The Kremlin was as solemn and imposing as ever today.
What was unusual was that it was closed to tourists today, with unauthorized personnel forbidden from entering or leaving. Rumor had it that some important event was being held inside.
Near the center of the Kremlin, the Cathedral of the Annunciation had long since been given a fresh coat of paint, its exterior walls snow-white and its domes golden.
A long red carpet had been laid outside the cathedral, stretching directly into the church hall.
On either side of the carpet stood two rows of honor guards in red ceremonial uniforms, wearing tall red hats trimmed with gold.
This kind of honor guard attire was rarely seen. It was neither the kind used in military parades nor the guard uniforms worn when Putin took office at the Kremlin. Instead, it looked somewhat like the palace guards from the era of the Russian Empire.
It had to be said that the Kremlin had put considerable thought into today's ceremony.
This style of honor guard was neither overly presumptuous nor lacking in dignity and grandeur.
It gave off a distinctly festive feeling!
Because Rosiana and Mikhail both held extraordinary positions now, and because of the complicated relationships and exchanges of interests behind them, today's engagement ceremony was especially important.
Through this engagement ceremony, every faction had something it wanted and was also making certain attitudes known.
Satisfying all the factions was no simple matter.
Gebliev had probably been pulling his hair out for over a week now...
Wang Ye's motorcade had "special privileges" today. It could drive directly to the front of the Cathedral of the Annunciation, after which he would walk the red carpet into the church hall.
Today's ceremony had two parts.
The first would be relatively brief: Rosiana