«I hope this is enough to be finally considered family,» said the Princess.

«I've considered you part of my family since the beginning, your highness,» I sigh.

​​

«But you've never used my name!»

«It's because your title imposes a form of courtesy...» I start, but a pair of small hands pull my gown.

«Auntie says mothers of Princesses don't need to be courteous,» she exclaims.

«Where did you even learn that word?» I murmur.

As if triggered by our daughter's appearance, Alexander bows down and picks her up.

Then, high and mighty in her daddy's arms, the little ball observes the rest of us from her tall place.

«Auntie said Vinnie can go to the Palace, daddy.»

«Auntie can't give you permission for doing things,» Alexander points out.

The little ball curls her lips down and hides her face in his neck, shaking her head and making her curls dance. Her big eyes have already conquered most people in Stoneyard, and Alexander isn't among those capable of resisting her charms.

Yet, he's firm about not visiting the Palace for a long while.

«One day, we'll go together,» he says to our daughter.

«And mother?»

«We'll have to bring her along too,» he sighs.

The little ball sighs too, dejected.

«Your aunt will be here for a few days only, Lavinia,» I point out. «You should spend some time with her.»

The Princess nods, convinced, and she turns to me with a grin not less evil than one of Alexander's.

«Thank you for coming such a long way to witness our... confirmation of marriage?» I murmur. What did I just do? «It's a pleasure to have you in Stoneyard, Martia.»

Happy for being called by name, the Princess drags away her new playmate and strolls in the garden, all content.

«It was a marriage for me, Thea,» Alexander sighs. «We chose each other; isn't that what matters?»

«You couldn't find someone willing to use two rings,» I wonder. «And you hoped I wouldn't notice this is something else.»

«A renewal of vows doesn't have strict etiquette. We could insert all the little rituals you liked so much. And the Priestess also told me that it's something we both need to be willing to do. Hence, she warned me she would ask for confirmation about our free will.»

«That's why there was no resistance to my requests,» I murmur.

Oh, well. I can consider it a marriage. I will.

«We're husband and wife,» I realise, suddenly happy. «It means that you're now mine. Our days as fiancées are over.» Finally!

We can do what we want without the need to hide or avoid suspicions. We can also start thinking about how to have Elias. Even though there's not much thinking left, for that matter, more action...

«I'm relieved you're not angry,» Alexander whispers, getting closer so that only I can hear.

Angry? What right do I have to be angry? We're doing all of this just because of me, because of a whim that made me divorce and propose one day later.

If I managed to get angry, though, I could have asked something in return for making peace... Oh, too late. This smart husband of mine already saw through my expression.

The ceremony is followed by a banquet. Everyone in Stoneyard has been invited, and the servants working on this day have received double the pay.

Except for the Princess, we didn't invite any of the nobles from the capital.

«My Lady, I've never seen such a beautiful and pretty bride,» Shannon Lynn says while running to me. She didn't make it in time to congratulate us in the garden, so she did it in the banquet hall. Her husband follows with some difficulty and bows when he finally reaches us.

«Congratulations, my Lord, my Lady!» he says.

Shannon's mother in law curtseys behind them, and she heads to her seat to let the youth talk. Not everyone has understood the true purpose of this ceremony, and I didn't have time to explain it to every single guest.

However, Anne Mary and Shannon heard my true thoughts during one of our tea parties. They know how I feel about this, so they congratulate us as if it was a regular wedding.

Anne Mary and Joffrey Wilhelm congratulated us as well. Even though the latter seemed a bit nervous. Has Anne Mary threatened her husband or something?

When evening finally comes, I'm exhausted. Is this how self-organised weddings feel like? I can't even think about getting my way with my hubby now.

I throw myself on the Lady's bed, precisely on her side, and I close my eyes and play dead.

The maids helped me undress in one of the Lady's rooms, and they chatted the whole time about bringing my stuff back. I left them there without waiting for a nuptial nightgown and reached the bed with a chemise on. The nanny isn't at her usual place today.

