The Prince's Wedding

My Lady. 3.

ALEXANDER

"There must be some mistake! There must be!" I yell, scanning the scroll as I pace up and down the throne room while Felipe is on a chair, watching me calmly.

"Your Highness those were the King's last requests. There is no error."

"Then it's a fake!" I yell and throw it across the table.

"He would never do this to me!"

"That's because you see it as a punishment. He's only doing this because he loves you."

"By forcing me to marry a commoner unless I lose my throne?! In front of the whole kingdom! How is that love? I don't care what you say, all I know is that pauper is going to tell me how she got picked by my father when I've never seen her before in my life!"

"Arranged marriages are normal in Nirvania, Your Highness, you know this. Why even your father's marriage to your mother was an arranged marriage."

"At least he had known her his whole life. I won't agree with this. She has a hand in this and I must figure it out. She must confess." I stop pacing now to stare out the window, observing the view that included the cellars.

She'll starve there.

And when she reaches her limit, she'll confess.

"You know you can't harm her, Your Highness. You need to release her tonight, this is why your father had her called out in front of the whole kingdom before the scroll was read because he knew you'd try to get to her."

"How do you know Felipe?" I ask and turn to him, "How do you know she's not to blame?"

He sighs,

"I wrote those words myself. Your father said it out to me. He's only concerned about you."

I sigh, exasperated as I sit back on the chair and observe the scroll.

"So I'm just supposed to marry this commoner? Set her free and involve her in my life?"

"That's why he gave you a year, to learn about each other." Felipe says as he gets up from the chair but I'm not convinced.

"No. She remains in the cellar."

He sighs and heads for the door, then turns to look at me.

"The kingdom will bear witness if anything happened to her. Is this the King you want to be? The King your father wanted you to be?"

With that, Felipe walks out of the room, leaving me to stare at the scroll.

The words stare back at me.

Melissa Redmond.

Why?

How?

I can still remember her running, pushing through the crowd, and dragging her sister as that long mane of red hair bounced behind her---

Her sister!

“Guards!” I yell and a couple of them march in uniformly.

“Where’s the little girl? The prisoner's sister?”

“She is still on the castle grounds, Your Highness.”

“What?”

I rush to the window and look down, far below I can see the little redhead girl crouched in the garden...crying.

“Bloody hell. Why didn't anyone escort her in?” I ask as I turn to them and they exchange confused looks.

“We tried, Your Highness. But she refuses to move until she sees her sister.”

Blast!

“And no one bothered to inform me?!”

They both remain at attention but I can see the slight fear in their eyes and I sigh, Felipe’s words echoing in my head.

‘The King your father wanted you to be.’

“Fine, just let her out.”

MELISSA

I don't know how long I've been crouched in the corner, weeping my eyes out.

How did my day turn out so ugly?

I never should have left the cottage.

And I put Halley in danger...

My sleeves are damp with tears and it feels like I can't cry anymore...but they keep coming. All I wanted was to pay my respect to King Russel because when we lost father, Halley was just 5 and all I could do was teach.

Teach the children all father had taught me, about our traditions, about our history, and about the worlds he had traveled to see.

We met under the huge oak tree at the outskirts of the kingdom every day at noon and although I wasn't getting anything but few drops of coins and food in my basket...it helped Halley and I get along.

Then the King passed by once in his Royal carriage.

The next day I got the letter with the official royal seal, along with a sachel of coins.

How could I not pay my respect to a man like that?

Questions and more questions keep queueing in my head but the loudest one remains obvious.

Why does he want me to marry The Prince?

Suddenly, the sound of jingling keys and the door being unlocked snaps me back to the present and I look up to see guards walking in from the main door.

The sunlight streaming in feels like heaven and I quickly get up as the guards reach my cellar.

“I can go? Can I see my sister?”

But as usual, they say nothing as they unlock my cellar and before I can react, several ladies come in and help me to my feet.

