As we walked towards the bushes of roses, I let the sweet aroma fill my senses and the beauty of the flowers ease my troubled mind. The roses were stunning and bright red, and their perfume was enchanting and intoxicating. I took a deep breath. "I have a question, Alina," I whisper to her softly, leaning in to be close to her ear. "Princess? Is something bothering you?" Her eyes were focused on my face, and she looked genuinely concerned for me. I took her hand as we walked deeper into the garden, away from the guards, who were positioned near the entrance to the main castle. We were out of view now and had a good distance from any potential onlookers. "I don't know how to do the marital act," I confessed nervously, my voice quiet but clear. The idea of the night with the prince loomed over me, and my stomach turned at the thought of it. "You didn't ask your mother?" Alina asked, and I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. I had not asked mother, mostly because I was too embarrassed to bring up the topic with her. I stayed silent as she asked me the question, and my cheeks reddened with shame. I knew that I should have asked my mother for the details about this sensitive topic, but I had been too flustered to do so. "Come. Let us go to the boudoir," Alina said, breaking the silence that had settled between us. She put her hand on my arm and gently pulled me along with her.
We entered the boudoir, and my curiosity piqued as she led me over to the shelves where the books were kept. She began to pull out various volumes that contained diagrams and illustrations of intimate acts. Some of the images showed illustrations, and others showed sketches done in various positions. My cheeks grew even brighter as my body heated up. The details depicted in the illustrations were very explicit and left me speechless. "This looks...painful," I whispered silently, my eyes going back and forth between the illustrations and the text beneath them. "Nonono, this is too much," I muttered to myself. "Princess..." I didn't respond, my mind still reeling from those illustrations and the prospect of what might happen on my wedding night. "Not with him. No..." "It is not as painful as you think." Alina smiled, and I thought about her words for a moment. "What if he forced himself on me, or...or..." I whispered softly, feeling a wave of fear wash over me. "If he harms you, he shall be committing treason. Even if he were to be the prince," Alina states with a reassuring and self-assured tone. She continues, "You are the daughter of the king and queen of Rosenia." She reminded me, her words meant to instill a sense of confidence in me. I was aware of my prestigious station, and I knew that a lot was expected of me, especially when it came to maintaining the royal bloodline. I felt that pressure now more than ever before, as the wedding with Prince William was just days away. "Remember that." She patted my hand and smiled. My breath slowed as I regained my composure. I knew that I was a princess and that my place within the kingdom was important. "Yes, yes, you are right," I replied, my voice soft but confident. I still felt the fear and anxiety creeping up, but I held onto what Alina had said and tried to stay strong.
As the days went on, the preparations for the royal wedding raged on with all their might, with the decor and ornaments displayed everywhere. The kingdom of Astoria was decorated with banners hanging from the rooftops and flowers plastered on every available surface. I could already feel the excitement building as people began to gather in the capital city to witness the great event. But behind the grandeur of the occasion, my heart was filled with a deep sense of anxiety and dread as the big day arrived. I stood facing the mirror as a team of chambermaids worked on getting me ready for the big day. They were preparing my traditional wedding dress, which was made from the finest silk and lace. The maids seemed to know exactly what they were doing as they worked on the dress with skilled hands, fitting it perfectly to my figure. "Alina, how many people are in the hall?" My voice was still soft and quiet. "The palace is filled with hundreds of people now, and there are many more on their way, Princess," Alina replied. As I looked in the mirror, I was awed by the beauty that was being created. A gorgeous white silk dress draped perfectly over my body, the fabric clinging gently to my curves and highlighting them. My blond hair had been woven together in delicate braids, with small rose buds woven into them. A crown of roses was placed on my head, and my face was done with a subtle expression. I turned to Alina with a smile and asked, "What do you think?" "Your breathtaking beauty rivals the very splendour of the heavens above." Alina spoke softly, her brown eyes shining with admiration. She stepped back so that she could take in the full image of me dressed in my wedding attire.
