today. And this all followed with her coming down the aisle alone.

Gennadius knew normally that someone would give away the bride, as she had heard and read up on, but there really was no one to give her away. Her father was long since gone. She may have considered Darius but the middle-aged man had his hands full heading up security for the entire event. And who else was there? All the other men who she would have even considered had some other role in the wedding, mostly being Nilo’s groomsmen. But, she hadn’t been too worried about it, nor was she going to be. It might have been nice but by no means necessary, nor did she let it affect her in the least.

The moment she arrived, she caught sight if a servant darting off to loop around to one of the outside doors of the throne room to kick everything into gear. As expected, her little group was waiting for her, the women in the light blue dresses and her bridesmen doomed to match in light blue suits. Even Tara had a beautiful little light blue dress, the girl swaying excitedly, bubbling over with confidence. Gennadius was glad she had chosen the young common girl, and let her give her a hug the moment she walked in. Even Flower earned a soft pat, the dog looking as regal as ever.

“Well you certainly look stunning,” Claude commented quietly, smiling widely at what was mostly his design. Faust agreed, eyes shining brightly as he gave a half-smile, “Indeed you do. Though perhaps I’m biased knowing once you marry the prince, I fully take over your job.” The joke earned a quiet chuckle from her as she greeted Isabelle and Bea, grateful to have at least a few women she knew decently well. Not that there really was time for small chat as the music immediately kicked into gear to start off the proceedings, which would send her small procession out first.

It was this part that was the hardest simply because it felt like it took forever, everyone slowly filing out to leave her standing there alone waiting for her cue. That and there was an anticipation to see Nilo, since by custom, they hadn’t been allowed to see each other since the night before. And that left her somewhat anxiously standing and waiting, staring at the large doors she was about to go through. Anxiously and excitedly... it was a jumbled mix because her life was about to change forever, and she couldn't wait. Though some of the nervousness was more evident at the moment with how much she seemed to be shifting in her place, praying that she didn't miss her cue by some horrible mistake on her part.

The woman had heard the soft approaching steps, but was too focused on the music to look back. At least, not until a throat was cleared and her head turned to see Leonel approaching her. There was a split moment of extreme anxiety, not knowing what the king himself was doing coming to meet her. Shouldn’t he be inside with the rest of the guests?

Gennadius kept her composure, however, and when he started talking it suddenly became clear that he came with the best intentions. And it warmed her to the soul. Perhaps the king would never know what his offer meant to her, and there was no time to tell him as her music had just started to cue her in. So without a word, she slipped her arm into his offered one and allowed the monarch to lead her down the aisle. The nervousness slipped away the moment they were moving, dark eyes immediately landing on the prince who was waiting at the front.

The entire moment was magical, almost ethereal even. There were so many wonderful emotions now that she felt secure. And who wouldn’t? Having Leonel walk her down felt like the ultimate acceptance. Nilo’s father, king of Lavarre, was willing to give her to his son, with the understanding that she would then be in line to rule his kingdom alongside Nilo one day. It was an extra boost of confidence. Who could care what the nobles thought when the king himself was clearly accepting her? And it was just nice to have someone willing to take her down the aisle, especially looking as pleased about it as Leonel did.

When he bent down, what had been an excited smile turned into an amused grin, dark eyes sparkling as she glanced at Nilo. She took just the briefest moment to turn her attention to Leonel, mouthing a thank you before he released her. No, the king may never realize just how much his gesture had touched her and that she would never forget what he had done. Though, for the moment as she moved to her proper place, her eyes and thoughts shifted to one person and one person alone. Nilo. It was the moment the two had worked towards for so long and it was finally their time.

Reaching out, the two were to face each other while the priest spoke. Her hands found Nilo’s, gently grasping them with a light squeeze as her whole face was lit up. There were no words between the couple, but that didn’t mean they weren’t conversing one-hundred miles a minute. So much was being said in gazes, the slightest squeeze or shift between their hands. Gennadius may have been there as the priest spoke the introductions, but she was also a million miles away, lost in glacial eyes.

