The Vindication Gents

Chapter 1.10

Kathleen Remes’ POV

“Two days?! Are you kidding me? What will people think that I just got out of prison and married the country’s most eligible bachelor? There will be another notorious scandal attached to my name,” I said as I looked at my father. I know that it was my mother’s wish but I cannot do it. Not that lightning speed fast.

“Kathleen, I know that you might not agree with this, but we don’t have another choice. I know that Kai has been spending some time at your estate. What do you think people would say if they were caught being told that you are not to be wedded after that?” He asked as he looked at me. It annoyed me when he turned that against me. I sighed before I looked at him.

“Have you mentioned this to anyone?” I asked him, as I didn’t want Katherine to know everything that would affect my life. He shook his head.

“No, your mother wants you to know this first and then you relay this information to your betrothed. Can you do that, Kathleen?” He asked as he looked at me. I was leaning against the wall before I nodded at him.

“Of course, father. It was for the best interest of the country,” I said as I looked at the ground. “Even when you don’t think that I will ever be good enough for you,” I mumbled before my father spoke.

“Did you say something?” He asked. I looked at him as I smiled.

“No, father. I will tell Kai as soon as I meet him tonight. He will be spending some time at my estate tonight. I hope you don’t mind that, considering that we will wed later,” I said as I smirked at him. He just stared at me like I had lost my mind.

“Well, considering the public indecency that you made, I guess we need to rush the wedding even more,” he said before I stopped him. I rolled my eyes at him.

“No, of course, we don’t stay in the same room, father,” I said as I tried to disguise myself and Kai’s reputation. Not that they needed saving anymore.

“Well, that’s not what your sister said and the letters that you sent to her,” my father said as he arched his eyebrows at me.

Damn you, Katherine!

“Well, I am just kidding, father. You know I love to joke,” I said as I laughed awkwardly.

“Kathleen! There you are, I have been searching for you,” Kai’s voice filled the room as I turned to look at him as he approached us. I turned to look at my father but he was not there. Damn that old man, moving like a Batman.

“Sorry, I must have been keeping you waiting, honey,” I said sweetly, as I knew the walls of this castle were very thin and I didn’t want people to tell me that I was planning something with Kai.

“Yes, but don’t you worry. I don’t mind waiting for you,” he said as he slid his hand around my waist. Since when was he so bold with me in public? But I guess he was a good actor after all.

“Yes, about this engagement, I have something to say to you,” I said as he put his hands on my waist. Kai looked with his sea-green eyes into my maroon orbs.

“What is it about?” He asked. I inhaled deeply before I looked at him.

“My father just told me that we will be wedded as soon as possible. I hope you’re okay with that?” I whispered, as I didn’t want the information to leak. He looked at me as if I was kidding.

“Come on, Kathleen, don’t joke with me. This is a serious matter,” he said as he was smiling at me. I don’t share his smile while he looks at me.

“You’re not joking?” He asked as I tried to explain, but no words were coming out of my mouth. He gripped his hands on my waist.

“When?” Kai whispered.

“In two days,” I replied. I looked at his handsome face before he nodded.

“Very well, if the king wishes. Then I shall oblige it,” he said as he looked at me. I looked into his eyes to find sincerity but there was none.

“Look, you don’t have to force yourself—“ I said before he looked at me.

“No one was forcing me anything, Kathleen. If anything, it is my own decision, not by others that was made for me,” he said as he looked at me. I don’t know what to say to this man that I barely knew a few days ago. I sighed.

“Very well, I hope you will not be expecting anything from this marriage,” I said as I looked at him. He looked at me blankly.

“Of course, we merely use each other for benefits,” he said darkly before he left to get to the car that was waiting for us. I looked at his back as he disappeared in front of me. I sighed. I know I should have kept my mouth shut, but what can I do? I was an impulsive person and this mouth might be the death between us.

*****

The wedding preparations were in a rush. I don’t know how my father and mother managed to get it ready for today. I was in the back of the church as I was staring at myself who was in the white gown, laces everywhere. It was 3/4 sleeves of lace and it was a floor-length dress. I don’t know how I came to like this dress, since I only know about its very existence today.

