[Bonus chapter]

The door was opened in her room and Diana entered with Elena following them.

Ana who was standing in front of the mirror but not exactly looking at herself raised her gaze and smiled at her family,

"You are looking beautiful, sister." Elena, who was more expressive, ran to hug Ana while Diana kept staring at her with tears brimming in her eyes.

Ana nodded and looked at the mirror again. The maids have spent all day in making her look beautiful and ready for this grand day!

She was wearing a red dress as the norm of the family of Sophomore, the family that belonged to the dragons, instead of the white one like other princesses worn in their marriages.

Her golden hair was prepared in a bun covered with flowers of real gold and adorned with pearls and rare gemstones.

She was wearing a necklace that was shining brighter than the moon and a matching bracelet and earring. Her fingers were left empty so that when he could put a ring in it, it would shine brightest.

And other rings did not give competition to what he had chosen for her. The make up was done perfectly, with her lips redder and her cheeks creating a blush but her eyes were shimmering and her green orbs were filled with extreme coldness.

"You are looking too worried. Did you not like the dress or is there something else!" asked her brother as he entered the room to see if she was ready.

"My lady, did you not like the make-up or jewelry?" asked my maid, Mary. Her eyes were wet as this was the last time she was getting me ready.

Her expectant eyes and the frown formed on VIncent's face, made her realize that she still had not replied.

"No, it is just perfect." she replied with a smile that came out stiff.

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation, and shortly after her father came in.

He had tears in his eyes as he looked at his daughter that used to crawl on the floor just a few days ago and hold his thighs and blabber when he held her in his arms and carried her all over the estate.

"Princess, are you ready?" he asked in a painful voice as if she was going for exile instead of getting married.

The knight still had to hold him but he was adamant to escort her for her marriage ceremony.

"Father! Why don't you sit down first. Let me help you." said Vincent but he only glared at him as his son was his mortal enemy.

"No! It is fine! I am ready. Shall we leave?" she walked towards her father who wanted to refuse. Who wanted to plead her to think again but in the end he could not sign and nod his head.

The other eyes looked at her anxiously, too spare for the eyes of her sister who looked genuinely happy for her wedding.

"Shall we go father?" she asked again to the man who had shown more than enough patience and love for her. When he held her hands, she hugged him back. Burying her head in his chest, she whispered, "thank you for everything father. I wish I could be your daughter every time I give birth." though she had already been lucky to get another chance, who would know how this life would end.

In the past, she was never able to thank her family. Taking the things as granted as if it was nothing special but now she knew. They were her shield. But she had discarded them with her own hands.

He rubbed his calloused hands on her back gently as if he was soothing a child but she could hear his muffled cries and the uneven beating of his heart.

"Darling, you know that your father will fight the world for you, right?" he whispered when she smiled. She knew what he was trying to say but she behaved ignorant as she raised her head and nodded.

His eyes hardened. Diana placed her hands on his shoulder and patted them.

"You should not stress yourself and she is not a child anymore." Though equally worried, she did not want to stress Ana by their actions.

Her father sighed and nodded as he held her hands gently and Mary bent to hold the bottom of the heavy dress so that she could walk properly.

"You know crying girls look ugly!" Elena whispered when Ana chuckled.

They all were trying their best to make her at ease and what was she doing? she was making a miserable face! Since when has she been this vulnerable?

"Are you trying to say that I am ugly! Look again at the mirror El!" she chuckled finally making all of them smile back. If only their smiles were real!

"Then we will see you in the hall." told Diana as she hugged Ana one last time and left with her sister.

"Shall we?" her father asked as he kissed her forehead. Vincent keeps standing behind them as if guarding their precious moment.

Ana nodded and after a minute they walked out of the room. The procedure was simple. They will walk her to the altar where the groom will be waiting for her and then they will exchange vows and kiss each other.

After that some time to rest will be given when they will be decorated again to attend the marriage party, where she would get the blessings of the royal family for the first time.

There she would finally meet her enemies under a roof! Last time she was naive enough to trust all of them. But this time, she would make sure that they would be the one trusting her act!

"I can not wait to meet all of them."