Chapter Text
Falin's eyes once again slid over the mirror, where her reflection met her gaze. For most of her life, the image reflected in any reflective surface had barely caught her attention; it was a detail that rarely crossed her mind. She had built a kind of routine by wearing a uniform during her days at the academy, and when she joined Laios, the most practical option had been to adopt the attire of adventurers who could use resurrection magic: loose and comfortable clothes that helped her stop thinking too much about her appearance.
However, since her last reincarnation, something had clicked in her brain, and a part of her began to feel the need to pay more attention to her image. The loose tunic she used to wear, which often reached beyond her hands, had now disappeared from her wardrobe. High-necked shirts had been replaced by garments that slightly revealed the feathers on her chest and snug corsets that accentuated her waist. Even her pants, once loose, now hugged her curves more tightly. The only thing that had remained unchanged were her beloved high leather boots.
But not only her clothes had undergone changes, but also small details like her hair. Before, she barely cared if it looked messy until Marcille tried to comb it, or she didn't consider cutting her hair until her bangs became bothersome, at which point she simply took some scissors and cut a little without worrying too much about the result. Now, although she didn't always manage to have a flawless hairstyle, she made an effort to style her hair more often. Additionally, she paid greater attention to the feathers adorning her body, making sure to keep them soft and aiming for a more uniform style by trying to wear matching colors.
Undoubtedly, she was no longer the same Falin as before, but she welcomed the new changes and enjoyed seeing herself in the mirror with clothing that made her feel good. She felt that these external changes were manifestations of her internal transformation, a journey towards greater confidence and self-acceptance. She had learned to embrace her uniqueness, not to fear standing out from the crowd, so every day she felt she took a step closer to a more authentic, freer Falin Touden. And although the journey was still ongoing, she felt more at peace than she had ever been.
A smile graced her lips as she adjusted the lapels of her golden jacket with black accents. Casting a final glance at her attire, her gaze captured Marcille styling Chilchuck's future bride's hair. The improvement in her vision was another change she truly appreciated; she could finally discern more than mere blurry spots when looking at anything from a distance. To behold Marcille from any angle was, undoubtedly, something she genuinely relished.
The blonde was focused on braiding the dark hair, carefully adding some white flowers between the strands. Though she had lost her desire to tend to her own hair, she still found satisfaction in caring for others'. Deep down, Falin knew that this act was a small comfort for her friend.
It was incredibly cruel to snatch such an important part of her life away. It wasn't just an activity she enjoyed, but it also directly affected her ability to channel magic. Falin vividly remembered the first few weeks, when every attempt at spellcasting resulted in magical poisoning for the half-elf. It had been a very complicated and challenging time for Marcille, who felt like she had to relearn how to use magic from scratch. However, gradually, through meditation, she began to regain control. For Falin, there was no doubt that Marcille was capable of achieving anything she set her mind to.
"I think it's ready" the blonde said gently, placing her hands softly on the future bride's shoulders, drawing all attention to the hairstyle.
Flertom approached with admiration, contemplating her mother's hair and excitedly commented, "It's beautiful."
Upon hearing this, Marcille smiled slightly, feeling proud of her work as she watched the other girls approach to admire their mother. "It's beautiful, thank you so much, Marcille" the woman expressed with gratitude.
She simply nodded, rising to give the four of them some space, allowing them to enjoy their mother-daughter moment, then she headed towards where Falin was. She extended her hand to grasp the taller girl's, asking her in a soft tone, "Princes Falin, would you kindly accompany me to pick up the flower crowns?"
The young Touden smiled amusingly and nodded slightly, she definitely could never say no to the half-elf. They quietly left the room, heading to the west wing of the castle where the wedding decorations were. Marcille seemed notably less tense than the day before, though still showing signs of fatigue. Falin, concerned for her friend, couldn't help but ask if she was alright, to which the blonde responded affirmatively.
"Don't worry, Falin. Today everything is going much better than I expected" she tried to reassure her. "Izutsumi has agreed to wear a formal dress with her scarf, I've reached an agreement with Laios and Senshi for them to wear elegant armor without the helmet, and Kabru has confirmed that, for now, everything is in order with the schedules" she enumerated as her face lighting up with excitement.
