The Billionaire's Unfavored Princess

CHAPTER V: MRS. MORRISON

Jessica

The day of the marriage came by earlier than it was supposed to look like.

And to top it off, I never thought that I will be able to sleep peacefully even after picking a fight with Penelope. If someone gave me this kind of push ever since I was born, maybe my confidence won’t be at zero.

“Wow, you look very lovely…just like how Lady Amethyst looked on her special day.” Hearing that come from Rafaela made me smile with pride. I know Miss Amethyst, and having her name mentioned as a compliment for me makes me feel much more respected and recognized.

“Your blue eyes are shining brighter than usual today.” She complimented further. “Your eyes remind me of well-kept sapphires.” She chuckled, making me smile at her overflowing praises.

“Thank you.” Now that people are starting to make me see myself in a different light, I can feel my anger boiling within me. How did my past self even managed to stay ignorant and silent despite how they treated me back then?

It hurts how even these consequences brought by my deal with Alexander gives me satisfaction.

“Do you think I can be a good wife?” Out of the blue, a question for the future that I know I won’t have come out of my mouth. Maybe…if I am not deprived of everything, then maybe I’m not buying his lies.

While sitting in front of the mirror, I saw how Rafaela softly smiled at me as her hand brushed down my hair that they decorated with pearls and white roses. “Good?” her hand landed on my shoulder. “You can be a perfect one.”

Even if those words may be empty, I found myself melting with how warm it sounds to me. “Ï know that he chose you for a reason, so trust yourself as you embrace your future, sweetheart.”

Hearing how she sounds a lot like a mother from a wholesome fairytale, my happiness is slowly getting overwhelmed by guilt. I feel like I am betraying her trust even when in the first place, I already know that this is how it will end up.

“What’s wrong, Miss Jessica?” I was surprised when I heard her voice and saw her rushing to get a tissue and gently wiped it underneath my left eye after moving to my side, still careful of me.

Now looking at my reflection, the ornaments and royal treatment that I am receiving right now looks like a daydream that masks its hideous form. “Rafaela?”

“Hm?” She paused and met my eyes through the mirror. “If everything will end, will you still tell me to embrace my future?” Even with us not telling her anything, the way that her eyes softened up with sadness tells me that deep inside of her, she knew what I am talking about.

The short, deafening silence was broken when she spoke.

“You’re not a princess who needs to come home after midnight, Miss Jessica.” She stood up properly after putting the tissue down the table.

Looking up at her, I saw how her lips curved up into a warm, supportive smile. “Trust me when I say this…the ending you’re expecting will never be the ending that you’ll witness.”

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Standing outside the door with my bouquet of white flowers in hand, I nervously stared at the door as I waited for them to open up the door.

I never knew what praise and attention means before, and now that I am getting both of it at one, the mixture of nervousness and hesitation isn’t sitting well within me. Especially when I am being burdened with the thought of being a wife for 6 months, nothing more and nothing less.

“You are the first bride we’ll open the doors for without any of your parents with you.” I looked at the man who is holding the handle of the right door, slightly smiling as he attempt to ease down the atmosphere.

Chuckling, I looked back at the center. “My wedding is more of a tragic love story, that’s why.” Saying that with a smile, the man stared at me and is about to say something but stopped when he touched his ear piece and looked at his colleague.

Giving each other a firm nod, they opened the door and the first thing that welcomed me is the cold air of the venue. Taking a deep breath, I slowly walked in.

Just a step after entering the venue, Nine walked towards me and greeted me with a smile. Confused, my brows furrowed as I watched him bow and offer his hand to me, looking like a dashing knight. “May I please accompany you to the altar?”

As the soft music plays in the background, I looked at Alexander who is waiting on the other side, looking like a royalty with his tailored suit and styled hair.

Looking back at Nine, I smiled and took his hand. “You guys planned this without me knowing?” I chuckled as he fixed my hand by putting it on his arm.

Saying nothing, he just gently smiled at me before walking along with me. “Hey-”

“You really didn’t invite any of your family members, don’t you?” Instead of letting me repeat the question, he shot me back with another.

Thankfully, the only ones present in the venue are permitted reporters, invited business partners, hired cameramen, and us. The music that plays as we walked made it feel like we are straight out of a romantic movie. Because no one can snitch nor hear our voices, it is safe for us to have a quick chat.

“I called Alexander last night and told him not to.” I responded, then I looked in front of us to lock eyes with the man we’re talking about. “I can’t just stop my family from coming, right? Might as well use the king in doing so.” As I look at him, I can feel my chest tightening while I decide whether to smile or to remain formal.

