Chapter 335: Isabella Berlene Stark
At The King’s Villa The Next Day
Both Ethan and Bella were seated on a couch facing the King, and for the last ten or so minutes, Carson and Ethan had been discussing the country’s current welfare.
They had spoken at length about everything, and by the end of it, Carson had offered his gratitude for saving his kingdom.
After a brief moment of silence, Ethan spoke again. "Actually... there’s something else I wanted to tell you."
"Oh?" Carson replied, his interest immediately piqued.
Ethan reached over and took Isabella’s hand.
The Princess looked at him before smiling softly.
"We’re getting married... and we’re doing it tomorrow."
For a few seconds, Carson simply looked between the two of them.
His feelings were mixed.
Part of him was genuinely happy, and the other part couldn’t help but feel that perhaps the timing wasn’t ideal.
"Tomorrow?.. I mean..." He gestured vaguely. "The palace isn’t even complete yet."
His hand swept toward the city outside. "And we just talked about it. The state of the kingdom is still a little..."
Ethan smiled. "We know. It’s why we decided it isn’t going to be a public ceremony."
He glanced toward Isabella before continuing.
"Just something small. Our families and friends... My house will do just fine."
Carson’s eyes shifted to his daughter. "Is this truly how you want it, my child?"
Isabella answered with a nod. "Yes, Father. I’ve never been more certain of anything."
Carson looked at her for another moment before a smile spread across his face "Very well, the wedding shall be tomorrow."
And just like that, the room was filled with smiles.
——
Morning arrived not long after.
Percival struggled to straighten the knot around his collar while simultaneously trying to fasten the sleeve of his black coat.
And it wasn’t going well.
Ethan stepped in behind him, adjusted the collar properly, then gave it one final pat.
"There."
Percival let out a dramatic sigh as he stared at himself in the mirror.
It was at that moment Hayley stepped inside, dressed in a minimalist gown. She took one look at the scene before stopping.
"Hold on... why is the groom helping the best man get dressed and not the other way around?"
Percival turned toward her with a glare. "Why exactly are you here?"
"Apparently to remind you Ethan’s the one getting married, and not you," Hayley shot back.
Percival took a deep breath.
If he could survive the frustration of trying to get these knots right, then he could at least keep himself from reacting any further to his annoying sister.
So he simply said, "Kindly fuck off."
Ethan shook his head with an amused smile.
Hayley shook hers as well before walking over to Ethan with a smile.
Without saying a word, she began adjusting the front of his suit, brushing away invisible dust from each shoulder before lightly patting both palms against his chest.
"You clean up well."
Ethan smiled. "Thanks."
She studied him for another second. "Isabella’s a great girl."
Ethan nodded slowly. ’Yeah’
Hayley held his gaze for a moment. It felt like there was more she wanted to say but it also felt like the wrongest time.
So she simply smiled and turned toward the door. ’You both should be downstairs already, the bride should not be the one waiting."
Without looking back, she lifted one hand in farewell. "Don’t be late."
——
The wedding was going to be held outdoors, precisely within the garden area of the compound, which had been decorated even further.
Fresh white flowers lined the pathway leading toward the front gardens, where a small raised platform had been set up as a makeshift altar. Delicate ribbons stretched between neatly arranged rows of chairs, while a simple wooden arch, woven with lilies and ivy, stood at the very center.
Guests gradually filled the garden, taking their seats.
Eduardo was the one officiating, so he stood before everyone at the top of the raised platform.
Ethan stood to his right, while Percival took his place behind him. All three wore smiles on their faces.
Hayley walked past Percival with a quiet giggle before settling into an empty seat between a smiling Francesca and Valerie, with Ishtar seated beside them.
Percival composed himself enough to ignore her teasing, but then Aliyah walked in, looking absolutely dazzling. Now that earned an instinctive wink from him.
The conversations gradually died down as soft instrumental music drifted through the garden.
The ceremony had just begun.
Rue walked down the garden pathway, her expression as unreadable as ever, a small basket of flower petals resting in her hands.
Arranged around her, moving with her, perched upon her shoulders, and weaving between her ankles, were the cats of her clowder.
Each of them had been adorned with flower ribbons and tiny garlands around their necks, with small blossoms tucked behind their ears. They moved in a loose, instinctive formation as they accompanied her down the path ahead of the procession while she scattered petals.
Bettie couldn’t help but giggle, while Lucy, seated beside her, smiled.
"Aww... they’re adorable."
Then the entrance doors of Stark Manor opened.
King Carson stepped out alongside his beautiful daughter.
Isabella wore an elegant yet simplistic white gown. Her hair had been pinned up neatly, with a silver tiara resting atop it. She wore barely any makeup at all, and in her free hand she carried a bouquet of flowers.
Her eyes never left Ethan as she made her way down the aisle.
Ethan watched her approach with a completely dazzled expression, as though he were seeing her for the very first time.
Percival quietly leaned closer. "Close your mouth."
Ethan blinked. "Right."
Carson escorted Isabella to the front, then stopped and looked at his daughter for a moment.
He gently placed her hand into Ethan’s, gave them both a nod, and made his way to his seat beside Lenora, who immediately reached for his hand without even looking at him.
Rayleigh couldn’t stop smiling as he looked at his elder sister.
So was Ms. Bernadette Foster, seated beside him.
Eduardo smiled warmly at everyone gathered before beginning his opening speech.
It stretched on for several minutes, mostly because he was trying to remember every single line from the write-up he had crammed into his head the night before.
Several of the guests smiled to themselves.
Then Eduardo looked between the couple before asking, "Is there anything you would like to say to each other?"
Ethan quietly stared at Isabella for a moment before speaking.
"I think one of the things I’m most grateful for is how we just... happened. It all felt right, and every moment leading up to this has been nothing but beautiful."
