Dragon's Sorceress Queen

5. Leaving Home

Rosabella-

"Oh God, Rinci, it doesn't go over her right shoulder! You need to bring that around her waist first and then drape her left shoulder. Make sure the badge comes in the front..." Nina has been going tough on the maids helping me to get ready for my wedding today. There is nothing much left to do and I'm ready, but Nina had to make sure of each little thing.

I just stand there because I could care less though.

I'm leaving my home forever and that too with a man who might already be thinking ill of me. What impression have I made on him? Though I know that I do not have any lover but isn't it just me who knows that fact? He might be thinking low of me and God forbids if he does anything today in front of everyone.

Could he really call off this wedding today in front of everyone? He could have done that already if he wanted to, right? Or does he want to crush our reputation before everyone? His revenge is known to be inevitable once you do wrong to him.

I couldn't even send him the message I had for him in the note because the respected advisor had to come in between. If he reads the note instead and guesses that there is a little problem between us, he won't let this arrangement be broken and that is for sure because as much as he doesn't like me, for him, Kingdom is above everything.

"Princess Rosabella, respected advisor Winston Agassi wishes to present you a precious present." I hear one of the combatants outside my chamber say. I look at Nina and she nods before making her way outside to collect his so-called 'Present'. I already from experience that he come inside.

It isn't even my birthday. What does he want to give me now? A happy leaving gift?

"I think I'm done here, ladies. Nina would help me after this. You all can leave." I say to the maids checking out every detail in my heavily embroidered two-piece dress.

They all take a step back at once and bow before leaving. Nina comes in front of me with the present at the same time. I take the box from her and open the lid only to throw it away with a gasp. The dead pigeon covered with its own blood falls out of the box and Nina lets out a small scream.

I hear the footsteps outside and quickly inform the combatants that there is nothing to be worried about.

I look at the dead white pigeon with pity before I remember who has sent this gift to me. Even from far away, someone could see this shining sapphire ring that has been put in the pigeon's beak.

Is this any way to give a gift? For the first time in life, he could've given me an actual gift but he had to mess up that as well.

Nonetheless, I go closer and pluck the ring out and wear it in one of my fingers. He has to see it in my finger and get it that I'm not intimidated by him!

"Nina, get this cleaned please," I say and move to the other side of the room.

***

"Rose." My father calls out my name as soon as he enters my chamber. I had already heard the announcement of his arrival. He has come here to walk me to Dargan.

"Hello, father," I greet him smiling as he looks at me with adoration.

"You look beautiful, Rose." He says placing a kiss on my forehead. I see Nina beaming at the side feeling proud of her work in dressing me up.

"Thank you, father," I say.

"You'll be happy, Rose. I wish only happiness for you and I've heard that you want to take Miriam's daughter with you as well. I'm certain you won't feel too bad with her by your side." He says.

"Yes, that's the reason I'm taking her with me," I say.

"So, shall we go now? It won't be good to make everybody wait for long. The bells are chiming already and we must leave." He says and I take his hand before we both leave together.

The doors to the holy place open and my father walks me to Dargan. I do not look at him the whole time since I do not want to see the look in his eyes. I walk swiftly in my deep red two pieces dress that is heavily embroidered and the look is adorned by a beautiful golden veil that stretches behind me.

The musicians have started playing the music and the assigned ladies make sure to adorn the floor with rose petals as we walk.

When we finally reach the front, I see my soon-to-be husband dressed in black again.

He again broke the ritual. Has he eaten something today and broke another ritual of keeping a fast?

I stand before him and when my eyes meet his, I quickly look down afraid to stare at him for long.

He looks edible! Ugh! Where am I even getting these thoughts from?! He does look good though, now that I'm able to see him clearly, his neck-length hair look shinier and his lips look amazing being framed by his perfect beard. I can feel his eyes on me but I'm satisfied because I don't think I would like them somewhere else.

