The Modern Princess

CHAPTER SIX

Ridding on a restored vintage white Bentley Arnage T and wearing a sheer long sleeve backless Elie Saab wedding gown, it was a long tail gown completed with a 1939 made diamond tiara to hold the veil partnered with a diamond dangling earrings and a necklace with the friendship pendant. I knotted my hands together, a gesture I do to somehow ease the tense in me.

Lexumbia is waiting for me to go down is a big pressure. I manage to smile still since the windows are transparent, and paparazzi are all over me. “Indulge every moment as you walk down the aisle Katherine. This is your day, your wedding. Walk slowly, confidently and walk as if you are really going to marry the man you love” Sophia whispered before I get out of the bridal car. Yes. This is it, the wedding of my life.

My heart is beating fast. I can see how many people are waiting for me to go down from the car the whole church were surrounded by them, giving me warm smiles, waving a flag and hand at me. God, please don’t let me stumble. How many guests do we have aside from the netizens? Two thousand.

Everything’s perfect and even the smallest detail were overlooked by them, it’s like a fairytale wedding in the twenty first century. The twist? Persons getting married are never in love.

A fresh bouquet of tulips in my hand, I start walking feeling like a real princess, smiling as I slowly walk down the aisle, like I’ve really love him for the longest time. This is something I never dreamt about. Having this big marriage is not really my thing. Before, I dreamt of having an elegant wedding, but not this much but as I grow older and have been in a serious relationship I began dreaming of being married in a little church where all of my friends and relatives are with me.

A red carpet lead me going inside the gothic inspired, very intrinsic designed, St. Michael’s Church where Jeanne’s mom and brother got married too. The church was made by unbreakable adobe. In the porch is where my mom and dad await for me.

“This is it honey and whatever objections I have done, you still decided on this and I’m happy for you” mom said with teary eyes.

“Let’s not ruin Kathy’s makeup” dad simply said. “I love you” he whispered on me.

“I love you too” I said and hugged mom “I love you too mom” we slowly walk down the aisle. Twelve pairs of huge pillars was inside, the whole wide ceiling was painted by famous Lexumbish painters and the only light provided is the brightness of the sunshine, which creeps out from the transparent windows of the Church above. While on the front was the cross and a very beautiful stained glass that was as huge as the pillars.

I pass through lots of guest, most of which were Prime Minister, Aristocrats and Noble Men I knew by names but not personally most of which has their hats as a sign of Aristocracy. From there on I see Jeanne from afar, his hands are relaxingly holding each other, giving me a beautiful smile. Don’t spoil the moment Katherine, he’s been nothing but good to you, enjoy this moment. This is your wedding. I gave him a smile from my heart, the best-est smile I can ever give, a smile that reached not only my ears but also my heart, not because of the people around us, but because of the man waiting for me at the end of this aisle.

He’s wearing his navy blue three-piece suit that complements his gray necktie. He stands straight up not removing his eyes of me, his smile is steady. He looks so elegant, so classy, so handsome, so…lovable.

When we arrive in front of him, at the end of the aisle, he reached for my hand and gave my father and mother a nod, conveying a message that says I will take care of her. He put my hand on his elbow and cautiously walk towards the altar.

The wedding ceremony started and go through as usual, none of the moment was dull, it was as if I am really going to marry my long time partner, a person I’m in love with.

I don’t believe in fairytales, dreaming of a prince to be your husband? For me that’s stupid. Maybe that’s why I am now here, eating my own words and marrying this prince. Maybe I was wrong when I said that, Now that I am here I believe that all of us can marry a prince, not a royal prince maybe, but a prince that will treat us as a princess without any condition. Love for me is not something that you can just instantly feel, for me it is being learned as you know more the person.

The priest started to ask us for our vows with each other. I didn’t prepare a written vow, I just wanted to talk spontaneously, I want to talk from my heart.

“Jeanne, as what I told you before, I cannot promise that I will be the perfect wife for the perfect man like you… You were born, raised and molded to be a perfect man for the perfect woman... With the short period of relationship we had you made me feel comfortable, safe, nurtured and…loved. A promise that I can make is that I will do my best for this relationship to work out and for us to last forever until the end of time. As we go through the phase of married life, I will do my best to be with you all of the time, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do us part.” Tears started to run down my face, that which I do not know why, but when I started to tell him my vows it was from my heart and it feels like real, it feels like he is in my heart.

