Chapter 45: The Wedding Reception

Following the ceremony, all the guest made their way to the ballroom. Refreshments and appetizers were served while all the fancy folks mingled. On a slightly raised platform was a table for the newlywed couple and their families. Marquis Dupont, Veronica and the entire Cassell family shared the table with them as they looked out into the massive crowd of important guests. 

The first people to offer their congratulations were General Rapp, General Bertrand and Grand Admiral Nelson. All dressed in their military uniforms, the men approached the couple. These men were the pillars of the Luxenberg military and were close subordinates of Victor. 

All 3 in unison bowed and congratulated the couple. Next followed some of the other dukedoms' families who had come from all corners of the Bulgar continent. Some families had just arrived that day after arduous months on the road. 

The couple appreciated such an effort to join them on their special day and offered their sincere gratitude for it. Although all these families did not share a border with the Luxenberg Dukedom, they were willing to build bonds of friendship with the young duke.

After entertaining dozens of guests the couple were called to the middle of the ballroom for their first dance. Victor grabbed Clarisse's hand and began to escort her to the middle of the ballroom. The musicians started to play their instruments and with a nervous smile at each other, the couple began to dance.

 Their first dance as husband and wife was everything they'd hoped for – intimate, romantic, and filled with the quiet joy of a shared moment. He led, she followed, their steps perfectly synchronized, a testament to the practised moves they had learned from their teachers.

As the music swelled, their dance became more passionate, their bodies moving closer, the unspoken connection between them palpable. Victor dipped Clarisse gracefully, her breath catching in her throat momentarily before she laughed, a bright, melodic sound that filled the small space they occupied. They were lost in their own little world, oblivious to the other guests celebrating around them. 

The music ended, leaving a pregnant silence before a burst of applause from their well-wishers. Victor and Clarisse, their faces flushed, held each other close for a long moment before slowly separating, smiles still lingering on their lips. 

With their first dance finished they returned to their table to rest while others indulged in some dancing. Many young heirs of dukedoms asked Veronica to dance. Annoyed by the constant offers to dance by men she did not like, Veronica stood up and asked her cousin, Harys Cassell to dance. Even the likes of General Rapp and Grand Admiral Nelson were on the dance floor.

Everyone was having a good time and enjoying the celebrations. The atmosphere was splendid and the party itself exuded a blissful aura. That was until a family of 5 walked into the ballroom.

Missing the ceremony, these latecomers had everyone fall silent. Many guests cleared a path from the entrance to the table where the newlywed couple were sitting. Generals Rapp and Bertrand, along with Grand Admiral Nelson began to wade through the sea of guests, making their way close to their Lord and Lady.

Due to the silence the sound of each step they took echoed throughout the ballroom. Dressed in lavish clothing the family bore a black raven crest embroidered onto their clothes. Leading the family was a tall imposing man accompanying a smaller and elegant woman, behind them were 3 boys all separated by a few years each.

Their hair was short, except for the woman who had wavy long hair. Coloured a deep black, their hair was as black as the ravens on their clothes. Walking up to the table, the family of 5 offered a tiny bow and congratulated the couple on their wedding.

Cedric Dupont who was sitting at the table tried to hide his burning rage, the sight of that family stoked the embers of malice in his heart. Forcing a neutral expression, Cedric composed himself. 

The main figure in the family, in a deep cool voice, began to speak. "Congratulations on your wedding Duke Luxenber. This is the first time we have met, I am Grand Duke Osmund Maximillian. This is my wife Beatrice and our 3 sons, Osbert, Osiris and Benedict." 

Seeing his future enemy and his family made Victor feel uneasy, to think that 1 of the 3 top families in the Bulgar continent had made the trip to visit him at his wedding. Unsure of how to interpret his new visitors, Victor responded in a polite manner.

"It is a pleasure to meet you and your lovely family Grand Duke Maximillian. On behalf of me and my family, I welcome you all to my humble palace. I believe you already know my wife and her father, Clarisse Luxenberg and Marquis Cedric Dupont," Victor said while looking back at them.

To maintain a positive image, both rose out of their seats and bowed slightly. Cedric, who was using every fibre of his being to refrain from an outburst, spoke to a long-time acquaintance and neighbour. "It is nice to see you after almost a few years, Grand Duke Maximillian. I hope the travel was not too arduous."

"Come now Cedric, there is no need to be so formal, it is your daughter's wedding. Given how long we have known each other we can act casual. At a time we were close to becoming family, but now it seems your daughter has found an excellent husband." Osmund Maximillian said cheerily, subtly landing a few jabs at the Marquis.

He might not have shown it but the Grand Duke was displeased with the union of the families. It meant that a potential rival now had a power similar to his. Hiding his true intentions the Grand Duke continued to converse with Victor. 

"I am glad me and my family were invited to such a lovely wedding. When we heard that you and Clarisse…I mean Duchess Luxenberg were to be married, my family were thrilled. My sons and Cedric's children had spent some time together in their youth, so the boys were insistent on attending such a wonderful occasion." 

"Me and my wife are grateful for you and your family to travel here and celebrate with us. I do apologise for not coming and meeting with you sooner, but due to the post-war tasks and planning the wedding, I have been extremely busy. I do hope that in the coming months, I will be able to visit you and your family in your territory," Victor replied warmly, acting oblivious to the clear lies that spat from the Grand Duke's venomous mouth.

"I would like that very much, in fact, I was planning to broach a proposition to you when you visited, but now that I am here and the subject of my request is before me I would like to ask it," Grand Duke Maximillian said positively.

Hesitant to discuss this in public, Victor had no choice but to indulge the Grand Duke and gestured for him to say what his proposition was. With an uncomforting smile shared by the Maximillian family, Osmund began to speak.

"Why not solidify our friendship through a bond of marriage,"