“He’s right,” Jai says, squeezing my hand in reassurance. “The people all love you. The members all know that, and they won’t go against the people.”
We watch as the debates wrap up and the Speaker calls for a vote on the bill. I’m on the edge of my seat as I watch, one by one, the members of Parliament vote to pass my Monarchical Act. And there’s not a single nay vote.
A chorus of cheers sounds around the room—between the children, Penny, Veronika, Alik, and Alik’s two boyfriends, it’s quite a crowd that’s gathered for this moment—but it all becomes background noise as I lock gazes with Jai. His eyes are alight with joy, his smile stretched wide across his handsome face. I splay my hand against the back of his head and draw him toward me, claiming his lips in a hungry kiss that I really wish I didn’t have to keep child-appropriate.
“We’re getting married,” I say once we’ve broken away from each other, still finding it a little hard to believe.
“Are you actually going to ask me?” he says with an arched brow. “Or are you just making assumptions?”
I let out a soft laugh and slide off the sofa, getting to one knee before him. “Jai Winters, will you do me the incredible honor of becoming my husband, my prince, and the father of my children?”
He grins and tugs me up so he can kiss me again, and I’m going to take that as a yes.
I feel little flutters of something landing all over me and I glance around to see Jai and I are both covered in colorful confetti. I look for the source, unsurprised to find Katya holding a bag of confetti in one hand while using the other to throw clumps of it all over the place. “Katya, you’re supposed to wait until the wedding day for the confetti.”
“But I wanted to do it now,” she says, as if that explains everything.
The wedding is going to be broadcast live all around the world, and I was told yesterday that they’re expecting around two billion people to watch. Two billion people. It’s absolutely staggering to me that a quarter of the world could possibly care that much about my wedding. But apparently this is a pretty big thing to a lot of people—the first reigning monarch to participate in a same-sex marriage anywhere in the world—and they’ll be tuning in from all over to share their support.
To me, it’s just a wedding. The chance to marry the man I love and make him my official Prince Consort. But that doesn’t make me any less nervous.
“Doing okay, brother?” Alik asks me, clearly sensing my tension.
I study my reflection in the mirror, smoothing my hands down over the front of my uniform. I’ve never served in the military, but nonetheless have kept a collection of dress uniforms for very formal occasions, as is customary for Korovan royals. Today I’m wearing a navy blue one with gold fringe and a gold sash that denotes my position as reigning monarch. Alik is dressed in a similar navy uniform, as is Tomas, although neither of them have a sash.
“Fine,” I say, letting out a deep breath. “Just thinking about the two billion people that will apparently be watching.”
“Don’t think about them,” Alik says. “Just think about Jai. You’re marrying the man you love today. That’s all that matters.”
I nod, letting out another breath. He’s right. Jai’s all that matters.
It’s a stunning August day in Vlalens, with blue skies overhead and just a slight breeze to prevent it from being too hot—perfect for the outdoor ceremony we’ve planned. Because a church is not an option for this particular ceremony, we’ve decided to hold the nuptials in the main courtyard of St. Vladimir’s, where Jai is now studying for his PhD. It’s a truly beautiful university, and I’m proud to be showing off this piece of Korova to the rest of the world.
The logistics of our arrival is something that has been discussed at length with the organizers—yes, there was a team of organizers who took over the planning while Jai and I just nodded and smiled. Other televised royal weddings, like the recent flurry of nuptials amongst the royal family in the United Kingdom, have always involved a moment where the bride is driven to the ceremony and the cameras follow her as she gets out of the car and reveals her dress. And then there’s the walk down the very long aisle…
But of course we can’t do that.
It was decided that Jai and I would take separate cars to the ceremony and time our arrivals so we could meet and walk down the aisle together.
As my car arrives at the university, my stomach is completely twisted up with nervous anticipation, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more glad to see Jai than when I’m told it’s time for us to get out of our cars.
“Christ, you look incredible,” I tell him, taking his hand in mine when we meet outside the university gates. He’s wearing a simple black tuxedo that’s tailored perfectly to mold to his lithe frame, and his usually unruly dark waves are coiffed up out of his face.
“Speak for yourself.” He offers a sexy grin. “I could rip that uniform right off you.”
“Later,” I murmur, as we begin our walk down the aisle.
The courtyard is brimming with guests, mainly members of the government and other foreign leaders. But there’s also our close family and friends.
I’m happy to see Jai’s parents have flown over for the occasion, and are sitting in the front row, smiles on their faces. I know in my heart they only ever wanted the best for their son, although they may not have had the best way of showing it, and now that they can see how happy he is and that he’s settled with a family while still taking the opportunity to fulfil his academic dream they have relaxed their attitude and are no longer pushing him to pursue other paths. It’s clear they’re still a little perplexed by their son’s choices, but they’re trying and that’s all we can ask for. It helps that they’ve fallen completely in love with my children, who have been addressing them as ‘grandma’ and ‘grandpa’ ever since Jai and I got engaged almost a year and a half ago.
We’ve kept the ceremony relatively short, with a single reading by my brother that tugs at my heartstrings and seems to have many members of the crowd reaching for tissues. When the minister pronounces us married, I don’t hesitate to draw Jai toward me and claim his mouth in a hungry kiss. We break apart far too quickly, aware of all the crowds and the cameras intruding on the moment.
Tomas and Katya rush to congratulate us, and we spend a few moments soaking up the joy of this occasion with our new little family. But then it’s time for Jai and me to make our way out of the courtyard. Alik wrangles the children and Jai and I set off, hand in hand, down the aisle toward where our car is waiting for us.
It’s one from my collection—a 1939 Mercedes Special Roadster—and the plan is for us to drive along a prepared route back to the palace so the public can get a glimpse of us.
“You look so freakin’ sexy, baby,” Jai growls in my ear once we’ve slid into the car and it’s started moving at a snail’s pace along the prepared route. “You should wear this uniform all the time.”
I let out a soft chuckle. “I think you’d find it a little inconvenient if I wore it all the time,” I murmur in his ear. “It takes a bit of time to get into—and out of.”