Exchanging The Rings

With bated breath, the guests in the grand hall observed as the Crown Prince, the most striking man in the kingdom, made his grand entrance with the mysterious woman who concealed the lower half of her face beneath a veil. While her features remained hidden, her bearing and demeanor exuded nobility and confidence, capturing the attention of all present.

Whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd, particularly from the women who harbored dreams of capturing the Prince's affections, and their mothers who aspired to see their daughters wed to royalty. Oriana's unexpected absence had raised concerns, and her veil only fueled curiosity about her beauty.

"Is she hiding her face because she's ugly or disfigured?"

"Did you see? The Prince isn't even holding her hand. It seems he's not particularly fond of her."

"If that's the case, why is he marrying her? He could simply send her away."