Beneath the Royal Veil

Ch 7 - The Wedding

The palace grounds were a breathtaking display of grandeur. Lush floral arrangements in hues of crimson and gold adorned every surface, their vibrant colors shifting in the breeze beneath fluttering golden ribbons. The sun cast a warm glow over the meticulously manicured gardens, a scene too beautiful for the weight Evelina carried.

Inside, her chambers bustled with a whirlwind of activity. Maids and attendants moved in a well-rehearsed dance, their movements precise as they turned her into the picture of bridal perfection. Her gown, made of shimmering white silk with golden trim, embraced her body, flowing elegantly to the floor. The tiara, though exquisite, felt suffocating—a heavy reminder of the crown’s invisible chains.The veil covered in symbols of her home, with lavender embroidered throughout. Her shoes, her only true pick for herself, also lavender, a special touch she wanted to add.

Queen Helena stood nearby, her gaze sharp, lingering on Evelina’s reflection in the mirror. "You look the part, Evelina. Remember—appearances are everything."

Evelina met her mother's eyes, voice low. "And what of what lies beneath those appearances?"

Helena’s lips curled into a cool smile. "I wish I could give you better advice, I will tell you what my mother told me, and her mother told her. You will do your duty and hold your head up high."

Evelina nodded, though her heart felt trapped in a tightening vice. "Of course."

Just outside her chamber, King Apollo stood waiting, his formal royal attire unable to conceal the tension in his shoulders. When he

stepped inside to speak with his daughter, his voice held the gravity of a man shouldering the weight of an entire kingdom.

“You know why this is necessary, don’t you?” he asked, his voice low but heavy with concern.

Evelina glanced up, searching his face. The strong, decisive ruler she’d always known appeared somehow more fragile today. “You need their forces,” she whispered.

Apollo's jaw clenched. “Without Aldric and Valeria’s support, the rogues will tear through our borders. This marriage is the only thing standing between us and devastation.”

Her chest tightened. This wasn’t just a marriage; it was a tether to survival, binding her fate to that of an indifferent prince. The weight of duty pressed heavier than ever.

“And if they don’t honor it?” she asked, her voice almost too soft to be heard.

Her father’s expression darkened. “We cannot afford to consider that.”

Evelina swallowed, her throat dry. “I will do my part.”

King Apollo offered her a tight smile, but there was no joy in his eyes. He kissed her forehead gently before taking her arm to lead her down the aisle.

As the music began to play, Evelina’s heart pounded in her chest. Each step felt heavier than the last, her father’s words echoing in her mind. At the end of the aisle, Prince Caspian stood waiting. His face was a picture of royal elegance, but even from a distance, Evelina could see the glass in his hand. He had been drinking, she realized, perhaps more than she had expected.

When she reached him, Caspian leaned in closer than necessary, the smell of alcohol thick on his breath. His voice was slurred, though he kept his smile plastered for the benefit of the onlookers. “Let’s get this over with,” he muttered under his breath, swaying slightly.

Evelina stiffened. She had known this marriage was nothing more than a political arrangement, but the reality of Caspian’s indifference—and intoxication—stung more than she had anticipated.

“I never wanted this either,” she whispered through gritted teeth, her eyes fixed ahead as they faced the priest.

The ceremony dragged on, the priest’s voice a distant hum in the background as Evelina struggled to maintain her composure. The eyes of the court were on her, watching her every move, waiting for her to falter. She recited her vows with a calmness that belied the storm inside her, though Caspian’s growing inebriation did not go unnoticed. His words were slurred when he made his own vows, and more than once, he stumbled over them.

As the priest pronounced them husband and wife, Caspian’s grip tightened on her waist, pulling her in for a kiss that reeked of wine and disinterest. The applause of the assembled guests was deafening, but in Evelina’s ears, it was nothing more than the sound of her cage locking shut.

At the reception, the celebrations were in full swing. Nobles toasted the new royal couple, musicians played lively tunes, and the grand ballroom was filled with laughter. But Evelina’s smile was a façade, her mind far from the festivities.

Caspian, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying himself a little too much. He moved through the crowd, glass in hand, accepting every toast, every drink offered to him. His steps became less steady as the night wore on, and Evelina found herself cringing each time he came near her, his breath thick with the scent of alcohol.

At one point, during a formal dance, he leaned into her, his words barely coherent. “Quite the party, isn’t it?” he slurred, his lips curling into a lazy grin. “You should smile more.”

“I think you’ve had enough to drink,” Evelina replied coolly, trying to steady him as they moved across the dance floor.

Caspian chuckled, though it lacked warmth. “I’m celebrating my new bride, aren’t I? A man’s allowed to enjoy himself.”

“Perhaps,” Evelina said, her voice sharp, “but a king must know his limits.”

Caspian’s smile faltered briefly before he shrugged and swayed away from her, leaving Evelina to finish the dance alone. She watched as he made his way to another group of nobles, glass already in hand, and sighed. The man she had married wasn’t just indifferent—he was reckless.

Needing a moment to herself, Evelina stepped out into the gardens. The cool night air was a relief from the stifling heat of the ballroom. She found a secluded spot among the hedges, away from prying eyes, and let out a long, shaky breath.

The sound of footsteps behind her made her tense, but when she turned, she saw Luca standing in the shadows. He stepped forward, his expression unreadable as his eyes flicked to the grand ballroom behind them, where Caspian continued to drink and laugh with the nobles.

“Some wedding,” Luca remarked quietly.

