The carriage rolled to a gentle halt before the grand hall, its doors flanked by towering statues of noble ancestors long gone. One by one, the group descended from the carriage, dressed immaculately for the occasion. The warm afternoon sun bathed them in a regal light.
Waiting at the entrance stood a tall man wrapped in bandages, dressed in a crisp black suit. His fiery red hair was short and tousled, and his piercing blue eyes peered out sharply between the white strips covering his face.
"Nice to meet you all," the man said with a soft, raspy voice.
Jack and Joshua nodded, slightly taken aback by his appearance. His gaze, however, quickly shifted, lingering on Julia. She noticed and grew visibly uncomfortable, adjusting her bandanna to better hide something.
"Hey Raph, long time no see," said Lancelot warmly as he approached and embraced him.
Raphael blinked in surprise. "Lancelot? I didn't even recognize you."
"Yeah, I had a makeover," Lancelot replied with a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of his head.
Then Raphael's eyes found Merlin, and his expression softened. "So this is the woman you left my sister for... It's nice to meet you, ma'am." He bowed respectfully and kissed Merlin's hand.
"It's nice to meet you too," Merlin replied with a kind smile.
"Hi, Raphael," Blanchette said politely.
"Hi, Blanchette," he returned, his voice clipped but courteous.
"The elders of our family aren't exactly happy with how things turned out," Raphael said, voice low. "Anyway, Lancelot, you and your fiancée should head to the stage to make the announcement. The rest of you can proceed to the dining area." He stepped aside and bowed, gesturing toward the grand hall.
The group made their way forward, each passing Raphael with a mixture of curiosity and caution. When Julia passed him, his stare returned, more intense than before. She lowered her gaze and hurried inside. As the doors closed behind them, Raphael remained outside, staring after them.
"I pray to God that everything goes well, Lancelot," he whispered. "You really seem happy."
The hallway leading into the dining hall echoed with their footsteps.
"That guy's a real character," Jack muttered under his breath.
"And what's with all the bandages?" Joshua asked.
Lancelot glanced back. "He's not just a character. He's one of the 36 Heroes. His hero name is Raphael the Honey badger. Same age as you, Joshua, 24. He fought in the war as a kid. They say his strength rivaled my father's. But after he got burned, he became a pacifist. A born-again Christian."
Everyone stared at Lancelot, stunned, except Blanchette, who already seemed to know.
They reached a junction in the hall. "This is where you guys head into the dining room," Lancelot said. "Merlin and I will go on ahead to prepare for the stage."
As Joshua, Jack, Julia, Jessica, and Blanchette entered the dining room, noble chatter filled the air, until it stopped altogether. Dozens of high-born eyes turned to the newcomers with silent scrutiny.
"Damn... this is awkward," Joshua muttered as they made their way to their table.
"Nobles are real assholes," Jack grumbled, folding his arms.
"Hey! I'm a noble too, remember?" Blanchette shot him a look.
"Not you. Them. They could at least pretend to be welcoming."
"Yeah... it's really awkward," Jessica added, glancing around nervously.
The murmuring resumed, but the group's table remained the subject of many stares. Across the room, Raphael entered quietly and joined his family at their long table.
Athena sat primly at the center, her expression sour. "So did you see the woman Lancelot left me for? I heard she's a witch. And worse, a low-class one," she sneered.
"She seems nice," Raphael replied evenly. "They look..."
"Shut up, Raphael," Kane interrupted, eyes narrowing. "You don't know what you're talking about. You're too young to understand."
Raphael fell silent. His eyes, however, drifted again to Julia. She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.
"Julia," Blanchette said quietly, "I'm heading to the ladies' room. Want to come?"
Julia nodded quickly. "Y-Yes."
Inside the ladies' room, the air was cool and quiet.
"Don't worry about Raphael," Blanchette said, applying a touch of powder to her face. "He's weird sometimes, but he's harmless. Honestly, he might be staring at you because he likes you."
Julia stared at her reflection in the mirror. "No… he definitely doesn't like me. I'm too u-ugly. My skin… is covered in f-f-freckles." She gently touched her cheeks.
"I wish I had skin like yours," Julia whispered. "So… clear. Pale. Beautiful."
Blanchette turned to her, sincere and soft. "Julia, don't say that. You're really pretty. And your freckles? They make you adorable. Next time he looks, wave at him."
Julia couldn't help but smile, just a little. Then the door opened.
Athena and her entourage sauntered in like lions among lambs.
"Well, well," Athena sneered. "So this is the trash you hang out with, Blanchette? Disgusting."
Blanchette didn't flinch. "If you have nothing nice to say, I'll take my leave." She grabbed Julia's hand and walked past Athena, bumping her shoulder on the way out.
They returned to their table, but Blanchette's irritation lingered on her face.
"Is everything okay?" Joshua asked, noticing.
Blanchette forced a smile. "Everything's fine."
At that moment, Julia noticed Raphael still looking her way. Remembering Blanchette's words, she hesitated, then gave him an awkward little wave, with a shy smile.
Raphael blinked. Then, without any change in expression, he turned his head back to his family.
Julia's heart sank.
I knew it… she thought, how could anyone like someone as ugly as me?
Behind the stage, Lancelot adjusted his collar. Merlin stood beside him, wringing her fingers.
"I'm really nervous, Lancelot," she said quietly. "Your cousin said your family isn't happy about us getting married."
"Who cares what they think?" he said, gently taking her hands in his. "You have nothing to fear. Even if they hate you, I'll love you. Even if they make you feel like an outcast, I'll stand by you. Even if they persecute you, I'll free you. Because you… you are my world, Merlin. Only you."
Her eyes welled with tears, but a radiant smile broke through. She squeezed his hand, and together, they stepped onto the stage, united against the world.