Dear Cousin

He smiled at her.

Okay, perhaps only a side of his lips had quirked, but Nine was deciding to be positive, and his hand... It held hers, not tightly, like a slight breeze, as if any slight pressure would hurt her.

After the maids had dressed her and done her makeup, she was sure she was going to cry again when she saw her reflection. The woman... Didn't look like her. She looked healthy, wealthy too, like she belonged there. It was too much for her to take in but when she had walked in, and Lior had stared at her, his eyes only on her, she had suddenly forgot about crying.

The priest was talking, yet Nine couldn't hear what he was saying. She could feel so many eyes on her, like they expected her to make a mistake. Be clumsy, but she didn't want to. Not today. She didn't want to... embarass Lior.

He turned to face her now and she did so as well, now freezing as she heard the Priest say, "Do you swear to take this woman as your lawfully wedded wife? To love and protect? As long as you