In many ways, Johanna only wished for Friedi’s happiness, but she found herself wrought with anxiety during her sister’s wedding day, hoping and praying that she would find a good match in Bayezide, and that he would give her the love that she deserved. The truth was, the Landgravine hardly knew anything about the man but from what she had observed, and indeed what Friedi herself was advocating for now, he seemed to be rising up to the role of being a good husband for her, and for that her mind and worries could settle ever so slightly. “Everyone had a wonderful time,” she assured her, glad that Friedi seemed to have fond memories of the day, for those were the memories of joy that would carry her during difficult times in years to come – at least that is what happened with Johanna, as she looked back with happiness on the blissful joy she felt when she married Matthias.
“It will come back to you in bits and pieces over the years, and I hope that those returned memories will bring that amazing smile to your face,” she said, her hand fondly patting Friedi’s as she smiled. “I still catch myself on occasion smiling like a fool remembering the smallest things about my wedding like… oh I don’t know, a look that I remember Matthias giving me from across the dance floor or something as frivolous as that,” she said, a faint trace of the smile ghosting her lips as she recalled the memory again. Laughing at Friedi’s assurance that they would never be without each other, Johanna took her sister’s arm and sighed as if she was releasing all the burdens on her shoulders for a moment of happiness with her sister just reminiscing and gossiping like they would when they were younger. “I suppose I should tell your brother that we will be needing a summer home in the Ottoman Empire then,” she teased, though the thought of getting to see Friedi often made her feel a lot better. “I’m so glad to hear it… if he is as good as you say he is then I suppose he truly does deserve you… even if I had half a mind to object on the grounds of him taking you away from me– which we’ve clarified, is not going to happen.”
Friedi knew that her upbringing had been far from idyllic. It was no easy feat to be the child of King Maximillian, but if there was any light in the darkness, it was her siblings. Her elder brothers were no less a part of her than her other half-siblings were (obviously, she could not claim the same of Claudia), and only slightly less than her twin. Johanna had fit into their family with ease, even before she had become an official part of it. “That is a relief,” The better the event went, the more the Ottoman’s would like her, and from what others had told her, it went very well indeed.
“I hope so. I often wonder if I was even there at all,” She smiled fondly, a roll of her eyes indicating that she knew it was all a joke. Whether the day came back to her or not, she didn’t think she much cared. It was her future that mattered now. The past was of little consequence. “Though if that is the key to a marriage as stable as yours with Matthias, I cannot say I would mind.” Matthias and Johanna. Yekaterina and Dmitry. If not for them, she did not think she would have had any hope for her marriage whatsoever. “You must! Tell I'm that I ordered you to ask,” she let out a cackle of laughter. The idea that she would order anybody to do anything was preposterous, no matter what title went with her name. “I think I can be happy now, Johanna. I will miss you and my family - but now I have thought on it, I don’t think I will miss Germany, nor it me.”