His Betrothed: An Arranged Queen

Chapter Eight

Princess Eleanor’s Point of view

“Consummation? With all the elders?”  I wondered. It kept ringing in my ears, but I did not know what to do. For the past few hours, I have been trying to understand what is happening. Not a long time ago I was just an ordinary princess waiting for the moment when I can get married to the man I love.

I could not believe that this was going to happen in my marriage to King Michael.

“What do you think?” Diana showed me the dress that they had specifically started working on for my wedding.

I just looked at the dress not sure how to feel about it. Everything just was so different. I did not even realize that I had zoned out until I heard Diann bringing me back to reality

“Eleanor?” I was brought back to my reality as I lifted my head to look at Diana. I wanted to just run out of this room and get away from everything, but I could not do it because of what King Michael can do to our people.

“Are you okay?”

I reluctantly nodded my head as I stood up from the chair taking in a deep breath as I turned to look at her.

“How did you do it?”

She looked uncertain of what I was talking about as I let out an exasperated sigh. I held my fingers together as I looked into her eyes.

“How did you do it? I mean sleeping on that bed with everyone watching”

“It’s difficult but you won’t have to think about it and at that moment it was just me and Edward”

I sighed heavily nodding my head in agreement to what she was saying but there was no way that I could let people watch me sleeping with another man.

What about my secret?  What was I going to do about it?

“Oh, dear.”

She walked over to where I was standing and grabbed hold of my hands as she looked in my eyes.

“Don’t worry, you will be fine, okay?” She assuredly said to me as I nodded my head in agreement.

“Great! Now why don’t we start going through the first steps?” She suggested dragging me to bed as I sat down thinking about what was happening to me.

Over a month ago I did not even know if I was going to get married but today here, I am being prepared to be married off to the most wicked man to walk on this planet.

I did not mind getting married off to any man but what worried me the most was that I was being married off to someone I do not even feel anything for and to make things worse he was a murderer.

****

My wedding day

I stood in my room trying to think if I can just run away from all this. But I did not want to disappoint my father who has been so good to me.

The dress is made of high-quality cotton, with a tight slim-fit bodice and ample puffs on sleeves to liberate my movements. Cuffs are high and slim-fit while the skirt is wide and heavy.

I heard a knock on my door, and I turned around to look at who would be coming to my room.

Father!

“Father!”

I rush towards him going to take hold of his eyes and he tilts his head looking at me with tears in his eyes. He looks sad.

He clears his throat before speaking “You look so beautiful”

“Thank you. Diana wanted to make sure that I look the most beautiful in the hall” I jokingly say to him, and he smiles back at me.

I am glad that I can put a smile on his face after seeing that he was sad.

“I am sorry that I couldn’t let you marry someone you love” my father says, and you could hear his voice breaking and it takes a lot from him to say something about this.

“Don’t worry father. I know that I have an obligation to our people and if this will help us then I am happy to do it” I proudly said with a broad smile.  I did not want him to see my sadness because he could have been sadder than I was.

“I am so proud of you!” My father – the king said to me as I smiled broadly.

“Thank you, Your Majesty” I responded to him, and he faked a smile back at me. I could see through his sadness but there was nothing that we could both do because eventually this had to happen.

“Why don’t you finish getting ready then I will see you soon?”  Father questioned me as I reluctantly nodded my head.

He walked closer to me and pulled me tighter to him holding me tight like the time I was a little girl when he used to assure me that I will be fine.

I choked back the tears that threatened to fall as I wrapped my hands around him, hugging him back so tight.

“Be a good girl.” He said to me as I nodded my head before breaking off the hug.

“You had better go. The people are waiting for you” I whispered to him, and he smiled at me bringing his hand to my left cheek and gently caressing it before leaving the room.

I sighed heavily watching my father walk out of the room as I turned to look at myself for the last time in the mirror that was brought to my room.

“You can do this!” I inwardly encouraged myself trying to muster whatever courage I had so that I could get married to this murderer.

“I am ready now!”  I announced to no one in particular. I was going to get married to this man, but I was not going to go to bed with him. I was going to make sure that our marriage consummate does not take place.