As Julia's lips pulled away from the heirs, she felt the strange sense of something straining to stay intact within her, as if something a part of her was holding onto is trying desperately to break away.
But Julia had no time to waste lingering on strange feelings, not today, there were too many of them already.
This marriage of Julia's is, like many thought, a political one, to nurture the alliance between the New Kalegorian Empire and the distinguished house Valerond. Julia knew that. But she hated every second of it, 'How can Father knowingly marry me off to the very house that hurt Brutus?' Julia thought, 'I'll have to explain to Brutus properly later' she promised to herself as she buried unnecessary thoughts.
Throughout the wedding, Julia kept to the formalities, greeting distinguished guests and conversing with some of the most well-off dignitaries in the Empire; every smile she offered was meticulously placed, always rehearsed beforehand, and yet, under Julia's practised grace, an under current of unease and sadness was steadily surging, as if this day was just stiched together, with moments she couldn't feel, only perform.
The ceremony continued with practised ease; the vows, the blessings, this kiss. Every step scripted. Once the ceremony had finally ended, and the last of the guests exited this stage of marriage, Julia's eyes searched for one man, not for her new husband, no, a lowly knight named Brutus. Yet with all her searching, he was nowhere to be found.
Her gaze swept across the hall again and again, only to find nothing.
'Where has he gone?' Julia wondered; it was very unlike him to just disappear at such events.
"My lady, are you looking for Master Dorian?" a familiar voice asked.
Julia spun quickly "Brutus?," blurting out while feeling a flicker of hope. Only to see the commander of the Kalegorian knight order.
"No, my lady, Brutus has not been seen since around the moment of the exchange of vows between you and Master Dorian"
"Ah, I see..." Julias voice thinned.
"Then", the commander continued gently, "I take it you were looking for Sir Brutus, my Lady?"
"Ah, yes... I am. Any idea where he could have gone, Commander?" Julia murmured once more.
"Hmm, from what I can recall, my Lady, Sir Brutus was seen exiting the Grand Hall about thirty minutes before the end of the ceremony. He looked... troubled" The commander frowned slightly.
Julia's face darkened after slowly coming to the realisation that maybe that feeling she pushed down was much more significant than she thought."Uhh! but worry not, my Lady! I'm sure Brutus is just out for a stroll and will return shortly!" The commander reassured.
"Uh... yeah... that's probably the case," Julia replied distantly. Even after the commander attempted to reassure her, Julia felt the persistent tightness in her chest increase. 'A stroll?' Brutus would never wander during duty; diligence is what he's known for after all, and never would he wander during her wedding of all events, no matter how much he might've hated it.
"Shall I send a few guards to go out and search for him?" the commander offered at a volume only heard by them. "Discreetly, of course".
Julia hesitated; her instincts screamed yes. Find him, and bring him back to her. But another part of her, the one that felt itself strain, whispered a harsher truth.
If Brutus had walked away... perhaps he didn't intend to return.
"No", Julia forced out, "I'm sure he'll return on his own in due time; I'm sure he just needed a moment."
The commander studied Julia for a long moment before replying, "ofcourse, My Lady, as you command"
He bowed and retreated, leaving Julia standing alone at the marble arch, looking down into the very corridor that Brutus had left from. Each second longer she looked down the corridor, it constricted and dimmed, each second it felt colder from the absence of someone who brought it warmth. She took a step into the darkness, feeling even colder. But with determination she took another and another, until the darkness was pushed back by the light of the outside.
Standing at the arch above the entrance. Julia looked out to the castle gate.
With each passing second the straining inside her increased relentlessly, struggling to keep hold of what It held so dearly.
Until finally she lost the battle, and it broke free.
Julia drew a shaky breath in an effort to steady herself. A salty tear escaping her eyes. Julia looked onwards.
And whispered something even she could barely hear.
"Brutus... where could you have gone?"