The Princess Broken Wolf

13

Heaving an uneasy sigh, Rosamund took the first step towards the gate of the Chapel. Demir was holding her hand stiffly, his body felt like a dragging stone. Rosamund couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Not the kind where one fears for one's life. Oh no, this was something as if someone was going to open the stage drapes and reveal a shocking play. A play that would leave you breathless, your world would crumble, but you’d come again and again and again to relish that feeling. It would make you addicted to its plot and make you cry with the characters and you’d feel all the pain and the love as if you were the main character and you were the one getting stabbed. Her heart thudded a little harder, a little faster. Putting her palm against her heart, Rosamund rubbed harshly over her gown, hoping it would settle the painful thud. The action didn’t go unnoticed by people around her.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?” Luke said.

“Are you alright, First Commander?” Edward hurriedly inquired.

“Are you OK, Princess?” Demir said.

All three of them looked towards each other. They had spoken simultaneously, startling Rosamund at once. She could feel her face heat up, a blush rose on her cheeks as if they were on fire. All this ordeal made her feel like a ninny. For the first time in her life, she felt embarrassed. What a joke, Rosamund exhaled frustratingly.

“I am alright.” she reassured all three of them while resuming her walk.

The Mirror Castle was beautifully decorated. With flowers as white as purity itself and the darkness of roses. It reminded Rosamund of blood, such redness that one could only see on the battleground. It was beyond red, a crimson with hues of black shadowing the beauty of what red roses represented; true love. It would baffle everyone that would sit on the seats. Rosamund was sure, as she was let towards the uplifted stage with the Statue of Goddess Lucina erected, beautiful and mighty. The whiteness of wisteria flowers hanged above the guests looked like little birds, playing and dancing with the light wind. There is no wood or any other metal, only marble decorates the Castle Chapel. Only white met her eyes. Was this how they thought she was? Pure and innocent? Rosamund thought to herself as she was led to the back of the chapel, to wait for the ceremony to begin. The back room was filled with roses and flowers, making the room filled with sweet fragrance.

“His Majesty wanted to make you feel comfortable, Your Highness.” Luke contributed as he saw Rosamund look around with a suspicious look.

“Right.” she responded, as cautious as a dear in wood full of predators. Luke wasn’t the least bit surprised by her hesitancy and dubious speculations and quietness. She was alert, Luke knew, as he fetched a wine glass for the princess. Before he could offer the glass to the princess, the guy that had been giving him a stinging glare in between, halting him in his steps.

“ Her Majesty will not have anything here.” Edward said, his body taunted.

“Its just wine.” Luke said, uninterested.

“I said no.” Edward stepped forward towards Luke, his hands going to his sword, tightly bound around his waist.

“And why not?” Luke retorted, stepping a step closer as well, his hands already on his weapon, the double-edged sword.

“ Because….” Rosamund cut off Edward’s sentence.

“Stop it. Demir, can you please get me a glass of water and open the windows. These flowers are making me a bit dizzy.” Rosamund asked under her veil as she pressed her hands against her neck, feeling it sleek with sweat and aspiration. Demir did as he was told, while the other two stood on the other side of the room.

It was laughable. The wedding day for the bride in Marigold Kingdom was supposed to be the best day of her life. No crying, no sadness, nor tension. The bride would sing, giggle among her mother and sister and her friends. She would carefully dress herself, apply makeup and make her dress while humming to a tone meant for ever lasting smiles and happiness. The bride would eat sweets to feel happy, have the meal she loved the most and drink the wine she had made herself on the day when the date of the wedding had been set. Everything that was happening on her wedding day, Rosamund thought, was against everything that signified a normal Marigoldian Wedding. Rosamund felt awful. Her head hurt, her ear buzzed as if a bee was trapped inside. Her body hurt and felt a few tons heavier. Her heels had bitten into her feet, and the dress itself made her feel as if she was under the rumble of a ruined castle. The smell of the flowers made her feel itchy, her nape was soaked with sweat and she could hardly breathe freely under the veil. Last but not least, her heart felt as if there were drums, drumming painfully to a song she couldn’t figure out. All in all, she felt worse than when she was on the battleground. She wanted to yank her veil out of her face, wanted to undo her heels and free herself from the confines of her dress. She missed Esmeralda so badly, she wanted to cry on her little sister's shoulders and wail and vent. How she wanted to meet her sweet little light.

A knock sounded on the door, synchronously alerting the three men.

“Who is it?” Edward asked, straining his ears, stepping closer to the door.

“ Open.” Rosamund couldn’t clearly hear who it was but it was a female voice. Edward seemed to have recognized the voice as he opened the door at once.

It was Esmeralda. Rosamund sprung from her seat just as her sister flung herself towards her. The constraints Rosamund had mustered broke into a million pieces as she hugged Esmeralda close to her chest. God, she must look so weak, but Rosamund felt weak. As weak as she was the first day she stepped on the battle ground, at twelve years of age. The men had already left the room, leaving both of them with some privacy. They hugged and cried for what felt like a long long time. Rosamund had long ago discarded the veil, her face probably a mess, but she couldn’t care less.

“How did you come?” Rosamund asked, wiping Esmeralda's face with a velvet cloth.

“I ran away from the Castle,” Esmeralda admitted, her eyes on their joined hands.

“How?” Rosamund inquired, a bit curious.

“There was a…..man. His eyes were similar to Ms.Pandora’s.He found me crying in my room and helped me come here.” Esmeralda admitted, an innocent blush spreading on her face.