“Today we are gathered together to bring together the future of Lavarre. To bring together this man and woman who are taking the steps to devote themselves to each other for eternity. It is this love that they accept, to live as friends, companions, and lovers. And as such, it is a relationship meant to be remembered for the ages. To be in this relationship it is key to remember balance. To love each other equally and never go to overpower the other. To never hold jealousy in your hearts and to bear your love freely. It is to know each other in both the good and the bad, to be willing to face it together. It is to accept the responsibility and effort to work together through both the hard times and the good.”

There was a pause as the priest looked the two over, letting it all sink in for effect before continuing. “Do you Gennadius Des Arluin take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to be free, honest, and true? To share your life to the fullest and hold nothing back? To cherish, hold, and to love him for better or worse? To stand with him through trial and through joy? Until death do you part?”

“I do.” Dark blue eyes sparkled, her grin growing wider as she released his hand to glance over to Flower who was still patiently sitting within arm's reach as she had been trained. The woman took Nilo’s ring and very gingerly kept his hand in her free one, sliding the small band onto his ring finger before releasing it to allow the priest to continue.

“And do you Nilo Van Aslan take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to be free, honest, and true? To share your life to the fullest and hold nothing back? To cherish, hold, and to love her for better or worse? To stand with her through trial and through joy? Until death do you part?”

Nilo

“I do.”

It had been the prince’s turn to speak and the words came dressed in his typical charming grin that was perfect in every way except for the fact it was crooked at the edges. The man had expected to be nervous at the altar while the priest spoke, fidgety, but as soon as her hands found his, cool and familiar, he was okay. It was like his anxieties soothed in an instant and his excitement came back. She was there in front of him, looking so stunning it had to be sin and he had forgotten about the eyes that watched him. All that mattered was her and what the ceremony meant.

Nilo took the ring from Flower's precariously placed cushion and slipped the ring on her finger with an ever gentle hand. Who would’ve thought Nilo, who spent his youth in infidelity and drunk out of his mind, would be getting married and much less love the woman he was marrying. And to think there were no regrets or second thoughts in his mind only looked at her, only a bright adoration as he looked at her through a lens tinted gold. This was it. This was everything the man had ever hoped for and more and he was beyond excited for their future.

"And now, by the power vested in me, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife.” The priest spoke again, “You may now kiss the bride.” The kiss, as they had been instructed, was meant to be quick and formal. It was meant to be royal. And in a way it was, but it certainly wasn’t what had been intended. No, the man's hands came up to cup her cheeks, drawing her towards him as his lips met hers. The kiss was tender, passionate, and full of so much promise. It signified the beginning of their next adventure which came in the form of their future together.

It was a silent conversation where he told her everything the vows hadn’t covered and more. But it all narrowed down to how much he wanted her. How much he loved her. So when he broke away, there was nothing unsaid. Nilo had pledged himself to her forever and nothing else could change that. Nothing could deny them of the future they craved because after every storm they had weathered, they were finally together. Together in the eyes of the kingdom, the Gods, and the people that mattered and didn’t. Absolutely nothing could separate them now.

I love you.

The man was forced to finally stop looking at her like a lovesick loon to lead her back down the aisle, where a dinner and after-reception awaited. Nilo wanted nothing more than to just talk to her privately, to laugh and love like newlyweds, but for now, they had to entertain and he planned on enjoying it with her. The menu was supposed to be a splendid one and it was being hosted in their grand dining room before they had a ball of sorts afterward. Nilo was just glad to spend it with Gennadius and hoped to have some fun.

“You look stunning,” Nilo complimented softly, unable to resist talking any longer. The night before had been difficult enough because all he had wanted was to talk with her. To have a conversation about their wedding day and to soothe nerves, but ridiculous customs had prevented that from happening and the man had hardly slept. But it was alright now, for she was in his arms again and all was most definitely right with the world. “You’ve always been gorgeous the few times I’ve had the luxury of seeing you in a dress, but I think this time is my favorite. Then again, I guess I’m biased.” He gave a quiet laugh, eyes glimmering.

