Chapter 95
Morning came gently but not peacefully. Sunlight filtered through the tall palace windows, stretching across the marble floors in long golden lines. The air looked calm, almost too calm, as though the palace itself was holding its breath. It was quiet, but not the kind of quiet that meant rest. It was the kind that came before something shifted.
Alvira stepped into the planning room first. Her footsteps were soft as she moved further inside, her eyes taking in everything laid out before her. The room was smaller than the grand halls, more private, yet still elegant in every detail. A large table stood at the center, covered in scrolls, fabrics, written notes, and small decorative pieces arranged with careful intention. It was beautiful, but also overwhelming.
Alvira said, "This is… a lot for one wedding."
Lisa's voice came from across the room.
Lisa said, "It is not just a wedding."
Alvira turned slightly as Lisa faced her properly.
Lisa said, "It is a message. Something people will watch, judge, and remember. Every detail matters."
Alvira walked closer, brushing her fingers lightly over one of the fabrics.
Alvira said, "No pressure, then."
Lisa smiled faintly.
Lisa said, "None at all."
The door opened again and Hiccup walked in, stretching as if the morning itself had personally offended him.
Hiccup said, "I should not be awake this early for my own wedding."
Lisa did not even look at him.
Lisa said, "You did not choose this. I did."
Hiccup sighed.
Hiccup said, "That sounds more accurate."
Alvira let out a small laugh.
Another set of footsteps followed, steadier this time. Zack entered the room, his presence immediately noticeable, and behind him came Ray. The atmosphere shifted the moment Ray stepped in, subtle but real, like a quiet awareness spreading through the space.
Zack's eyes moved quickly across the room, assessing, calculating. Ray's gaze was different. Slower. Observing. Not the room, but the people in it.
Ray said, "You started without us."
Lisa replied calmly.
Lisa said, "We started without Hiccup. You are on time."
Hiccup placed a hand over his chest.
Hiccup said, "I feel attacked."
Alvira smiled faintly again.
Zack stepped closer to the table, stopping beside Alvira. Not too close, but close enough to feel intentional. For a brief second, their eyes met. It was quick, but there was something in it. Something that did not go unnoticed.
Ray noticed.
Ray stepped forward slightly.
Ray said, "So. What exactly are we deciding."
Lisa gestured toward the table.
Lisa said, "Everything that still matters. Decorations, seating, ceremony order…" She paused, then added, "And security."
The word settled differently. Heavier.
Zack straightened slightly.
Zack said, "Security should have been first."
Lisa crossed her arms.
Lisa said, "It is now."
Ray's focus sharpened.
Ray said, "What are the risks."
Lisa answered without hesitation.
Lisa said, "Too many important people in one place. Too much attention."
Hiccup added lightly.
Hiccup said, "And people enjoy ruining good things."
Ray nodded once.
Ray said, "Then we assume interference."
Zack said, "We plan for it."
Alvira leaned lightly against the table, watching them.
Alvira said, "You are all making this sound like a battlefield."
Zack did not hesitate.
Zack said, "Anything important becomes one."
Alvira turned toward him.
Alvira said, "Even something like this."
Zack met her gaze.
Zack said, "Especially something like this."
The space between them held for a moment, quiet but filled with something unspoken.
Ray's eyes shifted between them.
Lisa exhaled softly.
Lisa said, "We are not letting anything go wrong."
Hiccup smiled, softer this time.
Hiccup said, "We have come too far for that."
Ray spoke again.
Ray said, "I will handle the outer perimeter."
Zack said, "I will take internal security."
Hiccup lifted a hand slightly.
Hiccup said, "And I—"
Lisa cut him off.
Lisa said, "You will focus on remembering your vows."
Alvira laughed softly.
Hiccup said, "That feels unfair."
Ray's lips almost curved, but not quite.
Lisa turned to Alvira.
Lisa said, "You will help me organize the ceremony."
Alvira nodded.
Alvira said, "Alright."
Then Lisa looked at Zack.
Lisa said, "And you—"
Zack said immediately, "No."
Lisa raised an eyebrow.
Lisa said, "You do not even know what I was going to say."
Zack said, "It sounded like responsibility."
Hiccup laughed.
Hiccup said, "It definitely was."
Lisa crossed her arms.
Lisa said, "You are helping with coordination."
Zack exhaled slowly.
Zack said, "Of course I am."
Ray's attention sharpened slightly at that. That had been too easy.
Ray said, "That is unusual."
Zack glanced at him.
Zack said, "What is."
Ray said, "You agreeing."
Hiccup nodded.
Hiccup said, "Yes. Very suspicious."
Lisa added, "Noted."
Zack looked unimpressed.
Zack said, "Do not make it a topic."
Alvira spoke gently.
Alvira said, "Maybe it is just a good day."
Zack looked at her, and for a moment something softer appeared in his expression.
Zack said, "Maybe."
Ray did not look away.
Ray said, "Or maybe something changed."
The air shifted again, quieter, tighter.
Alvira remained calm.
Alvira said, "Things change."
Ray said, "Not like this."
Hiccup quickly stepped in.
Hiccup said, "Alright, no tension. We are planning a wedding."
Lisa said, "You say that like tension is optional."
The conversation moved forward again, but something from that moment stayed behind.
They continued with smaller decisions. Lisa spread out several fabrics.
Lisa said, "Final colors."
Hiccup pointed immediately.
Hiccup said, "That one."
Lisa said, "You did not even look."
Hiccup said, "I trust my instincts."
Lisa said, "Your instincts are wrong."
Alvira picked up another fabric, softer between her fingers.
Alvira said, "This one feels better."
Zack glanced at it.
Zack said, "It looks better too."
Lisa nodded.
Lisa said, "Agreed."
Hiccup looked betrayed.
Hiccup said, "I am surrounded by traitors."
Ray spoke quietly.
Ray said, "Correctly."
For a brief moment, the room felt lighter again, almost normal, almost simple. But beneath it, something had already shifted.
Eventually, the meeting came to an end. Papers were gathered, chairs moved slightly.
Lisa said, "We will continue later."
Hiccup said, "After food."
Lisa said, "Yes. After food."
Ray moved toward the door, then stopped. He turned slightly.
Ray said, "Zack."
Zack looked at him.
Zack said, "What."
Ray said, "A word."
The room quieted just enough.
Alvira's hand rested lightly against the table, still.
Zack nodded.
Zack said, "Fine."
They stepped outside and the door closed behind them.
The corridor was empty, silent, far from the warmth inside.
Ray did not hesitate.
Ray said, "What changed."
Zack's expression remained controlled.
Zack said, "Nothing."
Ray stepped closer.
Ray said, "Do not do that."
Zack said, "Do what."
Ray said, "Pretend I do not see it."
Silence stretched between them.
Ray continued.
Ray said, "You are different around her."
Zack did not answer immediately.
Zack said, "That is not your concern."
Ray said, "It becomes my concern if it affects your judgment."
Zack met his gaze.
Zack said, "It does not."
Ray said, "Are you sure."
There was a pause, a real one this time.
Zack said, "Yes."
Ray held his gaze a moment longer, then nodded.
Ray said, "Then do not lose focus."
Zack said, "I will not."
Ray turned slightly, then added quietly,
Ray said, "Because if something goes wrong, feelings will not fix it."
Zack's voice was lower now.
Zack said, "I know."
Ray walked away, leaving Zack standing there alone for a moment, still, thoughtful.
Inside the room, Alvira had moved toward the window again. She stood there, looking out at the light, unaware that she was waiting, that her attention lingered on something beyond the view.
Something had shifted between all of them. Nothing was broken. Not yet. But it was no longer simple.