The Prince's Wedding

Laws. 10

The Prince was right...

I don't know where I'm going.

The thought lingers in my head as I slowly reduce my fast walking to a slow wander, suddenly realizing I've gone almost halfway around the huge castle.

I had passed the gardens without noticing and now...I'm at a huge fountain with a statue of a sunflower in the middle.

And as much as the night is charming, with the moonlight glistening on the water and the stars blanketing the sky....I can't stop crying.

As the events of the past hour come rushing back to me, my eyes flood with tears again and I sit at the edge of the fountain, bury my face in my hands and let the tears out.

How could he even do this to me?

Like it's not humiliating enough that I'm the only person that isn't royalty by blood, he had to make me feel pitied and mediocre!

Tears keep pouring out my eyes and down my face and as much as I keep wiping, they don't stop.

So I sit there....crying...until I can't think of a reason to cry anymore.

Until I lose track of time...

Until I get carried away listening to the music from the ball and counting the fireflies as they pass me.

Some ball this is...

I can't believe I used to fantasize about the idea of going on a Royal ball....

I turn to the building and from where I'm sitting, I can see right through a window in the ballroom. I stand up slowly now as I watch the couples sweep across the dance floor, moving in rhythm to the beautiful music.

And then I suddenly catch sight of the Prince's blue suit as he moves across the dance floor, leading Princess Dana in swift, expert moves as they waltz in unison, closer and closer to my window.

And the closer they get, the more I can see the Prince's face....a face that's not scowling in anger or furrowed in impatience.

No this face is relaxed, and pleased even.

My shoulders drop.

I'm going to marry someone that can't even smile around me...

The dance comes to an end and I watch them bow to each other before the Princess leaves. And Prince Alexander shoves his hands in his pockets as he stares around the room nervously.

I scoff.

I guess my absence is ruining the pretend picture he presented of us....

"Prince Alexander! Always a pleasure to see you." A chubby, average height man says as he walks up to the Prince.

"Sir William." He replies with a nod.

"That was quite a dance, if I might add! I always said you and the Princess would make such a lovely couple." The man says with a chuckle and I watch as the Prince just smiles.

A couple?

"It was just one dance, Sir William."

"One you're still yet to have with your little....uh...company." He says and chuckles again.

"You mean Melissa?" The Prince asks flatly.

"Why yes, of course. Where is she? I'd like to see how many of my questions she can't answer again." He says and bursts into laughter, bending backwards a bit as he guffaws and my lip quivers.

They do see me as an illiterate.

"That's going to be my wife." The Prince says sharply and Sir William immediately stops laughing just as I turn to the Prince in shock, watching him as he glares at Sir William.

"I suggest you watch your tongue, Sir William. Before I ask my men to cut it off." He adds and I blink in shock.

Did he just defend me?

Or was that just him being the person he always is....

"My sincerest apologies." Sir William says and I watch, amazed as he walks away in shame and the Prince doesn't stop glaring at him.

ALEXANDER

I watch Sir William walk away and all I can think of is how I never should have come for this ball.

What i***t makes a joke like that?

An i***t that got the courage to do so because I basically gave them the permission, that's who.

I sigh, rubbing my temples as I turn away from the crowd and towards the window.

Okay, so maybe my plans backfired.

Badly.

I wasn't targeting her in anyway. The only reason I didn't want her to talk was because I knew that it would lead to endless conversations and I just don't want to spend that much time with her!

I wanted to be in and out of here as soon as possible and that was my only idea. I sure as hell didn't intend it as an insult to her image or intelligence...

I didn't even think that's what it would lead to until she told me.

And if it had gone according to plan, we would have been out of here after our only dance.

But then she snapped...

And now I can see why. Hearing Sir William say that joke, it took every fight in me to stop myself from throwing him out the window.

I owe her an apology.

"Prince Alexander, I've been meaning to talk to you all evening!" The king's familiar voice exclaims and I turn around the face him.

"King Gregory." I say.

"I heard you're now planning on building bridges, which I find surprising because we share this island with six other kingdoms."

"Yes, I am. Why is that surprising? The other kingdoms have their own territory." I ask, frowning slightly as I observe the stout man.

"Exactly. If we share the land equally, we should also do so with the water and the decision of building bridges and which kingdoms to reach out—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. First of all, which kingdoms we reach out to is going to be decided by everyone. But with all due respect King Gregory, structures of the water and anything concerning it belongs to Nirvania. We own that right."

"Do you?" He asks, moving closer as his smile disappears under his beard.

"Because I don't recall a war being fought and won for it. If I recall, that's how we claimed our land."

"Excluding Nirvania. We were the first inhabitants of the island."

"And what proof is that? Tell me, boy! It's a big island, and no kingdom can see the other from afar. Don't insult my intelligence—"

"His Majesty didn't insult your intelligence in anyway, Your Grace." Melissa's calm voice comes from behind me just as I am at the point of exploding.

I turn to her in shock and blink when I see how red her nose is.

She's been crying all this while?

"Well I doubt that Lady Melissa—"

"At the top of the highest hill of this island is a stone-carved statue of the sun, the object of Nirvanian flag and the oldest structure on this island. The Nirvanian early ancestors made it years after arriving. It was the first thing they made when they had learned to use tools and we all know that every other kingdom has said that statue was here before they were. Including yours."

The king is silent now, staring at her with surprise and a hint of embarrassment.

