Rafael’s eyes darkened at her bold words, and he wet his lips with the tip of his tongue. "Princess, are you sure you want to goad in such a manner? You might not be able to handle the consequences."
Soleia’s face blood a bright red. She was very grateful that the sun had already set, obscuring the flush on her cheeks. Fireflies darted around them, their glowing bodies lighting up the park, casting shadows on Sir Ralph’s high cheekbones and highlighting the desire in his bright green eyes.
Soleia swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. Thankfully, she was saved from replying when the priest cleared his throat loudly, drawing their attention.
"My apologies for interrupting the tender mont," the priest began, with a smile on his face. "But we best begin the ceremony."
"Of course," Sir Ralph said, not even taking his eyes off her as he replied to the priest. "I cannot wait."
"Neither can I," Soleia added.
The priest began to speak.
"Do you, Sir Ralph Byrone, take Miss Leia..."
There was a pause as Rafael realized he and Soleia actually hadn’t created a maiden na for her to use. But his princess was great at thinking under pressure, she rely smiled and spoke up.
"Sevor. I am Leia Sevor, though not for much longer," she added with a wry tilt of her chin, her eyes shining with excitent.
The priest nodded and restarted his speech from the beginning. "Do you, Sir Ralph Byrone, take Miss Leia Sevor to be your wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good tis and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and to honor her all the days of your life?"
Rafael’s voice was steady. "I do."
The priest nodded, and he turned to Soleia.
"Miss Leia Sevor, do you take Sir Ralph Byrone to be your husband? Do you promise to be faithful to him in good tis and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and to honor him all the days of your life?"
Soleia nodded. "I do." Sir Ralph’s answering smile made her as giddy as a child on their birthday.
After promising herself to Sir Ralph, she realized that saying ’I do’ to Sir Ralph was so easy― the words practically tripped over themselves in their haste to escape her mouth, whereas when it ca to Orion, she had to steel herself to say those words, to remind herself to look at the bigger picture, to put her own feelings aside.
Now, nothing else mattered but her love for the man standing in front of her. They might go hungry in the future, but her new husband would never break her heart.
The priest smiled. "Then I shall not waste your ti any longer. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Rafael did not need any encouragent. In one swift step, he strode forward until he was right in front of Soleia, picking her arm in his arms so that he could devour her lips. Soleia let out a tiny moan as the heat of his mouth and tongue easily overwheld her. Sir Ralph had never shown such ferocity when kissing her before!
Her poor bouquet of makeshift flowers was heartlessly crushed between their bodies, the floral scent they emitted mixing with the manly scent of Sir Ralph’s body. It made her head spin, and she could only cling onto Sir Ralph’s arms as he continued to kiss her as though his life would end if they were forced to part.
The priest cleared his throat more loudly. Seeing that the bride and groom were too wrapped up with each other, he shook his head ruefully and bid Duke Kinsley goodbye.
"I guess this is my cue to leave," the priest said and he held out a piece of parchnt. He hastily scribbled Miss Leia’s surna on it, before handing it out to the duke. "Thank you for inviting to witness such a special occasion. Here is their marriage certificate. Might I trouble you to pass it to them once they’ve... finished?"
Oliver nodded, holding that piece of parchnt as though it was a priceless artifact. If anything happened to it, Prince Rafael would probably tear the Raxuvia apart, starting with every hair on Oliver’s head. Oliver wondered how legally binding such a docunt would be if every na on it was a false one.
Then again, maybe that was why Prince Rafael was so intent on bedding Princess Soleia. Once the deed was done, there would be no going back.
Oliver winced as he caught an eyeful of the awfully amorous couple, who were behaving more like lovesick teenagers on the verge of elopent than actual royalty. Their hands were wandering all over their bodies. While most of the townsfolk did not pay much attention to the ceremony save for Oliver, he had a duty to stop his liege from indulging in public fornication.
"Sir Ralph, Miss Leia, might I advise you to take your actions back ho? You are still in the middle of town, even under the cover of darkness." Duke Kinsley’s voice rang in Soleia’s ears, causing her to squeak. It was as though soone had poured a bucket of ice water all over her head, sobering her imdiately.
"Oh! Right... My apologies, Duke Kinsley. We forgot ourselves," Soleia said shafully, her face burning as she recalled what had transpired re monts earlier. How could she have so little decorum to devour Sir Ralph’s lips in public? She was no better than an animal in heat! Soleia lanted to herself.
Rafael let out a low growl at the untily interruption, but he saw the wisdom in Oliver’s words. Soleia deserved better than their first night to be on the grass in the middle of a small town under the cover of darkness, with people watching as though they were circus animals.
He reluctantly pulled his lips away, only to lift Soleia up in a bridal carry, causing her to squeal in surprise.
"Ralph! Put down! I can walk!" Soleia protested.
"Yes, but I want to carry you," Rafael bead boyishly, but his voice was hoarse with longing. "Back to... our ho."
Our ho. The words echoed in Soleia’s ears. She liked the sound of that.
"And our marital bed," Rafael added mischievously, and Soleia’s entire body heated up.
"Ralph! Don’t say it out loud!"
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