“When I first met you, I saw a beautiful woman, who wasn’t afraid of anything. You speak out your mind, you are not afraid to defend anyone neglected and despite on the uptight look you offer everyone, deep inside you is a kind-hearted woman… That is what you are, a commoner but you are extraordinary. You’re a very strict, unpredictable but deep inside you are soft-hearted. The first time I saw you, that was the time I first fell in love with you,”

He held me “and the more I know you, the more I fall for you, not because of your beauty, your intelligence, or your body, but because you are a whole-hearted woman who doesn’t chose who to love. As I take you as my wife, I will not try anything, because trying means failing. I will do everything I could to make you happy and smile. I will let no tears run down your face again, I will love you forever until the end of time.” His words touched my heart, and for a man like him? It will not be impossible for me to fall in love, not even when I do not want to.

With the short period of time Jeanne didn’t show any hatred, or anything that will make me say that he is a bad person, despite of the rumors that he is a known rake, that is not what I see in him. What I see in him is a man, who’s ready to fall in love and he’s just looking for the right woman.

When the marriage celebration was over and we finally sealed it with a kiss, we ride, together in a car and waved to the people. This is it. I am finally Mrs. Katherine Humphrey-Eisenhower, Duchess of Polivia. Polivia is a sovereign state of Lexumbia, the state which was given to Jeanne, my husband. His title is now Prince Sebastien Jeanne Louis Eisenhower, Duke of Polivia. And yes, he has three names.

At the Grand Palace of Lexumbia where the people I saw was tripled than what I saw outside the church I tensed again. “It will be okay Kathy” he whispered on me. He wasn’t leaving my side from the time we departed from the Church, instead, he held my hand, and never let it go.

He helped me as we walk towards the balcony, it wasn’t just a tripled I guess it was seven times! A lot of people are waving towards us, some of them are holding cards, while some of them are holding flags. The whole family is with us, and we wave together at them and at last, the most awaited part—the balcony kiss.

Jeanne’s hand was tight on my shoulder, my right hand willingly moves on his chest his perfect eyes were looking at mine and we slowly close our eyes and we reached for each other’s lips our lips locked in harmony. Just like the kiss we had inside the Church, it was like a drug, it makes me want more and thanks for his hand, because his kiss is weakening my knees. When I opened my eyes what I saw was his beautiful face smiling at me, the same smile I’m offering him.

After greeting thousands of people, we walk towards the Palace to greet the other guest and it was almost night time when I finally had a chance to talk to my best friends and be over the formal greetings. From afar I saw Teresa and Sophia making their way towards me.

“You are drop dead gorgeous” Sophia greeted kissing my cheeks.

“Thank you for coming.” I kissed Sophia and Teresa.

“You’ll surely curse us if we wouldn’t” Teresa said

“Of course I will do that” and I wave at the back, seeing Tim and Josh at the far away table. I roam around to see if he will surprise me. “Where is Vince?” I asked. “I haven’t seen him even at the church” Vince, my another best friend, my spoiler. Want a new car and try to kid him? Do not try, because the next day you’ll surely have the car right in front of you. Yes, that happened!

“He’s not here; he told us that he has an important business meeting” Teresa said.

“Is there anything more important that his best friend’s wedding?” I rolled my eyes.

“He surely does not agree with this wedding that’s why” Sophia stated.

“Hey, lower your voice Sophia, don’t let other visitors hear that” Teresa murmur.

“I’m sorry but I’m just telling the truth” she answered then she turned to me and said “I’m sorry Kathy”

“I understand Sophia but still I hate him for not coming, he doesn’t even respond at my messages”

“We will tell him how you feel” Sophia said.

I nodded. “He surely shall know”

She hold me on the shoulders “Should I say I’m happy for you?” she looked sad about it.

I smiled at her. “You should be happy. I’m married.” To my surprise she hugged me tight. “I want you to be happy” I smiled. My tease best friend Sophia, I hugged her back and said “I am happy”