Chapter 35
The wedding
Every single soul in the room disappeared the moment Adalia stepped through the glass door entrance. All the nerves that had racked his body dispersed, and peace washed over him as Matthias watched her gracefully proceed towards him on the ivory carpet. A string quartet softly played a tune to the right of the seated crowd, its melody drifting through the atmosphere. Hundreds of guests were in attendance and it humbled Matthias to see how many people loved Adalia.
His mother grinned at him from the front row, her blue eyes alight with joy, her radiant blonde hair piled on her head in a mass of curls. She wore a fitted, pale pink gown, constructed of dupion silk with an elegant necklace of pearls that sat upon her pale skin.
Matthias smiled back. Even though they hadn’t spent a lot of time together yet, he felt like he’d known her for years. Knowing she was here in Lucius was such a comfort to him. When he’d visited her before proposing to Adalia, Hadassah had given him the diamond for the engagement ring and James at the Blazing Anvil had set it into the thin gold band.
Matthias had carried the ring around in his pocket for a solid week before finding the courage to propose. He knew he wanted it to be intimate, just the two of them–together in a moment of honest and raw love. Adalia didn’t seem to be a flashy woman who paraded herself to the world, so, after Shiloh and Nikolas left from dinner, he knew it was the perfect time.
Never in his life had he ever imagined that someone would love him the way Adalia did. Sometimes he still needed to remind himself that this was real . . . that she was real. And never did he think that one day, he would propose to someone he loved with every fibre in his body. Yet, here she was, walking towards him, with the biggest smile on her beautiful face.
The months leading up to the wedding weren’t filled with stress or intense planning. Adalia and Matthias had both agreed to keep it elegant and simple. They’d done everything together, from choosing the decor, to cake tasting, and picking the menu for the catering, which Matthias secretly couldn’t wait to devour later.
The only details that they’d kept secret from one another were the wedding attire and the flowers that Adalia would carry down the aisle, leaving those surprises for the day itself.
Matthias had worn a white suit, black shirt and a peacock blue tie with a matching kerchief in his jacket pocket. A black silk rose boutonniere on his jacket lapel completed his outfit. A salute to where he came from, to where he was now. Nikolas made sure Matthias’s hair was styled and his black leather shoes were polished.
Adalia’s brother stood proudly beside Matthias in an all-black suit, with matching tie and kerchief to the prince’s. Both Matthias and Adalia agreed that a small wedding party was all they wanted, so Adalia asked Shiloh to be her maid of honour and Matthias asked Nikolas if he’d be the best man. Over-the-top squeals of delight had erupted from Shiloh and Nikolas had grinned. Both accepted the invitation instantly.
As Shiloh walked the carpet in front of Adalia, Matthias smiled at her. She looked stunning in her black silk satin dress, which stopped just above her knee. The thin straps lay daintily against her mocha-coloured skin, and she carried a scrumptious bouquet of pure white peonies. Her hair floated around her shoulders like white cotton candy, the waves cascading down her back. She smiled at the prince as she approached the end of the aisle, her violet eyes filled with happiness.
The music changed tempo as Adalia walked towards him, her hand hooked around her father’s arm, who looked remarkably proud of his daughter.
Drawing in a breath, Matthias marvelled at the vision that approached.
Adalia was breathtaking.
He was so pleased they’d kept their wedding attire secret because seeing her now was worth the wait. She wore a white, fitted gown that hugged her hips, cinched in at the waist with the skirt flaring out as it reached the ground. Tulle sleeves wrapped themselves around her slim arms and, from top to bottom, the entire gown covered in the most delicately beaded lace, almost like a spider’s web. Her hair was arranged in a loose, low bun at the back of her neck, with a few soft wavy tendrils framing her face. Tucked into the top of her bun was a thin white veil that stretched out behind her.
Matthias teared up when he realised that, in her hand, she carried a bunch of white, ruffled roses, the stems bound in a black ribbon, an acknowledgement that roses were his favourite.
In his mind, he paused time. He needed to grasp the moment. He’d come from years of pain. A place where his father told him he’d never be worthy of love and that he was a disappointment. A place Matthias thought he would never, ever leave. To this very moment. Thrust into a world of acceptance. A place where he was worthy and people loved him.
Adalia loved him.
The rest of the ceremony was a blur. As the couple exchanged rings, there wasn’t a dry eye in the chapel while they spoke their vows. When it came time for the kiss, Matthias eagerly took his bride in his arms and kissed her soundly. The room cheered and threw white and gold confetti over the couple as they walked back down the aisle.
To Matthias, this day had been the most magical moment he’d ever experienced, and if he had to live his past life again—the bad parts included, he would do it . . . over and over, if it meant finding her every time.
She was his better half, and he was going to treasure her for the rest of his existence.