“Marcus,” Rosamund whispered, smiling ruefully.

Both of them went completely quiet. Esmeralda was buzzing with questions, so many things swarmed her head, making her feel lightheaded. Finally, she settled on one question.

“Will you…..die?” Esmeralda asked, her voice shook with the words.

“Probably,” Rosamund answered truthfully, her eyes filling with tears again. Esmeralda burst into silent tears again.

“Why would they do this to you? How can they even think of sending you off? Esmeralda complained while crying, occasionally hiccuping.

Rosamund remained silent. She was well aware of the hatred her parents harbored for her, the disappointment even though she had more than once proven her worth. The first time their hatred felt like a million stabs in her heart, the second time, it hurt like a few needle pricks and now, it didn’t feel like anything, just an empty space occupying where her heart was. All this she had to go through, alone, without ever really telling anyone, especially Esmeralda. Rosamund would rather not have her little sister have a broken heart as she is currently sporting.

“C..can’t you just…run away?” Esmeralda innocently asked, her eyes puffy and tear streaked.

Smiling sadly, Rosamund held Esmeralda’s face in her palms softly.

“No, sweetheart. I wish… I wish it was an option, but even if I go to the end of the realm, I cannot out run my destiny. This is something I have to go through.” Rosamund softly cleared a stray tear from Esmeralda’s eyes.

Realization dawned on Esmeralda. This really was it, she thought, and I couldn’t even do anything. Not one thing. Her heart broke seeing the defeated look on her sister’s face. Rosamund saw the emotions play so vividly on Esmeralda’s face. It was unfortunate, indeed so unfortunate, to hold so much power yet not be able to change her life.

“Your Highness?” Luke’s voice broke the sad moment between the sisters. His gentle knock reminded Rosamund that she was needed somewhere else, away from her sweet sister, so far beyond the reach of anyone she had known in her life.

“Your Highness, everyone is here.” upon his voice, Esmeralda sprung up from her seat, frantically spouting nonsense. Rosamund tried to calm her down, but she was not listening to anything.Esmeralda had unknowingly grabbed the knife from the fruit platter, and in her frantic movements, she accidentally nipped Rosamund on her shoulder. Both of them stopped. Esmeralda, in horror, fell down on the floor, crying profoundly with loud howls of pain. Rosamund sat beside her sister and tried to soothe her by holding her close to her chest. The tiny red spot from where Esmeralda nipped Rosamund wasn’t visible, thankfully.

“I…I am…so..sorry.” Esmeralda's face was red, her eyes and lips swollen with tears replacing the fallen ones in quick succession.

“Its alright sweetheart. Lets drink some water alright.” Rosamund softly cooed to her while filling the cup with water. Gently, Rosamund gave Esmeralda water, which she greedily drank. They spend almost 10 minutes in each other's embrace, silently saying goodbye. Another knock sounded on the door just as Rosamund righted herself. No more words were exchanged between Esmeralda and Rosamund but their hands were clapped tightly in each others hands.

Clearing her throat, Rosamund said, “Come in.”

Edward and Demir walked inside the room, followed closely by Luke and a woman wearing the same attire as Luke. She was beautiful, tall with cropped hair colored dark brown. Her eyes glowed like a dark storm, grey with streaks of gold. Her skin was so beautifully darkened by the sun that it glowed. She was so very beautiful but her eyes held intelligence and temper and Rosamund could clearly detect the hatred. Immediately, Rosamund's guard went up, discreetly putting Esmeralda behind her while her eyes flickered towards Demir in a silent command. Her movements didn’t go unnoticed.

“May I present to you, Princess Seika Mai, King Ruslan's cousin.” Luke introduced the dark beauty with ease and confidence. Rosamund knew of loathing and anger when she saw her face. And this woman loathed her very much. Rosamund didn’t bow down to her, instead, she held her head high while replying in as respectful manner as she could to the family of the devil she was about to marry.

“I am humbled by your presence, princess.” Rosamund appraised the princess under her heavy veil.

“I am too, princess.” Seika venomously replied.

Rosamund casts a look towards Demir, while urging Esmeralda towards him. With last regard and a tight grip on Esmeralda’s hand, she let go and turned her back away from the door. Rosamund clenched her fist tightly, afraid she would hold her sister again in search for warmth. The click of the door echoed in the room. Only Edward remained with her, while Luke and Seika stood nearby.

“What is it?” Rosamund said, demanding they make this conversation quick.

“King Ruslan has sent you a letter.” Seika spoke in reply to Rosamund’s inquiry.

Rosamund nodded and looked towards Edward. Seika placed the letter on the palm of Edward. Giving the letter to Rosamund, Edward protectively stood close to her.

Rosamund inspected the letter, a dark red envelope with golden flowers painted in beautiful patterns. The Karkonz symbol was pressed on the candle wax.

“His Majesty wants the reply before the vow ceremony.” Seika spoke just as Rosamund was opening the wax. Flickering her eyes towards Seika in acknowledgement, Rosamund took out the letter from the envelope.

Her world came to a standstill. Her heart skipped a painful beat.

The letter threatened her existence and her plans. She will not get out of this victorious.

“Our union is against your wishes. I am well aware. Say what your heart desires and I shall put an end to this. I promise.

Ruslan.”

The choice he had given her, to say no to this union, made Rosamund nauseous a little more than she already was.

She was going to deceive and kill a good man.