A Tangled Web of Truth | Complete (ONC 2021 Shortlister)

11. Touring the Palace

A week, as it turned out, amounted to exactly three dates. Each one was more casual and natural than the last. In any other situation, Alicia would easily have been calling him her boyfriend by then. But her situation wasn't any other. It was engagement or nothing. No, not nothing, she kept telling herself. It would be watching Alejandro and his new wife together for probably the rest of her life. What a fun and unexpected development.

Alicia had to resist the urge to shove her hands aggressively into her jeans pockets thinking about it as she walked the halls of the palace. Apparently, someone at the palace — likely the queen — had thought it was a good idea to gather together the current contenders for the prize hog and give them some information about what it would be like to be queen.

Alicia was trying to pay attention, but her mind kept wandering back to the inevitable decision she was staring at: to uproot her whole life and become a queen, or to let this whole thing go and have a great anecdote to tell at parties. One look around at all the other girls dressed in beautiful dresses and embroidered cardigans, their heels clicking in the hallway as the tour progressed. One look at them and it was clear she was the odd one out. She didn't look the part.

When the tour was over Alicia had been pulled aside by a palace guard and led to a small room with a table in the center and a chaise along the side. There was a large picture window overlooking what was quickly becoming her favourite fountain, so she sat down on the window seat and pulled her feet up under her to watch the birds flitter from tree to tree, singing as they went.

"You look beautiful," Alejandro suddenly said from behind her. "How was your tour?"

"As you must have noticed, I stick out like a sore thumb."

"Yes, but you're a hair stylist and I hear you have a friend who does makeup. Perhaps you could pretend to be someone else. Oh, maybe we can name you—"

Alicia didn't let him finish, playfully batting his arm and giving him a glare. "Fine, fine. I get it."

"Plus, I have it on good authority you know how to dress at formal events." Alejandro sat down beside Alicia and her heart quickened in her chest, its beat now an erratic toddler drumming for the first time instead of the experienced smooth rocker she was used to.

"You mean the ball?"

When he didn't answer she looked around to see his face gazing out the window toward the fountain. "Alejandro?" she prodded, resting her hand on his forearm in hopes he would turn toward her. What is going on in his head?

If she'd been thinking at all she would have known today was the day. A week from the ball. But she wasn't thinking at all, she was staring into the deep brown eyes of the man she found herself drawn to. "Alejandro?"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of cloth before handing it to her. "I want you to have this," he said. "No matter what happens after this moment, I want this to be yours."

Alicia was suddenly unable to breathe. Between the drummer dancing in her chest and the heat seeping out all over her body, the importance of her decision weighed heavy in her chest.

"Do you need some water?" Alejandro's brows were pulled together and his hand reached for her shoulder as though he thought he would have to catch her and stop her from falling. In all honesty, he might.

Alicia shook her head and her trembling hands placed the small package onto her lap where she unfolded it to reveal a delicate silver bracelet with gems of blue and green. There was a small diamond in the center and an inscription she couldn't make out, as it was in an ancient language she did not speak. Ailine will know what it says, she thought, turning it over in her hands to admire it further.

"Do you like it?" Alejandro looked like he wanted to crawl out of his skin as he waited for her reply.

Alicia was certain that if she opened her mouth, the pressure building inside her throat would escape in sobs. "It's... I... Yes, I love it," she finally got out. Alejandro gently picked up the bracelet and unclasped it, sliding it around her right wrist and fastening it again, his fingers lingering longer than they needed to after accomplishing the task.

"I just want you to have something of mine. Something from me. So you remember that I... care for you. No matter what happens." Alicia couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes.

"It's beautiful," Alicia breathed, tracing the delicate leaf outlines with her fingertips. "But I can't keep this if you marry another girl. I just wouldn't feel right." Alicia's eyes remained fixed on the beautifully crafted bracelet, trying to commit the strange letters of the inscription to memory so she could ask Ailine later as they drowned her sorrows in ice cream and cake.

"Then don't make me pick someone else." The earnest way he said it made her finally turn her eyes to face him. When she did, she was met with Prince Alejandro down on his knee holding the most 'Alicia' engagement ring she had ever seen. How did he pick something so perfect? We barely know each other.

When he noticed her staring, he continued. "I know we've only known each other a short time and I have much to learn about you and there's no way this is the engagement story either of us dreamed of but I have to ask if you will marry me. I want to be with you. You are strong and patient and constantly full of surprises and I want to learn with you. Let's become partners and friends. I can't imagine anyone better to share the trials and successes of life with. So, Alicia DuMont, will you marry me?"

The pressure in her chest crawled up further into her throat, making it impossible to speak. Finally she croaked out, "How long?"

Alejandro's eyes pulled together and he reached to hold her hands in his. "How long until what? I'm proposing to you now that's kinda what the whole ring is about."

"How long until we have to get married?"

His eyes flickered closed and he bent his head to kiss her hand before replying. "I think we can push that a little bit as long as we pick something within the year or soon after." His hand squeezed hers and he pressed it to his lips, desperate for her answer.

Alicia's mind swirled with worries and thoughts and nerves and it seemed like everything she had ever wanted was the crossroads before her but she couldn't pick both. She had to pick one. And yet, the second she made the decision, she felt immediately calm, the tension falling from her chest and throat so she could clearly say, "Yes. Yes, I will marry you."

I cannot believe I'm doing this. Alejandro slid the ring out of the box and waited with his palm upheld until she placed her left hand in his. Looking up at her with a giddy smile, Alejandro slid the ring onto her ring finger. Finally, Alicia broke the gaze to stare at the ring on her finger. Though the gems were slightly larger than anything she could have imagined herself wearing, it screamed Alicia. It was to sit there on her finger forever reminding her that she was still Alicia, just dressed up a little. The fact that he managed to pull all of that off with a piece of jewellery was making her head spin.

"I can't believe I'm doing this!" Alicia giggled and threw her arms around Alejandro's neck. "But I want to keep dating you."

Alejandro chuckled and his hands found the back of her neck. Sliding his fingers up into her hair he gently guided them closer together. And for the first time in her life, Alicia didn't think about it. She just slid her hands around his back and pressed her lips to his, finally sure it was a leap worth taking.

Never marry someone you don't like kissing, they say. Well that won't be a problem.