She's been feeling bad these last few weeks, which makes me worry.

Still, she smiled with happiness when we told her about the marriage and our intentions of having other children.

I've kept my eyes closed for a minute only when the door slams and Alexander walks in.

We can do a lot of things without consummating the marriage.

We could play chess or cards. We could read or cuddle under the sheets and talk. We could stare at each other in silence.

From his steps, though, I can tell he's full of energy and happiness. He won't let me rest unless I ask him, and I'm too stubborn to require rest the first night of marriage.

I don't move a muscle and just listen to his movements.

When his steps dodge the bed and reach the sofa, I sigh and continue to pretend to be dead on the bed.

However, why didn't he jump on me right away?

«This is from the day your daddy caught three wolves,» he says.

What?

I open one eye and see a doting father opening his wife's jewel box to show the riches to his spoiled daughter.

«And this one is from your great-grandmother. She liked your mother more than me, but whatever. She left something similar to me, too, by the way. And see this? This one was bought by your mother when she missed your daddy and went shopping to get distracted from the nostalgia.»

The sleepy little ball follows his explanations, and she nods when he says something. She's fighting slumber just to listen to him.

«As you see, everything is shiny and pretty,» he continues.

«Will Vinnie have something like this one day?» Even her voice sounds tired, poor thing.

«Yes, of course. How could daddy bear to see his Vinnie without mountains of jewels?»

You cheater; she already has many in stock. We're just waiting for her to grow up enough to wear them. Everything is either too big or too heavy for her tiny body.

«I didn't give birth to you to have you unadorned, have I?» Alexander continues.

«Indeed,» the little one affirms, nodding her head only once and keeping her chin high afterwards. She's mimicking me, the little manipulator!

«So, how has it been to spend so much time together?» Alexander inquires.

«Interesting,» Lavinia murmurs.

She pokes her lips with a finger, pondering about whether to continue. There's something on her mind, but she's not sure she can say it out loud.

«Yes?» Alexander replies, analysing her curious expression.

«I didn't know my daddy had work to do!» she exclaims. «I thought mother was the only one working.»

Her long eyelashes shadow her cheeks when she blinks, and she yawns. She's tired, the poor child. Why is she here, by the way?

«What are you two doing with my things?» I ask out loud, and they both turn with guilty expressions.

Lavinia hugs Alexander's neck and presses her cheek on his, hoping to get away from my scolding just like this.

«Vinnie couldn't sleep, so I brought her here,» Alexander explains.

«Great idea,» I moan and move under the sheets. «Will you bring our daughter back now that she can't keep her eyes open?»

«I don't want to go back!» she screams. Oh, dear patience. She then turns to Alexander. «Daddy, daddy, don't send Vinnie back! I don't want to be far from you and mother.»

Ah, I give up. It's impossible to win against these two if they work together.

If only the little ball was less similar to her father. And if Alexander wasn't the shameless manipulator he actually is...

There's no if. I have the family that I have.

«Come on,» I say.

Sensing my surrender, the two run to me and settle under the covers.

«Have a good night,» Alexander whispers.

He bows down and pecks Lavinia's head. Then, he bows over and kisses my lips. He turns to blow the candles while I also leave a peck on my daughter's head.

«Good night,» I say.

She widens her eyes in shock, and her body is crossed by a sudden thrill. What in the world?

I should stop being affectionate, right? It freaks people out.

After a few seconds of silence, a quiet giggle makes the mattress tremble.

«I got mother's good night kiss,» a soft voice whispers.

«I'll help you write down this date tomorrow,» Alexander replies while tucking the covers so that Lavinia doesn't feel cold.

«Vinnie wants one tomorrow too!»

«Your daddy will think of something.»

Are they going to talk forever?

«It's time to sleep,» I note, and they both chuckle before quieting down and letting me, finally, rest a bit.