The wind sang through the leaves as the court music roared. Couple after couple, lords and ladies spun beneath the bright sky to the frantic, joyous rhythm of harps, drums, and flutes. Silk gowns and velvet doublets blurred in a vibrant circle around the very red carpet where, only an hour before, a baseborn man and a royal woman had sworn their oaths.
Many in the high capital would no doubt take grand issue with the entire spectacle, none more so than the Holy Church, who would surely dub this godless, priestless affair an absolute abomination.
In truth, it was perhaps not the wisest political move for Alpheo to openly flout religious tradition just weeks before his official coronation, but the clock had run out. They could not have waited a single month more. Give it a few more turnings of the moon, and it would have been far too late to hide what had passionately passed between the two in the dark.
The princess was with child.
