starter for @novemindie
the garden was decorated beautifully; all lanterns and flowers and soft, enchanting music weaving throughout the tables, and yet odele was the picture of misery. at 25, she was the oldest bride of her family's generation. she knew that, in part, this was due to her being the youngest - her father had had ten other siblings to worry about unions for before her. another factor had been money: it had dried up, around sibling number eight. odele had no dowry, the only thing she had to offer was her name and her ties to the crown, which was weak at best. and now, sat in the centre of her own engagement party, she looked everything but the beautiful, blushing bride-to-be she was supposed to. her brow was creased, and worry etched its way into her features. her betrothed was late - and not just by a few minutes, but near on two hours now. "he's not coming," she muttered to no one in particular, hiding her face in her hands. "this whole thing is a farce. call it all off."