Chapter 433: Family Support

Chapter 433: Chapter 433: Family Support

Rex and Mara married two days later beneath a clear Alexandrian sky.

The ceremony occupied the old western courtyard of the royal palace, where pale stone columns enclosed a garden protected from the winter wind by high glass panels etched with Wrohanian royal motifs. Evergreen branches and white flowers framed the central aisle, their restrained elegance far more suited to Mara than the excessive decorations Liam had half expected from a royal wedding.

Mara wore an ivory fitted gown with long sleeves, subtle silver embroidery across the bodice, and a narrow train that followed cleanly behind her as she walked toward Rex.

Rex looked terrified.

Liam found that reassuring.

"He looks like he might faint," he murmured.

Arik stood beside him in a pale gray formal suit edged lightly in gold, black hair swept back from his face. His hand rested against Liam’s lower back under the excuse of guiding him through the crowded royal seating.

"He has survived worse."

"This is different."

"True. Mara can leave."

Liam turned his head, crimson eyes wide open.

"That was terrible."

Arik smiled.

They took their places with the rest of the family before Liam could answer.

Enia and Henry sat nearby, Mirelle beside them wearing deep plum and enough jewelry to make Liam suspect she had decided a royal wedding justified everything in her collection. Samuel had somehow been persuaded into formal black without complaint, while Ayla wore dark red with her brown hair pinned back loosely from her face.

She had been behaving remarkably well.

Mostly because Gerard was seated several rows away.

Ayla looked at him and promptly looked away.

Then looked back again with an expression Liam had begun recognizing as silent judgment.

He leaned slightly toward her.

"Stop staring."

"I’m not."

"You are."

"I am observing."

Arik made a quiet sound beside him that might have been laughter.

Ayla narrowed her eyes toward Gerard again.

Her reasons, she had explained earlier, were perfectly valid.

First, he had used her name in an international marriage rumor without ever meeting her.

Second, he kept looking toward Liam and Arik as though they had personally ruined his life.

Third...

"He is ugly," Ayla had concluded over breakfast.

Liam had nearly dropped his coffee.

Samuel had agreed immediately.

Enia had told both of them to behave.

Mirelle had asked to see Gerard’s photograph again.

The situation deteriorated from there.

Now Gerard sat among the foreign monarchs wearing a dark burgundy coat heavily embroidered in gold, his expression sour despite the music and soft winter sunlight warming the courtyard.

His gaze crossed toward Arik.

The dislike was obvious.

Ayla saw it.

Her own expression sharpened.

Henry noticed next.

He followed her line of sight, saw Gerard staring toward Liam, and quietly shifted in his seat.

Enia noticed Henry.

Mirelle noticed everyone.

Within approximately thirty seconds, Liam’s entire family had become aware that Gerard was looking badly at him.

Liam realized this only when he glanced sideways and found six people staring back at Gerard with varying degrees of hostility.

Samuel looked offended on principle.

Ayla looked murderous.

Henry’s expression was quiet but cold.

Enia had gone completely still.

Mirelle was smiling.

That was probably the worst one.

Liam leaned toward Arik.

"My family is being strange."

Arik followed his gaze.

His mouth curved.

"They are protecting you."

"They are staring at him like they plan to bury him beneath the courtyard."

"Supportive."

Liam gave him a look.

The music changed before the family alliance could become an international incident.

Mara entered.

Everything else disappeared.

Rex stopped looking nervous the moment he saw her.

That changed Liam’s entire impression of the ceremony.

Whatever strain existed around the political guests no longer mattered. Mara reached Rex, took his hands, and smiled at him with an ease that made the formal vows feel unexpectedly private despite hundreds of people watching.

Liam found himself smiling too.

Arik’s fingers pressed lightly against his back.

Then someone whispered behind them.

A quiet laugh followed.

Liam turned just enough to see Cecil approaching their row after being delayed by the Agaron delegation’s arrival.

He looked unfairly well.

His formal coat was deep crimson with restrained gold detailing, dark hair neatly styled, silver eyes bright with obvious satisfaction.

Frederik walked beside him.

Cecil reached the empty place near Arik and leaned down.

"I have news."

Arik looked suspicious immediately.

"This is Rex’s wedding."

"I know."

"You are smiling as if something happened."

Cecil’s smile widened.

Liam knew that expression too.

Cecil placed one hand lightly over his abdomen with a wide grin.

Arik stared.

Liam stared.

Frederik looked far too composed for someone standing beside a catastrophe.

Cecil whispered, "I’m pregnant."

Liam’s mouth opened.

Arik blinked.

Cecil leaned closer.

"And before you two managed it."

Liam slowly turned toward Arik.

Arik looked personally betrayed by biology.

Cecil’s satisfaction became unbearable.

"You did not."

"I did."

"This is not a competition," Liam whispered, his right hand pinching the bridge of his nose.

Cecil looked at him.

"It absolutely is now."

Frederik put one hand at the back of Cecil’s neck.

"Please do not antagonize your brother during someone else’s wedding."

"He started it years ago."

"I did not start the pregnancy," Arik muttered.

Liam covered his mouth to keep from laughing.

Cecil sat down.

Arik continued staring ahead at Rex and Mara, but Liam could feel irritation radiating from him.

"You are sulking."

"I am not."

"You are."

"He announced it specifically to annoy me."

"Correct."

"That should bother you too."

"It doesn’t."

Arik looked toward Liam.

Liam smiled.

That made his expression soften despite himself.

Across the aisle, Gerard was still watching them.

Unfortunately for him, Ayla noticed again.

This time Mirelle and the rest followed her gaze immediately.

Even Cecil eventually glanced over and joined without knowing why.

Gerard found himself facing an entire section of Liam’s family staring back at him.

He frowned.

Mirelle smiled sweetly and lifted her glass.

Ayla copied her.

Samuel nearly laughed aloud.

Liam closed his eyes.

"This is disturbing."

Arik looked delighted.

"I like your family."

"You would."

The ceremony ended beneath applause as Rex kissed Mara and the courtyard erupted into warmer noise, guests rising while flower petals drifted from the upper galleries.

Liam stood with everyone else.

Enia caught his hand briefly.

Henry smiled toward Mara.

Ayla immediately began telling Samuel that she had won the staring contest.

Cecil informed Arik that he would discuss possible baby names later purely to make him suffer.

And somewhere across the courtyard, Gerard looked increasingly miserable.

Liam decided the wedding was going exceptionally well.