The wedding

Alexia sat in front of the mirror and looked at herself. It was her wedding day today but she was not happy. To make matters worse, she didn't even see her supposed groom before the wedding. As her mother said, he was attending to matters that needed urgent attention. So their marriage didn't need urgent attention? She felt sick thinking of how their wedding night would be. She didn't want to think far but her mind wouldn't allow her. She turned to her maids that were smiling sheepishly at her. When she felt totally creeped out by their gazes, she couldn't help but ask " What is wrong with you two?".

The both of them smiled, looked at each other then burst out at the same time " We heard your future husband is quite handsome".

She looked at them and almost puked when she saw their love struck faces " Even if he is handsome, he has already qualified as a bad groom. Who does not come to see his future wife? I heard he has been back since last week and he didn't even come here. Handsome or not, I don't care". She felt awful when she saw that her maids were also charmed by him. Her mother was charmed by him, her dad and also her maids now. Who else was not yet charmed by him? Only her. She gasped at the thought. Was she next?

The maids looked at their lady. She was an ethereal beauty. Her hair cascaded his waves down her back. The white dress with golden lining made her look like a fairy in a painting. The accessories in her hair complemented her wavy silver hair. Their lady had always had the weird hair color and they always wondered why. They were going to miss her a lot and that was a fact. A maid said from outside" Please tell her lady that it is time".

Alexia took a deep breath. It was finally time. It was time for the very moment she dreaded the most. She stood up from her seat and her maids dutifully followed behind her. Alexia was very nervous now. She was about to reach the door when she paused in her steps. She was thinking of running away now. She shook her head. Her mother had given her plenty chances and she couldn't break her heart. Her presence was announced and she walked inside. She felt eyes on her with every step she took but there was a very intense one she felt as if the person was studying her very soul. She turned her head in the direction she felt the gaze and her jaw almost fell to the floor. The person she was looking at was the most handsome man she'd seen. She was not overexaggerating but she felt she was too shallow to have liked Prince James when there was someone like this. She calmed herself down. She couldn't be too shallow and like a person based on their face alone right? When she was calm enough, she finally realized something. Wait a minute. The man was sitting close to her father and the unoccupied seat she was going to occupy was left. He was on the table her and her future husband were meant to sit on. This man was her husband.

Alexia walked up to her parents and greeted " Your Majesties" she turned to the man " Your Highness". He nodded and she walked closer to the chair and sat down. He seemed to know she was curious " Your questions will be answered later". Alexia fawned. His voice was low, deep and captivating. She got why her maids looked like two little puppets in love a moment ago. This man was indeed a fine specimen. The wedding ceremony was finally over except for the part where she had to show one of her talents. She had forgotten about it. Which talent did she have to show?. She walked to the middle of the hall and she decided to sing a song she had formed in her spare time.

When the skies turned dark

I will always be there for you

In the rain and the storm

I'd protect you with my life

You'd said that to me

You left without keeping your word

My world turned dark

I hoped you'd show up

The rain fell but you didn't protect me like you said

So what was the use of failed promises

She poured her emotions into the song. Her eyes got teary but she walked back to her seat. She heard people clapping but she didn't bother to look up. She felt the man in front of her gazing at her and then she heard his voice " You have a nice voice but why did I feel as if there's a hidden message in your song"

She raised her head up and tried to smile" There's no hidden meaning. I just thought of my mom".

Prince Ivan nodded and didn't ask more. He knew that her real mother was dead and no matter how nice a step-mother was, you'd still miss your real mother. He turned back to her and it looked like he wanted to say something. He thought about it and decided not to speak again.

Alexia saw his movements and she could not help but be curious " Say what you want to say. I won't feel offended".

Ivan hesitated but said " Did you meet a boy that had like similar features to me but in a young way when you were still little?". Alexia thought about it and she remembered meeting a boy when she had escaped from the castle. She wanted to go look for her mom because at that time her father didn't tell her about her mom's whereabouts. The boy comforted her, talked some sense into her head and took her back to the palace. She didn't see the boy after that. She finally responded " Yes. So you were the one. I wanted to thank you again but I didn't know anything about you"

Ivan's eyes flashed with a strange emotion. He had always liked the girl he met that day. Now that he already met her, he didn't want her to just be thankful. He wanted her to like him back or maybe even love him back and he would make sure of that.