The Wedding Day

When Lord Nathan Kirstein got married, the Kirstein family prepared it for three months. It was incomprehensible to them how a good wedding day could be prepared in only four days.

Then again, Lady Giselle was not marrying someone merely rich. She's marrying the emperor. The day before the wedding, palace officers came to decorate the Kirstein's massive house complex.

When Lord Nathan married, the decoration took two weeks to prepare. The palace officers finished it in one day.

Kirstein's family kitchen and maids prepared the feast, but the palace sent food and drinks that were five times more lavish.

The bride, however, was not fussing about the wedding details. Her family did. They wanted to show that Lady Giselle was worthy for the emperor. The lady herself was more concerned about life after the wedding day.

She was saying goodbye to her academy. It was her baby. She loved it very much. She would still train the teachers but it wouldn't be the same. The emperor had told her she could train the nobles and the royal court ladies, but she was still unsure about it.

After her wedding, she would not be Lady Giselle anymore. She'd be the wife of a man. Not just any man, but the emperor. In a year, she might already be a mother.

Would I be a good wife, would I be a good mother?

How would life at the palace be? How difficult would it be? Would she be happy?

More than the wedding day, her dresses and how lavish it would all be, she was more concerned about preparing for life after the wedding.

She spent all day before her wedding praying at a temple with Alice. Praying for strength and happiness. Praying that she'd be able to be a good wife. Praying that Emperor Liam would always be kind, warm and loving their whole life.

It concerned her that they met only twice before their wedding. Other couples in their era did it too, but Lady Giselle was not like other ladies.

Some couples were already betrothed since childhood. They sent letters and met each other for years before marriage.

They knew each other well before their wedding day.

She and the emperor didn't have that.

Then again, she told herself overthinking was not good. She could only think positively. Optimism was the only thing that could give her strength.

In the name of my ancestors, I will be a good wife for the emperor. Please make him a good husband for me as well.

*******************

The wedding day finally arrived.

In the morning, Emperor Liam went in a parade with his courtiers and soldiers to traditionally pick up Lady Giselle from her house. He was wearing a blue wedding robe.

Lord Kirstein's family and relatives were all nervous and worried that they might break a protocol they didn't know and decided to follow whatever the Emperor and his entourage did. But it was the emperor himself that would break protocols.

First, the couple's mothers should light a red and blue candle to signal the ceremony had begun.

Everyone thought it would be a Senior Royal Court Lady from his side, since the Queen Mother never left the palace. But to everyone's surprise, the emperor brought Princess Eugenie, his own sister!

The Princess only gravitated between the imperial palace, her husband's palace, the temple or the summer and winter palace. To see her in Lady Kirstein's house was most extraordinary!

She was the one who carried the emperor's blue candle and lit it together with Lady Giselle's mother.

"Pleased to meet you, Madam Kirstein."

"Oh my, I am more pleased, Your Majesty!" Madam Kirstein replied.

When the Princess saw Lady Giselle, she smiled warmly, making Lady Giselle bow to her, despite her intricate head

decoration.

The Emperor then gave Madam Kirstein a goose, to symbolize his loyalty. A goose mate for life. It's a part of the

ceremony. But between wealthy families in that era, usually it's just a formality. It's so common for grooms to give a goose to the bride's mother, then find a mistress a year later, when the bride becomes pregnant.

Kirstein family weas sensible. Lord Kirstein and Lord Nathan had only one wife. But the emperor had two wives already.

Despite promises to make Lady Giselle a queen, they prepared themselves that he might have a fourth or fifth wife.

However, the emperor was all about making sure his sincerity was understood that day, despite breaking protocols and traditions.

To Madam Kirstein, he said, "I deeply apologize, Madam, that your daughter is not my first. But I swear, in the name of my ancestors, she will be my last. No matter what storms we will face, I will forsake all others. I will still respect my two wives, but your daughter will be the only one I touch from this day onwards."

It was an insane declaration. It was bold and scandalous. What about his previous wives' families? If they heard this, wouldn't they be offended? What if taking a fourth or fifth wife would benefit the empire? Would he not do that?

No, he wouldn't.

The next step was for the bride and groom to wash their hands. Alice and another maid brought a copper basin filled with water.

It was to symbolize their purity before they started the main ceremony.

As per tradition, Lady Giselle waited for him to finish washing his hands first.

But he said, "After you."

"But it shouldn't be like that!" she whispered.

"You're the one who enters this marriage in purity. I have sinned against you, my Lady. You first, I'll wash after you."

Lady Giselle turned to her parents. They were both stunned with the emperor's statement.

Then her mother said, "Just do it! Quick!"

So Lady Giselle washed her hands in the copper basin, and afterwards, the emperor followed.

The madam of the ceremony, Lady Giselle's aunt, announced, “Bow three times to the Kirstein's family ancestors.

"Is it alright for you to bow so many times, Your Majesty?" Lady Giselle asked.

"It's alright."

And he bowed with her, three times, facing the incense table where they put name placards of her ancestors.

"Bow three times to Lady Giselle's parents."

They did it together.

"Please face each other."

They turned and faced each other.

"Bride, bow three times to your husband. First bow."

She bowed.

"Second bow."

She prepared to bow, but the emperor moved forward and stopped her.

"Once is enough, my Lady."

"But the tradition--"

"I don't want it. Once is enough."

Her eyes widened, everyone became silent. Even her aunt was speechless.

Lady Giselle turned to her mother.

"Just listen to him."

"Bridegroom, bow once to your wife."

No men in that era bowed low to their wives. It's a very patriarchal culture. If the emperor just nodded his head, no one

would have complained.

But he bowed low to her, until his head was parallel with his waist.

Everyone couldn't believe it and muttered, "Oh my, he bowed so low!"

When he stood up straight, he saw she had tears on her cheeks.

"Sister, hand me your handkerchief."

Princess Eugenie, who got carried away as well, needed several seconds to get it before she handed her handkerchief.

The emperor moved forward and dried Lady Giselle's tears.

"Don't cry, my Queen. I'll always be good to you."

People were covering their mouths with their hands by that point.

But Lady Giselle only saw and heard her husband.

"Thank you so much, Your Majesty. I'll do my best to make you happy."

He smiled. "You already have."