The wedding was only fifteen days away, and Elena found herself swamped in the preparations. Presently, she was in a meeting to decide the kind of flowers to decorate Bellouet Square.
“You can use these white flowers as your main color, then use these red flowers to draw the attention towards certain points of interest. It would look very beautiful, My Lady”
“…Right.”
“Or perhaps this yellow one–”
Her head throbbed from staring at the dozens upon dozens of flowers before her. This flower was pretty, and that flower was pretty as well. In fact, to Elena, who had little interest in decorating, they all looked pretty. She found it difficult to decide the prettiest among all of them.
“…Huuu.”
Elena gave a low sigh, and the florist who had been committed to explaining everything to her misunderstood the meaning.
“Is there anything you like? Then we can start again from the beginning–”
“No!”
Elena strongly interrupted her. The sheer variety of flowers already made it difficult to choose, and she didn’t want to think about anymore.
“It’s hard to decide on the flower combinations because they all look beautiful.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Elena wished she could just pick anything, but the wedding ceremony would be host to the envoys of many other kingdoms and even the public. The prestige of the Ruford Empire weighed heavily in her mind.
‘What should I choose?’
Determined, Elena finally touched three of her favorite flower combinations. The first was a base of white flowers with a red rose in the center, and the second was a bouquet of a variety of reds and pinks. The third choice was purple lavender.
“For now, I like these three…”
“Oh, those are excellent choices. There are many other combinations, but all the flowers you choose are popular. Which one do you like the most?”
This was the hardest question for Elena. Choosing three was easy enough, but one?
It was then that Mirabelle entered the room, approaching Elena’s side.
“Oh, are you looking at flowers for the wedding venue? I’m here to ask you about your dress.”
Elena despaired at having more choices to make. There was not a single detail about the wedding that did not pass her hands first. However, Elena kept her head up as she spoke to Mirabelle.
“I like all three of these, but which one do you think is the best?”
“Well, they’re all pretty.”
“I think so too, but I have to choose only one from here.”
Even if she postponed the decision until tomorrow, she would still have to come up with an answer. It was better to just do it now.
“Hm–“
Mirabelle tapped her chin, and all eyes went on her. She smiled awkwardly at the attention, then spoke carefully to Elena.
“You picked these three, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then what was your last choice?”
“The purple lavender.”
Elena pointed her finger to the flowers and Mirabelle nodded.
“Then take these.”
“They are the most beautiful to you?”
“No. But you tend to save your favorite thing until the end. You probably like these purple flowers the most.”
“…!”
Elena took second stock at her decision. White or red flowers were classical choices for a wedding, but the last choice was her favorite. Elena turned to Mirabelle with a questioning expression.
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“…How did you know?”
“Do you think I’ve known you for only a day? I know you!”
Elena couldn’t help but return Mirabelle’s smile. But purple flowers were very unusual. It was not the color used in most wedding venues.
“Wouldn’t it be too ostentatious? There will be many people in attendance, and I could choose something a little more acceptable…”
“It’s your wedding, not anyone else’s. You choose what you like best.”
When Elena still looked hesitant, Mirabelle continued more determinedly.
“Sister, this might be the only wedding in your life. Decorate it the way you want it and don’t regret it later.”
Mirabelle’s words touched her heart.
‘Only once in my life…my wedding.’
Life was short, and it was something she had forgotten because she was burdened by so many other things. No matter that she was in a contract marriage, it was still a marriage that Elena might experience only once in her life. The florist watched them quietly before deciding to add in her own words.
“She’s right, and besides, the lavender flowers will look elegant and luxurious when used properly. It’s not a bad choice.”
Elena finally made up her mind from their advice. She nodded, pointing to the purple lavender flowers she had picked last.
“Then decorate the venue with this.”
“Yes, you made a good choice. Then let’s look at the sample design here and…”
The process wasn’t over, but strangely, Elena felt a lot lighter.
*
*
*
After choosing the flowers and decorations for the square, Elena and Mirabelle were finally left alone in the room. Mirabelle quickly spoke up as if her turn had finally come.
“We have estimates from various tailor shops, but Madame Mitchell from Anco’s is the most ideal.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. You’ll have to visit them soon for them to measure you and show you the samples. If you don’t like them, I have another shop picked as a candidate.”
“If you think they’re good, you don’t have to look around at other places.”
“Just in case.”
Mirabelle was more thorough in wedding planning than Elena had thought. Elena always saw her sister as a young girl, but now she had mixed feelings because Mirabelle looked like a young woman now. Elena hoped that even if Mirabelle would grow up to be a respectable lady, she would remain her beloved sister. She gazed at her with a bittersweet expression, then spoke in a soft voice.
“Thank you, Mirabelle.”
It was a long time ago when Elena lost her family and spent the nights crying her heart out. It felt like a dream to see Mirabelle mature now, and have a wedding celebration with her family. She had longed for those kinds of happy days with all her soul.
Mirabelle smiled shyly.
“It’s my sister’s wedding, and it’s only natural that I help. Thank you for everything. When you are free, will you come with me to the dress shop?”
“Yes. I wish I could have worn a wedding dress designed by you and not someone else…”
Elena sounded regretful, and Mirabelle couldn’t help but jump in.
“Ah, we can’t change your wedding dress, and I’m too young to design a whole new one from the start.”
Even so, Mirabelle’s heart filled with disappointment as well. From the tea party in the south to the imperial ball, Elena was always in the center of attention because of the dresses that had gone through Mirabelle’s hands. Seeing Elena in those beautiful scenes made Mirabelle realize that designing new clothes was fun and rewarding to her. However, her skills were still far short of designing a wedding dress.
‘…I’m afraid it can’t be helped.’
Worried that Elena would notice her disappointment, Mirabelle brightened her expression and shifted the topic.
“Your dress is important, but what about the Crown Prince’s suit?”
“Haaah, it really is mountain after mountain.”
Elena pressed her hand on her temples as if she had no answer. She didn’t think wedding planning was this difficult. There were so many choices ahead.