The Arranged Marriage

Chapter 4

“Put your hand on his parallel to the gown as you walk out waving. Smile for five minutes then Rivers you will announce as we have discussed,” Jonathan informed the couple as they both just nodded wanting to hurry time up.

He nodded then moved out of the way as he sent a signal to the guards they nodded and opened the doors revealing all the citizens of the Northern Iles clapping and screaming for their Queen. Rivers straightened up with a smile plastered on her face as she started to walk forward waving to the crowd. Cruise followed her in step waving just the same. About a million people were standing down there looking like ants to the couple. The people were jumping, waving their hands frantically to try to get them to notice them. This lit the couple up. Rivers was proud that her kingdom had so much love and adoration for her since they were only shouting her name. Cruise was overwhelmingly excited about all the people and the possibilities he could do for this kingdom. Epheoris is a smaller kingdom than the Northern Iles, with all this land unused, his eyes were soaring with excitement.

“Thank you all for coming today,” announced Rivers, “I am here to announce that in the next two days, I will be marrying Prince Cruise Charleston of Epheoris. This will create an alliance between the Northern Iles and Epheoris, which will create much more opportunities for you, the people that I love with all my heart.”

This sent the crowd roaring, chanting Rivers name, clapping with the excitement of their kingdom flourishing, and happiness that their soon-to-be queen. Rivers may not be all for being queen, but she loves and adores her people enduringly. She loves walking around her kingdom helping and just getting to know them. This is how the economy is always so high in the kingdom. All the other kingdoms want to be just like this one, and that's why Rivers has so many people who have offered her a proposal.

Cruise didn’t know what to say, so he just smiled and waved. He knew he would eventually need to say anything but in this moment it was as if he couldn’t form words to say. Like something was caught in his throat. These people were foreigners to him, but he knew he couldn’t think like that. Waving one last time, the couple made their way inside separating fast once the doors were shut and nobody could see them.

“That was perfect. The crowd loves you!” Clapped Jonathan as put the biggest smile on his face.

“Come on, Rivers, we need to go start picking out your wedding dress. Samatha, would you like to join us?” Diana asked, grabbing a hold of Rivers’s hand.

“Yes, of course,” Samatha smiled, making her way towards them.

Both mothers linked their arms together as Rivers followed closely behind as the men stayed behind to start talking business. The queen of the kingdom is supposed to be the peacemaker; taking care of their needs mentally, helping the community, and helping the children. The kings, on the other hand, were the right hold of the military, who they were allied and enemies, and managed where they did their business with. Cruise was very well educated in economics and alliance making. To King Jonathan, he was the perfect candidate for helping his Kingdom flourish. This would also help with Epheoris with more jobs becoming available and free trade from each country instead of the high tax The Northern Iles used which helped them become one of the richest kingdoms in the world.

“There has to be diamonds,” Queen Diana gushed as she picked up a diamond-filled tira.

“It would look so well with her blonde hair,” Queen Samatha agreed, holding another tira.

“Your Highness, we have pulled some options to start with,” the royal wedding consultant said as she motioned her way to a rose gold plush couch sitting in front of mirrors with a round stage to present the dress. “Princess Rivers, please follow me to the dressing room.”

The women sat down as they waved over a maid to go fetch them some champagne they started talking about their wedding dresses from their day. Rivers followed the royal wedding consultant who was a young brunette woman. They go behind a white curtain to a room hanging five white wedding dresses, most of them all ball gowns.

“Do you see one that catches your eye?” She asked, standing by the dresses.

Rivers looked at them and to her, they all looked the same. In her dreams, she wears a satin white dress in Nathan's arms as he runs in a field of grass. Her hands run across the fabric as she feels the lace on one. The top was white lace with a diamond belt and the body was slik that laid down with a long train.

“I can try this one,” River quietly said, looking over at the women.

“Great!” She clapped, starting to take it off the hanger. “Just undress and I will help you get into this.”

Rivers slowly started to unzip the back of her dress as she took it off. The woman came over and helped her get dressed. As she looked in the mirror, she looked like a bride but didn’t feel like one. Her hands went over her stomach where the lace met a diamond belt that went into silky texture. It was simple yet elegant. The sleeves were off the shoulder went down to the hands that slipped through her middle fingers to keep in place and make a lace effect on the top of the hands.

“Let’s go show the queens,” The lady smiled as she opened the curtain.

The Queens clapped their hands as they set down their champagne when Rivers walked in. Both of them loved the elegance of the dress in how it looked and how it complemented her body. Rivers stepped up on the platform to look at herself in the mirror and didn’t recognize herself. The facial structure and everything was the same, but somehow it didn’t look like… her.

“Oh, darling, you look like the first diamond out of the water,” her mother gushed, setting down her glass to stand up.

“Absolutely gorgeous! A beautiful bride,” her soon-to-be mother-in-law said, doing the same thing as Diana.

The women both came up to the dress; Diana admiring the trail and Samatha so awestruck by the lace work.

“Oh, please dear, put on a veil,” Diana wished as the lady rushed off grabbing one.

Once the lady found the vail for the dress, she brought it over to Rivers helping her put it on. The veil flowed longer than the dress.

“I think this will be my dress,” Rivers announced, ready to get this session over with.

“Are you sure, your grace?” The lady asked, furrowing her eyebrows. “There are some more beautiful options.”

“I am sure,” Rivers smiled looking over at the lady.

Diana clapped smiling. “Let's pick out your tiara!”

Cruise was in the “boardroom” with his father and soon-to-be father-in-law. There was a map of the country and the surrounding countries around it with green lights on where good management was and where there were bad and enemies. The Northern Iles was much bigger than Epheoris which Cruise is still trying to grasp in his mind.

“So, my friend, this will all be yours,” Jonathan said as he patted him on the back.

“What will all be his?” Elizabeth’s voice asked.

Cruise turned around to his sister standing there with her arms wide open. Her dark brown hair was pulled back in a braid with a simple blue dress and a brown long coat. Her husband was standing at her side talking with a butler about their luggage. She was married off to the prince of Canterbury, Fulton McCurry, to get rid of a long war between the two countries and open up trade. Both of them were very mature and started to have some romance brewing.

“Elizabeth!” Cruise said, embracing her in his arms.

Even though she was older, he still stood taller than her. As they hugged, Frederick came to them hugging them both. Jonathan smiled, putting down the pencil in his hand.

“You can thank King Jonathan for all of this. He sent a ship early for my arrival.” Elizabeth thanked as he came over, giving her a side hug and then she gestured over to her husband. “And this is Fulton which you have met at my wedding.”

Fulton smiled walking over to the group as he placed his hand on the back of her back which sent a small smile on her face.

“Thank you for welcoming me,” he says smiling to everyone.