The Kidnapped Bride

582 Lady in Blue(1)

Javier brought Ariana to their seats. They were assigned a place in the second row, which was pretty much closer to the bride and groom.

Ariana sat beside Javier as she looked at the entire ceremony. It was rare that her father goes to the wedding and she knew the reason too well.

Now that she got the chance, Ariana was interested in witnessing everything with her curious eyes.

On the other end, Javier was only surveying the people present today. He could recognize some of the known faces, some wealthy businessmen of this country.

‘But why was the Prince so unwelcoming towards me?’ He saw Arthur’s care for Ariana and subconsciously, Javier’s eyes moved to look at his daughter.

Following her gaze, he saw two flower girls coming and walking down the aisle. Behind them was a man wearing a similar tuxedo to the prince.

“He must be John..” from similar expressions, Javier felt that such an icy-cold child could only be born from Arthur’s temperament.

And finally, it was the turn of the bride.

Everyone turned around to see a man walking with a lady whose face was covered with a white and translucent veil. She held her father’s arm lovingly and took slow steps.

.....

Her left hand held the white bouquet. Beneath the veil, one could see how she was turning to take a peak at the man in front of her eyes.

At such a sight, suddenly Javier’s heart felt heavy. He lowered his eyes to not look at the scene. At this point, he felt pulled into a daze where he saw a face in his imagination.

The similar face which he hadn’t seen for five years but that never meant he never imagined his late wife in a white gown, walking down the aisle. He had hoped their two daughters would be ring bearers and flower girls.

A small smile tugged his lips on recalling his unfulfilled wish. His heart was flushed again with such thoughts and how badly he wanted to have a wedding with Jennifer.

Yet in the end, he has pulled apart from her and their other daughter.

“Daddy?” Ariana’s small whisper pulled him out of that cold daze. He looked at her evident concern flashed in those eyes.

“Are you fine?” Ariana questioned with her eager gaze and Javier gave her a bright smile and blinked his eyes twice.

Then he moved to look at the couple in front of them who were now taking their vows.

“Father, isn’t that white gown beautiful?” He heard Ariana admiring the bride’s dress and Javier chuckled back. “That’s her wedding gown so it must be memorable for her.”

“Hmm... I will also have one!”

Javier didn’t say anything but he took Ariana in his embrace with his left hand. ‘I will look forward to the day when you will get married, my child.’

Planting a soft kiss on her forehead, they watched the ceremony patiently.

In the end, when everything was done Javier saw others in the front row of the other side.

His eyes caught the King of Saskatoon wearing a white tuxedo. His facial expressions were stern but there was warmness in those eyes. In fact, there was happiness glowing on his face.

Beside him were two other people. They were Third Prince Vincent and Fourth Prince Henry. Unlike their father, they didn’t show any expressions. But deep down he could understand that they were simply too happy to explain.

And then as his line of sight followed, he noticed The Crowned Prince Robert as one of the best men of Prince Arthur.

The entire family of Saskatoon was present there except one person who equipped his curiosity. ‘Where is their daughter whom they recently found?’

‘Are they intentionally hiding her?’ He rotated his head but there was no sight of any lady who could be said to be the sister of these four brothers.

As much as Javier didn’t want to meet the lady, it can’t be said he wasn’t willing to see her face for once. Was she really like how others describe her to be?

But at the same time, Javier’s eyes followed upwards. He looked at the balconies and suddenly, he could see a lady standing there in a light blue sky color dress.

She stood at the other side of the lobby and there was no denying that she was watching the wedding from upstairs.

‘Who could she be?’ He wasn’t able to see her face because of the flowers put on there for decoration. However, her entire body wasn’t able to hide behind the simple decor.

‘Leave it, Javier. That’s none of your concern. Moreover, their daughter isn’t beautiful.’ From the way the lady stood, he could make a guess that she was stunning.

However, there were emotions in his heart which were hard to suppress. His lips turned into a straight line.

But then the loud claps among everyone pulled his attention. Javier raised his head to look at the sight where the groom and bride were announced as husband and wife.

They shared a kiss and started to walk out of the venue. The guests stood back and cheered for the newly announced husband and wife.

Javier looked back at Ariana who was still beaming with glow, “That’s how a wedding happens, Ari.”

“Hmm. I saw it!” Ariana raised her hand over her shoulders. “It was so good! When that lady was saying something, I saw people crying.”

“Those are vows.” Javier patted Ariana’s small head again and tucked the strands of her hair behind her ears.

“The bride promises the groom that she will always love him.” Ariana nodded in understanding.

It was the time when everyone was walking to the next venue in the mansion.

A waiter came and told them, “Sir, lunch is ready. Please come.”

Javier took Ariana’s hand once again but before leaving, his eyes brushed again to see the lobby.

Initially, he raised his head to look at the lady again. However, this time there was no one in his view.

‘Where did she go?’

Javier’s eyes frowned on not finding her there, as if his heart was suddenly upset.

“Sir?” The waiter called him again and Ariana tucked his sleeves down. He looked at them and then at the waiter.

“Who was the lady watching the ceremony from there?” Simultaneously, Javier pointed to the lobby but the waiter’s lips were tightly sealed.

“Sir, we were asked to escort the guests to the area where lunch is served.” Hearing this, Javier bit his lower lip but didn’t pressure the matter anymore.

He looked at the empty spaces in between the lobby again and then withdrew his gaze. ‘Who were you to personally come inside the Royal mansion?’