The Legend of the ruthless Empress Freya

Chapter 69 The Afternoon Before The Wedding Night [The Empress' Wedding - Part II]

-- POV Gaya --

I hugged Freya as hard as I could while I cried with joy because in all my life...I had never felt like this. As we exchanged mana, the mark on my chest began to heat up. The tattoo that I had had since my contract with the she-wolf and that was as important to me as my ring or my tiara had glowed enveloping me in its warmth.

As I looked up, I could see the face of my wife, this Empress who was holding me in her protective arms. At that moment, she was closing her eyes depriving the world of the glow of her violet gaze. Her face slightly smiling in the sunlight, her white skin shining while Freya looked so peaceful with her hair blowing in the wind. In her white suit, she was my light. My eyes had stopped crying and as we walked down the stage the imperial she-wolf who had opened her eyes, took my hand in hers and whispered.

"I must admit my wife looks absolutely beautiful today kufufu~"

As she whispered this to me, I suddenly felt her tongue lick my ear discreetly as Freya straightened up as if nothing had happened. My face turned red as I tried to keep my seriousness. My wife winked at me discreetly as she waved to the crowd on the golden carpet, Shiro at her side.

*She's such a tease !*

I chuckled inwardly as I watched her change from a loving wife to a cold and respected Empress. This young woman was so amazing, more than I could ever be in one long lifetime. She had only been here a few months and yet she had already accomplished so much. As I looked at Freya, one thing was for sure, she was not done tinting the world with her color and one day the whole world would know her name.

I couldn't help but look at the she-wolf standing next to me as we left the mat and began our walk to the mansion. All of Freya's subordinates lined up to lead the way to our house and formed a huge line all the way down the main paved road. Cheers came from everywhere, rising into the sky as we walked down the middle of this imperial road. Shiro was smiling and shaking her hand to say hello to everyone as her eyes, as violet as Freya's, shone with pride. She was very small but stood tall and acted like a perfect little Princess.

By her side, my wife was doing the same, her face cold again...her poise, grace and beauty as powerful as ever.

At the far end, as we reached the gates of the estate, there were the commanders and section leaders who bowed as we passed. Inferno and Pearl were the last ones and stood in front of the gate, rearing and neighing to celebrate our union in their own way.

As the three of us stood in front of that large wolf-headed gate, Nixia stepped up to us.

"Your Highness, Gaya-sama, Princess Shiro, we have taken care of the reception as well, please enter."

With a slight nod, Freya would lead Shiro and I inside the mansion property, while everyone else waited for permission to enter. The large expanse of grass in front of the mansion, which until now had been empty, now had a huge tent open on the sides that covered the entire garden. Under this tent were our three thrones which had been moved and positioned on another large platform in front of a large table. Our three seats and this table dominated the height of all the tables below which formed a square with a large space in the middle. The two tables closest to ours were the commanders' and section leaders' tables, followed by the citizens' tables.

The four legs of the tent had the same purple and crimson flowers climbing up the vines and the same black flags as yesterday were hung. The difference was that, this time there was a two-horned wolf's head embroidered with gold thread above a star, a sun and a crescent moon embroidered with white thread. It was the flag of our Empire, the emblem of Elysium that everyone was proud of. Every time Freya's violet eyes landed on it, I could see one of her canines slightly protruding in a wild little sneer.

"Your Highness...um please go sit down, the rest will start soon"

Ralph, the red-eyed half-wolf, had joined us and advised us to go. So the three of us went to our respective thrones to sit down. In front of the gate, the many people were coming to take their turn to sit around the tables to eat. As for the beasts without humanoid form, there was a corner of grass filled with fresh meat carcasses hunted by Wol.

___

Several hours had already passed and we had eaten many dishes that Irrena had cooked especially for us in the kitchen of the manor. The citizens had a buffet, which was easier considering their numbers. Freya, Shiro and I were served personally by Triss and Lia throughout the meal, who took care of it with a smile. During this time we were even treated to a few performances from those who wanted to entertain everyone. Many had presented themselves, honored to be able to pass in front of the Empress, the Princess and me.

There had been Nixia's black fire spear dance, the singing of the elves who had sung alongside the orphans, Ynir's illusion show, the magnificent show of the dryads and their elements related to nature and many others.

The sun was already beginning to sink little by little, while in a few hours the full moon would appear in the sky. Shiro had gone to play with the other children near Inferno and Pearl who seemed to be watching over her while in front of us were the people who wanted to congratulate us once again.

The first one to pass was the white wolf Wol, leader of his clan that formed the hunting section. As he bowed, lowering his two front paws, his soft voice rose.

"Empress, Gaya-sama, allow Wol to offer his most sincere congratulations once again on behalf of the white wolf clan."

He had a habit of talking about himself in the third person, which had amused Freya greatly at first and piqued her curiosity. As I nodded silently, the she-wolf replied with her powerful voice.

"Thank you Wol, thank you for the work you have put in so far."

"You honor Wol your highness. Wol thanks you."

It was then the turn of Viana and Tao, Naïa's parents to kneel before speaking as Wol joined his companions.

"Congratulations your highness, Gaya-sama. I was more than happy to be able to attend your wedding."

The first to speak was Viana who was towards the left, then it was Tao's turn to speak.

"Thank you for what you've done so far your highness. My congratulations."

As I looked at them with a smile, Freya looked at them with her piercing eyes that always seemed to analyze everything before she answered.

