From Cottage to Castle, Love's Journey Home

In Bloom's charming cottage, Charlene and Bloom enjoyed a peaceful afternoon tea together. Bloom was carefully repotting her vivid purple lilies, which had been growing nonstop ever since she had been saved by Charlene and her friends. Nothing Bloom did could stop them from growing unchecked, and they had become so many that she needed multiple pots to hold them all.

"In a week, Julian and I decided the sooner, the better," said Bloom.

The terrifying event involving Drake Clearbrook and Clarissa Bartlett had just been over for a month. Now happily married and living in their magnificent mansion, Bloom's twin sisters coexisted well with their handsome twin brothers, Gerald and Justin. In the quiet seclusion of her cottage, Bloom enjoyed her last days as a single woman, taking care of menial chores and cooking for Julian when he came to stay. Charlene had been asked to temporarily stay with Bloom as a chaperone since her mother had strongly opposed Bloom living alone.

Bloom found the elder woman's company to be pleasant. Charlene was amiable and always willing to help out with small tasks that needed to be done. It turns out that before Henrik found her, Charlene had been a maid for the majority of her life. Her account intrigued Bloom, who hoped her sister-in-law would eventually tell the whole story.

"What's the reason for that?" Curiosity sparked Charlene to ask.

“It seems like my reputation has taken a hit over the last few weeks, and my mother is worried that the damage is irreversible,” Bloom clarified. In all honesty, we're doing this for her in the hopes of somewhat repairing things. And if you'd like, I'd like you to be a bridesmaid.

Charlene's expression brightened with joy and astonishment. "I'll be your bridesmaid, of course."

“Annelise is going to be my maid of honor,” Bloom added, laughing. Just consider this: neither my little twin nor I will be able to tell who is getting married.

"What hue will she be wearing?" Charlene asked.

Naturally, purple. My lilies must match it.

Indeed, after hours of painstaking preparation, the garments were made in a gentle lavender on the wedding day. The delicate color of the gowns contrasted beautifully with the deep purple blooms.

Bloom herself was dressed in a plain white silk gown with lace detailing. Her face was exquisitely framed by her veil, a delicate lace piece crowned with a silver tiara. She refused to wear corsets or fancy clothes that would make her trip and fall, instead letting her hair fall loose in defiance of noble custom.

She was escorted down the aisle by Henrik. "You look stunning," he murmured. She smiled at him, beaming with happiness.

With a look of disbelief, Julian waited at the altar. Nobility and commoners alike utilized the god-sacred words the priest used to marry them. After tying their hands together, he gave the chalice containing the gods' water to Julian, who sipped it first, and then to Bloom. They were married after that.

As the bridal procession started to stand and depart, everyone stopped when the apparition of a young kid raced through the throng. She had believed that her happiness couldn't be higher than it was at that precise moment.

Darren hurried forward to kiss Bloom on the cheek. "Daddy says you did a great job! Mama, you have my undying love! Then he ran down the aisle again. Two individuals with jewel-bright eyes and red hair stood at the end. They were both joyful and grinning. In a burst of silver light, each of them grasped one of Darren's hands and disappeared.

All of the guests, both royal and common, had amazement on their faces as the gathering went silent. Bloom's smile virtually lit up his face.

"Was that..." Julian enquired.

His look of incredulity made her laugh. "Nolan, Seph, and Darren. The gods and they are at peace.

He grinned and added, "I love you," before giving her a full mouth kiss to the surprise of the audience.

The ensuing festivities continued far into the night. Bloom and Julian took a seat in a corner to observe and enjoy some alone.

It seems that the gods believed that depriving Drake of his senses was a fair penalty for his transgressions. No one was home, but the lights were on—his mind was gone, ruined. Bloom shuddered fiercely at the mere thought.

They had been personally thanked by the king. Drake's ministrations seems to have harmed a number of towns just for the sake of his "research." The monarch had granted them an estate that had just lost its lord, who had no heir, as a token of appreciation. The lands required a lot of care; the hamlet had to purchase supplies from outside sources when harvests failed for multiple years in a row. Bloom was expected to assist with the crops in whichever way she could.

The new estate had served as the venue for the wedding. Many people had come out of curiosity to see their new lord and lady, who had invited the entire village.

Dreamily, Bloom said, "Julian."

"Well?"

"Can we name our firstborn Isabella if she is a girl?"

"It sounds lovely," he said. "What if a boy is involved?" He was secretly hoping it would be a boy, and she could tell.

"Gregor."

He was taken aback. "Not Nolan?"

Knowing he would assume she wanted it, she grinned. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't need to name our child after him so he will be remembered," she replied, tucking herself closer to him among the cushions that were prepared for them. I will never forget my family. The name Gregor appeals to me as well.

"Do you think about Willem?" he inquired.

She grinned. "Perhaps. And for our second girl, Danielle.

"Two females? Why not two boys?

She chuckled. "Noble yet silly. There will be two females, of course. They will probably be identical twins.

"Is it silly to be noble? What does it make you, then? A petty peasant?

"Haughty prig," she shot back.

"I find that offensive."

She laughed once more. "Also a liar, I see."

He smiled. Yes, but you're resilient enough to handle it. I believe we've already shown that. Before I met you, I never would have imagined that I could endure what you have.

She smiled as she put her head against his chest and watched the vibrantly clothed individuals dancing together, the commoners and nobles forgetting their class differences for once. "You're overlooking something."

"What is that?"

"My name is Bloom."