The Wedding Day

IT had been an overwhelming week. And the awaiting wedding day finally dawned. Vanessa woke up earlier to prepare herself. She went to the mirror and looked at her face. She had ugly dark circles under her eyes because she could not sleep a wink last night. The thoughts of the wedding overflowed her mind the entire day. She felt nervous, excited, and scared at the same time. Her feelings were utterly mixed.

The day she had been waiting forever has finally arrived!

The maids entered her room with the wedding dress and accessories. Vanessa took a nice bath and had a proper breakfast in her chamber. After that, the maids helped assisted her to the bridal suite to dress up. Vanessa and her family spent the night at the second manor of Gregory Estate. And the wedding would take place in the hall on the first floor of the manor.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Baron Collins was at the door. "Oh, sweetheart. Look at you." He entered the room and saw her daughter dressed as a beautiful bride. "You make me so proud." He never spouted such sweet words, but today he seemed like a loving father. "Are you feeling nervous, dear daughter?" He suddenly asked. Which was kind of ironic. Baron Collins never cared about her daughter before. That was his first time asking about her daughter's feelings and wellbeing. "Did you have a good sleep, my daughter?"

"Yes, father." Vanessa smiled. She never had that attention from her father in the past. And she loved that attention. One that she never received when she was young.

"Remember, don't forget to smile." The Baron was in high spirits. He was excited about the wedding.

Once her daughter married into the Gregory Family, Lord Damien already promised to help the Collins House financially. And Lord Damien would settle off their debts! What was more thrilling, his daughter would be the wife of the future Hades. That would make Vanessa, a queen! Baron Collins was truly happy. He could not believe that his family would advance in ranks this quick. After the wedding, he would be known as the father-in-law of the future King!

However, his attention to Vanessa was not that protracted. It did not last long. "Your Lordship, your son has arrived." The butler suddenly announced.

"Oh! JULIAN!" Baron Collins' eyes were flashing with joy. In a blink of an eye, he forgot about his daughter, who was getting married today. His attention diverted to the young man who appeared behind the butler.

"Father!" That voice! Vanessa closed her eyes. She felt a sudden chill ran down her spine when she heard that infuriating voice.

"Julian! My son!" Baron Collins sounded interminably happy. "You're here." Now his family was complete. His son, who he thought was in the knight cavalry, shockingly attended the wedding. The Baron hugged the young man.

"How can you be here? How about your job?" The Baron asked.

"My job? That is not important right now, father. I will not miss my sister's wedding for a mere job. Being with Vanessa right now is what I must do. We are a family!" Julian answered.

'Hypocrite.' Vanessa said in her mind.

"Oh! How can I get so lucky to have you as a son? Vanessa should feel fortunate to have you as her brother!" the Baron was deceived by his son's sweet words.

"Father. May I speak in private to Dear Nessa for a moment?" Julian asked. He saw Vanessa was still preparing inside the suite.

"Sure, son! But not for too long. The wedding is starting soon." Baron Collins heard the wedding march playing from the first floor. The guests must have arrived already.

The Baron and the maids left the suite soon after.

"So you come after all," said Vanessa without betting a gaze. "You shouldn't come, older brother," she added. She could not bear to look at Julian. Just hearing his voice added a grudge inside her. Vanessa riveted her gaze to the mirror.

"Nessa! Nessa!" Julian entered the bridal suite. After making sure they were finally alone, he closed the door and locked it. He did not want this conversation to be heard by others.

Julian was dripping with confidence. Vanessa knew Julian wanted something from her. "Of course, I will come. It is your wedding anyway." He watched Vanessa with an ugly grin.

"Are you trying to steal my spotlight? On my wedding day. Really?" Vanessa tried to hold her anger.

"Oh, no. I would never!" Julian mocked.

'Liar.' Vanessa muttered to herself. Her brother always stole attention from her. Growing up, Julian overshadowed her in everything. When Julian was a child, he had a weak body. Consequently, their parents focused on him more since Julian would become the heir to House Collins. They focused on him, that they almost forgot about their daughter.

"Oh! Look at you, sister!" Julian approached Vanessa. "Finally, you can show your worth to father. Right, Nessa?" said Julian in a whisper and big smile. There were no pleasant words that came out from that foul mouth. He could not be nice for once.

Vanessa could smell a hint of alcohol when Julian talked. This good-for-nothing brother! "Are you drunk, Julian?!" questioned Vanessa as she turned, at last, to look at Julian directly in the eyes.

