THE WEDDING
1127 Words
“Because no one is supposed to know you're here yet.”
My mother's words stayed in my head long after she left the room.
I didn't understand them.
I wanted to ask what she meant, but there was no time.
The mansion was already alive with movement.
Voices echoed through the halls. Doors opened and closed. Footsteps passed outside my room every few seconds.
The wedding was happening.
There was no more delaying it.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
The black dress hugged my body perfectly, its long sleeves covering my arms. A thin veil rested over my hair.
I looked like a bride.
I just didn't feel like one.
A knock came at the door.
This time, it was my father.
He stepped inside and stopped when he saw me.
For a moment, he said nothing.
I had never seen him look so small.
“Lena.”
I turned away from the mirror.
“You're really doing this.”
His eyes dropped.
“I don't have a choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
He flinched.
I immediately regretted saying it.
But I was angry.
Not only at him.
At the debt.
At the Dravens.
At Kael.
At myself for being unable to change anything.
My father walked toward me.
“I am sorry.”
I looked at him.
“Sorry doesn't make me his wife.”
“No.”
His voice was barely audible.
“But it might keep you safe.”
I frowned.
“Safe from what?”
He didn't answer.
Before I could ask again, my mother appeared at the door.
“It's time.”
My stomach twisted.
The three of us walked downstairs together.
The moment I entered the main hall, every conversation seemed to disappear.
Hundreds of eyes turned toward me.
Some people smiled.
Others simply stared.
I recognized almost none of them.
Then I noticed the guards.
They stood along the walls, dressed entirely in black.
The Dravens had brought them.
I swallowed.
This wasn't a wedding.
It was an event where everyone was carefully watching what they said and did.
My mother squeezed my hand.
“Don't be afraid.”
I almost laughed.
Too late.
The doors at the end of the hall opened.
Everyone turned.
Kael walked in.
My breath caught.
He wore a black suit that seemed almost too simple for someone whose family owned half the district.
No unnecessary jewelry.
No smile.
Nothing that made him look like a groom.
Yet the entire room changed when he entered.
People straightened.
Conversations stopped.
Even the guards seemed more alert.
Kael walked toward the altar without looking at anyone.
Then his eyes found mine.
For one second, everything else disappeared.
He didn't smile.
Neither did I.
He simply held my gaze.
Then he looked away.
My father led me forward.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
When I reached Kael, my father placed my hand into his.
His fingers closed around mine.
Warm.
Steady.
I looked at him.
He looked down at our joined hands.
Something unreadable crossed his face.
Then it vanished.
The ceremony began.
I barely heard the first few words.
My thoughts were too loud.
This was real.
There was no escape anymore.
The priest spoke about marriage, commitment, trust, and forever.
Forever.
The word almost made me laugh.
How was I supposed to promise forever to someone whose favorite sentence seemed to be three words long?
I glanced at Kael.
He was listening quietly.
Perfectly composed.
As if this was just another business arrangement.
Maybe to him, it was.
Then the priest turned toward him.
“Kael Draven, do you accept Lena as your wife?”
The room became completely silent.
Kael looked at me.
His eyes were dark and impossible to read.
“I do.”
Two words.
Simple.
Certain.
Then the priest looked at me.
“Lena, do you accept Kael as your husband?”
My throat tightened.
I looked at my mother.
She was crying.
My father stood beside her with his head lowered.
I looked back at Kael.
I didn't love him.
I didn't know him.
I didn't even trust him.
But somehow, I knew there was no turning back.
“I do.”
The words left my mouth.
And just like that, my old life ended.
The priest smiled.
“You may exchange the rings.”
A woman approached with a small black box.
Kael took the ring first.
He held my hand.
For the briefest moment, his fingers tightened around mine.
I looked up.
His expression had changed.
Only slightly.
Like something had caught his attention.
Then it was gone.
He slipped the ring onto my finger.
The metal felt cold.
Then it was my turn.
I took his ring.
His hand was larger than mine.
I slid the ring onto his finger.
The priest looked between us.
“You may kiss the bride.”
My heart nearly stopped.
Kael didn't move.
Neither did I.
The entire room waited.
Then he stepped closer.
I barely had time to breathe before his lips touched mine.
The kiss lasted barely a second.
Then he pulled away.
No smile.
No whispered words.
Nothing.
He simply turned and walked away.
I stood there.
Frozen.
My eyes followed him as he walked toward the other side of the hall.
He didn't look back.
Not once.
My face burned.
Was that it?
The crowd suddenly erupted into applause.
I forced myself to move.
Apparently, I was supposed to follow my husband.
The priest smiled.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present Mr. and Mrs. Draven.”
More applause filled the hall.
I heard people congratulating us.
I heard glasses clinking.
I heard music begin.
But all I could think about was one thing.
I was married.
To Kael Draven.
The man parents used to frighten their children.
My husband.
The thought felt unreal.
A woman approached me with a smile.
“Congratulations, Mrs. Draven.”
I forced a smile back.
“Thank you.”
Another person came.
Then another.
Everyone wanted to congratulate me.
But their eyes kept drifting toward Kael.
He stood across the room, surrounded by people who looked nervous just standing near him.
Nobody seemed comfortable around him.
Nobody laughed too loudly.
Nobody touched him.
Whenever someone spoke to him, they waited for his response as if their lives depended on it.
I watched him carefully.
Then, suddenly, his eyes met mine from across the room.
I looked away.
My heart beat faster.
I didn't know what frightened me more.
The fact that I was now his wife...
Or the fact that I was beginning to understand why everyone else was afraid of him.
And I had to spend the rest of my life beside him.
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