Chapter 32: What Her Heart Values Most

Blanche

The noble girl hurries inside the castle as fast as she can while wearing high heels. Eager to have the final touches done on her gorgeous white gown, then all preparations for their union will be completed. Just four more days await until she walks down that aisle, and her bubbling excitement can hardly be contained.

"I've arrived, My Prince!" Blanche throws her arms around the ash-blonde and squeezes him in a tight hug. This is her common greeting amongst close friends, even more so toward her beloved fiance. Although he usually tries to squirm from such affection, now doesn't move a muscle at the embrace. Perhaps, the boy is coming around to their woven destiny at last. 

"I'm so excited to try my wedding dress on again! It's only a few nights until I put it on for the ceremony, and after that, we'll begin a new life together in this palace. I'll get started right away so you can show me our bedroom, given we had skipped it during the previous tour." 

"...Blanche, before that, may I speak with you in private about something?" he asks, causing a slight damper on her cheery mood. 

"I suppose, if it won't take very long. This is our only date left prior to our big day." 

Her father goes off ahead to the queen's study to discuss any uncovered details concerning their deal. Wendell leads her the opposite direction to the castle balcony with a magnificent view. Being high up, the servants look so small as they continue their work, and the gentle breeze blowing against her skin feels nice on a hot afternoon.

The prince, however, has a distant gaze as his sights are pinned to the clear skies above. He seems more troubled than during their outing at the field games, and she is a bit worried about what could be weighing on his mind. The coronation ceremony is approaching which might be the cause of his distress, but what would that have to do with her?

"...We could call the wedding off this very moment," he declares, and the girl's amethyst eyes widen in pure surprise. 

"W-Wherever is this coming from? Are you saying this because your kingdom no longer needs hired men from Quincy? I'm relieved the war ended with no heavy casualties, but I did fear what it would bring..." A sigh escapes her, knowing she would be the perfect person to sit beside Wendell on that golden throne. "Has the red string connecting us not become a little visible to you?"

"Possibly, since I lost hope in my ideal future bride... I tarnished the valuable relationship I had with Kana, and she'll never accept a proposal from me. Therefore, it doesn't matter who's hand I will take in marriage. No one will ever capture my heart the way she did, but that doesn't mean you have to go through with this." 

Wendell glances back, a certain glimmer absent from his dull blue eyes. The prince speaks as if he is suggesting this for her sake and Blanche's heartbeat suddenly escalates. Not quite sure how to respond, she stays silent waiting for him to proceed. 

"I know you requested this, to begin with, and seem happy about our engagement. Still, if you decided you'd rather spend the rest of your life with another, then we can drop our planned ceremony today. Things may have changed for you in the past two months, and I'm fine attending the typical marriage banquet, upon reaching twenty. So, here and now, I'll ask you just once..." The ash-blonde faces her with quite a serious glint in his ocean irises. "Blanche, is this what you truly want?" 

His simple question sparks a strange feeling inside the noble girl's chest which, in turn, has her mind go utterly blank. What should have been a straightforward reply filled with tender words, rather leaves her struggling to form a single syllable. 

W-Why am I hesitating? Of course, this is what I want! I've dreamed of such a day since I was a little girl.

"...Yes, you needn't even ask me! I'm beyond thrilled about our union more than actions can explain. Your heartache for that peasant will soon pass, and the red thread between us will be much stronger. We'll rule the kingdom side-by-side and one day raise a family in this beautiful castle," she answers, though her proud confession oddly comes out a hardly audible whisper. 

"Alright then, I won't bring up this topic again." 

Just like that, Wendell disappears inside and the noble is all alone with her mixed emotions. His reply doesn't bring her cheer but results in a growing headache as their conversation invades her thoughts. Blanche slowly follows behind and the excitement she once held for her special day has faded. 

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The blazing sun beams down as the noble girl gradually walks along the deserted path. Not a figure is spotted--which she needs--to get some fresh air in peace. Blanche runs her hands across the soft flower petals while inhaling the sweet scent they let off. Zerek Cove's brilliant garden is the peaceful area to visit and release pinned-up stress. It reminds her so much of the one back home, and picking several flowers, she has a seat on the unoccupied bench. 

Today is the dawn of her awaited dream and presently should be getting dressed at the royal palace. However, needless doubts guided the girl to take a small detour beforehand. Ever since that unexpected chat with the prince, she isn't for certain what her heart desires.

