The night was still, as though the world itself had paused in quiet anticipation.
High above the clouds, the mountain plateau rested beneath an endless canopy of stars. Moonlight poured over the rugged stone, turning the clearing into something almost unreal. A cool breeze drifted through the pines, carrying with it the scent of wildflowers and the faint promise of forever.
At the heart of the clearing stood a modest altar adorned with white roses, delicate ivy, and strands of golden fairy lights. Their gentle glow flickered against the darkness like fragments of fallen stars, weaving warmth into the cold mountain air. Every rustle of leaves, every whisper of wind, seemed to blend into a silent hymn prepared for only one purpose—to witness the vows about to be exchanged.
Wellesley stood before the altar.
Her gown shimmered like liquid moonlight, every delicate fold catching the silver glow of the night. A veil of fine silk cascaded down her back, stirring softly whenever the breeze brushed past. Yet beautiful as the dress was, it paled beside the woman wearing it. Her eyes, filled with quiet devotion and gentle anticipation, outshone every star above.
For a long moment, I simply stared.
The countless speeches I had rehearsed vanished the instant our eyes met. She looked less like a woman and more like a miracle the heavens had decided to lend me for one lifetime.
When I finally found my voice, it barely rose above a whisper.
"You look so beautiful... even the moon and stars might hide themselves after seeing you tonight."
A soft blush warmed her cheeks.
Her smile was tender enough to quiet every storm within me.
"To me," she replied, "you're the most beautiful sight tonight. There isn't a single man in this world more handsome than you. This place was already breathtaking... but the moment you arrived, it truly came alive."
Unable to look away from her any longer, I closed the distance between us.
I wore a black suit tailored with understated elegance, but in my hands rested something far more precious—a small bouquet of wildflowers I had gathered myself from the mountainside earlier that afternoon. They weren't rare blossoms worthy of royalty, but they carried the fragrance of this place, of this night... and somehow, that made them perfect.
I offered them to her.
She accepted them with both hands as though I had given her the greatest treasure in existence.
The fairy lights bathed us in their gentle glow while our shadows stretched together across the stone beneath our feet. Standing beside her, surrounded by nothing but mountains and stars, I felt a peace I had never known.
For the first time in my life, the future no longer felt like a battlefield.
It felt like home.
Beside us stood Arslan.
Though dressed simply, he carried himself with quiet dignity befitting the role he had accepted for tonight. A faint smile rested on his lips as he looked between us before raising his voice.
"Under this endless sky, with only the stars to bear witness, do you vow to walk through this life together—through every mountain and every valley, every triumph and every trial—with your hands forever joined?"
Wellesley turned toward me.
She never answered immediately.
Instead, her eyes did.
They held absolute certainty.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Only love.
Emotion tightened my chest as I spoke first.
"I do."
Her answer followed like the sweetest melody carried upon the wind.
"I do."
A quiet smile spread across Arslan's face.
He stepped back, giving us the space that belonged only to us.
"As these mountains stand unmoved through the passing ages, may your love remain steadfast against every storm. From this night onward, you are bound not merely by your promises, but by the heavens above and the earth beneath your feet."
His smile softened.
"Seal those vows with a kiss."
The distance between us disappeared.
Our lips met in a slow, gentle kiss—one filled not with urgency, but with reverence. It was as though time itself had chosen to stand still, allowing this single moment to linger forever.
Behind Wellesley's neck, hidden beneath the veil of her silver hair, a faint shimmer appeared.
Ancient symbols slowly emerged upon her skin, glowing with an ethereal light. They formed words written in a language forgotten by history itself.
Neither of us noticed.
Not Wellesley.
Not Arslan.
Only the silent heavens above...
And the unseen reader of this tale.
When our lips finally parted, neither of us moved.
We simply gazed into each other's eyes.
Around us, the mountain sighed beneath the wind, as though nature itself had accepted our vows.
Understanding that his presence was no longer needed, Arslan quietly excused himself. His footsteps faded into the distance until only the sound of the breeze remained.
At last, we were alone.
Wellesley intertwined her fingers with mine, her smile brighter than the lights surrounding us.
"Can you believe this is real... Your Highness?"
I rested my forehead against hers.
"Every second of it."
A quiet laugh escaped me.
"I've never been more certain of anything in my life."
Her fingertips gently brushed my cheek.
"I love you more than words could ever express," she whispered. "More than these mountains... more than every star in the sky. No matter where life takes us... I'll always remain by your side."
My throat tightened.
For a man who had spent his life hiding behind schemes, masks, and calculated smiles, those simple words reached deeper than any blade ever could.
I smiled.
"And I love you more than I ever believed possible. You're not just part of my future anymore..."
I gently squeezed her hand.
"You are my future."
Her eyes shimmered.
Without another word, she leaned forward, and our lips found each other once more.
This kiss carried more warmth than the last.
More longing.
More certainty.
Her hands trembled slightly against my chest as I drew her closer, as though neither of us wished to leave even the smallest space between us.
When we finally separated, she let out a quiet, breathless laugh.
"I never imagined our wedding would be like this."
Her gaze wandered toward the endless sky before returning to me.
"But I wouldn't change a single thing."
I wrapped my arms around her waist.
"It's just us."
I smiled softly.
"And that's all I ever wanted."
She looked at me for a moment before lowering her eyes.
"...Your Highness."
I sighed dramatically.
"So we're doing this already?"
She blinked innocently.
"What?"
"I just married you."
I leaned closer until our noses nearly touched.
"You've earned the right to stop calling me 'Your Highness.'"
A shy smile tugged at her lips.
"But I've called you that for so long..."
"So?"
"So..."
She looked everywhere except at me.
"It feels embarrassing."
I chuckled before stealing another brief kiss.
When I finally pulled away, her cheeks had turned a deeper shade of crimson.
"I should warn you," I whispered with playful seriousness.
"I can't promise I'll behave if you keep calling me 'Your Highness.'"
She pouted, lightly pressing a hand against my chest.
"That's unfair..."
After a brief pause, she took a small breath.
"...Christopher."
Hearing my name leave her lips for the first time sent an unexpected warmth through my heart.
It was hesitant.
Soft.
Almost timid.
Yet somehow, it sounded more beautiful than every title I had ever possessed.
Neither of us spoke again.
We simply stood together beneath the endless sky, listening to each other's breathing while the candles flickered gently around us.
The breeze lifted the edge of Wellesley's veil, carrying it like a blessing through the night.
Above us, the stars continued to shine—
Silent witnesses to a promise meant to last far beyond this lifetime.
───