“My lady, are you okay?” one of them, a brown-haired girl asks as they lead me out the building and I just nod slowly.

“I just want to see my sister and leave.” I say between sniffs, my voice coming out hoarse and snotty.

“Don’t you worry, my lady. We'll take care of you and you'll see your sister soon.”

It's an older lady talking now as she pats my cheek and it still feels like a dream?

What in Nirvania is happening today?

The girls escort me into the castle and lead me down a long, beautiful hallway while the servants and guards part ways to let me pass.

I'm dreaming

I'm dreaming

The hallway stops at a set of double doors with guards on either side, and they open it to let me in.

The sight before me shocks me to my bones and I can't do anything but stare at the beautiful, wide room. Silk curtains, velvety sheets on a wide bed.

A bed. With pillows.

Not a cot...a bed.

A dresser, robes, and garments hanging from either side in the finest materials I've ever seen.

Then I feel the girls tug at my arms, trying to rush me in and I stare at them.

“What’s this? Where am I?”

They look confused.

“Your chambers, My ladyship.”

“No.” I yank my hands away.

“No, do you hear me? The prince will kill me! I just want to see my sister!”

“My lady--” they reach for me again and I back way even further.

“I’m no lady! I don't belong here, I can't let the Prince see me here! Where is Halley?”

“Lady Melissa--”

“I have to find her.” I say and turn away from them instantly as I rush towards the hallway but the Prince is standing there now, blocking the passage with all of his presence.

I stumble, catching myself from falling as I clumsily curtsy as low as I can.

“Your Highness.”

He says nothing.

“I was just leaving, I promise. I only wish to find my sister--”

“You reek.”

It's enough to make me keep shut and I keep my gaze on the hem of my gown, brown with dirt.

“What were my orders to you?” he asks in that scary voice and I look up at him, but his gaze is focused on the girls behind me.

“We’re on it, Your Majesty--”

“Then do it. Get her cleaned, ...” his gaze shifts to me and those hazel eyes bear only hatred.

“Then we'll talk.”

So the ladies usher me into the room, shut the doors, and help me out of my clothes. Then they draw me a bath...with steaming warm water, scented oils, and soaps.

They wash my hair.

And as they help me dry up, a girl walks up to me, holding three different colored dress garments.

“My lady, ” she curtsies, “My name is Cecily and I’m your handmaiden. I have dresses for your choosing. Will it be purple, the color of royalty? Green, the color of Nirvania's flag, or Red which is known as the Prince’s favorite color?”

“I... I...”

They're all watching me expectantly, waiting.

“I don't know. I...”

“All you have to do is pick a color my lady, don't worry.”

How are they all so used to calling me ‘My Lady’?

“Green.” I hear myself say and they all scurry to help me get dressed, each knowing what to do while I just observe them and wait.

I'm slipped into a petticoat and helped into a snug corset before they finally put the dress on me and style my hair.

“Such beautiful, long hair you have My lady.” one of the girls says as she braids and styles my hair.

When they're done, they lead me to the full-length mirror and I stare at my reflection...dazed.

This is me?

I'm in a green velvet gown that graces my body and flows admiringly to the floor, with sleeves that feel like a cloud on my wrists. My hair is braided at the corners, linked at the middle where it's packed at the nape of my neck before it flows out to my waist.

“I... I don't know what to say. Thank you. Thank you so much.”

They exchange happy glances, looking pleased and satisfied.

“No need to thank us, My lady. His royal highness, the Prince, will be with you shortly. Would you like anything before then?” one of them says and I feel slightly guilty for not being able to tell them apart.

“Do any of you know where my sister is? Have you seen her? Is she okay?” I can't help but ask and one of them walks up to me, holding my hand gently.

“She is fine, My lady. You will see her soon.”

Then they all curtsy and leave.

I'm left standing there...confused.

Do I go and see the Prince...or will he come here himself?

