As Julia's lips pulled away from the heirs, she felt the strange sense of something breaking away from her, as if something a part of her was holding onto suddenly broke away.
But Julia had no time to waste lingering on strange feelings, for it was only one of many on a day like this.
This marriage of Julia's is, like many thought, a political one, to nurture the alliance between the New Kalegorian Empire and the distinguished house Valerond. But she hated every second of it, 'How can Father knowingly marry me off to the very house that hurt Brutus?' Julia thought, 'I'll have to explain to Brutus properly later' Julia decided as she buried unnecessary thoughts.
Throughout the wedding, Julia kept to the formalities, greeting distinguished guests and conversing with some of the most well-off dignitaries in the Empire; every smile she offered was meticulously placed, always rehearsed beforehand, and yet, under Julia's practised grace, an under current of unease and sadness was steadily surging, as if this day was just stiched together, with moments she couldn't feel, only perform.
The ceremony continued with practised ease; everything that had been planned happened smoothly, and once the ceremony had finally ended, and the last of the guests exited this stage of marriage, Julia's eyes searched for one man, not the heir of Valerond, no, a lowly knight named Brutus. Yet with all her searching, he was nowhere to be found.
'Where has he gone?' Julia wondered; it was very unlike him to just disappear at such events.
"My lady, are you looking for Master Dorian?" a familiar voice asked.
"Brutus?" Julia said quickly as she turned, feeling a flicker of hope. Only to see the commander of the Kalegorian knight order.
"No, my lady, Brutus has not been seen since around the moment of the exchange of vows between you and Master Dorian"
"Ah, I see..." Julia murmured.
"Then", the commander continued gently, "I take it you were looking for Sir Brutus, my Lady?"
"Ah, yes... I am. Any idea where he could have gone, Commander?" Julia murmured once more.
"Hmm, from what I can recall, my Lady, Sir Brutus was seen exiting the Grand Hall about thirty minutes before the end of the ceremony. It seemed as though he had something on his mind." The commander puzzled.
Julia's face darkened after slowly coming to the realisation of the significance the strange feeling she had hidden away had. "Uhh! but worry not, my Lady! I'm sure Brutus is just out for a stroll and will return shortly!" The commander reassured.
"Uh... yeah... that's probably the case," Julia replied distantly. Even after the commander attempted to reassure her, Julia felt the persistent tightness in her chest increase. 'A stroll?' Brutus would never wander during duty; diligence is what he's known for after all, and never would he wander during her wedding of all events, no matter how much she hated it.
"Shall I send a few guards to go out and search for him?" the commander offered at a volume only heard by them. "Discreetly, of course".
Julia hesitated; her instincts screamed yes. Find him, and bring him back to her. But another part of her, the one that felt itself shatter as something tore away, whispered a harsher truth.
If she knew Brutus at all, she knew. If Brutus had walked away... perhaps he didn't intend to return.
"No", Julia forced out, "I'm sure he'll return on his own in due time; it seems like he just simply had to take a moment for himself"
The commander studied Julia for a long moment before replying, "Course, My Lady, as you command"
He bowed and retreated, leaving Julia standing alone at the marble arch, looking down into the very corridor that Brutus had left from. Each second longer she looked down the corridor, it constricted and dimmed, each second it felt colder from the absence of someone who brought it warmth.
Julia drew a shaky breath in an effort to steady herself.
And whispered something even she could barely hear.
"Brutus... where could you have gone?"