(Third person's POV - Omniscient)

[Two days before the wedding]

It was the day when the meeting would be held. Although everyone was busy with the preparation of the marriage but Arashi was focused on his task.

A few days ago, he had discussed the matter with his grandfather and it seemed his grandfather was a bit perplexed about it. While he indeed wanted to change and welcome a new future of Wansai, he wasn't certain if the people would accept it or not.

Guests after guests were arriving and the large palace of Wansai was crowded with aristocrats, nobles, royals and maids. Not to forget about their own knights, horses and carriages. The whole vicinity was filled with a sea of people where gossips and rumours entangled with each other to give birth to a spice filled environment.

After all, it was the wedding of their Prince, the prince of Wansai.

Curiosity was spiking in their minds and heart about their soon to be princess. Because no one knew who she was, what family she was from. Did the princess's family give an enormous amount of dowry? Since she was marrying the Prince of Wansai.

Questions after questions were forming but not a single knowledge of it.

And more than that they wanted to see Prince Rian and his wife. Those who had seen the prince was curious about who Princess Bianka was and those who hadn't seen the prince were curious about both of them.

"Can't they at least prepare a portrait of them together?"

"True. I wanted to see. Do you think we could see?"

"Of course! I'm a daughter of an earl. My father got the royal invitation."

"You're lucky since we are going to wait for them to come out of the palace ground."

The palace's large doors were opened for everyone to see the Princess and the Prince after they would get married. Until then, a vast sea of people, commoners or nobility, would have to wait outside of the palace.

No one was allowed to go inside the palace grounds if they hadn't received the royal invitation. Soldiers were filled all around the walls and to inspect each one of their carriages before entering. Suspicious things and equipments weren't allowed.

All the luggages were being carefully checked by the Wansai soldiers and then by the Kuro soldiers which was why guests were informed to come seven to two days before the wedding. Otherwise they would have to wait in the large queue that had formed for before the palace's entrances.

Thankfully, the walls of the palace had four entrances but the list of guests were even more.

Koji leant back on a wall to take a rest as Mila came to his side. "Here, have some water."

Koji took it and gulped it down. They were working nonstop for a while weak. They couldn't make a single mistake. The good thing was Prince Rian had appointed the whole Shinkyo to help in the palace. Since they were the most trusted people of him.

While there was the emperor's imperial guards were working, Prince was taking an extra precaution.

"This has exceeded my imagination. I didn't think it would be this much people." Mila said. She was helping in Arashi's kitchen. She was making sure the maids were doing their work and also she was on guard to keep any unknown spices or poisons out of the kitchen. She had the help of other Kuro soldiers' wives and they were also on guard.

"This is nothing." Koji said, "The lines of carriages outside of the walls are too long for my liking."

"Where's Hiroshi?" Mila asked looking around since they hadn't seen him for two days. He didn't even come by to watch the elders of Shinkyo.

"He is with Prince Rian. He is extremely cautious."

"Why?"

Koji's eyes narrowed down as he but his lips. "Because anything can happen now that the palace doors are open."

"But there are swarm of soldiers all around the doors like bees. Not to mention, both the Wansai soldiers and us."

Koji looked at Mila and said, "Still we can't let our guard down. Prince Rian is..." He muttered, "he is doubting that there will be some ambush."

Mila gasped. "Why? Why would people want to do that?!"

Koji shrugged. "Twisted people with twisted mind."

He stood staight and said, "Alright, I'm going back to the first door. I need to check the my men and probably send a few to take an eight hour rest. Otherwise everyone will be collapsed. We can't afford that now."

Mila nodded and said with a smile, "Be careful."

Koji waved his hand in the air as he muttered, "You too."

And they departed to perform in their tasks.

Everyone was on the edge especially the prince's men. They trusted no one except for their own knights. Takashi, Takagashi, Shiro were also scattered among the doors of the palace and to check the guests.

Kiyoshi was tasked with the protection of Rei and Noya as he had also scattered his men around the emperor's wings. He was keeping an eye for the emperor, empress and Rei.

Junko was in charge of protection of Arashi's wings while Koji was in charge of the walls' security.

Kondo was keeping in check the whole ground for any suspicious activities while taking reports on timing of the Kuro soldiers'and imperial soldiers'.

Hans was tasked in a special force and was watching from the shadows while being on stand by. His men were all around the palace as servants, cooks and as Wansai soldiers. He reported directly to either Prince Rian or Hiroshi.

Shin and Yoshi were standing in guard behind princess Bianka's door and were tasked to always go wherever she was going.

Kairo, on the other hand, was tasked to keep his eyes on the quarters of Arashi and to check everything around whether a room, a corridor or a tree before Princess Bianka reach there. He was her personal guard as well as in charge of her and Arashi's special guests' protection. Shin and Yoshi were working under him.

The only guard who could stay with Bianka without anyone's knowledge was Hana. She was a girl so she could stay with her in her room without anyone being suspicious of it.

Hana was small, looked innocent and she was good at hiding her weapons.

Everything was set but the eeriness of the surrounding wasn't leaving from anyone's stomachs.

Two servants were preparing Prince Rian as he wore the robe and nodded at Hiroshi. His long hair was tied up into a pony as an emblem shone on one side of his chest. It was the emblem of Wansai displaying the pride on a lion's face.

Hiroshi was standing by the door, face stricken with grimness and mind filled with caution.

Arashi said, "Let yourself be loosened a little, Hiroshi."

"You know I can't..." Hiroshi said as his eyes went toward the window. Outside, the business let itself known to them.

Arashi said, "I know. We can't let our guard down."

He pointed his hand out in the air as the servants went away.

He added, "Not when she is pregnant..."

Hiroshi nodded in agreement and asked, "Are you ready, your highness?"

Arashi's sharp eyes glinted as his long hair fluttered in the wind and now they left the chamber.

Because the battle was about to begin.

----
14th February, 23
1242
----
A/n: Happy Valentine's day! ❤️