“But you’ll be his queen.” I turned my gaze to Nine when I heard what he said, but his eyes were just focused in front, locking eyes with no one. “I hope when this game ends, you won’t lose what you gain after losing your crown.”

Again, his messages that seemed trivial yet holds an impactful message woke me back to the reality I am in. The contrasting words I received from Rafaela and Nine who both wants the best for me gives me more things to ponder on to.

It hurts both my heart and my mind. Funny, right? I’m invested in something I know won’t last.

Before I knew it, the slow walk that makes my every step heavier as time passes by finally ended. Removing my hand from Nine, I watched as Alexander took a step forward and offered his hand.

Silently, I took his hand and let him guide me to be on his side, now facing the priest. Lowering our hands, I thought he will let go, but instead, he intertwined our fingers and looked down on me with his captivating gray orbs.

“In front of us stands two individuals who wish for their fates to be tied for better or for worse.” As the priest went on, I can feel my heart beating out of my chest and my hand trembling with anxiety.

“Relax.” Hearing his voice amidst the ceremony made me look at him. “No one will say anything about you.” Tightening his hold on my hand, he continued. His eyes were still as blank as the first day I met him, but for some reason, his words are making me feel secured.

The eyes of the people that bore holes on my back were slowly getting erased as I focused on the man beside me. Is it alright for me to trust him more than I intended to? Or maybe…everything that he’s doing or saying are just the products of his expert lies?

As we proceed, the priest then reached the part that triggers my anxiety again, causing for me to hold his hand tighter as I nervously looked at the priest.

“Do you, Jessica Burberry, take Alexander Morrison, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death shall make you part?”

Taking a deep breath, I looked at Alexander. “I do.”

“Do you, Alexander Morrison, take Jessica Burberry, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death shall make you part?”

Unlike me who looked at the priest while he states the question, Alexander remained looking at me. “I do.”

After he responded, the priest gave us a smile and nod before speaking once again. “Before the exchange of the blessed rings, the couple may first exchange their words of affirmation and solemn vows as they promise their unity from this day forward.”

Is this how a wedding should be held?

My hands slightly trembled as I reached out for the microphone that the flower girls gave the two of us. Smiling back at the innocent children, I looked down the mic before looking back at Alexander who seemed to be unfazed by what is happening right now.

“You may go first, young lady.” The priest urged.

Giving my hand a gentle squeeze, I held the mic closer to my lips. Oh no, what should I say?!

“I am Jessica Burberry, a woman with no achievements nor reasons to be declared as your wife.” Letting my heart speak for itself, I continued. “I cannot promise you anything because I know that you can do almost everything. But as I stand here, I solemnly vow that as our marriage are tying us together, I will never treat this relationship as a simple exchange of rings.”

Lowering my mic, the coldness of my palms were unexplainable, but thanks to his hand’s warmth, I can at least feel that I am not turning into a statue anytime soon.

Now that it is his turn, he effortlessly lifted his own mic before speaking. “I am Alexander Morrison, a man with credentials and achievements worthy to be your husband.” If I have the liberty to do so, I already laughed with how he purposely made our first statements contrasting.

But since it’s not the case, I hid my smile. “I cannot promise you anything because I know that you prefer having things done in your own way. I will always guide you, but I will never promise anything. And as I stand here, I solemnly vow that as our marriage are tying us together, I will never treat this relationship as a simple exchange of rings.”

“You have now declared your consent before the church.” The priest said, and as if on cue, adults accompanied the girls who brought us mic—the girls took our mics, and the adults gave us the rings that we will make each other wear.

Now that we let go of each other’s hands, the coldness I’m feeling increased when my hand touched the ring. “The rings will serve as the knot that will remind you that the both of you have chosen each other to be your pillars till death will make you part.”

The priest gestured towards the rings we are holding. Without saying anything, he smiled at us and nodded, giving us the signal to start.

With me doing it first, I held his hand and slowly put the ring on his finger. After me, I looked up and watched him focus on putting the ring on mine.

“By the power vested in me, I shall pronounce you…husband and wife.” The applause that I’ve been hearing ever since I entered suddenly became louder.

“You may now kiss the bride.”

Saying that, it felt like the time stopped while I am looking at his gray eyes. I don’t know what my eyes are expressing right now, but as Rafaela said, my blue eyes were brighter today…I hope it really does.

Lifting up my veil, I watched his lips curve up into a small smile. “I picked the perfect woman.” His words sent literal butterflies in my stomach. “You look gorgeous, Jessica.” It’s not the first time he said my name, but damn.

Pulling me by my waist, he closed our distance and the kiss we shared just sealed the contract that we made.