The Demon’s Bride

Elise showed her aunt a smile, "Will you be planning for a marriage, Aunt Esther?" Elise saw how Beelzebub keep on pursuing Esther despite her refusal. Although Elise knows little about Beelzebub as a person, she knows a few things about him including how there was barely a few things that interested him. But the Demon live up to his name for being a greedy Demon. Once something piqued his interest it would be until his death that he loses interest on it. 

Esther was startled in many way. She was startled that Elise had called her aunt and the question. Not telling Elise to fix her way of calling her, instead her lips widened with a smile. "I don't plan to marry anyone. Not in this lifetime. Is everything done yet?"

"The preparation for the hair is the only last event, miss," answered Mila who had came to attend Elise and she was happy to see the housekeeper as she thought the woman had avoided her. It meant a lot to see her here as she was one of the last few people who knew about her since her childhood. "Please sit," offered Mila and Elise took a seat.

Esther watched the little chick whose round body was covered with clothes, almost similar to a tuxedo and a suit which had her to shake her head. Without knowing that Hallow was a grim reaper, Esther wondered what kind of talking chick did Elise took and how did she found one who could speak and wear a tie while brushing himself upon the mirror?

Elise felt Mila's hand around her hair. Taking the pin, the woman twirled the side of her hair, letting her red hair open and said, "You have a beautiful hair, milady. It would be a shame to tie this together in a high updo. Would you like to let it down?"

"That would be great," Elise agreed, watching Mila's eyes that continued to stare at her hair through the mirror and she turned nervous and awkward, not knowing what to say to break the ice that created a rift between them. 

In time, Esther who noticed something then said, "I think we are missing Elise's wedding crown."

Mila turned her eyes around the dressing table agreeing with a nod and Esther quickly said, "If it is in the viewing room then I will go and fetch those. We cannot be late for the ceremony or make the groom mad. Else I am afraid he would come here when he shouldn't."

After Esther had left, Elise was then left with the other two maids. She wanted time to speak alone with Mila and there was nothing else the maids had to do therefore she dismissed them to leave. When they were alone, Elise begin to speak, "Mila, I noticed that you are avoiding me. Is it something that I do?"

Mila who was pinning her hair appeared startled over her question. She took the white rose to place it in the middle of her hair tied hair and her eyes softened as she shook her head. "How could I ever avoided you, Elise? It was no my intention. People know about me but you might not know this. Once I had a husband and an adorable daughter. My daughter took my husband's good quality and she was such a beautiful baby. It goes without saying that in the future she would become a lovely girl but that future never came," the maid pursed her lips and Elise who watched her through the mirror felt the pain that flashed over Mila's eyes.

"I was terribly lonely. Without my daughter or my husband, my life was gray but one day you came," Mila let her hand down and Elise turned her body to look at Mila properly. "I took you as my own daughter and do whatever I could to make you feel happy as I would want my daughter to feel."

"You are a great mother Mila, I am sure if your daughter was in my shoes, she would be very proud to have you as her mother," Elise let the woman know. "I don't remember much about my mother and while I hope I could remember her, I never felt lonely and it was because of your warmth and love as a mother, other than you, I had Mrs. Scott. Though there were times i felt lonely, I couldn't be more than grateful to have to have three wonderful mothers. You can see me as your own child as I have seen you as one."

Mila's black eyes were quickly filled with tears. She bent down to pull Elise into her embrace and Elise openly welcome the woman. 

"I wish you a happy marriage, Elise. I really do," Mila whispered beside her ears.

"Thank you. I promise I will be happy," Elise answer and she rubbed the woman's back, letting her to shed a few tears and she felt like she had a mother who was sad to part away with her through the marriage and that gave Elise a little to miss her mother, both Adelaide and Mrs. Scott who had passed away. 

Mila pulled away and wiped her tears. She then looked at Elise's collarbone which was exposed by her shoulderless gown where a silver cross laid comfortably on her skin, "You wore it," Mila said, "But we should change that for today."

"I think it is beautiful," Elise said, seeing no problem with the necklace but Mila shook her head.

"I have prepared something better than this necklace. Although I am very flattered that you chose to wear that necklace with you in such an important time I wish you to wear a better necklace. In this day you are the main character," Mila took off the necklace, bringing a sparkling necklace which was wider to cover her entire neck. "I am sad to see you leaving."

"I won't leave anywhere, Mila," Elise chuckled and she stood up from her chair to stand in front of the standing tall oval mirror that was placed beside the dressing table. 

She looked at the reflection of the happy girl. Her hair had been tied half while letting the rest loosely curls to fall over her fair shoulders. Some of her baby hairs were let to curl over her forehead. She then looked over to the lovely snowy wedding gown that she wore. 