“And I’m glad my father found you before it was too late,” Nilo commented, leading her into the dining hall to their designated chairs. He pulled hers out for her and once she was seated he took the place next to her. “He went on a rant about you having to walk down the aisle alone for about fifteen minutes. He had some very strong feelings about it.” Another soft laugh, "But it seems it worked out, no?” The prince watched as people funneled in behind them, taking their respective places at the tables before the servants began to bring out the first course

Gennadius was brimming with joy as cool metal band was slipped onto her finger, the seal of their marriage. But even more captivating was when two warm hands took her cheeks, the woman barely processing the priest’s words. No, she was lost in a totally different conversation, especially when his lips met hers. It stayed in the bounds of what they were instructed, at least to the outside eye, maybe held longer that it was supposed to be... but there was an energy in it meant just for her.

The woman knew he was truly committing to her in that moment. He was telling her everything, from his love to his devotion. And she was accepting it, submitting to every unspoken word, returning it back by letting him hold her as close as propriety would allow. But they were stuck to one another forever now, and that was something that thrilled her. It was written on paper, in a metal band, and now branded to her lips. The world could try and burn the papers, destroy the ring... but they could never remove the mark that kiss made on her, and perhaps that was the point.

I love you too...

It felt that the kiss ended all too soon, though as Nilo took her arm to lead her out, dark eyes finally took in the audience and a soft blush came to her cheeks, for the first time the fact that everyone had been watching hitting her. But even that could not wipe away her smile as she was beyond happy in her position beside the man. It was final... it was the fact that would keep sinking in for the rest of the night. And while she would have loved to take his hand and just get away, she knew they had to stay, but as long as she was with him, she honestly had no complaints with the whole situation.

His words earned a soft chuckle from her as she inclined her head towards him. “You say that every time,” she pointed out in quiet tones, but for once, she actually took the compliment with a slight blush. This time she had chosen to wear a dress herself. Not that she had considered otherwise at some point, but for this occasion, Gennadius actually wanted to. “And yes, you are as biased as they get. Though I’m alright with that. I’ll take your bias any day.”

She was surprised to hear when Nilo mentioned Leonel, though it made her smile to hear what had happened. Well, she was already smiling, but as she took her seat, if she could have put an extra smile on, she would have. The woman would have put on an infinite amount of grins to show how happy she was if she could. “He may never realize how much it meant to me,” she told him, glancing towards the door herself to watch people file in. Most she still did not know from the nobles, but she recognized a few faces, offering everyone a smile who looked at the couple.

As the meal was brought out, her gaze turned back to her... husband. Now that was a thought she was more than happy to get used to. “You never gave me a chance to tell you, but you looked quite handsome yourself. Though I like your shirt with the baroque swirls better... and the silver coat.” A tiny laugh escaped her as her hand reached under the table just long enough to find his leg and give his knee a squeeze.

When the food was brought out, Gennadius nudged her leg against his as she purposefully put her hand on the wrong utensil, a mischievous smile giving away the inside joke between them. The woman did, in fact, have the man teach her what everything was for. And true to her nature, she had given him a hard time once or twice just for giggles. So there was no way she could resist making the subtle joke now, too giddy to care if anyone else caught the small gesture and misinterpreted it as her asking him which one to use.

Everything tasted splendid, and the woman was thrilled that Nilo had made sure her favorite kind of sandwich had gotten its way on the menu. The drinks were also top notch, though, for effect for the man’s sake, she eyes her cup suspiciously before casting him a grin. From across the table, she caught Sir Donovan’s gaze as her hid his grin behind a napkin as if wiping his mouth. It seemed the young noble understood the joke, and she flashed him an amused look, clearly having managed to get over the embarrassment her accidental drunkenness had caused, though it had taken some time and a lot of coercing from Nilo.

The dinner ended soon enough, sending everyone to the ballroom for the ball of sorts. The woman stayed close to her new husband, keeping her arm locked around his as they made their way in and the music immediately started up. Dark eyes flashed towards the dance floor before back at her husband, though she said nothing, waiting to see what he wanted, already having had plenty of people come up to congratulate them.