Despite the good news, Falin added with a touch of concern in her voice, "But I'm not asking about the wedding, Marcille. I'm asking about how you are."
The blonde, with a slight grimace, looked into Falin's piercing golden eyes with surprise, as if she had barely realized her words. Trying to dispel any doubt the other girl might be feeling, she responded determinedly, "I'm fine if everyone else is, don't worry, Falin, I really am fine." Her hand lightly clasped onto her friend's as she whispered in a softer tone, "Thank you for caring."
She watched Marcille for a few seconds that seemed eternal before finally sighing deeply, trying to alleviate the unease she felt in her chest. "I'm here for whatever you need" she added sincerely.
"I know, Falin, I know" affirmed the half-elf softly, before continuing on their way to the room where the flower crowns were.
Before entering, voices filtered in from outside the room, familiar voices that they identified instantly. Upon crossing the threshold, they were met with a scene that left them perplexed Chilchuck pacing erratically back and forth, with a troubled and distressed expression, while Laios, Kabru, and Izutsumi were seated around the table where the flower crowns and a few drinks rested.
"I'm starting to doubt if all this was a good idea" exclaimed Chilchuck, still in motion and unaware of Marcille and Falin's arrival. "It's too big of a wedding. Everyone will be watching us" he continued, coming to a stop in front of his friends. "What if we're attacked? What if it becomes too overwhelming, and she abandons me at the altar?"
Kabru, with an empathetic smile, placed a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder and responded calmly, "This wedding is unique, perhaps it has gotten a bit out of hand, but it's the celebration you both deserve. No one will be left standing at the altar." Then, with a brighter tone and a glimmer of optimism in his eyes, he added, "Think of this as the opportunity to give your wife the wedding you couldn't have when you got married at 13."
Sensing the tension in the room, Marcille slowly approached Chilchuck with a tender smile. "I understand you feel overwhelmed, but remember we're here to support you at all times" she said calmly. Her friend looked at her with anguish reflected in his eyes, and she continued, "And as for what might happen, I have full confidence that everything will turn out fine. If we've managed to defeat a red dragon, we can overcome this too!"
"Marcille has strengthened the defensive barriers, Laios repels the monsters, and no one will dare to interfere in such an important and closely guarded event where there's a guard on every corner" affirmed Kabru while giving Chilchuck's shoulder reassuring pats.
Falin stepped forward to stand beside the half-elf and, with a serene tone, assured, "No matter what happens, we can face any challenge together. This wedding is a symbol of your love and commitment, nothing and no one can break that." As she finished speaking those words, the young woman with golden eyes felt Marcille squeeze her arm in gratitude for the support provided.
For a brief moment, Chilchuck scrutinized his friends, searching for any hint of doubt in their expressions. Feeling slightly more at ease, he caught Kabru's friendly signal, indicating with a gentle gesture that he should take a seat at the table for more comfortable conversation. As everyone settled in, they made an effort to create a welcoming atmosphere where their friend could relax. With a slight lift of his gaze, Chilchuck let out a sigh laden with anxiety as he admitted, "I'm not sure if my family will like this big flashy wedding."
A light laugh escaped Marcille's lips, as she responded without hesitation, "They're thrilled, you should see how excited they are. Flertom hasn't stopped talking about her beautiful dress, and Puckpatti has been completely absorbed in admiring the decorations and flowers since she arrived."
"They take after their mother a lot" Chil remarked more calmly, but then his tone grew distressed as he explained, "But Meijack is like me, and I don't think she'll feel comfortable in an environment like this."
Continuing the flow of conversation, Kabru allowed Marcille to respond to their friend and brought a glass to his lips for a sip of tomato juice. Before the blonde could speak, Laios interjected, "Don't worry about that. Marcille, Meijack and Falin are like best friends at this point." Upon hearing that comment, Kabru nearly choked on his drink, while Falin looked at her brother with shock, eyes wide, trying to understand what he had just said. Laios continued his argument, "You should have seen them yesterday, the three of them were inseparable" and to further fuel the fire, he exclaimed, "At dinner last night, it seemed like they couldn't take their eyes off each other."