...And where is Halley?!

The doors open that instant and two guards walk in, followed by Prince Alexander.

“Your Majesty.” I curtsy.

He was no longer His Highness now....the king is dead. And the other girls had referred to him as Your Majesty.

“Leave us.”

The guards walk out and I keep my gaze on the floor as the doors shut. Now it's just me and him and I can feel his stare on me, I can sense his anger and that aura of his has me breaking a sweat.

He circles me now, taking long strides as he rounds me and his scent surrounds me.

He smells like Royalty.

“Look at me.” An order.

I look up at him and he is glaring at me, but seeing him this close, I can see him well. Like all the features of his face, the stubble of beard on his angular chin, those furrowed brows above a straight pointed nose, and then his thick, inky black hair slicked back.

And of course, the gold crown on his head.

“Why did you run?” he asks me and for a while, I can't find the words to reply him.

Is this a test?

“Don’t you hear me? When your name was called, Why. Did. You. Run?” his voice rises a bit and this time I struggle to answer him.

“I... I was scared, Your Majesty.”

“Of what?!”

“I don't know...” my voice quivers, “I have just n-never been called f-for anything in the castle. And to be called at that m-m-moment I was terrified.”

“Why?! Because you had something to hide?! Only the guilty run so you better confess, Melissa!” he barks and I flinch at his voice.

“I don't know, I swear! I thought it had to do with the school, I thought they wanted to shut it down and--”

“The school?” he frowns slightly, eyeing me. Then I watch as realization dawns on his face.

“You’re the teacher.” he says and I nod.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Urgh!” he groans out loud as he turns away and marches towards the window.

“Of course.” I can hear him mutter and I remain in my position, fidgeting with my fingers.

“I’m sorry.” I hear myself say.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Oh please.” he grumbles, “save me your pathetic apologies, it's not going to change anything.”

His footsteps draw close to me from behind and then he stands in my front again, clearly fuming with anger.

“This was my father's last request and it was read before the whole kingdom! Do you know what that means?! Do you realize the position it puts me in?! Not just being stuck here but forced to marry...you!”

“I... I'll leave. I'll go home with my sister and you'll never see me again, Your Majesty. Please. I just want to leave.”

“For God's sake, aren't you hearing me?!” he barks at me and I move back, pulling my gaze from his angry face.

“There is no going back from this! I can't send you back no matter how much I want to, God!”

He paces around the room, muttering to himself and I just stand and wait.

“Listen to me.” he says and marches up to me. “You will remain here. You will sleep, wake, eat, bath, and whatever bloody hell it is you do in your time, you do it here. Until I figure this out, you remain here. And if for some reason I require your presence, I'll find you. You don't leave your chambers, is that clear?”

I'm shaking at this point.

“Very, Your Majesty.” I say and as he heads for the door, he adds.

“Your sister is here.”

The doors open and he walks out just as Halley runs in towards me.

“Mel!” she yells and I squat to her level as I open my arms to her, holding her in one swift hug.

“Oh Halley, I'm so happy you're okay.”

“I was so scared. I thought I'd never see you again!” she says and I pull back to look at her.

“Don’t ever think like that, okay? I'm here for you.”

Her blue eyes scan me and she smiles.

“You look so pretty.” she says and I run my fingers over the new dress she is wearing.

“So do you.” I say, giggling as she twirls.

“I know right. Some girls took me to my room and dressed me up, can you imagine? I have my own room.” she says with excitement and I laugh as I watch her.

“It’s all happening so fast... Are we going to be living in the castle now?” she asks and I look up briefly at the guards standing at the corner and the beautiful hallway ahead.

“Seems like it.”

“Are you really gonna marry Prince Alexander?” she asks quietly, as if scared of saying it out loud.

I can relate.

“I... I don't know, Halley.” I say honestly and she just nods, like she understands. But the question remains in my head.

Am I really gonna marry the Prince?