Unsure of how to respond, Zarya looked down at the box to find a man’s wedding band inside. “I don’t understand. What is this?”
“It’s the royal governor’s matrimonial seal that is presented to every governor by his first wife at their wedding. I took it off Drux’s hand before Arturo could steal it, and… I’ve kept it safe for this day.” Her hand visibly shaking, she wiped at her eyes. “Given Darling’s declared homosexuality, I thought it would be Drake who wore it. But I’m glad to see it go to Darling.”
Clearing her throat, Natale picked it up to show it to Zarya. “When Darling was little, his father would take it off and place it on his tiny finger before he made Darling recite his rules of conduct. I always waited for Darling to protest having to do it, but he was such a little man about it. All he wanted was to please his father and make him proud. He would clench his hand.” Natale demonstrated it with her own fist. “And stand tall, then repeat all twenty flawlessly. When he was done, he’d take the ring off and stare at it in awe. And every time he gave it back to his father, he’d promise that one day he would be the best governor Caron ever had.”
Her eyes filled with agony, Natale covered her mouth with her hand. “Unlike Drake and Lise, he actually remembers his father. The two of them were so close. Darling worshiped the ground he stood on.” She swallowed and lowered her hand. “He’s just like his father, you know? It’s so hard to look at him sometimes when all I see is everything I’ve lost. He has Drux’s voice and his bearing and mannerisms.” She almost broke down into tears again, but somehow she caught herself. “Anyway, I should go now and leave you to him.”
Zarya placed her hand on her arm. “Please, don’t.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I think, I do. Both of my parents are dead, and you’re the only one Darling has. Please honor him by attending the ceremony. I know it would mean a lot to him to have you here. He does love you, my lady. He always has.”
“And I do love him… It’s just been so hard at times. But if you’re sure…”
“I am.”
Nodding, Natale squeezed her hand, then left.
Zarya wasn’t sure if his mother had really stayed for the ceremony or not until they opened the doors to the chapel. Natale stood just a few feet away from Darling.
The moment her gaze met his, Zarya felt a rush of heat go through her. Even though they were married, she still trembled as the weight of her position hit her. After this, she would officially be the Grand Empress of Caron. One day, her child… their child would rule this empire.
It was terrifying to think of all that responsibility. It was hard enough to raise a child. Period. To raise one who was destined to lead a vast empire…
Darling was lucky she wasn’t running for the door.
But as Maris walked her down the aisle and she saw Nero in the crowd, she relaxed. Nero had been right to tell Darling to show her the papers that Darling had found.
Even now after she’d seen them and read the files, she still didn’t believe it.
The reason why Darling’s father had brought him to her home that very first trip was so that her father could meet the boy he was betrothing her to.
They’d been destined for each other from the moment of her birth. It gave her chills every time she thought about that.
Nero’s words haunted her. “In all incarnations, except one, he would have always married you.”
And in that one exception, Darling had died as a teenager.
“You are the only woman he would have ever married, Zarya. Never doubt his loyalty or his love for you.”
She curtsied to Maris before he handed her over to Darling.
Darling bowed formally and kissed her inner wrist. It was so scandalous an action that several gerents gasped. But she didn’t care. Lacing his fingers with hers, Darling tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and held it there while the people cheered for them.
Ever since their return, the Caronese people and gerents, and especially the Resistance and royal guard had embraced their emperor. They had declared him their pride. And referred to her as the heart of the people.
Her throat tight, she was so grateful that now the only ones they had to fight were the League. It wasn’t an easy war, but it was much better than having to fight their own.
And when she placed his father’s ring on his hand, Darling trembled.
“Where did you get this?” he whispered, clenching his fist just the way his mother had demonstrated.
She indicated Natale with a tilt of her head. “Your mother brought it for you. She wanted to make sure you had it for your wedding.”
A shocked smile played at the edges of his mouth as he turned in his mother’s direction and gave her a formal bow.
Natale dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief as she wept silently.
Darling took Zarya’s hand and returned her ring to her finger. “I expect it to stay there, this time.”