The Royal Wedding

Queen Anna stared at the mirror as the palace maids fixed the train of her wedding gown. She wore her blond hair in a bun with a few strands framing her face. A tiara with the biggest blue diamond she had ever seen adorned her head. She thought it was totally unnecessary for her to have something so frivolous after the third war but it was a gift from the Kouri king so she had to wear it out of respect. The last time she was staring at herself this long was during her engagement ball with Ren. Now, she was going to marry him.

"Your Grace, I think it would be better if you wear something around your neck." A palace maid suggested as she handed her several jewelry boxes.

The blond queen opened each box and handed back the ones that she did not like. She never cared for jewelry anymore so she was having a hard time choosing. Finally, she came to the last box which contained two necklaces: one with a single-rose pendant and another that looks similar but has a three-rose pendant. She almost laughed. Even for something as simple as a piece of jewelry, she just had to choose between these two. She snapped the box shut and gave it back to the palace maid.

"Thank you but I think I am good. You have dressed me up rather elegantly." She gave the servant a smile so she won't feel rejected.

One of the palace maids rushed to the door when they all heard someone knocked. "Your Highness, someone wants to talk with you. He says he's the king of Kasai."

Queen Anna tried to keep her cool. It was Ren's idea to provide guest rooms for other royal bloods in the Kaminari palace in case they arrive early for the wedding. Now she's being pestered by her least favorite monarch.

"Tell him, I'm busy and I'll just talk to him during the wedding feast."

The palace servant nodded and opened the door again. The queen could hear her apologizing to Hao who did not insist and just went away. It seemed like he easily gave up. It was so uncharacteristic of him but maybe he had another plan brewing. Perhaps she would ask Ryuu to observe his king for the rest of the day.

Inside the Kaminari king's royal chamber...

King Ren was fixing his hair in front of a mirror in his bedroom. He had sent the palace servants away as soon as he had fully suited up. He needed that time alone to think. Lyserg asked him something about Jeanne two weeks ago and it had been bothering him ever since. His friend did not elaborate probably out of guilt but he had this sickening feeling that he knew what it was. He had tried to shut out the thoughts in his head but they were haunting him especially when he was with Anna. He had not told her about that particular night of the Royal Friendship Ball while she had told him everything about Yoh Asakura minus the part where she fell in love with him. His fiancée never admitted her true feelings for the Kasai prince but he knew anyway. Still, they were both keeping secrets from each other. It's definitely not a good way to start a marriage.

His musings was interrupted by a soft knock on the door. "Your Highness, Her Majesty, the queen of Kouku is here." The palace guard stationed by his room announced.

"Let her in, please..."

The door was slowly opened and the beautiful Queen Anna made a glamorous entrance in her wedding gown. King Ren ogled at her for a minute.

"The ceremony will start soon. What's keeping you here?" The Kouku royal placed her hands on her hips. "I am the one wearing this dress so I needed more preparation time than you. Wait... are you having second thoughts?" his wife-to-be teased him.

"Of course not. Shall we?" The Tao king offered his arm which she took.

They walked towards the Kaminari throne room where the ceremony will be held. During the wedding rites, Anna would be crowned as queen of Kaminari and Ren as king of Kouku. As decreed, the would rule their respective kingdoms side by side.

The wooden doors of the throne room were closed behind them as soon as the couple entered. Court musicians began to play a solemn hymn. They walked slowly towards the throne where the former Kouri king, Lycan Usui stood. He would be the officiator of today's ceremony. As per tradition, this should have been one of their fathers but Hideki Kyouyama had been dead for more than a year while Yuan Tao had been exiled from Kaminari.

Anna and Ren spotted their friends and family seated on both sides of the room. The Usui siblings, Lyserg, Chocolove and Tamao were beaming at them from the right. The Kouku queen was especially surprised that Tamao was there. She had not expected that the girl would accept the invitation. It was the first time that Yoh's ex-fiancee smiled at her, too.

Anna saw Queen Keiko Asakura, her parents, Manta and Ryuu on the left. They returned her smile when their eyes met. Three rows from behind them sat King Hao Asakura who appeared to be sleeping even though the weddings rites have not yet started! The blond girl clicked her tongue. There's no way he's going to ruin her mood.

King Ren's mother, Queen Regent Ran Tao sat in front of the aisle with her daughter, Princess Jun. They were wiping what she believed were happy tears from their eyes. The rest of the guests were composed of military generals and heads of affluent clans all over the four kingdoms.

"Your Majesties, ladies, and gentlemen, may I present to you, Queen Anna Kyouyama of Kouku, and King Ren Tao of Kaminari." Lycan Usui began the ceremony as soon as the couple have reached the throne. "We are here today to witness their union in front of the Great Spirit. Before I start the rites, could anyone against this marriage please stand up?"

Lycan Usui scanned the room with his eyes. The wedding guests remained seated. "Since everyone's pleased with this union, I will continue---".

"Wait!" King Hao finally woke up from his nap.