Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 256: The Family Heirloom

Chapter 256: The Family Heirloom

{Music recommendation; everything I wanted by Duomo}

The two days had been as hectic as everyone had foreseen, but finally, the awaited day in the whole of GreenHollow, and other Kingdom’s eventually arrived. The Chevalier Palace were starting to receive guests, and the families, who had heard about the great change in GreenHollow, were more than ready to feast their eyes on the wonderful Autumn scenery.

Carriages from different Kingdom were lined up at a situated corner of the outside building, and as the guests began to step down, the servants were quick to offer assistance and help with the trunks. Albert had readied the special servants who ushered each of the guests to their quarter’s, and the head-maid had made sure that each room was comfortable and well-organized to be received.

In one of the grand chambers, bathed in the soft, golden glows of countless candles, Samantha took her seat in front of the dressing mirror. Two maiden’s, including Lucy, had helped her get ready for the auspicious day. When they were done, she stood up from her table to stand properly before the ornate mirror.

Her golden-blonde hair cascaded down her back in gentle waves, and her emerald green eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. Her fair complexion seemed to glow with an otherworldly radiance, and she could hardly believe she was the same person standing in front of the mirror.

"This isn’t adjusted properly, what did I say about no mistakes?" Lucy reprimanded the two maiden’s before moving forward to adjust the intricate lace veil that framed her friend’s face, whilst enhancing her beauty. The veil sparkled with delicate, glistening crystals that mirrored the twinkle in Samantha’s eyes, and a smile curved Lucy’s lips when she stepped back to have a good look.

"Perfect!"

Lucy couldn’t help but admire her friend who was looking her best today. Her wedding dress was a shimmering blend of satin and silk, adorned with intricate embroidery in silver and gold thread, which seemed to dance in the candlelight. It clung to her delicate form before cascading into a sweeping train, a trail of opulence fit for a Queen.

The bodice was a work of art, embellished with hand-stitched pearls and diamonds that gleamed as she moved. Delicate lace sleeves adorned her arm, creating an illusion of fragility that contrasted with her inner strength. Not only Lucy, but the two maiden’s present in the room were evidently wowed.

"My goodness! You are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen." Lucy whispered with a look of awe, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "You look like a goddess!"

Samantha smiled even more at Lucy’s comment, a mixture of happiness and nervousness evident in her expression. "Thank you Lucy, this wouldn’t have been possible without you. Right now, my heart is filled with love and hope."

Lucy nodded, tears welling up in her eyes as she embraced her friend. "You’ve gone through so much already, you deserve this happiness. May your love with his Majesty be as eternal and enduring as the night he became your forever." Taking the single drop of tears that nearly left her eyes, Lucy placed it behind the back of Samantha’s earlobes.

"This is considered a sign of blessing where I come from." She explained.

As Samantha took Lucy’s hand, a sense of serenity washed over her, and she asked. "I have been dreaming too much lately, quite a lot actually. Am I dreaming again? Is this really happening or am I getting tricked by my own fantasies again?"

"It is not a dream at all, you are about to get married!" Lucy nearly squeaked out of excitement, and she was so happy, it almost felt like she was the one getting married and not Samantha.

Before Samantha could utter anything else, the door opened and Lucinda walked in.

"I knew I should have left an elder behind to monitor you girls. The groom is getting late and the bride isn’t any better, but I must say you look lovely!" A smile dawned on Lucinda’s lips as she came to stand in front of Samantha who offered her a bow, but before she could do so, Lucinda simply stopped her and gently embraced her, the way a mother would embrace her daughter who was about to be Married off, and the simple gesture almost had Samantha’s eyes prickling with tears.

"You are a testament to heaven’s creation. Silvia always made mention of why Ivan never had time for girls or women, even during his tender age. Back then it was considered a problem, as we wondered if he would ever get married in the future, the Queen Mother always placed the court in a dilemma, but his Mother was the only one who wasn’t worried. She always said that her son had eyes for good things. Turns out, she wasn’t bluffing."

Upon hearing this, Samantha’s eyes sparkled, and a pink hue tinted her already rosy cheeks.