Meantime, my father had said something to Dargan which I couldn't get because I was too busy thinking about him. Soon the priest tells us to take our seats on the little stools around the holy fire burning. We both sit down and the priest asks Dargan to stretch his hand out. After that, I'm asked to put my hand in his palm. The priest places the holy water in my palm and asks us to read the vows in the holy book presented before us.

"I vow to be responsible for providing the nourishment, welfare and happiness to my wife and my children," Dargan says the first of the seven vows in a calm manner. Then it is my turn.

"I vow to take care of the family and household and will share my husband's responsibility as my own," I say calmly, but only I know how my insides are frantic. His breath is fanning my cheek as we are bent a little and our faces are very close because I have to keep my hand over his.

After the first vow, the priest asks us to pour the holy water on top of the crackling fire which indicates the sealing of our vows.

He puts some more water in my hand and Dargan says his second vow.

"I will remain loyal and faithful to my wife and will stand by her throughout the thick and thins of life. I will be with her providing mental, physical and financial stability and security to her and her family." He says before turning his face to look at me.

"I will willingly share the responsibility by helping my husband in every possible way and be ready to endure all with courage and strength," I say before gulping down because, after this, I'll be tied to him.

We seal the vow again and move to take the third one.

"I will work hard putting all my efforts to bring wealth and prosperity in the house and giving education to our children." He says turning his face to look at me while saying 'our children.'

I wonder what he is thinking about. Is he thinking about our first night? Oh no! He did say that he'll deal with me later!

A little pinch at my waist brings me out of my thought and when I look at Dargan, I see him glaring at me.

"I remember you pleading with me to not mess anything up. Now, I'm ordering you to not mess this up or I'll mess up your whole Kingdom." Dargan threateningly whispers in my ear. My head whips to the family members and when I see them all smiling, I relax knowing that they didn't hear him. They are standing away from this little arrangement where we have been set and taking our vows.

"Say the next vow, child." The priest calls out from me and I nod.

At least I know that he got my note from last night.

"I will act responsibly in maintaining the resources and devote my love exceptionally to my... husband and all other men would be secondary in my life. I will be loyal throughout life, maintaining chastity." I say.

"I vow to respect both sets of families. I will respect my wife's wishes and will include her in all my major decisions." He says the fourth vow and it didn't go unnoticed by me, how he neglected the part of thanking the wife for making the groom's life beautiful and complete.

"I will stand by my husband's side in all rituals, family and religious commitments and will walk by his side giving my consent for his decisions. I will respect and regard his decisions and include his say in all my decisions. In case any danger intercepts his way, I will stand before him to save him and will be ready to sacrifice my life for him." I say.

Wow! That was a big vow to take!

We take the fifth vow to share our happiness and sorrows with great understanding and care. We vow to together pray to God to bless us with healthy children and that we both will strive to nurture our children with enriching values and a generous lifestyle.

The sixth vow is to love and respect each other and stand together in times of joy and grief. We shall together pray to seek the blessings of God to bestow us with a healthy and long life filled with joy, peace and prosperity so that we can carry our duties and responsibilities towards each other.

And finally, the seventh vow is that through this ritual of Sacred Seven Vows, we have become husband and wife uniting our soul. We are united with a divine thread of togetherness and we will love each other and be there for each other till eternity. We as a couple will walk together as great companions, sharing each and everything of life, honouring and loving each other unconditionally. We promise to abide by all the holy seven vows with pure and honest intentions that we have promised during the ritual of marriage.

With the sealing of the last vow, we stand up and I take a deep breath while the sound of claps from everyone floods the room.

Why did he have to look at me the whole time I took my vows? His stare was pinning me down and it felt like he was making sure that I didn't mess up.

We both exchange our rings and I had imagined him crushing my fingers in his tough hands but he didn't.

"Alpha Dargan, you may kiss your bride now." The priest says before moving away and joining the others to have a view. Dargan turns to me and smirks at me. His smirk is complete evil, not an ounce of mischievousness.

This little... I mean giant... wait I can't use any profanities for my husband, now can I? I need to at least abide by the vows for a few hours. Then let's see if he pisses me off!