“You never told me about the silver coat… I didn’t even know.” Nilo hissed, tone feigning offense though a smile stayed plastered on his face, “You are such a little thief and that was my finest winter coat. We will have words…” The man threatened, though added a small chuckle to make it seem like he wasn’t serious. He could just order another coat, although there wasn’t ever a guarantee she wouldn’t steal that one either. At that rate, the castle treasury would be drained by him buying clothes and then her stealing them all.

But dinner went well, the woman unable to resist a joke here and there, which honestly brightened the whole experience. The man resisted a laugh at her subtle antics and nearly rolled his eyes as she faked forgetfulness regarding the silverware. The food was divine and his bride had made it even more enjoyable. And of course, every drink on the table had been a virgin one and the man had spent a week teasing her about it. The ball would be where alcohol was sure and he had reminded her to the point of annoyance where the liquor would be at, only to poke some more fun.

Their arms joined together again as he led her to the ballroom, where the main part of the celebration would be held. A small group of additional guests were arriving for that portion, though it still wasn’t large. The prince still expected a bunch of drunk nobles and wouldn’t be surprised if his court joined in it all. Which the man wouldn’t mind, given they deserved to enjoy themselves too. They received several more congratulations before he caught her eyes flicker towards the dance floor and the man did brighten at the thought.

So the man wordlessly led her towards the dancefloor, intent on having his first dance with his wife. Everything had gone seamlessly and without fail. The man was grateful for it all and especially that they could share a more private moment on the dancefloor. Except upon glancing around, he realized they had drawn a crowd and were quite literally the only ones on the floor. For a moment the eyes stunned him before mischief sparked in his eyes. “It seems we’ve drawn an audience darling… How about we give them a show? As far as they’re concerned it’s all in the script...” Nilo trailed, an idea clearly having formed in his head.

Now, would the man go as far as their first dance? No, he would definitely not have a repeat of their first dance, which was a passionate show and tell all wrapped up with some choppy footwork that had been the opposite of royal. So, with a plan in mind, the man’s fingers tightened around hers, as did his hand on her waist, and so began his impromptu conquering of the dancefloor. “Trust me and just follow my lead.” The man murmured, eyes calculative, yet challenging. The woman could defy him if she truly felt like it, but considering he was leading, it would be a more difficult feat. And why not have a little fun while they had the floor to themselves.

At first, it was nothing fancy, just a small increase in their pace to allow her time to grow accustomed to it all, roped in whether she wanted to or not. Nilo wasn’t worried, well aware that any misstep could be covered up with a spin. Even so, the man gave her time to adjust. Although, it was hardly fair considering what he had planned, but he was confident in his ability to support her and make it a fun experience. Why dance in a square when you have a floor to yourself?

Soon enough, the man whisked her off to the races with a grin to match. Granted, he wasn’t going half as fast as he probably could have, but he led them in a series of elegant step sequences with sleek twists and turns that only eluded to a rather extensive experience. The music had even picked up to match their steps as he spun her around the space, using every inch It had been a while since he’d been given the opportunity to put on a show, but what better way to kick off the ball?

His rather quick, yet impressive thinking allowed him to actually enjoy the time with his wife. Not to mention his boots were subtle indicators, clicking with every expert step he took. There was no hint of exhaustion, only exhilaration, even when it ended, and the group that had gathered applauded. Somebody catcalled, probably Theodore, which made the prince choke, though it had gone well and this time there was no judgment to follow. “And that, my darling, is how real royals dance.” Nilo offered her a wink, offering his hand again to lead her off the floor and back into the small crowd.

And the event went rather well, though it carried into the night, the nobles in the process of achieving intoxication. Nilo had no doubt most of the guests would be leaving tipsy. Hours had passed since the wedding and the pair had split and met up again several times, though for the most part he had stuck with her, talking with an elation that was certainly from the wedding. The man practically radiated happiness and seemed he was intending to talk the night away. Except… he had other plans.

