The church was festooned in white and purple ribbons, the scent of fresh flowers enriched the air and sunlight streamed through the huge coloured window over the altar dedicated to the Gods of positive aspect. The great and good on the Empire of Cornasis awaited the wedding of the century bedecked in their finest outdoing the most fabulous of peacocks, and the jewels that adorned the ladies could buy enough food to feed the empire for years. Twenty of the twenty-one Kings subject to the imperial throne were in attendance with their families and retinues in tow. The only one missing was the insignificant barbarous King of the Plains derisively called the horse lord.
Today of the day of her majority the Crown Princess Lialana was to marry and become empress in her own right. She nervously stood in front of her full-length mirror examining all 5 feet two inches of her body for any signs of imperfection her golden hair was set atop her head in the most fabulous of styles by the royal stylist, all her body hair had been freshly removed by her personal maids and her pale skin lightly powdered. Dabs of perfume had been added to her neck, in the valley of her full rounded breasts and even and the joining of her thighs by her old nurse who continued to give advice on the activities that would take place within the bedchamber.
Lialana (Called Lia by her favourite ladies in waiting and her old nurse) was unconcerned as the man she was marrying would be her consort not her husband and therefore subject to her desires, if her dared do anything she didn't like she could order him to desist and he would have no option but to obey. She would be his Empress and her subject the same as everyone else. The boy was a political pick the second son of the King of Eliall, the richest kingdom within the empire. Nellas was a small man with soft hands, familiar with the lute and with a beautiful singing voice. His poetry was exemplary, he was reasonable to look at and he would do as she commanded... but the unknowns of the marriage bed still made her anxious.
She waited patiently as her white silk underdrawers were lifted up her legs and tied around her waist hiding her bare sex, she was acutely aware that the next time they would be removed it would be by Nellas prior to taking her maidenhead. Silk stockings were next, a pair of white heels followed to give her some height and then the elaborate wedding dress. She breathed in deeply and then remained still as the dress laces were pulled tight, the voluminous ballroom gown skirt hanging to the floor and the corset style top hugging and emphasising her breasts.
The first bell rang, immediately followed by a knock on the door it was time for the bridal procession, Lia's nurse opened the door where the Emperor Leaonard III and Empress Consort Asneth of the Empire awaited. All in the room went to one knee while Lialana bowed her head.
"Imperial Crown Princess and Daughter, all is in readiness are you prepared to take the burden of ruling from our shoulders?" intoned the emperor as he smiled at his only child.
"I am your Imperial Majesty and father" replied Lialana in the same tone and with a smile of her own.
Her father then turned, her mother one step behind and the Bride and her entourage following.
Lialana pondered the tradition that imperial rule was bestowed upon the oldest child once they came of age and they were also married. After today her father will be Imperial advisor to her as his father had been to him. The journey to the Imperial Cathedral was short as it attached to the palace, so the Imperial gate quickly came into view. Her father and mother stepped through as Lialana awaited the traditional renouncing of the throne by her father.
The second bell rang announcing the start of the abdication ceromancy. And then the third bell followed indicating her father was no longer Emperor. With a quick swallow Lialana realised what a great responsibility was about to be trust onto her small shoulders. The fates of almost twelve million people would shortly by subject to her every action, whether the empire prospered or failed would lie with her. Before these thoughts could overwhelm her the fourth bell rang indicating the beginning of her marriage ritual.
Bracing her shoulders and with her head held high Lialana strode forward alone, the royal guards quickly opened the doors as the bride began her march to the altar. As she stepped into the cathedral she paused in a beam of sunlight to allow the crowd to behold her perfection. She slowly stepped forward noting the old Bishop of Alissa, God of Love flanked by The Bishop of Jalar the God of Justice and the High Priestess of Thea the Goddess of Wisdom. These three represented the Gods of good aspect and would perform both the marriage and the coronation.
She then noticed the bridegroom, he was resplendent in a maroon shirt and leggings and wore a matching hat that draped almost down to his right shoulder, his soft leather shows coiled up at the toes in the latest fashion and his cloak of pure white silk completed the ensemble.
She stepped up beside the groom and The Bishop of Alissa began the ceremony.
"Members of the Imperial aristocracy, we are gathered here to join this man Nellas to the Imperial Crown Princess Lialana and witness the continuation of the Imperial line, If anyone has objection to the marriage they must now state so in public." The bishop pronounced.
Just as we were about to continue there was a loud crash from the main doors as they swung open booming against the wall. A tall young man dressed in leathers with his hair in a topknot strode confidently into the room. The pommel of his great sword jutted up over his left shoulder and leather bracers covered his arms. He folded his arms muscles bulging as he took in the crowd and sneered.
"I Devro King of the Plains object! Our imperial line is weak, and that fop will only weaken it further, we need strong blood to rule!" he proclaimed.
The sudden silence caused by the shock of his words was quickly broken by the protests of the crowd, the silence almost as quickly returned as dozens of men armed with great swords and dressed in leathers rushed into the church around there king. The doors were quickly closed and sealed while the rest of his men took up strategic positions within the church, a few men tried to rise but were beaten back to their seats. Within moments the plainsmen had the crowd under control.
Devro strode forward unsheathing his mighty sword with a hiss, he strode up to Nellas, looked him in the eye.
"Do you surrender your claim on the Princess you popinjay or will I need to use my blade to assert my claim?" said the King of the Plains menacingly.
"I surrender! I surrender! Please don't hurt me!" bawled Nellas a large wet spot appearing at the crotch of his leggings as he fell to his knees.
"This? this is what you would take to your side?" he said to Lia pointing his huge blade t the snivelling Nellas.
"Who are you to question my choices you barbarian scum! I will see your entrails pulled from you as you scream for mercy! I am the Empress and my word is law!" Lia confidently claimed.
"Oh! At least someone here has some spirt! But if I understand the law correctly you are not yet empress! To be empress you must be wed, and it seems you're short a groom!" as he pointed at Nellas crawling away. "However, I believe myself to be an ideal candidate, so you may now proceed with the wedding priest."
"What! Never!" spluttered the Bishop of Alissa "I..."
His next word was silenced as the tip of the huge great sword was suddenly at his throat, the barbarian king holding it one handed with ease.
"Priest, this isn't your decision, it's up to the princess here. So princess do we have a wedding or must we have violence? He indicated her parents who had some burly men standing beside them with bared blades ready to end their lives.
"Very well you barbarian scum, we'll proceed but I will make you regret this day!" Stated Lia angerly left with no choice.
"Your holiness please proceed, we must protect the lives here" Asked the princess as the barbarian king took his position beside her.
"Very well my dear" the bishop replied sorrowfully.
