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kpopnlockit · 1 year

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Royal Counsel (Part 17)

Happy 2023!

Part 16: https://kpopnlockit.tumblr.com/post/691167643968929792/royal-counsel-part-16

Part 18: Coming soon!

The ceremony would be quick and presided over by a priest. As far as you knew, Vixx was not a very religious country but even they viewed marriage as a union before God. That sentiment apparently extended to engagements as well. The ladies-in-waiting had delivered you straight to the path that divided the rows upon rows of filled seats. At the end of the aisle was a gilded platform that had been specially made for the occasion. It was raised a half-meter above the ground so that the entire audience could see. An arch would frame you as you stood up there, the arch having been draped with purple chiffon and outfitted with white roses to create a picturesque scene. Two artists had been hired to capture the moment on large canvases. Even the weather was cooperating. It was fairly cloudy but there was no threat of rain, and a gentle breeze cooled the rising heat of the day.

You had focused on the stage when you arrived, but it did not take long to hear the tinkle of the guests’ finery as they turned to look at you. The buzz of conversation died hurriedly as they realized that the event was starting. You did not allow yourself time to study them because you knew all you would find was judgment. There would be talk of your dress, of your hair, of your face, of anything and everything that could be critiqued. The gossip would come no matter what you did so there was no point in wasting your energy on witnessing it in real-time.

The sound of violins interrupted your thoughts. You could not see where the music was coming from, but the sound of harps and flutes could be heard adding to the ethereal ambience that was being carefully crafted. To add to the image, the servants of the manor were outfitted uniformly in lavender livery. They stood in neat lines on both ends of each row of seats, making sure that their polished shoes did not touch the royal purple aisle runner that was meant for you and your promised to walk down. The manor had to have hired outside help for the occasion, as there were far more butlers available to attend to the nobles than you had ever seen in the castle. The ladies-in-waiting curtseyed and followed a path around the guests that had been marked with a generous scattering of white rose petals to their designated chairs off to the side of the stage.

King Ravi had been somewhere nearby. As soon as you were deposited, he appeared at your elbow with N, Leo, Hyuk, and another man you did not recognize tailing him. The mystery man was tall, just like the other men and had a very distinguishing nose. All of them were outfitted in Vixx colors of aubergine and gold. However, each suit was different, with Leo’s being of a military bearing and N’s being plainer and befitting of a scholar. It was clear that the choice was deliberate to show pride in Vixx and simultaneously display their positions within the royal court. The man you did not recognize clapped King Ravi on the shoulder before leading the men down another footpath that mirrored the lady’s maids to their chairs on the opposite side of the stage.

You took a long look at your fiancè. He wore a traditional Vixx robe with a plum torso and white sleeves to match his white trousers. A beautiful mulberry and gold embroidered sash across the waist denoted his royal status and a patch over his left shoulder highlighted his military honors. The most surprising piece of his ensemble was a red tie that kept his robe closed. It matched the crimson in your gown. You had expected him to only be in Vixx colors. You would have to overanalyze the meaning of that later. In total, it was a simple but elegant outfit that did not require jewels or additional adornments to display King Ravi’s pride in Vixx and its short history.

King Ravi did not have anything in his body language that showed nervousness. He wore a facade of happy serenity. He turned to you and offered his arm. He smiled as he said, “You are exceptionally beautiful today.”

You did not know if you wanted to roll your eyes or blush. “You are more handsome than usual today as well,” you replied. And it was true.

He always looked regal in his national hue but combined with neatly styled hair and lightly rouged lips, he seemed to glow in the glimpses of sunlight that peeked through the clouds. You took his elbow and straightened. You needed to exude some of his easy confidence, let alone feel it.

Spectators gawked as you took your time walking toward the dais. Like King Ravi, you gazed ahead and refused to let your line of vision wander. It was not only for your peace of mind, but also to remind those who questioned your legitimacy of their own positions. Most would not be able to be in the same room as you once you were queen. Their presence at the engagement was to add to the scale and perceived grandeur of the event. Many of the attendees would usually only be invited to local balls and functions hosted by the nobles of their respective kingdoms. To be invited to a foreign King’s celebration was a show of power and excess. Vixx would be seen as a country that could afford to house and cater to irrelevant earls and counts. Vixx would also be considered humble and hospitable for doing the same.

As you had noted before, the ceremony was quick, taking just over ten minutes. During the proceedings, King Ravi did not once look away from you. Though you could pretend to be as stately as a monarch, having a staring contest with one of the most powerful men in the world while promising matrimony in the near future proved to be difficult. You very much wanted to squirm under his gaze or break eye contact just for a moment of reprieve. That could not be done without repercussion so you both maintained vaguely agreeable smirks. Internally, you wanted to awkwardly giggle at the ridiculousness of the situation. The only reason you did not was because of the seriousness of the situation. And just like that, the whole fiasco was over and King Ravi took your hand and led you back to the castle.

