"Such a cry baby," he scolded to her gently, a smile on his lips as if knowing why she was crying and not needing the confirmation through words on what her answer was. But he wanted to hear them.
"I am sorry," she mumbled in his chest, the warmth of him calming her down as it reminded her of what home felt like even if they were not there in the mansion.
"What are you asking sorry?"
"I don't have anything to give you," she said pulling back to look at him. It seemed that since the past twenty-four hours she had done nothing but cry.
"I don't need anything from you. Just you would do," he said, tucking her hair behind her ear, "I mean it," he said when she gave the look of a lost puppy. Giving her a rea.s.suring smile, Leonard turned to look at the Sister who was smiling at them. As if she were reminiscing something of her own past which had brought a smile on her lips.
He waited for the white witch's word, and the small smile finally broke into a wide one as she said, "Alright, you children with love. Come here. I hope you'll be holding a grand wedding after this, Duke Leonard. It would be a shame not see you both wed in the right clothes and blessing from others."
"There will be one in the future, a grand one. I wouldn't want to miss Vivian in a white gown being the most beautiful bride," he said with promise and hope as he looked at Vivian, "Can you wait for that?" he asked her. He hadn't considered about what Vivian wanted but now that Sister Isabelle mentioned about it he asked for her opinion.
He saw her shake her head immediately as if she had already decided what she wanted, "I don't need a big wedding," and she wasn't saying for the sake of being modest.
Having brought up in a simple household, she had learnt to keep her dreams as minimalistic and realistic at the same time. She knew building castle in thin air was foolishness and though now opportunity presented itself, she didn't know who she could call as her own to invite them for her wedding. Sadness crept back inside thinking about the man she believed to walk her down the aisle wasn't there.
Not knowing of her own family who hadn't come to search for her, Vivian had no other family and if there was it was only the person who stood in front of her, holding her hands.
"You deserve the world, Vivi and I will make sure you have it. Maybe not now, but I would like to hold a grand wedding for both of us. Even if the only people to be there would be you, me and the priest," his words were firm, "Sister," he said not wanting to prolong the inevitable any more.
Standing in front of Sister Isabelle as they held each other's hand, Sister Isabelle began to murmur something under her breath. Praying for the couples longevity with a smile as she looked at the human girl who looked anxious until she saw her lover give her a rea.s.suring smile. Seeing that Leonard had given a remarkable vow to the girl and the girl who had accepted him wholeheartedly, she went to the final words of the wedding,
"Leonard, do you take Vivian to be your wife?"
"Yes," answered Leonard to have Vivian's heart skip a beat. Father Connor stood next to Sister Isabelle his hand still holding the lantern as he stared at the trio who were performing and taking part in the wedding ceremony.
"And Vivian, do you take Leonard to be your husband?"
Vivian looked at Leo, nodding her head, she answered softly, "Yes."
"By the holiness of G.o.d and his blessings, I now p.r.o.nounce you husband and wife," Leonard pulled her close to share a simple kiss between them. As pa.s.sionate as he was in the bedroom and the four walls of his mansion, his affection was private only for Vivian and not for others to see, "Congratulations to both of you," she wished them.
When the couple left the church, father Connor who had been holding his breath finally asked he white witch, "Is the marriage complete without the ring as they didn't exchange any," he noted.
"Sometimes you don't need rings as proof," a faint smile adorned her lips. As she looked at the doors, she saw something move in the shadow of darkness. She stared at it long and hard until whatever she was suspicious of wasn't there anymore.
"What's the matter, Sister Isabelle?" Father Connor looked at the corner of the church which was near the doors, wondering what she was looking at.
"Nothing," she replied back to pick the lantern she had brought along with her, "It is rather late. We should head back to our rooms," she informed him.
"Let me lock the doors. The rain might slip water back in," he spoke worried as he was the one to clean the water every time it got in. Giving one last look towards the doors, Sister Isabelle decided to retire to her bed.
When both Leonard and Vivian returned back to the mansion, the doors were opened by Jan who appeared a little more than worried as by the time he had come at the doors, he had seen them leaving without a word. He noticed the way the master's cloak was wrapped around Lady Vivian who wore her house clothes while the master appeared more groomed compared to her.
Bowing his head he saw the footsteps disappear from his sight as the Duke took hold of the Lady's hand in his, taking up to their rooms. But something told him they weren't going to spend the night alone. Not today at least.
Vivian followed Leonard, her cheeks shy and her footsteps meek. She was still trying o wrap her mind that they had married each other when he took her to his room. She heard him close the door.
She stared into his eyes that looked as wild as before they had left the mansion to the church.