Following Ian's ever amazing design, the gown suited her like the perfect glove. The upper part of the dress allowed much of her shoulders to show, letting her bright red hair to take the spotlight as they rest softly over her chest. Elise felt her hand over the thin material of the skirt which puffed up with many thin layers gathered as once, reminding her of a butterfly's wings for some reason. The golden thread work over the hem of the skirt and below her waist proves just how skillful her tailor was and she was happy to see how much work had been attended to the dress that made it even more impressive for this perfect day. 

"It's beautiful," Elise said with a smile, she couldn't forget her shoes either which had been specifically made for today. The back of the heels had a roses design and although one cannot see it as it was hidden underneath the long dress that she wore, the details made it even more endearing to her. 

"It is. You are very beautiful," Mila said, watching her face hat and been lightly dusted with pink blushes, and they hugged once again before the maid left.

Elise prepared herself again, feel her heartbeat racing when she thought that soon a ring would settled on her ring fingers that was now gloved with the long white satin gloves. She felt nervous with every seconds that count, staring at the window that had been tied to let the sunlight graced her room. It was a perfect day, thought Elise and she was very happy with today, hoping nothing wrong could go on.

A moment later, Esther came in with the sparkling crown on her hands. The crown had a simple design, just enough to sparkle on her head, while letting her striking red hair take the spotlight, "It is time, the carriage is ready," Esther came to her side and after placing it carefully on the top of the head, the woman smiled, "Are you ready?"

Elise stood up with her hands crossed in front of her waist, "Very. Do you know what Ian is doing now?"

"He should be in his room now and is getting ready to the carriage. The guests is in the Church as well therefore until the ceremony there is done, the ballroom will be empty," Esther explained as she offered her hand to help Elise walk. "Which reminds me, I think Lucifer came."

"I did," came the sudden voice of Lucifer from the door. His back was leaned on the door and he pushed himself to make his way over to Elise. 

Elise saw how compared to the other days where Lucifer was dressed in a loose black robe, today he wore a suit like other humans would do. His hair had been combed neatly to a braid that fell over to his back. 

He stared at her, a hum of acknowledgement left his lips, "Magnificent. I can see how my nephew fell so hard for you. You are perfect. Yesterday after my trip to Hell, I saw something very important there," and he raised his hand, when he opened his fist, a flower bloomed from his palm which was colored deep in red. While it was similar to rose, the petals were thicker and in the middle was a yellow pollen.

Lucifer said, "This is a flower that is famous in Hell for marriage. As it bloom only two every once in a year it is very demanded for marriage couple to have them. It is said that this is a flower of everlasting love. Whoever wore them in the day of their marriage, it would be guaranteed that they would have a lovely marriage throughout their entire life. I have given Ian one and this is for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Lucifer. The flower have such beautiful meaning it must have been terrible to find them," Elise said to hear the Demon click his tongue thrice and remembering their last conversation, she quickly fix her words, "Uncle Luci."

Lucifer's red eyes gleamed in hidden color of golden, "You cannot be that easily to please. This is still one of my little surprise for your wedding, my dear. I heard that there is no one who would be walking you down the aisle."

Elise pulled a smile at Lucifer's blunt question, "Austin is thinking of taking the position."

"Well, I was thinking to walk you down the aisle." 

Elise was surprised with Lucifer's words, her large blue eyes looked at him and he said, "I didn't had the opportunity to attend my sister's wedding, nor was I able to take the place to be the one to walk her down the aisle. It is said that one of the loneliest memory of a bride is to walk down the aisle. I had lost the chance to do that for here, therefore, I wish to do my amends with you. Will you be alright with that?"

Elise nodded her head, seeing no harm and rather she thought that Lucifer might be the perfect person to walk her down the aisle. Not that Austin was lacking anything but Lucifer was a part of Ian's family. Hearing about Lady Lucy, she also wished to help Lucifer to make peace over Lady Lucy's wedding which he wasn't able to attend. 

"But I will have to speak with Austin." She would feel bad to suddenly turn down the position which Austin seemed to be so happy to take as she did.

"Don't worry, that kind of small thing I have taken care of it. I only need a yes or no," Lucifer crooked his brows at the end of his question.

"It is a yes," Elise gave her answer, seeing the Demon's smile widened. 

"Perfect, I will be waiting you in the Church," Lucifer said, giving one last look to her and he said, "I will make sure you enjoy your time while walking down the aisle. The rest is taken care by me."

When Lucifer left, both Hallow and Esther who had been holding their breath calmed down. A sigh came underneath Esther's voice, "I am surprised to see that even Lucifer could be so tame like that. Are you ready now? The carriage is here. It is time."

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A/N: The wedding gown and the crown is shown in the picture in the comment, please check to help imagine the scene~~