A brief silence filled the room for a few seconds until Marcille's voice broke it. "The three of us get along very well" she said, nodding with a smile, then added, "Falin and I will take care of Meijack." To drive her point home, she turned her attention to her friend. "Isn't that right, Falin?"
The golden eyes of the youngest Touden examined the half-elf's face for a moment, trying to discern her intent with that remark. However, all she found was a genuine smile that compelled her to respond with a faint "Yes, of course" while her insides screamed otherwise.
With those words, a subtle smile finally appeared on Chilchuck's lips, and he let out a soft whisper of gratitude "Thank you, girls. I'm glad to hear that" causing a slight turmoil in Falin's stomach for lying to her friend. She definitely didn't consider Meijack a friend, let alone her best friend.
"Now stop being dramatic, go get married, and let's start the feast" said Izutsumi from the other end of the table, while toying with her glass, almost dropping it.
The comment elicited a laugh from Marcille, who stood up. "We need to grab a few flower crowns and we'll be off. The ceremony is about to begin" explained the blonde as she picked up some of the most colorful ones.
Falin approached Marcille with a shy smile, sliding her fingers over the flower crowns arranged on the table, searching for the perfect one for her friend. When her eyes landed on a crown adorned with pink, yellow, and lavender flowers, wrapped in a golden ribbon, she paused, taking a moment to ensure it was the ideal choice. And with trembling yet determined hands, she picked up the crown.
"What do you think of this one?" she asked with a soft voice, after clearing her throat a bit to get Marcille's attention. The half-elf turned towards Falin, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity, met by the golden ones she adored so much. A charming smile formed on her lips as she gazed at the crown her friend held and replied, "I love it."
Falin held the crown delicately, as if it were the most precious treasure, and with a gentle gesture, she placed it on Marcille's head. Her fingers lightly brushed the blonde hair as she adjusted the crown, creating an electric sensation that ran through her skin. The heart of the young Touden girl beat strongly as her eyes couldn't help but adore Marcille's beauty.
Although everything inside her clamored to kiss her at that moment or sing the most cheesy love ballad ever composed, she knew she had to restrain herself. Now wasn't the right time or place. If she was going to confess her feelings to Marcille, it would have to be at a perfect moment, not in a random room with their friends, especially when one of them was on the verge of a panic attack.
Falin exhaled deeply, withdrawing her hands and her gaze from Marcille, and turned back to the table. "What kind of flower crown should I wear?" she asked playfully as she picked up a laurel crown with a red ribbon and examined it.
"You can't wear a flower crown" Kabru interjected. "Laios and you must wear the royal crowns." The girl with golden eyes fixed her gaze on her friend with obvious disapproval.
"But the wedding theme is 'Flower Fantasy', and here I am, dressed in gold" she replied, trying to hold her ground as she displayed her golden jacket adorned with black details.
Kabru rose from his seat, approaching where the two girls stood, and in the calmest tone he could muster, he continued, "You should consider what people will think when the royal family of the Golden Kingdom doesn't wear a golden crown." He emphasized the word 'golden' to underscore his point. He concluded, "Right now, we need to project wealth, fame and power. Gold communicates all of that, flowers do not."
Falin closed her eyes for a moment feeling upset. She knew what Kabru was saying made sense, that it was appropriate in this context, but it wasn't the decision she wanted to make. She opened her eyes to meet Laio's concerned gaze. He was wearing a lightweight armor adorned with golden details and a golden crown with rubies atop his head.
Her brother was no longer just Laios, the boy obsessed with monsters; now, he held the title of king of a country, and she was part of the royal family. A reality she wasn't accustomed to, but one she knew she had to adapt to. It wasn't time to complain or get angry with her friends; everyone was making efforts and sacrifices, just like her.
"Alright, a golden crown it is" Falin murmured, averting her gaze from Laios with a resigned expression. She knew she couldn't fight against the expectations and duties that came with her new position. Such decisions, like the choice of the golden crown, were deliberated meticulously, and it was time to accept them. With a sigh, she felt the burden of responsibility resting heavily upon her shoulders, but also the determination to face whatever was necessary for the sake of the kingdom and her family.