She didn’t love him, and so could not marry him.
He did not love her, but was ready and eager to marry her.
The practical and the romantic stood across from one another, their officient to one side and their family and closest friends to the other. Balthazar’s face was an unreadable mask, but inside he was angry and ashamed; angry that she was doing this to him here, now, and ashamed that he felt that way, for while he had given her an out, he had all but steamrolled any misgivings she had expressed as the date loomed nearer and nearer. He had thought of her physical wellbeing, her financial wellbeing, and the wellbeing of his children, but had spared no concern for the wellbeing of her heart. He could see now that this was a grievous error.
He took a step back from his would-be bride, hand outstretched towards the door.
“Then let us not linger any longer.”
He did not love her, but was ready and eager to marry her.
The practical and the romantic stood across from one another, their officient to one side and their family and closest friends to the other. Balthazar’s face was an unreadable mask, but inside he was angry and ashamed; angry that she was doing this to him here, now, and ashamed that he felt that way, for while he had given her an out, he had all but steamrolled any misgivings she had expressed as the date loomed nearer and nearer. He had thought of her physical wellbeing, her financial wellbeing, and the wellbeing of his children, but had spared no concern for the wellbeing of her heart. He could see now that this was a grievous error.
He took a step back from his would-be bride, hand outstretched towards the door.
“Then let us not linger any longer.”
![[Image: bPQ55w6.png]](https://i.imgur.com/bPQ55w6.png)
— mj makes pretty things! —