“How hard is it to walk you up the aisle and let go at the front?” Julian grumbled to his sister, who was gripping his hand very very firmly.

He ignored the notification window showing him just how much damage he’d taken so far.

“We will practice as many times as it takes.” Duchess Calisto chastised from her place in those front seats.

“I think I’m going to throw up.” Julia said casually. At first glance, she looked like the calm and confident Paladin of Light renown for her charming smile. At second glance, Julian could tell that her facial muscles hadn’t so much as twitched in some time, and her eyes were glazed.

“You’re doing great, love,” Chloe called from the dais of the castle sanctuary.

The place could hold at least two hundred people and was dedicated to Light. There were long windows stretching up the hall, with colorful gold and silver, sun and moon embellishments etched into the glass. It was bright and welcoming, and the banner behind the dais featured the cycles of the celestial bodies.

Their Royal Highness Rowen of Peldeep stood there in the guise of a stately long white-haired court official. They even had a long thin beard that hung down to their chest, and a small red cap.

Everyone else was in normal attire. The group had finished at the tailor and gone directly to the sanctuary, where they’d listened to the detailed wedding plan, answered questions, and were now doing the walk-through.

This was his fourth walk up the aisle. Julia had managed fine the first time. Then after comparing heights, they’d changed the entry line up for the bride and groom’s chosen attendants and started over again.

This should have been the final rehearsal attempt, and he’d barely managed to get Julia halfway up the aisle before his sister’s body went from rigid stiffness to uncontrollable shaking.

“I don’t think I can do this.” His sister’s smile broke.

She was sweating and shaking, and Julian tried to calm her down with a soft, “I’d rather be eating dinner myself, do you know what we are having after this?”

His sister let go of his hand and repeated, “No, I don’t think I can do this.”

And then she flew off. Literally. Her [Wings of Light] burst out and she kicked off and flew away. The doors to the sanctuary were still open, and they peaked three stories high.

“Julia!” Chloe called out, concern and surprise in her voice. The necromancer enveloped herself in shadows and disappeared, presumably to run after her nervous bride.

There was an awkward pause before Grand Duchess Callisto turned to Julian and said, “This changes nothing. We will rehearse until we all have it right, with or without the brides.”

Julian felt his heart sink, but everyone did as they were told and restarted the procession. They’d have to rely on Chloe to figure things out. He wasn’t too worried though. If they worked it out, then the wedding would proceed as planned. If Julia truly didn’t want to marry the necromancer, then that was that. He’d support his sister in whatever path she chose.

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It was easy as that.

What wasn’t easy was having to go through four more passes at the rehearsal before dinner.

…

Dinner that evening was goose stuffed with wild minced carrots and fennel root, seasoned with rosemary and sage and sweet anne’s lace root. There was a side of wild daffolyn greens tossed with creamy dillweed dressing, and twice baked purple sweet potatoes with butter and chives.

It was delightful.

“Mother-in-law!” Chloe chose the moment that Julian was chewing a large bite of potato to burst through the dinner room doors and march inside in a panic. “Julia is missing!”

To her credit, his mother patted her lip gently and then stood up without question. “I’ll send out the guard.”

Julian coughed, “Surely the guard is a bit hasty? What if she just needs some space?”

His sister often hid away to process her feelings as a child. One time, she went missing for three days and was found practicing the sword in an old weapons storage room in the basement of the palace.

He didn’t think he was being unreasonable, and wasn’t expecting the glares directed his way. The wedding party was already packing up to help. Rufus frowned at a notification, and King Keith was whispering into a button on his open tunic.

Julia’s own party members, Gladiator Hana Lanora and Striker Wendy Lanora were on their feet equipping their weapons. Hana sheathed a sword at her waist and Wendy equipped holy knives, a tiny crossbow and a golden lasso. The items glowed with faint holy light.

“The city is under constant annoyance by a group of spies that have Julia’s name on a list of targets.” His mother reminded him. She was in the process of sending the guards quests, and he was impressed at how natural she looked using her notifications. “It is always better to be cautious.”

“I know my darling.” Chloe crossed her arms. “She isn’t in the east look out, or the west fountain, or the palace training rooms. And the guards say they didn’t see her fly over the walls. She’s hard to miss.”

“That just proves my point then, doesn’t it?” Julian stabbed a chunk of daffolyn from his salad. “If she’s still in the palace then she isn’t missing. No spy is going to make their way in when our security is so tight. She’s probably just chosen some place we won’t think to look so that she can blow off some steam.”

“I know this is not my place,” Their Royal Highness Rowen cut in, “but I do recall a few palace servants being discovered as Blackfog already.”

“Rowen is right.” Duchess Calisto put aside the last of her dinner and stood, sweeping a lock of hair over her shoulder.

“I usually am,” The fox grinned, then tapped their chin. “I will search the east wing, since that is where I am staying.”

“I appreciate that, Rowen.” the duchess nodded their way.

“We’ll help search the north.” Hana and Wendy said together.

“And we’ll search the south.” King Keith waved at Rufus and the pair stood to leave. “Henrietta and Gerda will search the city on their way here.”

Bronwynn let them know she'd grab her lyre and then join them.

Julian sighed, “Then I’ll search the west wing.”

“We are not to enter private rooms without cause.” Grand Duchess Calisto informed. “My personal knights have been dispatched along with the guards. If you see one of them, tell them your findings.”

There were three units of North Sumbria knights. The Grey Hawk Knights who guarded his mother, the Black Brigade Knights who were responsible for the safety of the towns and cities throughout the duchy, and the Coral Mare Knights who protected the palace.

Duchess Calisto walked over and placed a hand on Chloe’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, we’ll find her.”