The Dragon's Call

Chapter 4

-Laelia-

Arrogant. Proud. Snob. Disgusting. Take a pick. There was plenty to choose from, and he fit them all. My eyes were almost rolling out of my skull, so many times I had rolled them around, as I watched my future husband arrive. He and his family came in a blue golden carriage with curtains, so the public couldn’t get a look at them, and they didn’t have to look at the public. As they stepped out of the carriage with the help from the driver, I knew where Aaron Keplin had inherited his traits. His parents were exactly the same. Their noses high in the air, even in front of the king. They stood together as a pair, but there was nothing but coldness between them. It was clear it wasn’t a happy marriage. The two of them looked like they just barely tolerated each other’s presence. I would have laughed, hadn’t my eyes met with my future husband's. He seemed as disappointed in me as I was in him. I just hid it behind a sweet smile, while he ignored me, as he passed me by with my dad in the front, then my fiancé’s parents and then him. My brothers joined me, and Liam bent down and whispered in my ear,

“And you thought he would be arrogant.”

I hit him on his shoulder, and with six brothers I knew how to hit, but while he rubbed his shoulder, we smiled at each other. It was just a big joke, all of it. This marriage, the alliance. It was crazy! Though I feared the dinner more than anything. My palms felt sweaty as I sat down beside my future husband. I wanted to try to speak to him. The least I could do was give him a chance. Maybe he just acted arrogant in public, so then maybe he would be sweet in private. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I grabbed the cup in front of me and drank a mouthful of water, as I watched the lively table around us. My father was busy speaking with Aaron’s father, while my brothers joked around with each other. I wasn’t usually this quiet, but what on earth should I say to him? I didn’t want to be here, nor did he! I breathed out slowly, trying to calm my nerves, before I leaned slightly to the side and opened my mouth,

“So, Lord Keplin, what do you enjoy doing?”

I started off with an easy question. Everyone enjoyed doing something. So, it would hopefully not lead to a bad conversation, but a calm and easy one. Aaron turned to me; his eyes narrowed slightly. I was not certain if he disliked how I had dressed, or if I had something in my face, but he didn’t look happy. Then, after a few seconds, his face seemed to relax and he calmly lifted his cup, taking a sip before turning back to me.

“Prostitution.”

“I’m sorry… What did you say?”

I certainly couldn’t have heard him right. What person would have prostitution as something they ‘enjoyed’ doing? Not a lord, surely!

“Whores. Even a princess must know what that is.”

I was completely shocked! Did he honestly, my future husband who I was to marry tomorrow, tell me he enjoyed f*cking whores? Me? His future wife! And he told me in such a demeaning way, speaking to me once again, as if I was a child, who did not understand what prostitution meant. I turned away from him, looking around the table, but apparently no one seemed to have heard him, or they were too polite to show if they had. I turned back to Aaron, who didn’t even seem to think it was a bad idea to tell me. Is this what I was to expect of my future husband? A cheater. Unfaithful scum! And as his wife, I could do nothing about it.

“Are you serious?” I whisper-yelled.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because I am to be your wife!”

“And as my wife, I expect you to do your wifely duties at night, and then be quiet for the rest of the day, do whatever you women do to enjoy yourself. Just do not bother me, and do not speak to me, unless I start the conversation. You are to sit quietly at my side when we eat and attend socializing events.”

“What?!”

“Well, this wedding was thrown together so fast. I might as well just be completely honest with you from the start. Besides, your family needs mine more than we need you.”

“So, that makes you think you can speak to me in such a way?!”

Aaron sighed, but didn’t seem to be bothered by my temper, which was slowly rising to high levels. Even the level of my voice was slowly rising, and I had completely forgotten about the people around us. Aaron leaned slightly closer, trying not to disturb the rest of the dinner party.

“Tomorrow we will marry, and you will be legally mine to do with as I wish. Just as it will be my job to discipline you if you don’t follow the rules I have set.”

“D-Discipline?”

“Of course.”

I shook my head, completely dumbfounded. The arrogance! It was too much. I simply couldn’t sit here any longer, and so I quickly rose to my feet, not caring at all, that all the conversation stopped, and all eyes turned to me. Then I stormed out there. I didn’t let the tears fall, before I was in my chamber again. Then I fell to the floor while leaning against the door.

