Music Recommendation: Violin Concerto No. 4- RV. 297- Antonio Vivaldi
The feeling of being married was something Eve couldn't put into words, but it showed on her lips. Even though her parents weren't here today, she was surrounded by people who cared for and loved her. More importantly, Vincent stood beside her, unapologetically holding one of her hands as they received best wishes from the guests who had attended the wedding.
The sunrays faded by going behind the clouds and returning to the cold weather.
Eve's eyes moved through the guests, and she realised that Anaya and Noah had left. It was only a moment ago, did she see the pair and now they had disappeared.
"Genevieve," Lady Annalise came near the newly married couple. "It is time to throw the bouquet and head back to the mansion for the after-soiree of the wedding."
Eve stared at the bouquet in her hand and politely requested, "Is it alright if I preserve it?"
Lady Annalise looked startled by Eve's request, and she then nodded, "It should be okay."
"Is it for the one who isn't here now?" Vincent asked Eve.
Eve smiled and said, "I thought it would be nice to give it to Anaya."
She had noticed Anaya troubled when she had gone to get her wedding gown, and she wanted to wish the woman to find her happiness with the man who would make Anaya happy. Even though they had known each other briefly, Eve considered the she-wolf dear to her.
Viscount Eduard informed the guests, "Everyone. Thank you for coming here and attending the wedding of my son with Genevieve. We would like to invite you all to enjoy the wedding after-soiree in our mansion."
But before everyone could start to walk to their carriages, a couple of carriages that left Brigade town came and stopped in front of the Hollow Valley's chapel. The Hookes' guests got down one after another and turned confused as it seemed like the wedding was over. When they looked at the bride, they turned confused as that wasn't the marquee and marchioness's daughter Rosetta Hooke. Though the bride looked familiar, they tried to place a finger on who she was.
"Looks like drama and humiliation is going to ensue," Vincent hummed as the corner of his lips pulled up and his eyes held mirth.
Not a moment later, Marquee Hooke and Lady Aurora's carriage arrived at the Hollow Valley's chapel, along with Rosetta's empty carriage. Rosetta, who stood at the back, her eyes went wide and felt nervous. She had gone through this scene several times since this morning, but nothing could compare to the tension she felt.
Rosetta's parents stepped out of the carriage. They looked shocked when they saw Vincent and Eve standing beside each other. One of the Hooke's guests questioned,
"I thought the Viscount's son was marrying your daughter. Was that not how it was supposed to be?"
"Looks like the wedding ceremony is over. What a shame," one of the female guests whispered at the back.
Marquee Hooke walked to the front with his wife with a hard expression, demanding from Vincent, "What do you think you are doing? Have you forgotten the deal that we made?"
Vincent tilted his head, while raising his eyebrows, "What deal?"
Lady Aurora couldn't believe that the lowly human woman wore a wedding gown and she stood next to Vincent as his wife. Turning to Lady Annalise, she questioned, "Rosetta was supposed to get married to your son. How dare you have him married to this wench?"
Lady Annalise replied with a serious face, "I am sorry, Marchioness, but I thought I made it clear with you when we discussed earlier that I would go along with what my children want. And you know how stubborn children are. They don't listen to us and do what they want."
Eve watched the marquee's and marchioness's furious gazes at her.
Vincent remarked, "We sent the new wedding invitation to your family, did you not receive it? Rosetta did."
Marquee Hooke's face turned red, and he asked, "Young man, do you know what you have done by breaking the blood seal and the deal that we had made in the Council? The blood seal was brought by the royal family and your actions are nothing less than going against them."
Vincent and the marquee intensely stared at each other, and the young pureblooded vampire smiled, "I am aware of the rules, Marquee Hooke. If I didn't know, I wouldn't be working for the Head Council."
Lady Aurora couldn't believe the nerves of this young vampire. His arrogance preceded hers, and she wanted to show him what it meant to go against the Hookes. Against her. She said, "You crossed the line, Vincent. You and your family will have to pay for breaking the seal."
"What seal?" Asked one of the guests, murmurs of questions started to spread around.
"Are they talking about the blood seal in the Council? What do you think it was for?" asked another guest, and one more, who stood nearby, said, "This is a happy occasion, we can discuss these things later."
"No," Lady Aurora's eyes narrowed and asked, "Where is my daughter? Rosetta!"
Rosetta closed her eyes when she heard her mother shout her name. She had heard the same pitch of her mother's voice many times before and it was often followed by hitting her. She wiped her clammy palms against her dress and walked towards her mother.
One of the guests, on seeing Rosetta, remarked, "She isn't wearing the wedding gown. Perhaps she wasn't going to marry today."
"Whatever it is, it seems like a big confusion," whispered the person next to the one who had just spoken.
Rosetta's back straightened when she felt her mother's eyes fall on her. Her mother's eyes narrowed, looking at her from head to toe as if wanting to question what was she doing here in another dress. To be on the safer side, the young vampiress walked to where Eve stood, which was also where her parents stood.
In an airy voice, as if she had no idea why her parents were angrily looking at her, and nonchalantly asked with a smile, "Yes, mother?"