Still able to recall the numeric steps, Blanche begins braiding a flower crown. She constantly made these as a child and cute memories starts to resurface. One in particular with a stubborn childhood friend that never failed to brighten her day... 

On a beautiful spring morning, two kids ran through the colorful flower meadow that stretched far as the eyes could see. Oliver's dad was working the fields until sundown which meant more time for them together. It instantly put the girl in a joyous mood, and she faced her friend with a huge smile. 

"It's my turn to decide our game! I say we will play...pretend! This is called a fair princess and her noble knight. I'll be the elegant princess trapped inside a castle full of raging beasts, longing for you, my loyal knight, to come and rescue me." 

"Naturally, you'd make up something boring like that rather than choosing a game of tag or hide and seek," he grumbled, but she had one extra detail that may just persuade him. 

"Also, we must find a trusted blade that my knight will wield." 

"Well, it is your turn to pick." 

His approval put their game into action so she found a large stick for him to use as a sword. Oliver swung fiercely at the imaginary monsters while she watched from her cell by the large tree. One powerful hit caused the knight to fake tumble through the grass and a worried gasp escaped her lips. 

"These fiends are...stronger than I anticipated." 

"Ah, Sir Oli! Please take my special charm!" Blanche held out one flower crown she made, but the boy only frowned at the headdress. "This will help protect you from their magic! Here, put it on quickly!" 

"No way I'm wearing some girly crown on top of my head! A knight is supposed to be cool and manly. B-Besides, I hate stuff like this with how my mom already treats me..."

"These are the rules to my game! You won't win the battle unless you wear a protective crown. So, I demand that you accept this right now," she ordered, but he simply scoffed at her demand. 

"Hah! My dad works for your family, I don't." 

Her stubborn friend tossed down the stick and then crossed his arms in protest as their game came to an abrupt pause. Blanche sniffled a bit while she fiddled with the pair of crowns that took much effort to make. The boy glanced back at her but once their eyes locked he quickly averted his gaze. 

"I-I just wanted us to match, Oliver. Won't you wear it at least for a little while, until our game is finished? Nobody else is even around to see," she quietly pleaded, and seconds later he let out a heavy sigh of defeat.

"Fine! You win, I'll put on the stupid crown. I'm only agreeing because I can't stand to hear you cry but just this once, okay?" 

Blanche's amethyst eyes sparkled as Oliver knelt in front of her, like a knight that upheld loyalty to his princess. She gently placed the flowers on his head and wore the additional crown crafted for herself. When the boy reclaimed his blade, their game continued and they played until the sun had gone down. 

Honestly, she was almost certain Oliver knew that her whine was no more than crocodile tears. The same attitude used to always get her way at home, yet he buckled and hadn't called out Blanche's obvious act. Did the girl somehow have him fooled or did he merely consent to return her smile? 

...

"Hey, earth to Blanche? Blanche!" Oliver's loud voice snaps her from the daydream, and it's as if her very thoughts have manifested him from thin air. 

"O-Oli, why are you here?" 

"You calling me by that nickname is a flash to the past. I had wrapped up my final patrol around the village and was just on my way home. The war has officially ended so knights returned to tackling smaller issues that arise. I'm fairly confident in my strength now and such noble acts aren't needed any longer." 

"I say you helped many people the time you've done patrols, regardless of your mother's opinion on the matter," she assures, but unlike the soft look by her encouragement before, he only lowers his serious gaze. 

"Shouldn't you be at the castle getting ready for your wedding? Guests will start arriving soon enough." 

The black-haired boy flops down beside her and having these conflicted emotions, he's the absolute worst person to discuss this problem with. 

"I simply craved a few minutes to collect my bearings. There will be various dignified nobles watching this royal marriage. Gardens like these have always been a sanctuary to me." 

"I'm shocked you didn't visit the one at the castle instead. After all, once you two exchange vows that garden, including his wealth and title will become yours. Now you can rule as a queen like you dreamed of back then," he replies and she forces a fragile smile.

"Yes, that was my dream..." The girl fiddles with the crafted crown in her hands, it a similar design to their matching pair all of those years ago. "I chose to come here because it reminded me of the meadow we used to play at for hours on end. Had a sweet trip down memory lane when I begged you to put on my silly crown, despite your objections. Why don't you wear this flower crown I just made for old times' sake?" 

"...If it wasn't for my mom forcing me to attend, I would've rejected your wedding invitation." 

This single sentence has Blanche's arms freeze midair as the hold on her crown loosens. 