As the couple moved to meander from one circle to the next, Nilo slowly redirected them towards the dance floor, but not to put on another performance. No, the man needed to talk to her. “Join me for another dance? I promise I’ll behave,” Nilo asked, looking down at her with pleading eyes, “Besides, I think I have a proposition you might be interested in, so I feel you may want to come with me. No games, just nice and slow.” He promised, leading her back towards the floor so they could position themselves. This time there were others and they could talk without being watched. The nobility would definitely not approve of this idea.

And as he had promised her, his steps were slow and familiar, no longer some dramatic display. “I have this idea…” The man began, trailing off as he pondered, “that we… let’s say… leave this celebration early. Everyone’s in the process of pursuing drunkenness and we’ve talked to everyone here at least four times. It’s a beautiful reception and I wouldn’t change anything for the world, but I think perhaps we could use a change of scene.” Nilo speculated, a mischievous gleam back in his eyes. Oh yes, the man certainly had another plan and one he was very excited about.

“So how about we go on an adventure, just the two of us? It can be a laid-back conclusion to our day and we can spend some time together without watching eyes. You don’t know how much I wanted to break into your room last night… I just wanted to talk. I was so nervous.” Nilo chuckled softly, somewhat embarrassed at his admittance, “I don’t know, it just seemed like it would be nice to actually spend some time with my wife on our wedding day rather than entertain all night.” He explained.

He was excited, but not trying to be overly pushy in case she did want to decline and stay. If she did, he wouldn’t be upset, just somewhat disappointed. “I know you don’t know the majority of the people here anyway and we’ve been here long enough for our absence to not be considered rude. My father approved me earlier and we’ll still be able to leave for our honeymoon in the morning. We would just need to leave here discreetly.” Nilo told her in case she had any worries, truly wanting to show her his surprise, “So, Gennadius, what do you say? Meet me at the stables in twenty minutes?”

Bright eyes sparkled even more as the man had caught her glance and led her to the dance floor. Gennadius had expected the usual slow dance, the man holding her close as the two could be swept into their own world. But when he glanced around, she did so as well, realizing for the first time that no one else had joined them, instead deciding to watch the couple’s first dance. Eyes flicked back to Nilo as he spoke, though she saw the mischief before she heard his voice.

“A show?” But the woman knew exactly what he had in mind, remembering their first dance. Now she had gotten a taste for the slower steps, but it was easy for her to shift into the mindset of a challenge and this time she actually had some dancing experience under her belt. Her fingers responded to the tightening around them and her hand on his shoulder just shifted a tiny bit closer to the neck. Oh yes, his eyes said this was a challenge.

She too understood they could not go as far as the first, but that did not mean there wasn’t going to be some kind of battle on the floor to entertain the nobles, though Gennadius had no idea what to expect yet. He was kind enough to start out slow for her, letting her get used to the incremental shifts in style and pace, to which she was adjusting rather well. It wasn’t hard either considering Nilo was doing a good job of leading her and she was keeping in time.

And then the man let loose, taking off in their dancing rather suddenly though the woman was right behind him. What marked the difference between the first dance they ever had and this one was rather simple, and yet complicated in nature. Their first dance was a war between each other, testing their limits, challenging each other in ability. But this time... oh it was a war. But the war and challenge rested in her ability to follow his lead. It was a challenge if together they could pull off something both fancy and exhilarating. Could she follow him instead of fight him in skill? And could he make sure she was able to keep up and direct her flawlessly?

Their performance was all the answer needed, perfect in every possible form of the word. She knew when he wanted her to spin, could easily lengthen or shorten her strides to match the steps or the sleek twists. It was a beautiful display of black and white, flying across the entire dance, in sync.... passionate yet elegant and controlled. Fit for a royal affair and yet electrified in the most subtle yet satisfying of ways. And when it came to an end, both of bride and groom were beaming, clearly pleased with themselves and their performance, and as it seemed, so were the guests.