Evelina nodded, her throat tight. “It’s a mess, I know.”

“You are stunning though, the nobles are remarking on your elegance and kindness.” He said coolly.

“The show must go on, I guess.” Evelina said, fixing her gown, avoiding his gaze. Before she could say anything more, she heard the Queen’s voice. Luca turned and hid in a corner.

Queen Valeria stopped in front of Evelina, the older woman’s piercing gaze sweeping over Evelina with a cold, calculating expression.

“Your Majesty,” Evelina greeted her with a respectful bow, though her stomach twisted with unease.

Valeria’s eyes narrowed. “I have been observing you closely, Evelina. You wear the mask of a dutiful princess well. Your mother taught you well, but don’t think for a moment that I am unaware of your true feelings.”

Evelina tensed, her voice barely a whisper. “I don’t understand what you mean, Your Majesty.”

The queen stepped closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You may fool the court, but you cannot fool me. You are nothing more than a lamb being led to slaughter. Do not make the mistake of thinking you have any power here. You are expendable, and should you cause any trouble for this family, your fate will be sealed.”

Evelina swallowed hard, the full weight of the queen’s words settling over her like a shroud. “I will fulfill my duty, as promised,” she said softly, her heart pounding in her chest.

Valeria studied her for a long moment before nodding once. “See that you do.”

But before Valeria could turn to leave, Evelina took a step forward, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "I will do my duty, but don’t think I’m blind to yours."

Valeria's smirk faded, replaced by a sharp glare. "You speak like a queen, but you will always be a pawn."

Evelina’s gaze hardened. "Thank you for your advice, Your Majesty, as you know pawns can become queens too."

The older queen paused then laughed she gave a curt nod before disappearing down the corridor. Evelina watched her go, her heart pounding in her chest.

Luca stepped out of the shadows. “Why would you talk to her like that?” he hissed. “From what the servants say she is very dangerous, why would you put yourself in danger.”

“I…I couldnt continue to let her treat me like that, I need to stand my ground“ she said.

“Well now you have to think of someone else beside yourself.” His anger pulsating off him. He turned and left through the servants doors.

Returning to the hall, Evelina forced herself to smile and greet guests, but inside, she was a tempest of anxiety.

As she moved through the ballroom, Evelina felt Queen Valeria’s cold eyes follow her every step. The queen had never liked Evelina, and the feeling was mutual. Valeria was calculating and ruthless, always searching for weaknesses to exploit. Evelina could sense the queen’s suspicion growing, sending a chill down her spine.

Caspian approached her, offering his arm for the formal dance. Evelina had no choice but to accept, though the very act of touching him made her skin crawl. As they moved to the center of the ballroom, the music began, and they danced in perfect synchronization, as they had been taught.

“You seem... distracted, my wife,” Caspian murmured, his lips barely moving as they spun across the marble floor.

Evelina forced a smile, her eyes distant. “Just the excitement of the day, husband.”

Caspian raised an eyebrow, his tone dark. “Your smile’s a little forced.”

“Maybe I’m just tired,” she replied coolly, her voice betraying none of the inner turmoil she felt.

Caspian chuckled, though there was no warmth in it. “Oh, wife, it’s only just begun.” His grip tightened, though his touch remained cold, mechanical, as if they were both merely going through the motions.

As the dance ended and applause echoed through the hall, Evelina’s gaze drifted toward the shadows at the edge of the room. Luca stood there, watching her with dark, unreadable eyes. It took every ounce of her willpower not to run to him, not to crumble under the weight of what they had lost.

Suddenly, the hall quieted as King Aldric and Queen Valeria rose to deliver their final toast. King Aldric’s voice boomed with authority as he raised his goblet high. “To the future of our kingdom, secured by the union of my son and his bride. May their bond be fruitful, and may the coming days deliver us the heir this land so desperately awaits.”

Queen Valeria’s smile was thin and sharp as she raised her glass, her gaze lingering on Evelina. “Yes, and may the night bring forth more than just rest, but the fulfillment of duty.”

Her words alone were enough to make Evelina feel trapped, but then Valeria added, with a sly smirk, “The royal guards will lock the couple in their chambers for the next week to ensure they have all the time they need for this... sacred task. In my days, of course, the entire nobility would have been present to witness the consummation.” The queen’s voice grew darker, more amused, as she continued, “But the two of you are fortunate. Now, only the royal physician will check in one week’s time... and will be there in the morning to confirm what has taken place.”

The crowd laughed nervously, but Evelina’s blood ran cold. She stiffened, her heart pounding as the reality of the situation settled over her like a suffocating blanket. Caspian's jaw clenched beside her, his eyes flickering with a brief moment of resentment at being subject to this farce.

For the first time, their discomfort aligned. The humiliation, the loss of control—it weighed heavily on them both. Evelina’s stomach churned with dread. She felt the walls closing in around her, the reality of their fate, and what was expected of them. Caspian’s touch, once cold and distant, now felt like a chain binding her to this fate.

As the hall cheered once more, Caspian gave a stiff nod, his face an unreadable mask. He turned toward her, offering his arm, and they exited the ballroom, their steps heavy with the burden of what was to come.

Behind them, the whispers of the court continued, but for Evelina and Caspian, the weight of the night had only just begun. They entered their chambers, where they would be locked away for a week—watched, judged, and expected to produce the heir that would secure the kingdom’s future.

As the doors closed and the locks clicked into place, Evelina felt like a prisoner.