248: From bacheloress to bride

From bacheloress to bride

Music recommendation: Yüksek Yüksek Tepelere (arr. Reentko) [acoustic].0

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Adelaide de Lanark was a proud Emorian woman through and through. She did not share the ideologies of Kolihsan women who saw their freedom as something they sacrificed upon marrying the man their heart and mind had chosen. Consequently, she doubted her ability to cry during the farewell ceremony.

As Adela glided forward, the train of her red gown swept behind her. On her right, the Archduchess walked with an air of solemnity, dressed in somber black attire. On her left was her older sister, many emotions taking turns on her beautiful face—pride for her sister's strength, happiness for her impending marriage, and inescapable sadness at the thought of their inevitable separation.

As the three finally stood in front of the huge wooden doors, the knights bowed deeply, and the doors were slowly opened.

The grand celebration hall of the Archduke's manor was different from its usual state. There were no elaborate decorations, and the bright mana-powered chandeliers were deliberately left inactivated. Instead, the hall was dimly lit by candlelight. The small flames on the ground and walls seemed to take on a life of their own, resembling ethereal beings that had gathered for this event, which felt more like a lamentation than a joyous celebration of bachelorhood's final days.

"Are you all right, dear?" Grace whispered, leaning close to Adela's veiled face. The light condition made it impossible to discern any of her expressions beneath the transparent fabric.

"Yes." She said without thinking too much about it or making eye contact with all the noblewomen who formed an open circle around the hall. Everything felt eerie, more like a forbidden ritual taking place.

A lamb for the slaughter.

The words twisted and turned in her head, made all the worse by Aldric's anger-suppressed tone.

"We are here for you, Adela," Larissa said, sensing her sister's distress.

The women of House de Lanark led their bride to the exact middle of the hall and assisted her in adjusting her layered gown so she could gracefully settle into the only chair present. As she looked up, her eyes immediately fell on the figure of the Kolihsan Princess, who stood tall and imposing, a commanding presence among the other women. The princess's expression held a deep sense of respect as she regarded the bride with eyes that gleamed with understanding.

"Thank you," Adela murmured softly beneath her veil, expressing her gratitude to the princess who had assisted the Baroness in preparing the correct traditional farewell ceremony, identical to what the royalty of Kolhis performed. She assumed that Sasha wouldn't be able to hear her words, but to her surprise, there was a responding nod from the princess.

With a gesture of Sasha's hand, the noblewomen encircled Adela, and it was clear that they had performed this act several times before, as they moved with practiced precision. The young veiled bride clutched the arms of the chair, her heart racing in anticipation until Sasha took a deep breath and began singing a Kolihsan folk song in an angelic voice that infused the space with a unique sense of grandeur and sorrow.

To the high hills, to the white mountains, I went, my love. My heart aches, it aches, but you are not aware...

I searched the valleys, I searched the valleys, my love. For you, my love, my soul, but you are not aware...

A sudden wave of emotion washed over Adela, one that caused her eyes to sting. It was a pain that belonged to her but hadn't fully taken root yet. She felt as though she had transformed into an avatar of the woman in the song. In that moment, Egon seemed so distant, and she felt utterly lost without him, as if she were searching alone for him in a land far beyond Lanark.

I wandered the roads, I wandered the roads, my love. In search of you, my heart, but you are not aware...

My tears, my tears, they flow like a river. Yet you do not see, my love, my pain...

As Sasha's voice flowed like the broken notes of a wounded flute, the noblewomen joined in, repeating the verses she had started from the top. Lady de Lanark, adorned in a resplendent red gown, sat motionlessly on her comfortable chair placed at the heart of the hall. And just like in the folk song, her tears began to trickle down beneath the veil.

The ceremony continued with Sasha handing the lead to Baroness Frieda, who skillfully guided the noblewomen in singing traditional Emorian folk chants. These songs —far from romantic— depicted the people's struggle for freedom, dreams of a prosperous kingdom, and wishes for a long and joyful life for their King and his family.

As the farewell ceremony approached its end, Princess Sasha made her way to the center of the circle where Adela sat. With gentle hands, she removed the veil from the bride's face. Noblewomen who laid their eyes on the bride gasped, for Lady Adelaide wore a flushed and beautiful countenance, marred with tears that traced down her cheeks, smudging her smoky makeup.

"Lady Adelaide, may happiness always be with you!"

"Our pure-hearted Lady, we love you!"

"Lady Adelaide, you are so beautiful..."

In that hall, pretentious greetings and glamorous lights faded away. The absence of gossip and elaborate attire dissolved, leaving only genuine emotions. These women, regardless of their status as single, married, mothers, or expecting, were united in a simple and honest display of support. The space between happiness and sadness merged as they celebrated the bride-to-be.

The Archduchess herself broke tradition and pulled her daughter into a tight, heartfelt hug. Following her lead, one by one, the noblewomen approached and offered their warm wishes to Lady Adelaide. Many, including Princess Sasha, held her hand or embraced her briefly before they left the hall.

Amidst the affectionate farewells, Adela's eyes occasionally glanced towards a nearby window, feeling the pull in her heart. She knew her groom was behind those walls, missing her just as she missed him. He, too, was a part of this peculiar ritual. He never left her alone.

Adelaide de Lanark...

Adelaide de Lanark von Conradie...

She found herself repeating the last thought in her mind, attempting to grow accustomed to a much longer name. With only two days left, a completely new chapter in her life awaited.

The farewell ritual, like a tender prelude, set the perfect tone for her journey ahead.

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