pte

ng an eyebrow at the elderly tailor who was

decades, smiled warmly as he answered,

n!" Nicholas laughed, incredulous. "

nce. "She does drive me insane," he admitted, "but when you love

justing the cuffs on his suit one last time. He st

twinkling. "In all fairness, I think you

m quizzically. "Did you just g

etime of marriage has its ad

in amused disbelief. "I'

chatter and laughter filled the space as her bride

eaks you?" Hannah, Theora's cousin, t

er like that couple who had to be separated with a crowbar in the emergency room?" The

the room with a calm yet authoritative tone

leaving Theora alone with her mother. She gave her mother a weak smil

er with pride. "They've done an excellent job with the makeup,"

ad never been great at accepting compliments, but her

t to Theora on the couch, her expressio

ent. Her mother's talks were always long and full of advice

e more measured now. "He will ask things from you, things that may seem strange or difficult, but it's

s, her stomach churning. "I understand, Mam

gently on hers. "You'll

ora almost let out a groan internally. Of all the moments to ge

that seemed to hold both warmth and wisdom. "Look at you," Yiayia said, admiring her granddaughter. "You look so beautiful." Then, with a q

laugh. It wasn't the first time Yiayia had d

into her own. "My dear," she began, her voice becoming

could sense what was coming, and though she knew it was inevi

binds both our families together. You carry our legacy, our honor, on your shoulders. You will stand by your husband, and you

words settled in her mind. The pressure, the expecta

ment. "You must be strong, Theora. You must never f

eart pounding in her

anding up. "Now, you're ready. Just remember your duty. It's

ing just a touch. "We're doing this for the good of t

a world that was far more complicated than she could have ever imagined. She had been pre

ing the full gravity of the situation to sink in. She wasn't just marrying Nicholas-she was becoming part of some

ng back at her seemed almost like a stranger. But in a few short hours,