"And in our history books, it's common law that the first inhabitants of the land decide what to do with the water. My Prince..." she turns to me slightly and I can't read her expression before she turns back to King Gregory,

"...has made a good decision of building bridges and I'm sure it's something you and your people will thank us for one day."

"Well...." king Gregory mutters as he looks away, "if that's the case I... I believe in your decision and I... I wish you luck."

And then he turns and walks away, leaving Melissa and I alone and I can't stop thinking of their words.

I knew about the stone statue of the sun...

I knew it was Nirvanian.... But I never knew the other kingdoms testified to seeing the statue when they arrived.

I didn't even know about the law of the first inhabitants and the water....

"I'm ready to leave if you are..." she says and I turn to her, still slightly amazed.

Her face is expressionless but I can tell she's still angry at me.

"Yeah... I am." I say, turning to the door just a few feet away.

"But maybe... after one dance?"

I owe her that much.

Ease down the gossip and give her the whole Ball experience.

Melissa frowns slightly as she observes me with her blue eyes, her face masked with caution and fear.

"I'd rather not."

"Please." I add and she sighs as the frown slowly clears from her face.

"Very well, Your Majesty." She says and takes the hand I reach out to her.

And as I dance with her across the dance floor, it occurs to me that I should have done this first before the introductions. She seems to loosen up a bit and this way, we would have saved ourselves the awkward conversations and misunderstandings.

But she seems okay now....and that's good enough.

*****

MELISSA

The ride back to the Nirvania feels better than when we left and by the time we arrive at the castle, Cecily is waiting for me at the door.

"What is it?" I ask when I meet her and she smiles brightly.

"She's awake."

It's all it takes to have me racing down the hall like a lunatic, heading for the physician's place. The second I get there, I can hear Halley from the other side.

"I've been asleep for a month?!" She exclaims and I slightly bite my lip, trying to control my emotions before I open the door.

"Where's Mel?" She asks the instant the door opens and I use the opportunity to watch her, sitting up in bed like she hasn't been unconscious for weeks.

"Someone looking for me?"

"Whoa!" She exclaims, a smile spreading on her face as I walk towards her.

"You look amazing! Where did you go?"

"To a Ball." I say, running my hands through her hair and cherishing every second of it.

"With the Prince?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Was it nice?" She asks and memories of dancing with the Prince flood my mind, along with the way he had said Please.

"Not at first, but yeah. It was. I'm so happy to see you talking again." I say, pinching her cheeks and she smiles.

"Weird, I can't remember what happened."

"It was a mistake. One that will never happen again." I say and peck her on her forehead, dwelling in the moment.

******

The hallway that leads to the Royal library at the north wing of the castle goes directly past the throne room, and as I walk along it, I can’t help but hum the music from the ball last night.

It wasn’t perfect.

It wasn’t even good…but coming home to seeing Halley awake changed everything.

For the first time in weeks, I had finally slept the whole night without tossing and turning or any sort of nightmares. I was beginning to feel like myself again.

Perhaps Rupert was the only one against my life….

Maybe it’s truly over—

“For the last time, we are not reopening the School of Nirvania just yet. I’m tired of having to deal with this plea everyday.” I hear Prince Alexander say and I stop in my tracks, just outside the throne room.

“But Your Majesty—”

“No buts, Jonah.”

“Perhaps if we had a chance to speak to Lady Melissa—”

“Lady Melissa is now Royalty. There are other things she’s preoccupied with than handling that school. We’ll find a replacement—-”

I walk into the throne room now, unable to help myself as I move towards Jonah, right in front of Prince Alexander.

“I’m sorry, I had no idea I was preoccupied.” I say and look him right in the eye and he just sighs.

The Prince doesn’t even bother to answer me, he just turns to Felipe who walks towards me now.

“My Lady, there is more to this than you think.”

“Why am I just hearing of this? And from what it seems, they’ve been asking for a while.” I say to Felipe.

“You’re just hearing of this because you’re in a place where you shouldn’t.” It’s the Prince that speaks now and I turn to him.

“I agree. I shouldn’t be here because I’m not even allowed here. So I want to go back to reopen the school, where I should be.”

“We are working on a replacement.” He says angrily and beside me, I can see Jonah flinch a little.

“For how long? And why should you need a replacement when I’m here all day doing nothing?”

“You lost your movement privileges!” He yells now, getting up and Jonah bows.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I’ll leave.”

“No.” I say to Jonah, grasping his hand firmly as I turn back to the Prince.

“So you remember my movement privileges when I want to do something but not when you need me to attend a ball?” I ask and he glares at me, but I don’t stop talking.

“I started that school without any help. You can’t just close it down or replace me because you feel like. I wanted to teach and I still do. It’s going to benefit the kingdom for God’s sake! Just let me do it.”

The Prince turns to Jonah now.

“You’re dismissed, Jonah.” He says and Jonah basically runs out the room, leaving me standing alone.

Then he walks up to me, towering over me as he glares at me with those green eyes.

“You know the laws as well as I do. That school was open without a permit from the start, I can do whatever I want with it.” He says and starts walking away.

“Well I’m going there now. And I’m reopening it.” I insist without turning around and I hear the Prince stop briefly.

Then he walks back to me instantly.

“You want to test me? Go ahead. Leave and open your little school. But I am not giving you a single horse, guard or carriage to take you or go with you.”

The look in his eyes is scary enough to let me know this is my last warning and I know I’ve crossed a line, but I keep my chin up.

“No problem. I’ll walk.”