A knock was heard on the door, followed by the entrance of a guard. "His Majesty is waiting for you, your grace," the young man said with a bow. and I felt my stomach knot up with nerves. My heart raced quicker than before as the realisation set in that it was time to walk down the aisle. "Please inform His Majesty that I shall be there presently," I replied. "Certainly, your grace, I will relay the message at once," the young guard replies with a bow before turning on his heels and leaving the chamber.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself, but I couldn't stop my legs from trembling as I thought about what lay ahead. The maids were holding the back of my dress as I moved out of my chamber and onto the stairs, where my father was standing at the end. The dress was flowing softly around my body as the ladies held it up, allowing me to walk down the stairs with grace and elegance. My father had a look of pride on his face as he watched me descend, and I could feel my breath becoming shaky as my nerves hit me hard suddenly. The king was garbed in his finest attire, a velvet suit that was embroidered with golden filigree and accented with jewels. The suit fit perfectly around his frame, giving him a dignified yet powerful look. "Daughter, you look radiant," the king said quietly as he greeted me, his tone filled with reverence and pride. I felt the blood rush to my face at his compliment, and I smiled brightly as I walked to him and curtsied. "Thank you, father." I whispered softly, my tone tremulous as I looked up at him with a small smile. I felt the tears pricking in my eyes as the reality of the moment hit me and the weight of the expectations. He took my hand and placed it on his arm as we walked side by side down the long aisle. My heart raced in my chest, and my breath became fast and short. I felt the eyes of many watching as I made my way down the aisle. My eyes scanned the crowd of nobles and royals from neighbouring kingdoms sitting in their seats. some of them staring and whispering among each other. I didn't catch what they were saying, but I felt their eyes on me, and there he was, standing straight and tall, his face stoic and calm. He was handsome and regal, the picture of a perfect prince. His gaze was trained on me. The prince was garbed in the finest clothing. His trousers were tailored perfectly to his frame, fitting his powerful yet graceful figure. The traditional Zorro crown sat atop his head, and his hair was done neatly, revealing the sharp yet handsome features of his face. The prince and I stood face-to-face now, our eyes locked as he held a subtle smile on his face. The room seemed to be filled with a breath-taking silence, making me nervous as I felt the crowd stare at us.
The priest spoke in a solemn yet joyful tone. "We are gathered here today to witness the union of Princess Anna Rios and Prince William Villefort, the heirs of their respective kingdoms. On this happy occasion, we have gathered to bear testament to the joining of two noble houses through this blessed union. The priest continued on, his voice filling the air with a ceremonial tone. "Today, before God and all of these witnesses, we join together in holy matrimony these two young people. Do you, Prince William Villefort, take Princess Anna Rios, here present, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to adore, comfort, and keep her, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and in distress, as long as you both shall live?" The prince's eyes did not falter from mine as he answered the priest's question without hesitation. "I do," he said in a clear, firm voice, his gaze never leaving mine. The priest turned to me, his eyes meeting mine. "Do you, Princess Anna Rios, take Prince William Villefort, here present, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to adore, comfort, and keep him, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and in distress, as long as you both shall live?" I felt the pressure of the moment and was taken aback by the realisation that all eyes were on me. My hand was shaking slightly as I took in the sight of the prince standing before me. I did not want the priest to wait too long, so I answered quickly. "I do," I said clearly and firmly, locking eyes with the prince. I said it. I said the words, and it was sealed now.
The priest looked upon us, smiling with joy and contentment. "Prince William Villefort and Princess Anna Rios have plighted their troth and solemnly bound their lives in perfect union and sacred covenant. I, therefore, do now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." and my heart skipped a beat. 'What am I going to do? I did not prepare myself to do this. Just move your lips to his' was what my mind was shouting at me. I took a deep breath and slowly moved my lips forward, feeling the prince's soft lips on mine. Both of his hands were wrapped around my cheeks as his lips touched mine softly. It felt as if the whole world had stopped for that one moment.
No, do not get fooled.
The kiss faded away as the prince took a step back, facing the crowd alongside me. The crowd cheered and clapped. It was done; I was married to the prince, and there was nothing I could do about it. The crowd's cheer felt like a reminder that this was real and that I had just given myself to a man I didn't love.
As we sat in the carriage, the prince was waving at people, and I could tell he was trying to appear happy. I was sitting next to him, my hands folded in my lap, feeling an overwhelming sense of anxiety wash over me. "Where are we going?" I nervously asked, avoiding his gaze. "My palace, dearest," he replied, giving me a reassuring pat on the hand. "The Zepha Palace." "The Zepha Palace is...yours?" I asked, taken aback by the revelation. I had heard of the Zepha palace, a little bit far from the capital of Zorro, but I didn't expect it to be his. "Aye," he replied, his smile widening. "It has been in my family's possession for generations. It is ours now, dear," he said, his tone soft as he took my hand in his and squeezed it softly. The sensation was a strange mix of comfort and discomfort, and I felt a wave of mixed emotions wash over me.
After the wedding, my goodbyes were short, and I already missed my sister. I felt a sudden wave of sadness wash over me as I realised that I would not see her often any more. I missed her smile, her warmth, and her tender care. Thinkfully, Alina was still with me, my loyal lady-in-waiting who I had always relied on. She would be coming to the palace with me, and I was relieved to have a familiar face around me in the new place that would soon become my home. "You must be tired; don't worry, we are close." he said comfortingly, gently brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His eyes linger on my face for a few seconds. "I am well," I said in a quick voice as I moved away a little bit, avoiding his soft gaze. The silence filled the air between us; the only sound was the carriage's wheels pounding against the road. I glanced down at the ring on my finger. I could feel the weight of the moment as the ring symbolised the sealing of my marriage and the beginning of my new life with the prince.