*Janus*
The wedding ceremony drew near each day, and my excitement grew almost uncontrollably. While Ruby focused on her students and etiquette lessons, I threw myself into the wedding planning. There would be a huge banquet, bouquets in every corner, and live music for dancing. Especially for that last part, Ruby and I took dancing lessons from Otto and Adelheid, something I had eagerly anticipated. Ruby already danced well, just not in any Armentis styles. Teaching her was not hard, but because of that, we sadly did not spend as much time together as I had hoped.
We also finalised the date for the ceremony, which would incidentally be the same day as this year’s spring festival. In the past, I would have found it a cliché and even laughed when young noble girls hoped this would be their wedding date, but now I must admit I feel much the same.
After Ruby and Rika had gone to Rosalia’s boutique to look for a marriage dress for Ruby, I was later that day practically dragged into the shop by no other than Rosalia herself. She simply would not stop gushing about Ruby. As soon as I stepped inside, Rosalia launched into her parade of compliments. “I have never seen anyone like her,” she exclaimed. Her hands fluttered around her as she spoke. “Her skin, her posture, she simply glows, Janus. Honestly, if I gave her a curtain to wear, she would still look like a masterpiece!"
I raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh. “Are you sure you are designing for my wedding and not starting a fan club?” I teased.
Rosalia waved me off, grinning mischievously. “Please, she is a designer’s dream. I can hardly help myself!"
It got so bad that I had to remind myself that, for Rosalia, fashion was her life and that she was also a woman, so she wasnt interested in Ruby in that way.
Whatever.
Rosalia’s design for my own clothing was one of those new fashion suits. It was black as night, with silver-white trim tracing the edges. Blue buttons, carved from Corall, haloed the darkness and glowed faintly, as if holding starlight under the surface. She paired the suit with sharp black shoes and a crisp, snow-white, frilly shirt.
When I asked her what she had in mind for Ruby and if I could see it, she got all smug in the face and just told me not to worry. Others might have worried that Rosalia had come up with something so weird and new that no one would like it, but that might have happened with other designers who tried everything to become famous, but not with Rosalia. Her fashion always hit, even when it was out of fashion; hers would never look tasteless.
With the date, banquet, dancing, flowers, and attire set, there was nothing left to discuss. Yet, I could not stop feeling anxious. It was not about the wedding or our future, but about Ruby. She was not getting cold feet, but I noticed she kept tossing and turning in her sleep. When I asked, she said it was just a nightmare, and I believed her, but I sensed there was something more.
Last night had been especially bad. She wouldn’t stop shivering and even talked in her sleep. She kept calling the names of people she knew, even some people I had never heard of, as if she were desperately looking for someone. She only calmed down after I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her against my chest. Slowly, her breathing evened, and she stopped moving. I thought it was over, but after a few moments, she woke up in a full-on panic attack.
In that moment, fear and helplessness washed over me. I wanted so badly to take her pain away, but all I could do was hold her and wait for the panic to pass. Seeing her like that, so vulnerable and lost, made me furious for being so powerless. It also stirred something protective in me. I wanted to shield her from whatever haunted her dreams. Long after she drifted back to sleep, I was still lying awake, my mind churning with anxiety and worry about what she was going through, determined to help her in any way I could.