You did not actually go back inside but he instead took you to one of the open tents set up to the right of the rows of chairs. Some of the tents had been set up with food and drink and others had been outfitted with lounging furniture over thick carpeting. The most ornate tent housed two identical white thrones. In that tent, King Ravi ushered you to take a seat before sitting himself.

Once the guests were given leave to roam, they did so. A line of attendees formed, all of them wishing to give you greetings and congratulations. You plastered on a genteel smile and murmured your thanks and shook hands and received curtsies and bows. The line never seemed to end but you continued to nod affably alongside King Ravi. You could not recall a single face you had seen. You were sure that you had greeted at least a few people you had personally known, but through the flood of brightly colored clothes and painted skin, you could not recognize them. The receiving line took an estimated two hours. During which, you charaded as a polite and sweet future royal. Undoubtedly, everyone knew that you were no such thing, but no one dared to slight you.

There were about thirty minutes of reprieve between the end of the cocktail hour and the beginning of the reception. You were able to get through half a glass of lemonade before you were prompted to go to your chambers and change into your second dress. You were glad to go. The volume of social interaction had been overwhelming. Minah and a small entourage of ladies-in-waiting escorted you. The house was startlingly quiet after having been in the ruckus outside. With only the sound of footsteps echoing in your ear, you realized that you had not spoken to King Ravi at all after the ceremony. You likely would not be able to exchange words for the rest of the night. You were not sure if you were disappointed or not.

The second gown was less revealing than the first but was far more striking. It had a proper ball gown silhouette with a touch of scandal in the sleeves, or lack thereof. The bodice was completely strapless. Over the top was a sheer shirt with long sleeves to add the illusion of modesty. Buttons in a straight row went all the way up to the throat of the mesh shirt. A ribbon tied into a small bow separated the waterfall of fabric flowing to the floor from everything above the waist. The thing that set the dress apart from all others was that it was dyed a deep blood red. To contrast with the dark tint, the gauze over your arms and chest was stark white. Your hair was pulled back into an immaculate chignon. This time, large diamonds studded your ears and encircled your wrists. It was so bold that you would command attention by virtue of walking by.

All eyes were on you when you walked into the ballroom. Your entrance was announced which did not help. You kept your chin high and your shoulders rolled back as you made your way through the crowd. No one attempted to approach you. King Ravi was easy to locate as he was a spot of red in a sea of amethyst. Just like in Exo, his clothing was designed to complement yours. He wore a white shirt tucked into white pants and an open cherry-dyed sheer robe over it all. The robe was once again fashioned in the traditional style of Vixx, embroidered with red roses. The collar and sleeves were lined with the same ribbon at your midsection. It was a smart move to transition from Vixx purple to matching completely with you. It sent the message that before the ceremony he was King of Vixx. Now he was a claimed man with a partner that was his equal. The spot of cardinal on his ceremonial robe now made more sense, as it showed that he was including a fleck of you in his attire. A sign of thoughtfulness, of what could be construed as love. You appreciated the powerplay in the small and subliminal undertones to everything. It would help paint the picture you both wanted. Two very different people now united to create a nation more powerful than the world had seen in centuries.

King Ravi motioned to meet him in the middle of the room. Your skin crawled with the attention being directed at you by everyone else. You did not open your mouth to greet him first, which in any other situation would be incredibly rude. However, you had a plan. You had not discussed it with him previously so you did not know if he would play along, but you were banking on it. You paused and made sure to look him in the eye. He quirked an eyebrow before his mouth settled into a small grin as he approached. He understood what you were doing. He did not falter in his prowl towards you. He only stopped when he was within an arm’s distance. He took your hand and pressed a gentle kiss to your knuckles.

Though you had wanted him to greet you first, you had not expected the chivalrous gesture. You could not hide the way your lips parted in surprise. You rapidly overcompensated with a wide smile and commented, “You look quite handsome in red.”

“Not as stunning as you though,” he replied in a tone equal part sultry and teasing.

You beamed though you really wanted to return with a smart quip but that would not be ladylike. He took your hand in his and turned towards the spectators.

He addressed the guests in a voice so loud, it must have come from the depths of his gut, “Friends, thank you for being here today to celebrate this joyous occasion.”

You stood still, the portrait of a happy girl betrothed to Prince Charming.

King Ravi glanced at you, before continuing on, “Please celebrate with us. Enjoy the food, drink, and dancing.”

At that, the miniature orchestra in the corner began to play. A cheery song was chosen, concealing the lack of applause after King Ravi’s speech. There were plenty of people not pleased by your arrangement. There were also many who had not developed an opinion yet. When they approached you one on one, they were on their best behavior. However, there was power in groups. They had conspired not to clap and King Ravi had predicted as much. By not allowing ample time for people to even try to applaud, he had enacted his own countermeasure. Very few would pick up on the silence.

You would have to tread lightly. You were in a den of snakes. You smiled wickedly. It was good to feel at home.

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