Chapter 7

"Bella, are you done yet?"

"Not yet," Arabelle responded as her maids helped her into her wedding dress.

Arabelle looked down at the beautiful lace that adorned her.

The dress was stunning, it was in a ball gown style, with off-shoulder sleeves. It displayed her artful collar bones, the fabric fit against her perfectly showing off her assets to the fullest.

Classy, yet it was elegant at the same time.

Arabelle twirled in front of the mirror and watched as the dress swayed with her, glistening under the light.

The sweetheart neckline was crisp and neat before flowing out to slightly puffy and pleated off-shoulder sleeves. The skirt was large and puffy.

Arabelle felt like a princess. She couldn't believe it, she was going to get married.

Is this what fate had planned for her?

Arabelle sighed, twirling around in the dress.

She had always been the type not to worry about things if she didn't need to. Things like faith, religion, and rebirth were things that were completely foreign to her. She probably wouldn't have even given them a second thought had she not experienced it herself.

Why was she here? Why did she have her memories?

Arabelle pinched herself.

Why was she having a crisis right before she walked down the aisle?

Arabelle frowned at herself in the mirror, pointing at herself in contempt, "Get a hold of yourself," she whispered meaningfully, this was just the beginning.

There was still a long way to go, a lifetime to go.

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"I can't believe Victor is getting married," Arthur murmured.

"I know right?" Elias responded looking around the grandly decorated hall.

Gold and white decorations very delicately adorned the walls and seats of the room as equally well-adorned. Glamorously dressed wedding guests chatted amongst themselves, all no doubt, both influential and noble.

"The girls back at The Academy would probably cry," Elias continued facing Arthur," He never really talked about his fiancé, do you think he dislikes her?"

"I'm not sure," Arthur replied looking towards the altar where Victor was standing," He did invite us though, maybe the topic just never came up."

"What, "Elias rolled his eyes," That he was going to get married?"

Before Arthur could respond, the crowd quieted down as the bride was about to enter.

Arthur turned and gasped, he would have been embarrassed if not nearly all of the people present had done the same thing.

The bride was gorgeous. A graceful figure in a delicate yet grand white wedding gown daintily walked down the aisle. Platinum blond hair glowed like molten moonshine and was beautifully placed with various jewelry and small flowers. A small yet surreal face had a small smile as she looked towards the man on the alter.

"Wow," Elias murmured, echoing Arthur's thoughts as the bride made her way towards the altar.

Victor had a rare smile on his face as he held a hand towards the bride.

Then the priest started the sermon.

After receiving the affirmative answers from both parties, the priest announced, "Now I declare you both, husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Victor bent down to place a kiss, the air was both magnanimous and sweet. Bells rang signifying the coming together of a couple and Arthur looked on with complex eyes.

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"Were you nervous?" Victor asked as they received blessings from everyone.

Arabelle nodded," It would have been weird if I wasn't," she replied," but I'm also a little relieved."

Victor nodded in understanding," Well, it's over now," he said, but then smiled playfully," But the fun's only beginning. After all, there is the other ceremony at night..."

Arabelle glared at Victor, her eyes relaying, 'Shut up, or I'll stab you!' To her new husband.

Victor chuckled, it was quite fun to poke and make fun of Arabelle.

"Victor!" two young men suddenly appeared before them.

One was a tall young man with blonde hair and green eyes while the other was a redhead with sharp blue eyes.

"Ah, Arabelle," Victor explained," These are my friends from the Academy, Arthur and Elias," he said gesturing to them in turn.

The main character and his friend! Arabelle studied the two young men before greeting them respectfully," I'm glad to finally be able to meet Victor's classmates."

"The pleasure is ours milady!" Elias said enthusiastically," We congratulate you on your marriage!"

"Oh, thank you, thank you," Arabelle said good-naturedly," You can continue to talk to each other, I'm sure there is much to catch up on. I have some ladies who are waiting for me," Arabelle said. and politely expressed her goodbyes.

"Victor!" Elias exclaimed after Arabelle left," Why didn't you tell us you had such a beautiful fiancé????!!!!!"

Victor looked at Elias who was grumbling," Why? So someone could steal her before I married her? No chance." Victor said flatly.

"That's not what I meant!" Elias said dismayed but didn't question it further seeing how much of a vinegar jar Victor seemed to be when it came to his wife.

Arthur smiled, it seems as though Victor really likes Arabelle, but what about Claire at the academy? Thinking about it, Arthur couldn't find a time that Victor actually said or had done anything implying that he liked Claire, but it had been rumored so he had assumed so. Well, one should never blindly believe rumors.

He'll have to tell everyone the same when he went back.

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Arabelle had bathed and changed into a nice night gown when Victor came back to the mansion from entertaining the wedding guests.

"You're back," she said, slightly nervous.

Victor nodded,"I'll take a bath first," he called on the servants who quickly brought in hot water and dismissed them, soon Arabelle could hear water being poured in the bathroom.

Arabelle sat n the bed, she was nervous. She has never been physically close to anyone before, other than Victor that is. But was she ready for the next step? There was no going back after this.

More importantly, she didn't want children yet! A child would not only ruin all of their plans, but make it difficult for them as well. It was not safe enough.

If she were to get pregnant, it would consolidate Victor's position as heir and make her mother in law anxious. What if Rosaline tried to poison or give her medicine? She needed to take precautions of everything she ate, every gift she is given and much more. It made her head ache just thinking about it. It was better to quickly go to the academia.

As Arabelle was pondering, Victor came out of the bathroom in only a thin robe.

He sat down next to her," What are you thinking of?"

"How I can't get pregnant yet," she replied quite frankly.

Victor chuckled and brought her in for a hug," I know, it's not safe to have a child yet."

Victor lowered his head and took a deep breath on her collarbone," Bit we can do other things..."

"Bella..." Victor whispered," It's our wedding night... after a few days we have to go our separate ways again, let's leave each other a good memory okay?"

"What good memory can two amateurs who don't know much give?" Arabelle said, nonetheless, she didn't refuse.

She hooked her arms around Victor, hugging the strong, young body and went up for a kiss. Victor chuckled, and deepened the kiss, his hands softly caressed her body.

Although the two didn't pierce the last boundary, they explored each other for a long time.