“Oh my goodness, you look beautiful, girl,” Tony’s voice was hitting my eardrum as I turned around to look at him. He was standing at the door as he was preparing to do my hair.

“Tony! I don’t think that I will see you on my wedding day,” I said cheerfully as I went to hug him. He was stiff at first but he just patted my back for a minute before he sat me on the chair.

“Enough chit chat, we have a lot of things to do,” he said before he went to work his magic on my hair. After 1 hour and 30 minutes later, he turned me around as I looked at myself in the mirror and I was speechless.

“Woah, I don’t ever think that I would look like this,” I said as I looked at myself in the mirror. I tried to touch my hair but Tony smacked my hands away.

“Don’t you dare ruin my masterpiece, and on such a day. You know how much I have to work through this to get to this masterpiece,” he said as he put his tools away. I laughed before I turned to look at him.

“Okay, thank you, Tony. And I hope you will stay?” I said as I looked at him. He sighed.

“I hope I can, princess, but I have to be somewhere else,” he said as he packed his things. I nodded. I know that he has to do something about his country’s pledge.

“I hope you will soon find her,” I said before he looked at me, smirking as he did.

“Oh princess, I already did,” he said before he went out of my room, as I had to prepare myself for the holy matrimony of the century.

There were maids and ladies-in-waiting everywhere for me to show up on time. Everyone was running and screaming and yelling. If I had known that my wedding would be like this, I would have called for a smaller gathering and only for those who had my family and friends.

“Your Highness, we must move now,” my lady-in-waiting said as she moved me. I walked outside of my room and headed toward the stairs. I stayed at my father’s castle last night as we didn’t want the whole country to know about our wedding before the actual ceremony.

“Yes, of course,” I said as I went to stand outside the hall.

“Everything is in place? The sparrow has landed,” my lady-in-waiting said as she was waiting for others.

“Affirmative,” she said before she pushed the door and everyone, and I mean by that, it was the one that only attended my wedding was my family and Kai’s family were standing as the wedding march started to play. I was looking at everyone that was staring at me, particularly at my dress.

“I can’t believe the king wedded his second princess first. Shouldn’t Chris Virtanen and Crown Princess Katherine be engaged first and their wedding next year will be announced?” An old woman was talking lushly at her friend as they looked at me. I tried to keep my face stoic as I was the firstborn and it should be me to be the crown princess. I guess the father decided to conceal that fact.

I walked down the aisle as I looked at Kai. He was standing at the end of the altar as he was smilingly at me as he wore his black Armani suit, hand-tailored no doubt with a red rose and gloves, as he put on his red sash on his shoulder to show his rank.

I smiled at him as I was floating down the aisle and I hoped that I didn’t look too eager to be at his side. I know that he would never reciprocate my feelings, but I know that I have to do what I must do.

“Hello, my dear,” he whispered as he looked at me. I smiled as he pulled my hands from my father’s.

“Kai,” my father said. Kai nodded.

“Sire,” he said before he brought me to face him. The priest was clearing his throat as he began his speech.

“You look beautiful,” he said as he looked at me. I smiled, a blush was coming to my face.

“Thank you, as well as you too,” I said as I looked at him. The priest was clearing his throat as he looked at us.

“Do you, Kai Louis Virtanen, take this lovely bride as your lawfully wedded wife through thick and thin, rich and poor, sick and healthy, for as long as you will both live?” He asked. Kai looked at me and he said,

“I do,”

“And do you, Her Royal Highness, Princess Kathleen Aurora Remes, take this handsome gentleman to be your lawfully wedded husband through thick and thin, rich and poor, sick and healthy, for as long as you both shall live?” He asked. I looked at Kai as he was waiting for my answer.

“I do,” I replied. The priest nodded before he declared, “Now, I, pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride,” he said, and with that, Kai swept off my feet and kissed me squarely on the mouth.