Chapter 839: Welcoming A Bride
Outside, the convoy was waiting for them. Lucian was talking to Arthur, at the same time waiting for Nathaniel to show up.
He showed up thanks to Aaron, or everything was going to be difficult with the stubborn man. At least there was someone he listened to.
Nathaniel and Arthur, very close friends, or more like brothers, looked distant now. In just a few days, the dynamic of their relationship had changed so much that it was hard to believe they even knew each other.
They offered customary bows to each other, unlike how they always greeted each other with a tight, friendly hug.
Arthur stepped aside from the carriage in which Evie was sitting. A servant opened the carriage door and arranged a stool at the door for Evie to step out.
Nathaniel stepped ahead, extending his hand, not even looking at the one sitting inside.
Evie accepted it and stepped out, while her husband didn’t even spare a glance. She looked at the massive door at the entrance of the residence, now her new home. Her gaze observed it quietly. There was no decoration, just numerous lamps lighting the residence beautifully.
There was no presence of other people except for a few servants and two close friends.
"Let’s head inside," Aaron commented.
She lowered her head and walked by Nathaniel’s side to enter the home. The rest followed behind.
A few servants standing in rows showered them with flower petals.
At the square-shaped central place inside the residence, an altar was prepared in the center. The butler was standing at its side.
Even inside, no one else was present. All she could see were the same few servants who followed them inside. She understood the owner preferred having fewer people around.
The butler, waiting for them, stepped ahead, greeted Evie, and welcomed her home.
He turned to the altar and told them, "My Lord, My Lady, both of you should burn the essence, bow to the god, and then to each other."
Though unwilling, Nathaniel followed through with it. If not, the custom wouldn’t be fulfilled, and he would have been practically keeping an unwedded woman in his home.
Both of them burned the essence sticks, bowed to the altar, and then turned to each other to bow.
Once done, the butler said, as he gestured to the tiny ceramic cups, "Both of you can drink this wine."
They did, and the butler said, "The wedding custom is fulfilled. My Lord, My Lady, you are officially husband and wife now. Congratulations."
Aaron and Lucian congratulated them as well, while Arthur simply stared at his sister, his heart breaking for her.
The groom had made no preparations to welcome his sister, and he showed up just because Aaron told him. Until this moment, others could meddle, but later it was her alone, dealing with the husband who would never once look at her or acknowledge her presence.
She was bound to live a lonely life. Tears almost threatened to spill out, but he controlled himself.
She turned to her brother. He pulled out a light smile for her sake, but his eyes couldn’t hide the pain in his heart.
He caressed her head. "This is your home from now on. But if you ever feel you don’t want to stay here, you can always come to me."
Evie understood his feelings, but said, "You should instead bless me with a happy life here."
He wanted to tell her that she won’t be happy here, but said, "I bless you with a happy and fulfilling life."
She smiled. "Thank you, brother."
Nathaniel looked at the butler, who gestured to the senior female servant. She bowed to Evie and said, "My Lady, you must be tired after a long journey. Let me guide you to your chamber so you can rest."
Evie looked at Arthur, who said, "Go ahead. You are indeed tired. I will see you in the morning."
She nodded and left with the maid she brought with her. The rest of the people in her entourage were guided to the servants’ quarters.
Aaron turned to Arthur. "You should rest as well."
"I don’t think I can," he said, looking around. "This place seems like some strange place now, where I can never be at peace."
Those were the days when these friends had the most entertaining time on their last visit, but now everything was exactly opposite.
"Would you like to come to my residence?" Aaron offered. "You can return here tomorrow."
Arthur shook his head. "I can’t let my sister feel lonely on her first day here."
Nathaniel heard it but didn’t react and turned to the butler. "Take care of our guest," and left to return to his chamber.
Aaron and Lucian couldn’t stop him. He came downstairs to receive his bride; it was already too much they had asked of him.
Once he left, Aaron said, "You can do nothing, so don’t think too much. Leave them on their own. Maybe time will fix everything."
"Knowing Nathaniel so well for so many years, I know that’s highly unlikely," Arthur said, his tone sad. "But that’s true, I can do nothing now."
"Let’s go to the guest chamber," Aaron offered and looked at Lucian. "Are you staying?"
"I will if it’s necessary," Lucian replied.
"You can return. Both of our absences are not good," Aaron said.
Lucian offered a nod and left after talking to Arthur.
Both friends sat in the guest chamber, where the butler brought them drinks.
"Has he gone to sleep?" Aaron asked.
The butler shook his head, and Aaron and Arthur understood without a word more. Nathaniel was drowning himself in drinks.
As the butler left, Aaron served wine, while Arthur was in deep thought.
"I believe you are not having any weird thoughts," Aaron commented as he passed him a glass of wine. "Your sister would not like it, and she will be the most hurt one."
Arthur knitted his brows. "Shall I say how annoyed I am feeling with how you understood my mind?"
"I know, but I won’t even allow you to think about it," Aaron said firmly.
Arthur closed his eyes in frustration. "Then I can only hope that the old bastard dies on his own, but things like him are meant to rot for long instead of dying."
"I know how you are feeling as a brother, but I will suggest you leave it to time," Aaron said. "Arlan said the same."
Arthur scoffed in self-mockery. "As if I have any other choice," and emptied the glass entirely.
-----
Meanwhile, inside Evie’s chamber.
She had freshened up and changed into a fresh set of night clothes with the help of servants. She was offered a meal before she went to sleep.
"My Lady, if you need anything, please pull the string by the headrest. I will be here to help you," the senior maid informed.
"Thank you, Cassie," Evie said politely and made herself comfortable.
As she lay in this new bed, inside an entirely unfamiliar chamber of the lady of this house, she stared at the ornate ceiling adorned with beautiful intricate carvings, and thin transparent cloth hung in the center, only to move down, spreading across the edge of the bed in a beautiful pattern.
It was new, but for some odd reason, she felt at peace. ’Maybe because I can call it my home,’ she wondered. ’My home.’
She looked towards the window and stared at the starry sky. It looked different from how she saw it in Griven. It was more beautiful, clear, and the stars seemed bigger and brighter in size.
She turned to face the window, enjoying the light breeze coming from it, inhaling deeply the scent of the air. She liked it.
’I know my life here won’t be like any married woman, and I would be living with a stranger. But at least, I will live here like it’s my own place, and no one will tell me what to do. I don’t expect anything more than this. I will be fine.’
She closed her eyes, letting herself drown in sleep, for the first time feeling like she was finally free.
