Grace's heart stopped after hearing that.
She'd heard that in many kingdoms, the groom and bride kissed each other at the wedding but she didn't know Nectaris was one of them. The thought of kissing a man on the lips, let alone in front of so many people, scared her. She spared a glance up and her face felt hot seeing her husband's smirk.
One of his black brow rose. "You look surprised."
Grace cleared her throat. "We didn't have this ritual in Runecliff."
His face tilted in realisation and he gave a nod. Without warning, he leaned forward and his lips landed on her cheek.
Heat engulfed her body and she sucked a breath. For such a strong looking man, he had extremely soft lips.
"Return gift," his voice whispered at her ear.
He had returned her kiss given to him by her on his cheek the first night they'd met.
As his head pulled back, Grace met the amusement on his face. Blushing, she averted her eyes. Diverging from him made her aware of the sets of applause by the people around. Grace turned to them as the men walked forward.
A tall man, with charming, boyish features, brown hair and hazel eyes came forward. He looked really similar to her husband.
"My brother, Daxton," her husband intoduced.
Grace smiled, meeting a member of her new family.
Daxton bowed his head as he engulfed her hand. "Welcome to the family, my queen."
"Thank you," Grace said kindly. But he didn't return her smile and walked back.
"He is the only person I have in my family," her husband informed her. Grace looked up at him. Only two brothers? Where were his parents, his relatives? Grace realised he wasn't going to explain anything now. So, she didn't press.
Her attention diverted as a large man, who had handed Arwen the cloth earlier, appeared before them.
"My queen," he bowed to her.
"My bodyguard, Kit," her husband informed.
Grace nodded at the large man. He was majestic, with long hair tied behind his neck and a muscular body. Just as a bodyguard. People here mostly wore suits and shirts, unlike Runecliff where people preferred flowing cloaks to look regal.
The bodyguard's eyes moved to her husband as he asked, "Shall we depart, my king?"
"Yes. Ready the carriage," her husband ordered and then he extended a hand to Grace, the second time that day. As Grace held it, he began to walk. She thought they were about to walk to the carriage but he stepped near the river, away from the bridge.
Grace looked at him with questioning eyes.
He pointed his finger at the far side of the river. As she followed the direction, her vision immediately blurred with tears.
Her family stood there on the other side. Her mother waving back at her. Her father and his mistress too, waved. They hadn't left yet. With a happy sob, Grace waved them back, glad that she had one more chance to see them. She wished she could somehow inform them that her voice was back.
"You can write to them later," her husband suggested, answering the question in her mind. If he had written to her father, then she could as well.
But how?
Again, as though reading her mind, he spoke. "The bridge is forbidden to us, not to other species."
She remembered how her father had informed that Dorian Learmont had sent a letter through an eagle, saying that lands could be forbidden, not the sky.
Freeing her hand from her husband's, Grace touched both her palms to her lips and blew a kiss to her family. Melody, her lovely white dog, was there in her mother's arms. A faint barking sound was heard through the air. Grace was going to miss the dog so much. Melody was her only friend throughtout her silent year.
Then, her eyes landed on the blonde-headed Oliver standing beside her parents - the person she was betrothed to before she had accepted the king of Necatris's offer. Oliver was the prince of the neighbouring dynasty and her childhood friend. Their fathers had betrothed them at a very young age and their bethrothal had somehow killed their friendship. And since Grace had lost her voice, the little companionship they'd had with each other also vanished. Oliver was never able to decipher what Grace wanted to say through her signs. Though he never showed, Grace could feel his frustration. It was also a reason Grace had broken their engagement to marry the king of Nectaris. Oliver deserved a wife to whom he could speak, whom he could understand. And learning that there might be a chance for Grace to get her voice back, Oliver too, stepped back from the betrothal. He was gracious enough to escort Grace to the bridge today as a friend.
Now, standing beside her husband, Grace waved at him. When Oliver waved back, she smiled and her eyes watered. She wished Oliver get a perfect life partner. He had always been kind and a really good friend to her.
Immediately, her palm was seized back in her husband's grip. She looked up at him and saw that he was looking at Oliver with a frown formed between his brows. Then, he looked at her. "Shall we?"
Grace gave a nod. She felt content now that she knew she could write to her family.
Taking a last glance and waving at them, Grace turned to her new home, her new land, Nectaris. Her husband guided her to a lavish carriage led by four majestic gray horses. Opening the door, he helped her climb in it. It was a vast coach, with dark blue interior and same coloured velvet cushions.
The next moment, he entered as well. Grace was about to move to make space for him beside her but he sat on the opposite seat. She was grateful for it. Because if he sat closer to her, she would hardly be able to talk with him. His proximity, his scent and his touch would distract her every moment. Closing the door, he tapped on the roof. Within seconds, the carriage began to move.
As it rolled away, Grace's senses were filled with the scent of various flowers. The same flowers she had smelled that night but weren't able to see. Her eyes peeked out the window and she saw lavished fields passing by. Every colour of flowers could be seen there. White, pink, yellow, blue. Roses, lilies, lavenders, hyacinths, crysanthamums, bluebells all adorned the vast acres of lands. Grace had never seen such beauty. Runecliff was upon cliffs. There were grasses and trees but never so many flowers.
What a fertile land Nectaris was!
Only when her back began to ache, she realised that she had leaned forward for a long time to view the beauty outside.
Straightening, she looked at her front seat. Her husband had folded his hands and was watching her with a faint smile.