30 Days As A Substitute Prince

Chapter 41-Final

Dresses.

 
Aria had been wearing them all her life, but this? This was different. She loved the way the white gown flattered her. It depicted something more than a future with the man she loved, but the purity of both their hearts as they embark on this journey.

It had only been a month since everything with Heather came to an end, and the vivid wedding planning had been on a never-ending ride until the very day it finally arrived. Aria felt all sorts of emotions. She was excited yet anxious. She had seen Chad last night, and knowing that he would be her groom when she should see him again was impeccably exhilarating.

Being his wife was all she could think about over the past month, and though she had little say in the wedding planning by itself, it didn’t bother her much. Aria could care less if the wedding was big or small or held on the coast or in a church. As long as it yielded her the same result, and that was marrying the man she loved.

Liziath, Tina and Queen Sylvia stood with Aria as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror--stunned. All three of them helped her get ready, and tears brewed in their eyes at the final outcome. Queen Sylvia had this plan of getting Aria married, but she never imagined that things would’ve taken such a drastic turn. She didn’t mind, though. Seeing Aria happy with Chad was everything she would’ve wanted for her daughter. She admitted to herself that perhaps promising her to Prince Zadkiel wasn’t the best thing to do, as she wanted all her daughters to fall in love naturally and not because the circumstances forced them to. That was the reason why she didn’t do the same with Tina and Liziath. But what a delightful surprise she was in for when not only one, but two of her daughters fell in love within these two months.

Liziath, as it seemed, had an interest in Zadkiel, but because she knew he would leave, she tried not to let herself fall too much. However, the Queen was convinced that the two would find a way. Someday.

“You look beautiful, Aria,” Queen Sylvia whispered as she stood behind her daughter and rested her hands on both her shoulders. “So very beautiful.”

“Indeed,” Tina agreed. “What have you done with my sister?”

They all chuckled lightly as Aria analyzed herself in the body-length mirror. The dress’s bodice hugged her bosom in the most exotic lace, and the waistband was adorned in shimmering diamonds. The corset strings were pulled just right, and the bottom flowed down to the ground in thick, layered ruffles, making her the very image of the princess she really was.
Her hair was pulled back in a neat bun, where her veil sat and flowed over her face and behind her back. Tina and Liziath wore similar blue dresses, and they stood at each side of their sister as they all examined her beauty.

“I’ll leave you girls for a bit. Your father will be here in twenty minutes to escort you to the venue,” Sylvia said, kissing each of her daughters before turning to leave.

Aria held onto her wrist as she moved away, instantly stopping her in place. Without a word, she grabbed her mother in a hug, almost causing crushes in both their gowns.

“Thank you, Mother, for everything,” Aria mumbled. Sylvia smiled as she relaxed immensely.

“You are my daughter, Aria. I would do anything for your happiness.” Sylvia cupped Aria’s cheek beneath the veil as she gazed at her daughter through teary eyes. “You are not a baby anymore, and I am proud of the woman you have become, Aria. This is just about one of the happiest days of my life. I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” Aria held onto her mother for a while. Sylvia had always been supportive of her daughters, and that made Aria grateful.

As Sylvia left, the three princesses watched each other. There were so many unsaid words that lingered in their minds, yet no one spoke.