"Don't. Just tilt your head." I whisper to him and he raises his left eyebrow at me before pulling me hard to him and kissing me in the hardest way possible. He bites my lip hard and I control my moan of pain fearing that others would hear it and misunderstand. His hand around my waist pinches my skin and he bites me harder.

After full two minutes, he pulls away and I take a deep breath and taste blood on my lips. His eyes remain on my lips and before I know he has again leaned down while the people are cheering for us.

He licks my lips, and his movements are so soft that it gives me a very different pleasure just after the pain. This time he even rubs the spot that he had pinched earlier.

"You don't tell me what to do." He says looking me in the eyes before pulling away.

Just wait, you mighty Alpha! I'll show you who the dominant one between us is!

"It's not the other way either," I say to him before facing our family.

***

It's the time for the ritual where I can finally eat! Since morning, I haven't eaten anything and I'm starving!

"Alpha Dargan, Rosabella here has been fasting since the morning, it's time she breaks it after you feed her from your hands." My mother says to Dargan sitting beside me. I look at him not knowing if he would really follow this.

Has he even kept a fast for me?

"Miriam, set the table." My mother says and both Miriam and Nina start setting the table. Nina is beaming while doing her work. She is happier than me as if it's her own wedding. Haha...

"Please make me drink water first. I'm thirsty." I say eyeing all the food before looking down embarrassed as everybody chuckles at my response.

Surprisingly, Dargan lifts up the glass of water and brings it to my lips. I drink the water and once I'm finished, he drinks from the same glass and from the same spot where my lips had touched the glass. For some reason, that arouses me.

Soon father announces that I can be fed my first bite and Dargan feeds me calmly. Then it's my turn. I tear a portion of a tortilla and fill it with spicy curry before lifting my hands for him to eat the food. He engulfs more than what was necessary and bites my finger while rolling his tongue on my fingertip.

I quickly bring my hand back and dare wipe my finger on his clothes. I know I'm pushing his limits by doing so, but I don't care.

I place my hand on his thighs and roll my finger on the fabric before he holds my hand there in place. Everybody is chatting happily and eating as we have already done the ritual of first bites and they are unaware of our little fight.

Dargan does something I had expected him to do when we were exchanging our rings. He crushes my hand and I can't even yell in pain.

Oh damn!

He suddenly leaves my hand and when I look down I see my hand has become red.

Monster!

His cold gaze turns to me and his brown eyes warn me to do anything like that again.

I continue with my food rather than returning his glare because I am starving!

I want to give him a piece of mind but I need to resist as everybody is still there.

***

The dinner ends sooner than I would've liked because now, it's time for me to leave and start a new life.

The carriages have been prepared and Dargan is just waiting for me to bid farewell to my family.

I can't help but get emotional since I don't know when I'll be meeting them, or at least this is what they believe because I'll return sooner than anyone might've thought.

"Rose, make me proud, my girl. I'm sure you'll make the best Queen." My father says and I gulp the lump in my throat.

I could've been the queen of our own Kingdom, father, if only you trusted me enough.

I hug him and my mother. I wipe the tears from my mother's eyes and see Nina doing the same. This is the same situation for Aunt Miriam as well. I walk towards her and hug her before promising her about Nina's safety and well-being.

I move to my cousin, the soon to be King of this Kingdom and share an awkward hug with him. We have never hugged each other and good thing this is in private otherwise he would've never hugged me.

Last but not the least, I move towards my mother's best friend and the most respected advisor. I stand in front of him while looking him in the eyes while he does the same.

"Thank you for the present, I'll adore it the same way I have always kept all your past presents," I say while smiling before turning away from him. I directly make my way towards Dargan who is standing beside a red carriage with its details in gold. I already it is meant for me since Dargan would come on the horse.

A man comes around and opens the carriage door for me and Nina helps me getting in by holding my puffy bottom.

"Nina, can you please share the carriage with me?" I ask her and she anxiously looks towards Dargan. He looks at me before walking away.

Nina shrugs and gets in with me.

I can't be here for another minute or I would never be able to go.

I'll come back though, sooner than thought, to take what is rightfully mine.