The sun was only beginning to rise, painting the sky in soft hues of gold and pink, when Joshua stirred from his sleep. He sat up slowly, the warmth of the blankets still lingering on his body. Across the room, Rowdy was adjusting the cuffs of a finely tailored suit, his back turned as he prepared for the grand event ahead.
Joshua rubbed his eyes and stared blankly for a moment.
(I guess today is the big day for big sis.)
The thought struck him with a bittersweet ache, his gaze falling on the floor, his expression tinged with sadness.
Rowdy noticed. Without turning around, he spoke gently but firmly, "Joshua, I know you're going through some stuff, but today's not about you. It's your sister's big day. And I heard you're the best man, right?" He paused, then added with a shrug, "So change your attitude, for her. People can call you a monster tomorrow."
Joshua blinked, then cracked a small grin. "Yeah… You're right." He slapped his cheeks lightly, forcing the sadness away. "It's a really big day."
Rowdy grinned. "That's more like it." He reached into a drawer. "Lancelot gave me your suit yesterday. Straight from the tailor."
Joshua stood up and took the neatly folded suit, then began to change with a new energy in his step.
Meanwhile, in another room, Merlin and Lancelot lay comfortably under soft blankets, still wrapped in the warmth of each other. Merlin's voice broke the early silence.
"I'm nervous about today... How many people are coming?"
Lancelot held her a little tighter. "A lot. But don't worry, I'll be by your side the whole time."
Before she could respond, a loud knock made them both jump, followed immediately by the door swinging open.
Jessica walked in without a care in the world. "Morning, love birds."
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Lancelot groaned.
Jessica ignored him. "Bro, you gotta leave. Girl time now. We need to get the bride ready." Without waiting for resistance, she grabbed Lancelot's arm and started yanking him out of bed.
"But it's still early!" he protested, only half-heartedly as he stumbled out.
"Not anymore. Take your suit and get dressed in the guy's room," she ordered, tossing him his formalwear and shoving him out.
"Okay, okay. Bye, Merlin. See you later." He blew her a kiss, and Merlin caught it with a smile, placing it against her chest.
Outside, Julia, Sam, and Emelia were already waiting in the hall.
"Morning, ladies," Lancelot greeted before heading toward the Warriors' Den.
"Morning," they chimed in unison.
The ladies filed into the room, Emelia cradling a beautiful white dress in her arms. She was the last to enter and closed the door behind her.
In the room shared by Joshua, Jack, and Raphael, the atmosphere was tense. Lancelot walked in, already halfway dressed.
"Morning, guys. The ladies kicked me out so they could get Merlin ready." He looked around. "Where's Joshua? Did he get up early?"
Jack didn't look up from his collar. "No. Haven't seen him."
Lancelot frowned slightly. "Weird. Hope he's okay."
Jack and Raphael exchanged a glance, their expressions dark and brooding, but said nothing.
Back in the courtyard, Queen Elizabeth stood directing servants as they set up decorations. Tables, chairs, silk-draped arches, every detail had to be perfect.
King William approached her with a wry smile. "You know, for someone who opposed the wedding, you're putting a lot of effort into it."
Elizabeth didn't stop moving. "Of course. My nephew is getting married. It must be perfect. A failure would disgrace the royal name."
She turned away and resumed barking orders at the staff.
Inside the bride's room, Merlin stood like a vision in white. Emelia adjusted the final touches on the gown while Jessica, Sam, and Julia admired her.
"Your dress looks beautiful," Jessica said with a genuine smile.
"You look amazing," Sam added.
"Breathtaking," Julia whispered.
Merlin blushed and beamed at them. "Thank you, all of you. Emelia… can you do me a favor? Can you go get my brother?"
Jessica and Julia's expressions immediately soured at the mention of Joshua.
"Of course," Emelia said without hesitation.
"I'll come with you," Sam offered.
As they walked through the hallways, Emelia sighed. "Why does everyone hate Joshua here? Even Jessica and Julia? Is it just because he's an alpha werewolf?"
Sam shook her head. "No. It's because they think he's unstable. A monster."
"But you don't seem to think that way."
"I like Joshua," Sam said softly. "He's always treated me kindly… like a lady. And he was willing to die to save the person I loved. I really respect him. He's a real knight."
They turned a corner as Emelia added, "He's not in his room. I saw him head to Rowdy's room with his stuff."
When they arrived, the door to Rowdy's room was slightly open.
Inside, the girls witnessed a bizarre but oddly endearing scene, Joshua and Rowdy taking turns strutting to the mirror, posing with ridiculous flair in their formal suits like runway models in their own private fashion show.
Joshua struck a dramatic pose in front of the mirror. "Okay, let's do this. We're ready."
Rowdy nodded. "Let's blow them away."
Just as they posed fiercely at the doorway, they heard giggles.
The illusion shattered. They blinked and finally noticed Emelia and Sam standing outside, laughing hysterically.
Rowdy turned red as a beet, frozen mid-pose. Joshua, unfazed, slipped an arm around Rowdy's shoulders.
"Hi, ladies," he said coolly, as if nothing had happened, while Rowdy looked like he wanted to vanish into the floor.
The girls wiped tears of laughter from their eyes.
"Hi," they replied, still smiling.
And for the first time in days, Joshua smiled too. Not the forced kind he wore to make others feel better but a real one.