The Week of the Wedding

Invites of Lady Arquilie and Prince Calester's wedding were sent out as soon the Emperor approved of the engagement between the two households.

Calester reviewed the names of the people who were invited for the wedding. There were too many aristocrats in the lists. There were some who the Prince knew personally and some he only knew by name. Among these names were names of nobles from foreign countries that Goldivia has international relations with. The same lists of names were given to Emerald and just like Calester, Emerald felt overwhelmed. As Emerald reviews the lists, names of nobles women acquainted with Calester's past love affairs start appearing.

"Wow. That's awkward."

As she flipped through the lists of guests attending the wedding, one of the ladies-in-waiting spoke what Emerald's had initially thought.

It was Lady Kathleen from the Marquis House of Talia. Kathleen was the eldest daughter of Marquis Talia. It was the first time that a member of their family was chosen as the Empress' ladies-in-waiting. By being recognized by the future moon of the empire, Lady Kathleen had given honor to her family. With pride, she had pledged loyalty to the House of Arquilie.

"What do you think of it, your Grace?"

Baroness Monte, another lady-in-waiting, whose family have had years of experience as the Empress ladies-in-waiting, spoke. She arrived from the scene with a few letters in hand.

Emerald ignored her question as she didn't want to make a big deal out of it and sound too sensitive to the topic. Instead, she responded with a question pertaining to the letter on the baroness' hand.

"Are those letters for me?"

"Yes, your Grace. It was from the Baron House of Baldivis."

Baroness Monte held out the letter and gave it to Emerald. Emerald gestured a sign of appreciation towards the older lady. Then, she proceeded in opening the letter. It read:

Dear Lady Arquilie,

I heard from my father you are finally getting married! This will be the last time I can address you as Lady Arquilie. So, I apologize for being rude. When did Prince Calester come back? I can't wait to hear from you! I'll see you soon.

Sincerely,

Sister Maggie

***

Alerted by the letter she received from a friend. Her eyes couldn't focus. She had forgotten to include the full name of the person she was going to marry in the wedding invitation. It only included Emerald's and Calester's first and last name initials. In frantic, she went back to the lists of guests attending the wedding. She flipped through the pages more aggressively until she found Baron House of Baldivia.

"Lady Baldivis has received my wedding invitations, correct?"

"Yes, your Grace."

"Are we informed of when they will arrive?"

"Yes, Your Grace. They are schedule to come the day before the wedding"

There was no time to respond to the letter. Maggie will just have to discover it for herself, who is actually Emerald's marriage partner.

There were only 3 days left of preparation for the wedding because the week afterwards will be the Coronation day of Prince Calester. The Eastern Palace was busy preparing for accommodation for the guests that will arrive in the next 3 days.

***

The morning of the day before his wedding has finally arrived. Calester was woken up by Roy's visit before the sun rose. It must have been an urgent matter for him to come see Calester in the early hours of the day.

"What is it, Roy?"

He rose from the bed and spoke again in a calm manner.

"What's wrong?"

"You're Highness, we have found the first Prince."

"!"

Calester felt his heart momentarily stopped. He gathered his thoughts and pulled himself together. His heart a second ago felt like it died. But, quickly revived as it started pumping more loudly and aggressively. It was a strange sensation. He felt his cold sweat descending on the corner of his forehead. He slowly breathed in and out to stabilize his voice. Then proceeded with his question: "Does the Emperor know?"

"Not yet, your Grace."

"Where is he now?"

"He's residing near the South Border."

"Let me meet him."

"..."

Roy was hesitant to add anything else that could spoil the Prince's temperament. He knows very well how quickly Calester can change his mood from good to bad. Maybe it was not the appropriate time to inform the second Prince of the news of his older brother especially, on the day before the wedding. But, the information he has learned from his conducted investigation cannot wait. The Prince must decide now if he will go through the wedding and stand as the next Emperor of Goldivia or ignore the first privileged Emperor Callen validated and throw away the throne that was never his in the first place.

"Your highness, there is something else you must know."

"Speak. What is it?"

"The Prince has lost his memories and does not recall being part of the Royal family."

"..."

There was a scenario in Calester's head that he kept repeating to himself. It was what he had hoped for before the wedding took place. Once he found his older brother, instead of coming into his own wedding, he will have his older brother to be the groom. That's why the invitation was sent out with just his and Emerald's initials in it. He was expecting only good news from his brother. But, he could not believe what he heard coming for the lips of his most trusted assistant. He felt numb from learning the truth. If he decides to approach his brother now while Calisto has no recollection of his memories, there is no way that the ancient contract will be fulfilled before the Emperor passes on the throne to the next ruler. It was a raise against time. If the Emperor passed without going through the Coronation, the cabinet must vote who will be the next emperor. Calester was so sure that the community would choose his uncle, a tyrant business man.

"Roy, don't let anyone know about this. This will be between you and I"

"Understood."

***

As soon as Maggie arrived at the Palace, Emerald headed towards the Eastern Palace where all the guests were. There were so many things running through her head that she should mention to Maggie, but there so much going on that it is impossible to tell Maggie everything.

The moment Maggie learned of who Emerald was marrying, she flipped.

"Why did you agree?! I thought you wanted to marry the first Prince?"

Emerald had to separate Maggie from the eyes of other nobles. No eyes will be judging them if they were left alone. It was a good approach to prevent other nobles from creating bad rumors. Emerald expected that this would be her reaction when she finds out the truth. There were other things that she wanted to say, but it would mean that she had to discuss the contract that Calester has proposed. Exposing this to her, even if she trusts her, would be a huge risk to Emerald and Calester.

Since the beginning, Emerald has always been attracted to Maggie's outspoken personality. It was one of the reasons why Emerald became friends with Maggie. It was also one of the things that she always wished she could be; a type of person that would not be afraid to speak her mind. For Emerald, Maggie has always been a great sister to her that truly cares and loves her.

"Maggie, don't worry. I'm okay."

Maggie looked at Emerald. It seems to her that Emerald is telling her the truth.

"Tomorrow is the wedding. Let's just hope that you would be ready for the wedding night."

"!"

The wedding night. Emerald has completely forgotten about it.

"Don't tell me you did not think of it?"

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