The Devil's little Bride

Chapter Four

I had the past couple years to prepare for this day. I always knew that I was never going to be able to choose whom to marry because I am a woman and a princess. I don’t have the right to choose. Hell, I don’t have any rights at all. My opinions and feelings don’t matter to anyone, not even my own family.

Father sees me as a tool to gain more power, to create an alliance with the Blood Imperium– a very powerful Kingdom – by marrying me off to Lucifer.

“For a prince and princess, the kingdom comes first,” Father said. “Your desire for something comes after.”

Yeah right, it could for a prince, but not for Princess. If a prince married for alliance and didn’t like his wife he could just marry another. Usually, most of them had several wives and mistresses, but for a princess the story was different. There’s nothing she can do. She just had to please her husband and watch as he marries other women when he gets bored with her. I felt my blood boil, but now was not the time to get angry.

Leaving all the bad thoughts behind me, I studied myself in the mirror. My maids had spent hours preparing me, making me look more beautiful than I was. I was wearing a white and golden dress, my silver hair was dyed black in a miserable attempt to look as ugly as possible—but it turned out rather perfect—It was combed back beautifully with golden hairpins in the shapes of flowers and leaves. The makeup was perfect, the only problem was the jewelry. They were beautiful but heavy, now that I was wearing a lot of them. I was already feeling weak because of nervousness, or was it fear? I didn’t know, but I was feeling sick. There was a knot in my stomach that refused to go away no matter how hard I tried to calm down.

“Don’t you like the dress?” Temari asked.

“No, I love it. It’s beautiful.” I tried to smile but failed.

Mother had sent her to give me a talk about my wedding night. “Lucifer will know what to do, don’t argue. Just lie on your back and give him what he wants. Don’t try to fight him that’ll only make things worse”. I was fighting for control. I couldn’t let people see how weak I was, suddenly tears blurred my vision and Gia rushed toward me. “Oh don’t cry, Elizabeth It’s not worth it.”

“I think it’s best you leave now”! She said sharply as her eyes met Temari’s. There was rustling and then the door opened and closed. Gianna wrapped her arms around me. “If he hurts you, I’ll kill him. I swear it. I’ll take one of those f*****g blades and split his skull”.

I leaned against her. “He slaughtered an entire kingdom and he’s the most feared demon amongst demons in the Imperium, Gia. He’d kill you first.”

Gia shrugged. “I’d do it for you.”

I pulled back. “You’re still my little sister. I should protect you.”

“We will protect each other,” she whispered. “Our bond is stronger than their stupid oaths and their blood vows.”

“I don’t want to leave you. I hate that I have to move to the Imperium “.

Gia swallowed. “I’ll visit often. Father will be glad to be rid of me.”

There was a knock and Mother walked in. “It’s time.” She scanned our faces but didn’t comment. Gia took a step back, eyes burning into me. Then she turned and walked out. Mother’s eyes zoomed in on the white lace garter on my vanity. “Do you need help putting it on?”

I shook my head and slid it up until it came to rest on my upper thigh. Later tonight Lucifer would remove it with his mouth and throw it into the group of gathered bachelors. I smoothed down my wedding dress.

“Come,” Mother said. “Everyone’s waiting.” She handed me my flower bouquet, a beautiful arrangement of white roses, mother of pearl roses, and pink ranunculas.

We walked in silence through the empty house, my heels clacking on the marble floors. My heart was pounding in my chest as we stepped through the glass doors and onto the courtyard. The front of the garden was occupied by the huge white pavilion where the wedding ceremony would be held. But behind the pavilion dozens of tables had been set up for the following feast. Voices carried over to me from inside the pavilion where the guests were waiting for my arrival. A path of red rose petals led from the veranda toward the entrance of the pavilion. I followed mother into the small room between the outside and the main part of the pavilion. Father was waiting and straightened when we entered. Mother gave him the briefest nod before slipping into the makeshift chapel. His smile was earnest when he offered me his arm. “You look beautiful,” he said quietly. “Lucifer won’t know what hit him.”

I ducked my head. “Thanks, Father.”

“Be a good wife, Elizabeth. Lucifer is powerful and once he takes his father’s place, his word will be law. Make me proud, make the House of Silva, make Britannia proud.”

I nodded, my throat too tight for words. The music started to play: a string quartet and a piano. Father lowered my veil. I was glad for the extra layer of protection, no matter how thin. Maybe it would hide my expression from afar.

Father led me toward the entrance and gave a low command. The fabric was pulled apart, revealing the long aisle and the many hundred guests to either side of it. My eyes were drawn to the end of the aisle where Lucifer stood. Tall and imposing in his charcoal leather jacket.

My father tugged me along and my legs seemed to carry me on their own accord as my body shook with nerves. I tried not to look at Lucifer and instead watched Gia and Emily from the corner of my eye. They were the first two bridesmaids and seeing them gave me the strength to hold my head high and not bolt for the outside.

The walk took forever and yet it was over too soon. Lucifer extended his hand, palm upwards. My father gripped the corners of my veil and lifted it, then he handed my hand over to Lucifer, whose obsidian eyes seemed to burn up with an emotion I couldn’t place. Could he feel me shaking? I didn’t meet his gaze.

The priest In his white frock greeted us, then the guests, before he began his opening prayer. I tried not to pass out. Lucifer’s grip was the one thing keeping me focused. I had to be strong. When the priest finally came to the closing lines of the divine scriptures, my legs could barely hold me up. He announced the rite of marriage and the guests all rose from their chairs.

“Lucifer and Elizabeth,” the priest addressed us. “Have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage? Will you love and honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?”

Lying was a sin, but so was killing. This room breathed sin. “Yes,” Lucifer said in his deep voice, and a moment later my own ‘yes’ followed. It came out firm.

“Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church.” Lucifer clasped my hands. His were hot against my cold skin. We faced each other and I had no choice but to look up into his eyes. Lucifer spoke first, “I, Lucifer Dilhvea take you, Elizabeth Silva to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.” How sweet the lies sounded from his mouth.

I recited the words expected of me and the priest blessed our rings.

Lucifer picked up my ring off the red cushion. My fingers shook like leaves in the breeze as I raised them, my heartbeat hummingbird quick. Lucifer’s strong hand was firm and steady as he took mine.

My fingers trembled like leaves in the breeze as I raised them my heartbeat hummingbird quick. Lucifer’s strong hand was firm and sturdy as he took mine and slipped the ring onto my finger.

White gold with twenty small diamonds.

What was meant as a sign of love and devotion for other couples was nothing but a testament of his ownership of me. A daily reminder of the golden cage I’d be trapped in for the rest of my life. Until death do us apart wasn’t an empty promise as with so many other couples that entered the holy bond of marriage. There was no way out of this union for me. I was Lucifer’s until the bitter end. The last few words off the path men swore when they were inducted into the Houses could just as well have been the closing of my wedding vow.

“I enter alive and I will leave dead”.

I should have run when I still had the chance. Now as hundreds of faces from the House of Silva and Dilhvea families stared back at us, flight was no longer an option. Nor was divorce. Death was the only acceptable end to a marriage in our world. Even if I still managed to escape Lucifer’s watchful eyes and that of his guards, my breach of agreement would mean war. Nothing my father could say would prevent Lucifer’s family from exercising vengeance for making them lose face.

My feelings didn’t matter, never had. I’d been growing up in a world where no choices were given especially to women

This wedding wasn’t about love or trust or choice. It was about duty and honour, about doing what was expected.

A bond to ensure peace.

I wasn’t an i***t. I knew what else this was about. Money and power. Both were dwindling since the Helio Empire expanded their influence into our territories. The humans & demons across Grimgar needed to lay their feuds to rest & work together to annihilate their enemies. I should be honoured to marry the eldest son of the Dilhvea family. That’s what my father and every other male relative had tried to tell me since my betrothal to Lucifer. I knew that and it wasn’t as if I hadn’t had time to prepare for the exact moment, and get fear corseted my body in a relentless grip.

“You may kiss the bride”. The priest said.

I raised my head. Every pair of eyes in the pavilion scrutinized me, waiting for a flicker of weakness.

Father would be furious if I let my terror show and Lucifer’s family would use it against us. But I had grown up in a world where a perfect mask was the only protection afforded to women and had no trouble forcing my face into a placid expression. Nobody would know how much I wanted to escape Nobody but Lucifer. I couldn’t hide from him, no matter how much I tried. My body wouldn’t stop shaking. As my gaze met Lucifer’s cold obsidian eyes, I could tell he knew. How often had he instilled fear into others? Recognizing it was probably second to nature to him.

He bent down to bridge the 10 inches he towered above me. There was no sign of hesitation, fear or doubt on his face. My lips trembled against his mouth as his eyes pierced through me. Their message was clear. You are mine.

Not quite. But I would be tonight. A shudder passed through me, and Luca’s eyes narrowed briefly before his face broke into a tight smile as we faced the applauding guests. He could change his expression in a heartbeat. I had to learn it too if I wanted to stand any chance in this marriage.

“Today I gather us to celebrate my daughter’s wedding to the First Prince of Dilhvea and the Blood Imperium,” Father spoke once everyone was seated. He raised his golden wine cup,

“Let the ceremony begin, and enjoy yourselves.”

People clapped while dancers and musicians walked in to entertain the guests.

People seemed to enjoy themselves. I, of course, couldn’t see since I was terrified and trying my hardest to keep my gaze down.

“Don’t you like the music?” Lucifer asked finally asked breaking the awkward silence. I peeked through my long lashes, but once I gazed into his eyes, it was hard to look away.

“I do Your Highness,” I replied.

“What do you have in store for the tea ceremony?”

Oh no! The tea ceremony! That was the traditional part of the royal wedding where the bride has to show one of her talents to entertain the guests and impress the groom. Hell with impressing. I didn’t want to impress anyone, especially not him.

“It is a surprise, Your Highness,” I said, sending him a staged smile.

I was sitting in a chair in the middle of the room, everyone’s attention directed at me. It was time for the tea ceremony. The guests would sit and enjoy their tea while I would have to entertain them.

I took up my violin before lightly putting it against my shoulders and started playing. Soon my nervousness disappeared. I loved playing the violin, I loved the sound of it. Closing my eyes, I let the sound of the second of the Four seasons in G minor take me far away, to a peaceful place. Now and then I would hear some people praising me through my haze and then they applauded when I was done.

Opening my eyes, I found him staring directly at me. He wasn’t applauding but there was a hint of a smile on his face.

Now it was time for the gift exchange. We exchanged our gifts, and then it was time for me to go to my new home. The knot in my stomach returned with such intensity that I felt like throwing up.

Mother came up to me while father spoke to my husband. Husband? The word remained ever so strange in my head. She took my hands in hers. “Everything will be fine,”

She said, “just remember what I told you”.

Yes, I remembered very clearly our mother and daughter talk. To be a good wife, to listen to your husband and to not make him angry.

“Yes, I will,” I said, enveloping her in a tight hug. I wasn’t supposed to, but right now I didn’t care because I might never see her again.

The carriage was waiting outside. The prince, or should I say, my husband led the way. I looked behind me one last time and found Gia, Matteo and Emily standing on the balcony, their

cheeks wet with tears.

“I will miss you too,” I whispered.