The Prince's Indentured Bride

the inaugration ride

If he calls this a small inauguration ceremony, then what on earth is the Rupture Ball going to be about?

For about two hours we were having a carriage ride all around the world with a felicitation sparkle of rose petals being continuously showered on us as we rode through the streets of Mosses Provinces, while the army personnel’s made a hand chain like a ribbon on either sides of the road, as people watched the procession happen through their open windows, many in majority standing on the roads, as camera’s kept flashing and filming the entire happening.

“You should’ve told me about all this.” I kept grumbling from inside my veil, praying for my foot to just bear for a little more while to subside the pain from the heels.

“May they live happily forever!” The crowd repeated everywhere after the announcer says, “May the king hail!”

Seeing the building exteriors designed with red bricks gave her the meaning in difference of ecosystem from India, and how different the city planning was done from roads having a proper pavement line everywhere to a golden ratio arrangement of the telephone booths, public toilets and she saw something else like a square vending box… but couldn’t exactly put a name into it.

“My apologies.” He replied, although the voice wasn’t so clear through the amass measurement of noise created by the cheering. Looking at his face told me that he too didn’t have the entire idea about this planned out event, and he was as tired as her, but was going on because of the political pressure.

“Do you like to sleep on the left or right?” I may as well use this free time to get his preferences into my knowledge, “Right.” He replied dryly staring into the direction on the right side of the carriage.

“I hope you know that concubines are a complete no until I am here. Don’t want to be a laughing stock.”

He entwined our hands together, my wedding ring clanking with his in the process, and that sent an electrifying robust into my nerves as if a cold dark wind just passed by and there was no backing out from it. “I will forever stay loyal to you my dear wife.”

He whispered into my ears, his slightly unshaved bear making it through my veil and tickling my cheeks, and what was with the sudden wits of his loyalty oath?

“Unfortunately, I can’t.” I remembered the smile I had on the first day of dating Kriag. “Not an issue. I am jesting with you to throw the widest net of the loveliest love story.”

“I don’t understand your riddles, Gabriel.”

“Shh, my dear bride. You will. So, who is this lover of yours?” I have dreaded this question from forever. I didn’t want to lie to him, because there was no reason to, but I don’t even have the courage to face the jabbing of brothers yet.

“Someone you can dearly love. Moving on.”

“To what? Want to know about the crop plantation?” He was teasing her now, and thanks to the cloth covering her face he didn’t get to see how red she was with anger.

“No. About the tourism happenings.” I bestowed him with my intelligence against his stupidity. “It’s quite low, maybe because of the eccentric location. That effects the cost of living for us.”

I knew how that works. I even had this major idea on how beautifully Nicoman State’s vast wonderment could be exploited, and for that I would love to shift my base temporarily to here.

I came here with only two major plans: Rest well and Catch Spider. But, after a look around just of few hours my business mind was activated and this location was just worth working on, although at first it may give me a low capita.

“I would like to invest.” I offered knowing that there is no bad time for proposals, as you see a drunk night did bring me here. “Aren’t you being too quick of a judge?”

“I see a slow burn potential unless we have something ground breaking event where the world can flock over to your place.” I gave him my genuine feedback on how shallow the marketing crisis looked from a businesswoman’s proposal.

“Let’s get through this first.” He simply replied which didn’t quite quench my thirst but the small microphone behind us made a warning. “Keep silence or else it is difficult for us to monitor.”

It was Sean who spoke, but on the mirror of one of the make-up shops I could see Olivia smiling, from behind our carriage, maybe the one she is riding with Sean and Red.

“Did I tell you I don’t like your prime minister?”

“I wish you hadn’t.”

“Funny enough.”

“And didn’t I inform that we already had a queen in me?” It was the microphone that spoke again, this time the brat Olivia who seemed to be liking this teasing session.

“Too bad, now you are stuck with the most elegant and eternal queen of Nicoman State.”

I mocked a tone similar to hers and removed the plug for the microphone with my free hand, while Gabriel saw me in pure amazement of what on earth is all this about.

“Eternal? Do you plan to stay here forever?”

In reply to his teasing, I pinched his hand which was holding mine’s, and he let out a small wince.

“Or did you mean that stay away from my man?”

“Will you shut up?” I didn’t like the way he thought it was comfortable to keep jesting in a moment like this, as he has been ghosting me for several hours, count in days, and what on earth was wrong with the PR team here that they used such a useless photo of mine, when there are tons of awe moment inspiring pics all over the internet.

It would just require them to type: Vhrea Destiny Ashtrick.

“Keep your head low, there is a sniper at your 1’O clock.”

I clutched his hand tightly and turned to the mentioned direction and regretted doing so. There really was a man in black aiming a long gun somewhere around to our carriage.

“Will it shoot me or you?”

He chuckled and replied. “Of course, it is a me.”