"Nope, idiot." He shook his head. "Just a few bottles won't make me plastered." He seemed proud of it.

"You are wasted, Julian." Vanessa stood up. Her face was scarlet with anger. "Father might already lose his sense of smell. I cannot believe he could not smell this nasty stench." Vanessa pinched her nose. The smell was too strong!

Julian sat on the bridal chair and looked at himself in the mirror. Now and then, he would fix his hair. And he started to touch the jewelry on the vanity table. His eyes were locked to those rubies and crystals.

"I can't understand why father let you off the hook!" Julian was the reason why the Collins Family was on the verge of bankruptcy. Growing up, his conduct and behavior changed. He started gambling and drinking. But their father, Baron Collins, never got mad at Julian. And Baron Collins even covered for his only son. He always covered for Julian with the same excuses; Julian was still young, and adolescents made mistakes! But Julian was already in his thirties!

Their father also thought Julian was in the knight order. But he wasn't. Julian lied, saying he was serving as a knight. He was rarely home. The real reason Julian rarely returned to their fief was that he was busy gambling and wasted their family's money on alcohol and prostitutes.

"Hmm. Do I smell jealousy, baby girl?" Julian laughed. "What can I say? I'm his favorite child, after all." Julian was always the golden child in the family. Their father favored Julian more than Vanessa. And Vanessa lived her whole life as the scapegoat for her father. Every time Julian made a mess, their father only forgave and covered up for him. Julian also had their mother's best affection. Their mother might look like she adored Vanessa, but Lady Jovita loved his son so much more.

"Say what you want, Julian. But today, I am the protagonist of the ceremony." Vanessa threw a cold glaring look at her brother. She crossed her arms in discontent.

Julian looked at Vanessa through the mirror. "What are you talking about, silly?" He smirked. "The protagonist of the day is Lord Damien. You are just an extra. Keep dreaming, lassie."

"Alright, that's it. LEAVE!" Vanessa yelled. "Immediately!"

"I just sat down! That is harsh, sister." Julian was already comfortable sitting on the bridal chair.

"Leave, idiot! Don't make me tell you twice." Vanessa squinted her eyes.

"Fine! But don't forget, Nessa. I am the reason you can join in matrimony into the Ducal House." Julian stole a ruby necklace on the vanity table. "So I'm expecting something as a reward in the future," he added with a wink. A satisfaction glinted in his eyes.

"Dream on! I won't let you suck up to my husband!" Vanessa bellowed.

"Look at yourself in the mirror, sister! You are the one that is dreaming. You think Lord Damien proposed to you because he loves you? Or did he propose because you are beautiful?" Julian sneered. "He is using you for his benefit. When he accomplishes his purpose, he will divorce you instantly and throw you away!"

"NO! You, liar!" Vanessa started to throw things at Julian. He enraged her emotionally. That remark provoked her poise. "LEAVE! I say, leave!" she bawled.

Julian threw her one last long look. "I wish you a long and happy married life, dear sister!" Julian said in a galling voice. Before leaving the bridal suite, he gave a peck on his sister's right cheek with a piece of quick advice. "Just don't regret it later. Tata!"

URGH! Vanessa roughly wiped off that kiss. She felt grossed! It was disgusting!

When she was busy wiping off that dirt from her face, her makeup was messed. Vanessa looked at herself in the mirror. She looked so desperate and obnoxious. And her brother's words playing again and again in her head! 'HE WILL DIVORCE YOU INSTANTLY AND THROW YOU AWAY!'

"SHUT UP!" In wrath, Vanessa smashed the mirror with her hand! She could not control her breath. Vanessa was puffing and panting in front of the broken mirror. She felt humiliated! "I know Damien does not love me. I am not that idiot to not realize that fact!" she admitted. Vanessa was talking to herself. No one was there to witness her divulging.

Vanessa was dismayed when she saw her ugly face displayed on the broken shards. Her confidence was long gone, and now she felt the pain and stress engulfed her entire body! She was tired of this stupid wedding.

Vanessa ran to the windows and looked outside. She saw the guest arriving. Almost a hundred guests from the noble backgrounds around the realm had congregated to witness the wedding ceremony and the union between the two noble families. And some of them were those that gossiped about her. Vanessa saw an illusion of those people were mocking her openly.

NO! Finally, she fell to the floor and cried.