"Please, thank you to you. May you continue to live happily here with your daughter."

Whenever my wife addressed her citizens, she always had this solemn, determined and powerful tone. With her voice alone she could rekindle hearts, soothe minds and break down the walls of the soul.

*Freya...how far will you be able to go ? To heaven or beyond ?*

I didn't listen to the people who were taking turns at our table, too absorbed in all the questions that had popped into my head. As my mind wandered, for the first time in a long time, I closed my eyes to think of my parents, my brothers, my sisters, and my friends who were no longer there to watch over me.

*Would you be proud of me today ? After all I've been through, do I have the right to be so happy ?*

I wondered if I deserved this happiness when all my family had died, leaving me alone, terrified and wounded in this vast world. The day I met Freya, the heart that was mine and that had given up on life started to beat again. She saved me and gave me a reason to live and to fight again for my loved ones.

*Mom, dad...I hope that from where you are, you are proud of me. Look at me from up there...watch me show you that my life that you protected from yours will not be wasted. Thank you for everything...thank you so much..*

As I had my head down, I suddenly felt a hand rest on mine. I opened my eyes to see the she-wolf's eyes looking at me with a hint of concern.

"My love...is everything okay ?"

Her previously cold and commanding voice had become soft and warm as she ran her gloved hand over my face. It was cool, pleasant and with one touch my wife had made all my worries disappear.

"I'm fine thanks honey"

As my gaze was locked in hers, the citizens in line looked away out of respect and to avoid upsetting Freya. It wasn't hard to guess that she only showed this warm side to her family and that in cases like this where we were the center of attention, they shouldn't let their eyes linger for too long. So, as we straightened up again to face them, the meeting continued.

_____

Night had fallen as the lights of the mansion and the town came on. They had been made with mana absorbing stones and so the lighting was fully automatic throughout the Empire. The last people to arrive had passed and people were getting tired. As we rose from our thrones, Freya looked off into the distance.

"Where is Shiro ? I don't see her ?"

Our little girl wasn't around, and as the she-wolf's gaze changed instantly, a small voice could be heard behind us.

"Mom Gaya...mommy..."

She was rubbing her eyes with her right hand and helding Kate's with her left. Viana stood behind her looking at them smiling as Shiro spoke.

"Can I go sleep with Kate now that the orphanage is open ?"

Her little voice was soft and almost pleading, I didn't know what to say so I looked at Freya who didn't say anything either, seeming to think. Kate faced with the silence decided to venture to speak. As she looked down at the ground, she opened her mouth to let her small, slightly shaky voice be heard.

"Your Highness Lady Freya, I...oh yes sorry...congratulations ! And uh..if..if it's a problem with me sleeping with Shiro I..I apologize"

The little hybrid with the little black wings closed her eyes and squeezed Shiro's hand who was still looking at us with a pleading look. The she-wolf in white looked at them for a moment before kneeling down at their height to put her two gloved hands on their two little heads. The two little girls didn't dare say anything as Freya finally spoke.

"Of course you can sleep together, Shiro if you decide to go, listen carefully to Viana and the adults who look after the children. You Kate, have fun with my daughter okay ?"

The two friends, seeing Freya smile warmly, relaxed as Kate murmured a shy thank you and our daughter threw herself into her arms.

"Thanks mommy I love you ! I'm going to sleep with a friend for the very first time hihi~"

My wife hugged her back, not without turning to me to give me a mischievous wink.

"Pffff~"

I giggled softly as I caught Shiro who came to hug me too before leaving. As for the she-wolf, she was giving instructions to the fox woman before letting them go to sleep.

"Watch over her, the orphanage is next door, if anything happens you know where to find me. Needless to say, I hope nothing happens, right ?"

Freya had built the soldiers' barracks and the orphanage next door so that the commanders would not be too far away and Shiro could go to school next door. So the families of the children who were not orphans and the soldiers' family had been given priority to live in the houses nearby.

"Yes your highness don't worry about that !"

After bowing, Naïa's mother walked away taking Kate and our daughter by the hand who was waving at us. Everything had been put away and all that was left were the tables. As we stepped off the stage, Freya clapped her hands for the full attention of those remaining.

"Thank you all for coming and making this day amazing ! It's time to get some rest, the tidying up can wait until tomorrow and my wife and I are very tired. So I would ask you all to leave the Imperial property and go home. For those who work here from tomorrow, I will wait for you at noon in the meeting room, as for the others you know your positions."

Everyone who remained bowed after hearing her words, which were always absolute. Freya was the Empress of this nascent Empire and no one dared and would never dare to go against what she said. Yet this was not a dictatorship or a reign of terror, all the citizens of Elysium were acting on their own with great determination.

As they all left one by one, my wife grabbed my hand and pulled me into the mansion without saying a word. She sped through the mansion without even looking around as the stairs and hallways were decorated with bright red roses. My heart was racing as we reached the floor where our quarters were. I didn't even have time to set foot on the last step as my wife picked me up and carried me like a princess.

"What..."

Freya had a smile on her face showing one of her fangs as she answered me.

"Would my wife be surprised ? Didn't I tell you, that I would carry you in our room on our wedding night kufufu~?"

My face reddened furiously as I didn't answer, too confused by the situation. The she-wolf was carrying me down the hallway with her strong arms, finally stopping at the door to our room. Freya was breathing heavily as a wide, feral smile appeared on her face again as she kicked the door open.