He smiled a bit. "I’m not very good with speeches, but know that I choose you... every version of you. Today, and every day after this."
"I frankly can’t wait to call you my wife."
Isabella’s eyes glistened. Then she took a slow breath before speaking.
"You already know how I feel," she began. "You’ve known for a while, but I’ll say it here, in front of everyone, so there’s no confusion."
She smiled warmly. "I love you so much, Ethan. You became my home long before today."
Her fingers tightened gently around his.
"So wherever life leads us, babe... I’ll follow."
Hayley quietly looked away for a moment as the crowd subtly cheered.
Eduardo glanced toward Percival, who fumbled briefly through his jacket pocket before producing a small velvet box. He handed it over with a nod.
Eduardo opened it and held it out between them.
Ethan took the smaller ring and gently slid it onto Isabella’s finger.
Isabella then took the other ring, turned Ethan’s hand gently within hers, and slid it into place.
They both smiled.
Eduardo then spoke.
"By the authority granted to me through His Majesty, King Carson Tudor..."
He inclined his head respectfully toward the King.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife."
He looked toward Ethan.
"You may kiss your wife."
Ethan stepped forward, slipped an arm around Isabella’s waist, and gently pulled her into a kiss.
The atmosphere immediately erupted into loud applause and cheerful celebration.
——
The celebration continued well into the afternoon, and it was around that time Wilson finally arrived, offering his apologies for missing the ceremony before going on to wish both of them a long and loving marriage.
Bella also shared a brief conversation with her mother, Lenora, one that ended in a warm embrace.
Eventually, someone shouted,
"Bouquet!"
Isabella smiled, plucked a single stem from the bouquet, and set it down on a nearby seat before stepping into one corner of the garden with the remaining flowers in her hands.
Gathered behind her were the willing participants; Hayley, Valerie, Bettie, and Aliyah. Lucy and Ishtar joined as well, apparently because it seemed every other lady was taking part.
Even Mrs. Bernadette Foster stepped into the line, drawing surprised looks from several of them.
Mrs. Foster simply shrugged. "What? I’m allowed to dream."
Laughter immediately spread through the crowd.
Isabella looked over her shoulder. "Ready?"
Everyone nodded, then she threw the bouquet high into the air.
Half the women jumped for it. Valerie and Hayley came incredibly close, while Lucy collided with Bettie in the scramble.
Then...
Poof.
A burst of smoke exploded in midair as a pale hand emerged from absolutely nowhere.
Albedo caught the bouquet with a devious grin and vanished immediately.
"Albedo!"
"Come back here!"
"No fair!"
The entire garden erupted into laughter. Even King Carson had to hide part of his face behind his hand to conceal a short laugh.
After the laughter settled, Isabella composed herself, picked up the single flower stem she had set aside earlier, and walked over to Hayley.
Without saying a word, she gently placed it into Hayley’s hands.
The two women simply looked at one another, then Hayley smiled before giving a nod. "Thank you."
Bella smiled back before returning to Ethan’s side, where he slipped an arm around her waist.
Looking toward everyone gathered before them, he smiled. "Thank you... all of you."
He looked down at Isabella before lifting his gaze back to the others.
"And now, if you’ll all excuse us... I’m going to spend some time with my wife."
Loud cheering immediately followed.
Percival cupped both hands around his mouth. "Don’t come out until tomorrow!"
Everyone burst into laughter as Ethan and Isabella slowly made their way back toward Stark Manor.
The doors closed gently behind them, while the celebration outside, continued.
——
Night eventually came as the celebrations finally drew to an end.
Isabella had already fallen asleep, resting peacefully beneath the blankets. One of her hands stretched across the empty side of the bed Ethan had just risen from.
She had a smile on her face, as though she were dreaming of something happy.
Ethan remained by the doorway for a few seconds, quietly watching her.
Today, she had become his wife, and that thought still felt strangely unreal.
Eventually, he left the room, closing the door behind him without making a sound.
He made his way down the corridor before stopping in front of a door at its far end.
Then he knocked.
"Come in," Eduardo called from within.
Ethan stepped into the study as Eduardo immediately rose from behind his desk and bowed.
"Master Ethan."
Ethan closed the door behind him before turning back. "I came for one thing."
Eduardo straightened. "And what would that be, Master Ethan?"
"Tell me again, Eduardo..." He paused. "Just one more time... how did you say my parents died again?"
Silence settled over the room for a brief moment.
Then Eduardo gave a slow nod. And once more, he began the story.
——
Elsewhere in a different continent...
The heat rose from the lava that surrounded the circular rocky platform in slow, churning waves.
A lady knelt at the center of the rocky platform. Two horns curved from her temples, and her red hair hung forward, partially obscuring her face.
Her wrists were bound behind her by chains that ran upward, disappearing into the dark above.
And above her back, was a massive slab of rock that hovered. It remained suspended there, releasing this constant crushing and overwhelming force of magic that forced her body into a permanent kneeling position.
Every breath she drew seemed like a struggle beneath its invisible weight.
Arranged in a circle around the rocky platform were enormous dragons, lying upon the ground beyond the ring of lava that separated them from it.
The dragons appeared to be asleep, but they were guards, watching over the chained prisoner who had remained there for more than a decade.
Her head was bowed, and her eyes were closed, as though she too had fallen asleep.
Then...
A flash appeared within her mind.
A black dragon whose wings seemed to carry the stars and the cosmos. Its roar shook the heavens as purple lightning descended alongside it, tearing through the earth.
Her eyes suddenly opened.
Draconic slits stared ahead, burning with the sudden recognition of something she could not name.
Her son.
The chains rattled softly.
And deep within the endless cavern, one of the sleeping dragons slowly opened an eye.
———-End Of Volume 2———