"Aren't you curious about how I could possibly skip out on the most important day of my dear friend's life?" Oliver questions which triggers frustrated tears to blur her vision. 

"Even if I begged you to go, you wouldn't change your mind, right?" 

"Of course not and I'm sure you know why. I will not attend a wedding where you're taking anyone's hand but my own." Oliver touches his bare ring finger with the faintest hint of a blush on his cheeks. "I...have loved you ever since we were kids, and through the time we've spent apart that hasn't wavered." 

At his confession, the flower crown hits the ground and stingy tears escape her amethyst eyes. These aroused feelings are the reason her heart is in such turmoil on the once magical day she imagined as a little girl. A cross between the luxury that everyone yearns for in life, or a mutual love with her childhood friend whose very presence brings her joy. 

"You've made it quite clear our views on commitment couldn't be more different. Rather than based upon feelings from the heart, you instead focus on what all can be gained. To an avaricious person as yourself, vows mean absolutely nothing to you," Oliver spats, but she slowly shakes her head with each insult cracking her torn heart further.

"N-No, that's not true! I'm just really confused right now--ever since our reunion. I never expected to feel this way when setting up the engagement two months ago..." 

"Well, I'll make your decision an easy one." Oliver stands with his gaze pinned toward the ground as if he can't even bear to look at her face. "...At least this marriage satisfies the glamorous lifestyle I couldn't provide for you." 

The sullen boy walks away and leaves her dumbfounded by his parting words. Blanche came there in hopes to calm her conflicted heart, if only a moment. On the contrary, she's weighed with far greater stress than before as the noble girl rushes for the capital. 

...

After discussing the delay with the maids, Blanche returns to her guest room to wait for their assistance to properly dress. She isn't too surprised to find her younger cousin anxiously looking out a window. The bride excused herself to receive a short period alone but almost two hours have passed now. 

"Blanche, what have you been doing?! Palace workers kept searching all over and they told me to stay, just in case you came back on your own. I thought you were just stepping outside for a quick breather?" 

"Well, I lost track of time. Last-minute wedding jitters had occupied my mind but I'm perfectly refreshed. You should go given the maids will be here any second to commence my makeover." 

She gestures for Justus to hurry and take his exit, although the boy's hand fails to twist the doorknob. 

"Did you get distracted or were you having second thoughts?" 

Her face runs even paler than his snow-white complexion as zero energy remains to suffer through this meddling again. 

"You're the third person in a week to pry about my love life! I'm marrying the prince today and won't tolerate people trying to persuade me otherwise!" 

"...We shared a close bond as children and grew up to understand one another well. It's because you confronted me on my feelings for Saelufu that I gained the courage to confess. You hardly saw us spend much time together, besides the field games, yet knew by how I spoke of her just what I felt."

Justus wears a nostalgic smile as if the event has transpired ages ago. She was indeed able to read his affection for the dark dwarf easily. Unfortunately, with him better at observation; this surely goes both ways. 

"I'm not giving a tiresome lecture you've probably heard already, but you should wed the guy you love and who holds an equal affection for you. I think you and the prince both know that no such romance exists between the two of you. So what, that choice won't grant you to live in a fancy castle like this or rule over the kingdom. None of those things will matter because you'll be happy... I just want you to be happy, Blanche," he softly voices, and saying his piece, the younger disappears out of the room.

The girl's mental exhaustion affects her body as well, Blanche falling backward on the soft bed. Every conversation up till this point causes her heartache to increase to where it may just burst. Three boys each used their own approach, although the middle chat bothers her above the rest.

I poorly attempted to sever the indestructible red thread that connects you and me, Oliver.

...

The stuffy castle chapel is crammed with guests as the two teens stand hand-in-hand by the altar. Their wedding ceremony reaches its end, though Theodore's voice remains drowned out by her suffocating doubts. A contrasting mood, unlike the glee and adoration brides usually feel when marrying their significant other. 

"I do." 

Wendell's confirmation brings Blanche back to reality as the archbishop turns toward her next. 

Once again, the vows are repeated, and her sights drifts at their onlookers. She inevitably locks eyes with the black-haired boy sitting right across from them. Just one glimpse at his sorrowful expression causes the pang in her chest to resurface--averting her gaze. This union is difficult to finalize with his presence mere feet away.