“This can’t be my life,” I sobbed silently. “This can’t be my life …”

***

“White. Representing your pureness,” my governess said, as she tied the last string of the white dress.

I was standing in front of a big mirror in my chamber, watching my maids and governess add the last details to my look. My black hair was resting down my back. By my temples, two small braids had been made. They met in the back and turned into a bigger one. I was wearing a white dress, with beautiful decorative spirals running along the skirt and pearls on the upper part. It had long white sleeves with a small ring at the end, where I could put my middle fingers in, so I kept the fabric stretched. I was wearing a long white vail with a little golden crown as a hairclip, holding it in place. It was all very beautiful, but the face didn’t match the rest … My eyes were still a bit swollen from crying so much and they had small red veins running around in the white parts. Even my pink lips seemed a bit swollen. I was always biting them when I was nervous or worried, and right now I was terrified. All night I had been turning and crying and worrying, and now I felt like fleeing. Running somewhere where no one could find me. Was it too much to ask for someone to kidnap me at that moment?

“Let’s get you to the church.”

Apparently, it was. Even though I looked broken and sad, my governess didn’t seem to notice. She just pulled the veil in front of my face and started to guide me away. We walked all the way back to the entrance where a carriage awaited. The church was located outside the city, and it gave the "happy" couple a good chance to see the people, as they returned. We were to wave and smile, as if our very souls weren’t being forced together. I would never see the outside of the walls again after tonight. I knew that, as I stepped inside the carriage and was taken away. We would come back here for the party, and then there would be the wedding night … the part I dreaded the most. I looked outside the little window, watching the people go by. What I wouldn’t give to be any of them at that moment. I almost wanted to open the door and yell does someone wish to trade places?! But I knew nothing would come from that, except people might question my sanity, because who wouldn’t want to marry a lord, and a rich one of that? Apparently, I was the only one …

“Wow. Easy!”

The driver’s voice was what pulled me from my dark thoughts into my dark reality. We were already here … The man was kind to help me out. We had stopped right in front of the big white doors that led into my worst nightmare. How could something so beautiful be the way to a life of darkness?

“Princess … they are waiting,” the driver whispered, as I stood frozen on the spot.

I nodded once as a thanks, before I walked up the white stairs. There were two guards outside the doors, one of them opened them and I walked inside a little entrance room with two new doors. My heart felt like it wanted to run out of my chest, so hard it was pounding. I wanted to run too, but where could I go? People knew who I was, and while I could be scary, if I wanted to, no one feared me like my father. They would turn me over if they didn’t want to hold me captive for money. No, there was no way out of here, and with that thought, I signaled to the guard to open the next pair of doors. The ones that led into the chapel.

Music started. People rose from their seats and turned to look at me. I had no idea why so many people had come, but the church was filled. Some even had to stand in the corners, just so they could get a glimpse of their princess being married. At the end of the aisle, stood my future husband, his family behind him, and mine on the other side, waiting for me to take my place in front of Aaron. How I wished I could show them my face, so they could see how sad they made me, but I didn’t show them. I just kept my back straight, my head up before taking my place by the altar. Aaron and I held hands as the priest began his speech. I wished I could tell him to go slow, but it was clear my father had told him the opposite, and we were given the short version. Rings were exchanged, vows were said, and the bride was revealed. A quick kiss, lips barely touching, and we were married.

People clapped and cheered, as we turned around to face our people. Yes, our. Aaron was prince now, and while we would never sit on the throne, the title would always be his. We started to walk down the aisle, still holding each other’s hands. I felt like throwing up, as I kept my eyes down. I couldn’t face the people as filthy as I felt. When they looked at me, they saw hope, a safe future. That was all I was. Not a person. A future. Their future, and while I wished to protect them and keep them safe, I felt so alone and disgusted. My future was not happy nor golden, just dark and lonely.

“Smile,” Aaron whispered.

I tried my best, but it was no use. We walked outside and got inside the carriage. We had a slower and longer journey than our families. We were riding through the entire city and the outer villages, so the public could meet the newlyweds. This part I liked, because even though it was only for a short moment I would be distracted from what was to come, it was a moment I needed more than anything. It felt like I could finally breathe a little, even in this tight, tight corset and the arrogant husband beside me. I felt calm and even slightly happy, but as the sun slowly went down, and we returned to the castle, I once again started to have trouble breathing.