Nilo’s reaction to the catcall caused Gennadius to squeeze his arm lightly with a soft laugh, the woman almost certain she had caught Theodore being the one to do it. Had it been anyone else, she may not have been as amused, but coming from her friend, it was hilarious, especially because Nilo had choked at it. “Careful there Nilo, if this is how real royals dance, you may insult your father,” she quipped in return with a soft chuckle as the made their way back into the crowd.

Gennadius found the entire vent much different than the socials she had been to, and found herself rather enjoying it some. The best parts were when the two of them were together, and she could hear how happy her husband was, his voice just dripping with his pleasure, making its way into every conversation. There were a few times they had gotten separated, but the woman made her way through the nobles with relative ease. Perhaps partially because they were more relaxed as they were intaking the alcohol. For once, she couldn’t really hold a grudge against the liquid.

It was to her delight though, that Nilo offered to take her for another dance, though she could see there was an alternative motive behind it. “A proposition?” Her head tilted slightly as her curiosity was peaked and she was led to the floor, hand taking his hand while the other arm wrapped around his shoulder so she could lean her head forward to listen to this proposition. Leave the celebration early? A change of scene? Oh she was most definitely intrigued and she shifted so she could pull her head back and look him in the eyes.

A gentle laugh escaped her when he admitted how he had been nervous and wanted to see her. “I must admit I would have liked that too. I do not believe I fared much better. And it would be nice...” she trailed as if unsure if she really wanted to do whatever Nilo had planned. But the truth was, she was more than interested and there was no way he would be able to get her not to agree now. And he was right, she did not know most of the people at their own wedding. But what really sealed the deal was the fact that this had been Leonel approved. Now if that had happened...

“I say let’s finish our dance so we aren’t suspicious, split to talk with our dear intoxicated guests, and each slip out separately. And then yes Nilo, I can meet you at the stables.” Her grin widened and the excitement was dancing through her face, clearly loving the idea of a surprise. Deep down, she was trying to figure out what he had planned for them. Was there something waiting in the stable or did it have to do with the fillies? Were they going somewhere or were the stables just to throw her off?

The rest of the dance her mind was both working on trying to figure out what he had planned and deciding how to pull off her own discreet escape. For once, the dance couldn't have ended soon enough and she cast him a knowing look before they split up to ‘mingle’. Gennadius lost track of where her husband went so did her best to just keep track of time and talk while looping towards the door closest to the nobles who were most drunk and not really paying attention except to each other. He said twenty minutes so she was doing her best to keep in that time limit.

When the woman thought the twenty minutes were up, she had made it to the exit, doing a quick glance around before slipping out. She turned to look back just in time to see a flash of a dark blue suit situating itself in front of the doorway. The young bride recognized Theophilus’s form and couldn’t help a smile, knowing he had probably been keeping track of her and noticed her leaving so took it upon himself to make sure she got out without being seen. Whether he knew why or not, she did not know, though did know he would have done it either way.

Twisting through the familiar halls, she had one destination in mind, and that was the stables. Reaching down, she pulled of her flat shoes before taking the sides of the dress skirt and lifting it up slightly. It was this way that she moved to a sprint down the passage ways that brought her to the stable, using bare feet to her advantage. Once she reached the door, she slowed down to put her shoes back on and stepped outside, hurrying to side entrance of the stable.

Sliding inside, the moment Gennadius started moving to find Nilo, she almost immediately spotted him. But more notably, the two horses fully saddled and clearly waiting for riders. And see there was no one else but the couple... “Are we going on a trip?” she questioned with a smile, only pausing briefly at Wicke’s stall to reach over and give both Luna and Dynasty a pat. If she didn’t the woman had already learned her own little filly would start screaming her head off if she didn’t get some kind of gesture from her human mom.

With that completed, the bride moved over to the horses, reaching out to stroke a velvet muzzle, “Where is this little adventure taking us?” She was brimming with curiosity and dark eyes gazed at her husband, suddenly noting that he had taken off his coat and vest. “See, you’re lucky,” she pointed out, motioning to his whole general being. “You can take off parts of your attire... you can’t do that with a dress,” she laughed lightly, motioning to her own white gown. Not that she really minded at the moment, too excited about the whole idea of an adventure with her newlywed husband.