Blanche blinks a few times realizing the archbishop is silent and requires her confirmation. The pressure has hit a maximum point, and for a second, she truly ponders the vows in her heart. Even knowing what indulgences this decision will subtract, there is but one irreplaceable person she can agree to ever wed. Finally coming to terms with these feelings, she faces the older gentleman without a hint of uncertainty. 

"I don't." 

"E-Excuse me?" he stutters, causing hush whispers to go around the room. 

"My selfish intentions were about to trap us in a loveless marriage neither you nor myself want." The indigo-haired girl gives her former fiance's hands a gentle squeeze, and then moves on to address their baffled guests. "I don't wish to commit to the prince but to another precious friend in this very room. Oliver Kensun is the male I hope to one day grow old alongside!" 

The murmurs escalate to full-blown chatter, yet Althelia appears rather pleased by her sudden declaration. Both of their parents' reactions are the most stupefied and Oliver's solely heartwarming. Mouth agape with his red flaming cheeks that nearly matches his scarlet color irises. 

"This ring belongs to Kana. Go propose to her, Your Highness." Blanche passes over the engagement ring from Theodore placing it in the prince's palm. Staring at the object, a spark of determination seems to have ignited in him. The ash-blonde's downcast look has been replaced with his heart ablaze, and he wears a tender smile she has never witnessed before. 

"Blanche, thank you." 

Wendell dashes out the chapel doors which makes her father immediately stand up in protest. 

"Slow down a minute! Sweetie, did you get a chance to think things through? I mean, I thought this life is what you always desired?" he inquires, but a pleasant calm that's been missing for weeks consumes the girl in white.

"Yes, I once believed that too." 

With the wedding ceremony now canceled, visitors slowly begin to depart. Blanche herself is pulled toward the exit as a familiar hand promptly grasps her wrist. Not a sound comes from either one until they're in a secluded place on the other side of the castle wall. Oliver continues to avoid eye contact, having her worry if he might still be upset.

"Um, I do apologize that I wasn't able to give you a proper answer at the garden. As the saying goes, better late than never." 

"Were you proposing just then?" 

"Pardon?" 

The noble girl is perplexed by his question and tries to recall the exact phrasing used. She spoke her hidden emotions entirely unplanned and can see his misconception, given their location. It sends her heart aflutter, Blanche gently touching his back which in turn has Oliver meet her flustered gaze. 

"I honestly hadn't intended it that way. S-Sure we were friends for years, but this doesn't mean leaping right into marriage! It wouldn't be considered legal anyways, and I have experienced firsthand how foolish that can be," she explains, and he runs fingers through his dark hair. 

"That's relieving to hear. I already stated my feelings for you, however, making such a commitment this soon is too huge a step. You are bold to proclaim your undying love in front of all those people." 

"Well, with the doting parents that raised me, I don't get embarrassed very easily. Further yet when the loving words I convey are the honest truth."

The two exchange small smiles at this and the moment is just too perfect to be real. That's all until insecurities zaps away her initial joy. Perhaps, Oliver's the person who hasn't fully explored his many romantic options. Blanche hates to admit how much of a bother she could be, and they have drifted apart once in times past. 

"...Oli, are you positive you wish to court a girl like myself? Despite my charming qualities, I can act spoiled, stubborn, and a tad clingy. Would you care to have someone like that as a possible future bride?" 

Blanche's genuine concern has him bellow over in laughter and she lets out a huffing breath. 

"I'm being quite serious, I have you know!" 

"Sorry, but are you aware this is of no news to me? Those negative aspects I've learned to tolerate and nor am I some package deal, yet we form a good pair. Regardless of whatever problems arise, we'll tackle them together," he assures, which curves a grin on her glossed lips. 

"That's right. A new chapter starts for us today." 

Without warning, Oliver's arms pull the girl close who melts in the warm embrace of being held by her best friend--now something far more than that. 

"Even though you didn't obtain the royal title, you'll forever be a princess in my eyes. As your loyal knight, I'll do anything to protect this smile." 

His whispered promise makes her vision clouded but these emotions swelling is of pure happiness. 

"Are you aiming to make me cry and ruin my makeup? After all that has occurred, I greedily crave more than a mere hug. At the pageant, I abided by your request, and you must repay the gesture." 

"As you command, Princess."

Oliver swipes a tear threatening to trickle down her cheek, then moves in for the long-awaited kiss. Neither can predict what crises will lay ahead down this rocky path called

romance. Nonetheless, the red thread binding them can withstand anything which comes their way. 



A/N This is the final side relationship conclusion. The remaining chapters will only be from Wendell's POV.