"Ah yes! There is something I must give to you. It is a gift from Ivan. As he can’t be here, he wanted me to give it to you on his behalf."

"A gift from Ivan?" Samantha’s pupils dilated in surprise.

Opening her small lady purse, Lucinda brought out a palm-sized wooden box. When Samantha received the box, she opened it, wondering what else that vampire had decided to get for her, when she already has everything that she could ask for, and to her surprise, it was a stunning bracelet.

"Wow! So pretty!" Exclaimed Lucy, and Samantha slowly took out the bracelet.

"This is beautiful! I’ve never seen a bracelet of this kind before." Uttered the dazed Samantha as she studied it. The bracelet was intricately designed with delicate silver vines, adorned with emerald-green gemstones that glistened like dewdrops.

"This, my dear, is the royal family heirloom, but from your Mother-in-law’s side. It’s been worn by the women in our family for centuries, its significance can be compared to that of a royal crest. The green gemstones symbolize the lush forest, the clear blue ones are for serene water bodies and the golden ones represent the sun’s warmth."

"It’s the most beautiful piece of jewelry I’ve ever seen." Samantha’s fingers traced the elegant vines and stones, whilst Lucy helped her put it on.

"Ivan’s mother was the last to wear it, and he wanted you to have it." Lucinda’s blue eyes shimmered with nostalgia, "you share a deep connection with this kingdom, he wanted you to have a little piece of it."

Samantha couldn’t explain how deeply touched she was by this gesture. She looked at the bracelet on her wrist, and she smiled with a light that came from her heart. Just when she thinks Ivan can’t surprise her, he shows her more ways to prove her wrong.

"I’ll treasure it. Thank you!" She embraced Lucinda who gave her a gentle pat on her back. The door suddenly opened again, and Samantha’s eyes widened at the sight of Madame Ginevra and her daughter who walked in.

"Are we in the wrong chamber?"

"Samantha, you look beautiful!" Amanda happily chimed in as she hurried forward to hold Samantha’s hand. "We got an invitation from the Palace and Mother and I were so excited that we got a chance to witness your wedding!"

"Yes dear, now move along, the bride needs to receive some sweet before she gets called." Ginevra, who held a plate of cream puffs, moved forward to feed them to Samantha, and she happily took a careful bite.

"Silly girl, why didn’t you tell me His Highness was the one who visited my home? You look flourishing, may you always be happy child!"

Soon enough, Samantha began to receive a few significant guests who came to wish her directly, and when everyone left, her brother was the last to come in. When he laid eyes on his sister, he nearly teared up, but reminding himself that he was a man, he bottled it in and approached her.

"So should I call you, Queen of GreenHollow, or... Your Highness?" He offered her a playful bow, and Samantha, who was already choked with tears couldn’t stop herself from embracing her brother tightly.

"Hey now, if you cry, your makeup will smudge, and those ogre stories we normally read? You’ll look like them." He teased and shook his head, "I don’t want that."

"How dare you tease me at a time like this? I won’t cry then." She sniffled back her tears, but it was evident on her face that she looked happy.

"I’m going to give my sister away, sigh... no one told me it was going to be this hard. Whose going to help me pick out my clothes? Or set my bath tub? Whose going to force me into taking medication when I fall sick? Whose going to pamper me now?"

"Aren’t you ashamed?" She tsked, "and you call yourself a grown man."

"Hey, don’t tease me. What I meant to say was I’d miss you. Not because you do those things for me."

"Liar!" She hit his arm with her small fist, and he feigned pain by wincing slightly. When he looked at her to see her chuckling, Maurice couldn’t stop himself from responding to that contagious chuckle, and he embraced her once more, mostly because he didn’t want her to see the tears in his eyes.

"Mother and Father will be proud."

A knock on the door was heard, and when it opened, Albert offered them both a polite smile.

"Lady Samantha, everyone awaits your presence, it is time."

"Thank you Albert."

When he left, Maurice looked at himself in the mirror, adjusting his outfit, and he turned to his sister who was busy taking deep breaths.

"Are you ready?"

Hooking her arm against that of her brother’s, she nodded.