Following our ceremony in the grand cathedral, the wedding turned into a delightful whirlwind of events. The “bouquet toss” that followed was a tradition unfamiliar to many, leaving us unsure of its reception. Initially intended solely for unmarried women close to Bertia, we soon found that unmarried women among the foreign dignitaries were also eager to join in. Even a meticulously selective princess from a neighboring country implored us to allow her participation, her earnest eyes filled with determination. Consequently, we established clear rules: “This is a no-holds-barred event. No complaints afterward. Should any issues arise, the Alphasta royal family will take charge, and personal grievances are not permitted.” With this assurance, we welcomed their involvement.
To ensure safety, we agreed, “This is just a part of the event. Since only one bouquet will be thrown, we will prepare a separate bouquet for each participant.” We quickly arranged additional bouquets as gifts. Each bouquet, potentially enhancing marital fortune, was made for everyone, so that no one would get overly competitive about the one being tossed. In a gathering of influential figures, we wanted to avoid any flare-ups or disruptions to our wedding ceremony.
Bertia came up with this idea after seeing the bouquets she created for her close friends. Desiring for her friends “to find happiness with the ones they love,” she secretly prepared matching bouquets distinct from the one meant for the toss. However, believing it was unjust to compare her friends’ heartfelt bouquets with the “courtesy bouquets,” we chose to give her friends the matching ones, while the others received different arrangements made by me.
Ultimately, the “bouquet toss” ended up being incredibly vibrant, despite a few surprises. The intense rivalry among the women when the bouquet slipped from Bertia’s grasp was somewhat intimidating. Nevertheless, the mood became friendly afterward, and I think everyone had a great time.
Interestingly, it was Kuro who caught the bouquet. After the toss, Kuro leapt elegantly into the air to catch it and then bounded toward Bertia with sparkling eyes, eager to return the bouquet. The sight of Bertia exclaiming, “Kuro, this isn’t a ‘fetch’ game!!” was quite entertaining. Once Bertia described the bouquet’s significance, Kuro seemed to grasp that it was for her to keep. However, something else drew my attention. When told that “the one who catches the bouquet will be the next happy bride,” Kuro gazed intently at Zeno, who stood quietly at the edge of the gathering for quite a while.
I deemed it wise to caution Zeno, saying, “You know it’s inappropriate to pursue young girls,” yet his response surprised me. “Age doesn’t matter for spirits!”
What did he mean by that? Though I recognize that their appearances are just façades, I definitely want to avoid rumors suggesting that my attendant is inclined to chase after young girls.
After exiting the cathedral, we made our way to the royal palace. As we walked, the crowd welcomed us with words of celebration, applause, cheers, and a cascade of petals. To clarify, I orchestrated the petal shower. Kuro had provided me with a “List of 100 Things I Desire at Our Wedding,” which featured a “flower shower’ noted as “beautiful when petals fall as we leave.” Consequently, I assigned Zeno the task of executing it.
Initially, I asked Zeno to summon the flower-related spirits for a bountiful supply of petals. With the assistance of servants from Charles and other households, we spread these petals to the crowd lining the road, creating a beautiful “flower shower” leading to the palace. Although it was a spontaneous decision and quite a distance, it proved to be worthwhile.
The gathered crowd appeared to revel in the moment, and most importantly, the joy in Bertia’s eyes made it all the more meaningful. I intend to offer an appropriate reward from my personal funds to the aides and candidates who supported us, as a sign of my appreciation.
When we arrived at the royal palace, the wedding reception kicked off. Essential traditions were observed, including greetings from dignitaries and our first dance as the stars of the event. With my father’s support, I aimed to include as many activities as possible.
After completing the traditional ceremonies, our first event was the “cake cutting,” something Bertia had eagerly anticipated. Initially, I thought her interest stemmed from her fondness for sweets. However, when she referred to it as “our first collaborative task,” it began to sound like it would be enjoyable.
At first, I contemplated whether our initial collaboration would involve welcoming the guests or performing the first dance, yet I held back from sharing this rather uninspired idea. The cake cutting was already on the agenda since it had been requested beforehand. Nonetheless, an item from the “List of 100 Things I Desire at Our Wedding” caught my attention; it referenced something called the “first bite.”
The “first bite” refers to a moment when the bride and groom feed each other the cake they have just cut. The groom’s first bite to the bride symbolizes a vow to always provide for her, while the bride’s bite back promises a lifetime of savory meals. Even though we have many chefs in the palace and I doubt Bertia will need to cook, I’ve never shared these thoughts out loud. Ultimately, it’s not about the actions taken, but the emotions behind them, which I recognize as what truly counts.
Bertia had witnessed this “first bite” at a wedding in her past and had always wished to experience it. The version she remembered featured the bride’s and groom’s parents showcasing it initially. Her notes say, “It was amazing! I would love to participate, but… doing it at a royal wedding seems impossible. Asking His Majesty the King and the Queen to demonstrate would be far too much.”
Surely, she must have been holding back on expressing this desire, keeping it to herself. Reflecting on this, I felt a strong urge to fulfill her wishes. After all, it wasn’t a difficult request. So, before the cake cutting began, I secretly approached both my parents and the Marquis and Marquise Noches with the idea.
I was concerned they would feel embarrassed and hold back, but my father and the Marquis eagerly consented. They appeared to enjoy the chance to express their love for their wives openly, framed by the noble intention of “for our children’s happiness.”
Initially, the wives felt shy and hesitated, but after learning that this was a wish Bertia had held back from voicing, they consented to participate. Consequently, we successfully included both the “cake cutting” and the parents’ “first bite” demonstration.