The Wedding
1178 Words
Talia, left alone with her father, turned to him, her face etched with a new pleading expression.
“Dad, I don’t want to marry him,” she blurted out, her voice desperate.
Her father’s brow shot up in surprise. “You don't want to marry him?”
“I already told Mom about this. You have to call off the wedding. How can you marry me off to a commoner? And besides, I don’t even know him!” she pleaded.
“A commoner?” the king laughed. “A commoner who’s worth this entire kingdom? Do you know what a billionaire is? Besides, he's not a commoner. He has royal blood in his veins as well. Stop acting like a child! This union will make you part of the most powerful family in the world! And us by extension!”
“Dad, I still don’t want to marry him. He looks like someone I’ll have to kneel at his feet to greet every morning when I wake up!” she spat her frustration, and the king laughed heartily as if she had shared a joke.
“Why are you delaying your own wedding? Do you think you can change my mind now? You look beautiful in your wedding dress, by the way. And mind you, this black wedding dress is worth this entire palace,” he said with pride, completely ignoring her desperate plea for help.
“Dad, please. I don’t want my wedding to be like this. Remember, I’m your princess. Your only daughter. I don’t deserve this.”
“Yes, that’s why I’m giving you the best,” he said, patting her hair, his touch oddly detached and cold. “This is the best, Talia. This is the best I could offer you. Nothing can top this,” he said, a strange glint in his usually kind eyes.
The music started, signaling the start of the wedding march. The king took her hand gently but firmly, and led her towards the golden gazebo where Draco waited, his imposing figure a stark contrast to her delicate frame.
She felt as if her life was a dream, a terrible nightmare she couldn't wake up from. A few hours before, she had been eagerly looking forward to her future, all of it ahead of her. Now that future was stolen. She had been tossed about, her world forever changed.
She reached the stage, and Draco turned to her, his dark eyes piercing into hers. Everything about him felt unnatural yet, at the same time, breathtaking. She wondered, for a moment, if he was even real. This was the first time she had been so close to a man other than her father. Was her life really going to be spent with a man she didn’t even know?
Her heart pounded as the priest started to read the vows.
"Do you, Draco Veryien, take Princess Talia Moroi to be your wife, to love and cherish her, through joy and sorrow, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, till death do you part?"
Talia held her breath, the silence following the priest’s words stretching into an unbearable eternity. She stared at Draco, hoping, beyond hope, that he would refuse this unwanted union. She was desperate to believe that this wasn’t her life. That none of this was real.
Draco’s dark eyes seemed to pierce directly through her soul, a possessive glint in their depths that made her feel like he didn't only want to marry her but wanted to own her. She lowered her gaze, hoping he would say no, praying that he would tell her that this was only a dream.
"I do," he responded decisively, his voice smooth and deep, a low rumble that seemed to make her soul quiver. A collective sigh of relief rippled through the guests, oblivious to the panic that was swelling up inside her.
The priest turned to Talia, who was still looking at the floor. “Princess Talia?” he called, gently, and she looked up, a picture of confusion and terror.
“Do you, Princess Talia Moroi, take Draco Veryien to be your husband, to love and obey him, through joy and sorrow, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, till death do you part?"
Talia’s throat was dry, every terrified breath she took felt like coals burning inside her chest. She turned to look at her husband-to-be. Her first real look.
She wanted to scream no, to be brave for once in her life but, she was too afraid. Afraid to defy her father in front of everyone. Afraid of making a scene, or a mistake. Afraid of being hurt. She had no control over her life.
"No..."
Talia snapped her head up to see who had spoken for her. Draco followed her gaze.
“No, she doesn't!” Molly yelled, pushing her way to the front of the crowd. “Talia doesn’t like you. Take your rich ass away, she doesn’t deserve this! I speak for her—she will not marry him!”
“Someone throw that girl out of the palace! Immediately!” the King bellowed, his face contorted with fury.
Guards swarmed around Molly, seizing her arms, dragging her away.
“Talia, you have to say no! You can’t marry someone you’ve never met! You have to refuse this, your life is in danger!” Molly yelled at the top of her lungs, fear echoing off the palace walls as she was dragged away, disappearing from view.
A wave of terror crashed down on Talia’s soul at the concern in Molly’s voice but even more so at her willingness to help. Her friend was so brave. But so foolhardy.
"Do you, little princess?" Draco’s voice cut through her fear-filled thoughts and she looked up at him, her body shaking as he stared back. Her breath started coming in short pants. She seemed to have no control around this man.
Was this some kind of dark magic? He was only a man and yet, his deep gaze had the ability to pierce her and twist herself up like a pretzel.
It was so unlike her to feel so vulnerable. She had never felt scared of anyone before, not even her own father. But Draco was just a commoner, wasn't he? And why did it even matter? Whether he was a commoner or not, she shouldn't be afraid of him.
The silence was deafening as every person waited with bated breath.
She saw the man's hands clench into fists and she could tell his patience was wearing as thin as the line of his tightly closed lips. She could tell he was barely keeping himself in check. She was afraid of what he would do to her family.
"Um..." Talia cleared her throat. "Yes. Yes, I do," she answered, her voice barely a whisper. A collective murmur went up throughout the crowd.
Talia wondered if she had just been forced into the worst mistake of her life.
- Writer
