The ‘Forced’ Ceremony

"Let me go!" I scratched the hand that grabbed mine and tried to kick the older woman, but she quickly dodged it.

"What are you trying to do, young lady?" The older woman asked, grabbed my wrist tighter, and pulled me out of the alcove. She immediately let go to twist my hand left and right, "Look at what you've done."

She sounded hurt and frustrated. And she pushed me towards the bed.

"Saron, could you retrieve the medical kit or call Dr. Jackson?" I tried to get up, but she gestured to the other man and the maid with her. They both held me down by the shoulder.

"Why are you being stubborn, Duchess?" The older woman looked flabbergasted. She then looked at the ropes tied on the bed.

"Was this from the ropes?" She pointed to my bruised and wounded wrist and then to the ropes on the bed. She glared at the maid holding me on the right side, "Who did this?"

"Apologies, madam." The maid looked forlorn and lowered her head, "I was just trying to make sure she doesn't escape again. I might have tightened it unnecessarily."

"And this ghastly decor?" The older woman pointed to the goat skull

"A remnant of the taste of the former owner of this room." The maid's voice was barely audible.

Saron, who looked more like a bouncer, returned with a bag and a familiar face behind him.

"Dr. Jackson?" I felt betrayed and tried to stand to attack him

"So she is here," were the only words he uttered before going near me and taking one of my wrists. I took that as an opportunity to smack him on the head, "Hey, what was that for?"

"Let me go." I ordered

"Not possible, Duchess." The old woman said, "Behave and let Dr. Jackson check on you."

I tried to relax and save my energy. Once outside, I have better chances of escaping. Let them think I am cooperating.

"What happened here, Claire?" Dr. Jackson asked as he dabbed something stingy on my wrist and wrapped it in a bandage.

"Madame took this opportunity to finally have the ceremony today." the older woman replied

"You do know that Micheal would go ballistic on this," when he finished with the wrist, he turned to my head, inspecting any injury, but when he was about to pull the skirt up of my dress, I held it down, not wanting him to see my injuries on the ankle or glance at my legs at all. "This one is as stubborn as your ward."

"Micheal would kill you if he knew of this betrayal," I snared at Timothy. If my eyes were daggers, he would have been dead. I'm tempted to grab and pull his hair off his head, but I have to get out of this room to escape.

"Betrayal? Kill me?" He frowned, " Aren't you going extreme and overdramatic on me?" Overdramatic?! I kicked him on the shin and quickly got up off the bed to run to the opened door. "You -"

But I was barely out the door when strong arms caught me around the waist. I forgot Saron. I tried to use my head to bash his chin, but he was too tall and his grip too tight for any leverage.

"Are you both really keen on not having this ceremony?" The older woman, whom Timothy called Claire, now stood before me, her arms in akimbo. "Can't you grant an old woman's wish for this extravagance?"

Claire took my arm and pulled me out of the Saron's clutches. She may be old, but her grip and strength as she pulled me along the hallway is too strong for her age.

I was pulled into a large bedroom where some ladies were busy going to and fro, holding clothes, flowers, or boxes. In the middle of the room stood a dress form mannequin with a lovely white dress.

"She's ready." Claire declared, "Have her bathe and prepare for the ceremony." I was ushered to the next room by three maids.

The room turned out to be a bath similar to the one I used to have when I was still the 'duchess'. A large tub in the center was lined with gold and intricate designs from ancient Egypt. It was deep enough that when I was asked to sink in, my entire body was submerged. There was a gold shower head that could be moved to the side, and its sprout looked like a falcon.

What is happening? A kind treatment before the sacrifice?

The air was filled with a somewhat floral and slightly musky scent as the bubbles began to form in the room. The maids were gentle and thorough as they scrubbed my body and lathered shampoo into my hair. It felt like I was royalty from olden times, being bathed by servants. They wrapped me in a soft robe and handed me over to a different group of attendants wearing different uniforms. The name of a well-known beauty spa was displayed in the logo on the right breast.

They paid attention to my hands and feet, then massaged my face before guiding me to the next room, where a small station that looked like the backstage scene from a fashion show welcomed me. An enthusiastic woman pulled me towards a seat in front of a mirror, and they started with makeup and hairstyle.

"What a beautiful bride?" She sighed when she was done.

"What?!" I stared at the white gown on the mannikin in the center of the room, which I had just noticed behind me.

"Time to dress up." Claire declared as she entered the room with two maids.

The maids started to remove the gown from the dress form. When I got off the seat, I immediately moved away from their grasp.

"Stubborn girl," Claire sighed, "Stop resisting." Once again, she caught my arm and pulled me back.

The gown was light, although it was embellished beautifully. It would be easy to run if I cut the lower part. I feel bad for the beautiful dress once I do that. I sneakily took one of the scissors from the makeup artist case before I followed the maids.

We walked towards the stairs, and I was ready to stab and cut the dress when I saw the lilies and soft-toned flowers lining the balustrade of the stairs. And at the last step, one familiar person stood annoyed. Although I was still a few feet away, I could see him clenched his jaw.

"The bride." Someone announced somewhere, and Micheal looked up. His jaw relaxed, and he struggled to smile.

I tucked the scissors back into the small parcel bag I was given with the bouquet at the top of the stairs.

He walked up and held out his hand.

"Sorry. I'll explain later." He murmured as he pulled me beside him. "Just smile and go along with it." Although he is not smiling, he tries with the slight tilt of his lips at the sides.

When we reached the bottom of the stairs, a crying woman with silver-white hair approached us and hugged me. She is Micheal's grandmother - the former Princess Natalia Smith née McGregor.

"I'm so glad to finally witness your wedding ceremony." She whispered as she hugged me tightly. Her handkerchief pressed between us felt damp.

Wedding? What happened to the divorce?

I clutched Micheal's hands tightly, asking him without words what was happening. But his eyes tell me to wait.

Wait? Wait for what? If I walk down this aisle, it would be harder for us to ask for divorce.

He moved his face closer to mine. To everyone, it looked like he was kissing my cheek, but he just brushed his face against mine as he whispered, "Relax, I'll think of something later."

All through the ceremony, I was in a dazed. Repeating vows mechanically and going through the motions as if I were underwater - drowning.

Until I felt his lips on mine.

I suddenly looked up, surprised at his smile.