One month writing challenge!

Happily Ever After (Day 18)

 After stating our vows, we became married, our bond sealed with a kiss. Those who opposed me were jailed and died. My friends cheered joyfully alongside me. My prince charming sat next to me, both of us hand in hand, his gorgeous smile never left his face. I stared into the window and out to the world I was never before able to go, to explore. Everything was as it should be, as I wished for it to be. It was perfect, my happily ever after. Yet somehow it felt like the opposite.

A day had passed and I didn't even realize, yesterday was all a blur, and today was the start of my honeymoon. My new beginning. I yawned and sat up to get out of bed when someone pulled me down, holding me close, "Stay with me."

I felt my face heat up as I realized it was my prince. We were married, this is what lovers do. I did as I was told, staying close to him, yet I wasn't comforted by his presence. I didn't feel much at all apart from the initial shock. What was my prince thinking right now? What was his name?

Only then, in his arms, did I realize how fast everything went and I immediately became overwhelmed. Just a week ago, I was a poor girl, belittled by those born richer than me, by my own adopted family. Men would come up to me, saying how beautiful I was, how they'd give me a better life if I had slept with them, and be a good little housewife. They come on to me, harass me, spit in my face when I'd refuse. I was lucky they never took me by force. Then I met the prince.

He fell for me, not just for my body. He was nicer than everyone else. He proposed to me. I accepted. He ordered those who wronged me to be executed and I was too caught up in the fact that I was saved. I would be living in a castle, with fine jewelry and dresses, all the riches I could ask for. He was my savior but was he really my true love? I fell too fast and now I'm stuck in a hole of my desperation. I don't know anything about the prince, let alone his name, how do I know I've not just become his obedient little housewife. One to simply sit on a throne and bear a child. I truly am a fool.

He spoke softly of everything he was excited for, his voice deep and raspy from just having awoken. I could practically see the smile on his face, the one I thought I fell for, the one that means nothing to me now. My responses must've come off as disinterested, just hums and a "that sounds wonderful" every now and again. He stopped and his grip on me loosened, unlike the stories I've read, I didn't miss it, though I didn't hate it either. I thought he had fallen asleep, I couldn't imagine getting used to the beds they had, so soft they felt like clouds. Instead he spoke again, his tone not dreamy speaking of the future, it was solemn. It was sincere.

"I can tell you're not as prepared as I am. I can barely imagine what it's like, one moment you're on the streets barely scraping by and the next you're in a palace. But I swear I'll do anything in my power to make this the happiest you've ever been, as both the prince and as your husband." As he said those words I felt safe. He didn't know all I was thinking, to him our relationship is probably going too slow. My heart didn't speed up, I still didn't yearn for his touch, but at the moment all my regrets went away. Maybe, I'm not such a fool.

(653 words)