-The court has been informed that Lady Mei gave great service to our kingdom when she selflesly protected our Lord Marshall at great cost for herself-The Emperor´s voice boomed in the Main Hall, Mei was impressed, this was a guy that had trained his voice to reach the perfect volume that filled all the space in the Hall and a tone that was both firm and magnificent- Our Lord Marshall honors our family by bringing in a brave and resolute new daughter-
Take that Lan family. Mei could just imagine how awful those kids were feeling at having to hear all that praise. Maybe Lady Mei was not around anymore, but her final deeds were aknowledged and appreciated as was fair.
-By right of marriage, Lady Mei is to be bestowed the title of Radiant Princess, Lady of the Marshall House-
-Praise be to our Radiant Princess-hollered the whole room. And then everyone took their goblets that had been served with wine for the first toast and downed the whole thing in one go. At the first taste, Mei knew this was no simple wine, but a concoction made with a wonderful spirit as the base and sweet tasting extras, maybe juices or plants that made it refreshing and tasty. So far, the cocktails in this new world deserved nothing less than an outstanding review in her humble opinion.
The servants took the goblets away and served a wide variety of food, almost all could be classified as appetizers. Aridel and Mei were served a different light dish in a single plate and when Mei tasted it, she still was not prepared for the spiciness, even though Aridel had warned her about it that all their food was going to be specially seasoned and strong as per required by ceremony. Her eyes watered and her face became red but she still soldiered on and left no trace of her discomfort to be seen or enjoyed by the Lan family that was observing her like vultures. After that part, it was the turn of the Empress to speak and the second toast to be taken. She gave her blessings to the union and wished for the hundreth time that the new couple could have a long and happy life together. Mei liked that her new parents in law were succint and to the point with their good wishes. She was starting to feel tired because this new body of hers had zero stamina and had been recently wounded. With just these signs, she knew the road ahead for training was going to be hard and demmanding because her body was too weak.
After another round of toasting and more spicy food as main dish, it was time for the last toast, that of Aridel proclaiming her as his wife. He stood up along with her and after bowing one more time to the Emperors, he started the most important speech of the ceremony, while holding Mei´s hands for all to see.
-I present Radiant Princess, Lady Mei of my Marshall House, My Soulbound wife-he intoned-and from here on, I declare her as my sentinel, the sole guardian of my life and family-
Mei blushed at the fact that he played with her old title of sentinel to perfection as a personal and highly intimate detail that only they knew about. She gazed at him and realized that he could play with the side of her that was still a bit conceited and looking for attention. She also felt that somehow, he was also trying to control her qi flow this whole time they had been holding hands, but most specially now that she had been startled by his announcement.
They took the third toast of ceremonial wine and accompanied it with a little and delicate dessert, modelled after a leaf which ressembled those of the tree they had seen back when Aridel had tested her potential. She guessed that tree was special for wedding celebrations and this particular dessert had a deeper meaning to it.
With the third toast finished, the Emperors left the thrones and came nearer to the newlyweds. As per the protocols meant to close the ceremony of receiving a new and cherised wife into the family, both the sovereings kissed each of the newlyweds in their foreheads to signify a true blessing that was personal. Aridel had mentioned that his father announced beforehand that he would bestow that particular gesture during their wedding when news of the attack and Lady Mei´s injury had been revealed to him. No other words were exchanged, and the older couple just left after that with their entourage and lastly, the Lan family with all their servants. The Marshall Estate had brought a carriage for the imperial couple so that they would return to the palace more comfortably and after boarding them right at the Main Hall entrance and seeing them depart, the rest of the people started to board their own carriages and mounts that had been brought by the servants beforehand.
Aridel and Mei stood by the Main Hall entrance until the last person left and the Main Gate of the estate had been solemnly closed.
-I know this ceremony is lacking a lot in terms of festivity-Aridel said-
-Don´t worry about that-she interjected- Given the circumstances, I am happy it was like this-
He stared at her solemnly. She looked specially beautiful even after all the happenings, her platinum hair shinning below the red veil and her honest smile all the more compelling.
-Nanny Coco-he called after awhile and the older servant came nearer - Take Mei to my personal quarters and help her change. Then bring her to the Fountain Hall-
He had also mentioned that, after the ceremony closed down, they still had the task of going through the dowry the Lan family had brought along and also to sort out the gifts sent by the Imperial family.
Mei winced internally. She would rather try and disarm a bomb but stuff like this had to be done to clearly cut ties with her old family and leave no loose strings at all.