belle of the ball

chapter seven

as toji left the room, i sat there in the silence staring at the wall i began to think about everything. i liked toji; i truly did.. but megumi. oh how i loved him. i couldn't bear the thought of hurting him yet again, i wanted him. to be with him but how could i do that to toji? where would megumi and i even begin? i don't know what to do.
the thinking only hurt my heart; i couldn't chose between the two men who loved me so dearly even if i already knew who i loved. right? i try to shoo the thoughts away and as i do the silence of the room roars in my ears.

TIME SKIP: MORNING!!
today was the big day it was the morning of our wedding! i woke up in tojis arms, the sun shines in through the window and into my eyes making me squint i try to turn away from the window but i was moving too carelessly. my breath hitches as toji began to stir in his sleep. mumbling to himself; i stay perfectly still not wanting to disturb him hoping he'd fall back asleep. unfortunately for me he didn't.. he pulls me back into his arms mumbling to himself.

"hmmm.. sweetness, come back to me. todays our wedding day after all!"

he chuckles, i only sigh in response allowing toji to hold me. i was dreading the few hours i had left until the wedding. he lazily stroked my hair wanting to spend the morning with me; a disgusted feeling stirred within me i felt so horrible for doing this to toji. i didn't even love him! ...right? i felt like crying and regurgitating everything i've eaten in the past week.

toji slowly sits up, pulling me up along with him; he was being particularly cuddly today maybe because it was our wedding day. but i could tell his feelings reached deeper than that. he looks down at me.

"sweetness, why don't you get some breakfast? i'll
be there soon; i just need to freshen up a bit more. i need to look perfect for my bride!"

he said cheerfully, patting my back as i silently stood up. i walked out without saying anything; though i was still groggy i rush to the dining hall hoping to see megumi each foot stamps infront of the other picking up the pace i swing open the door seeing megumi i instantly run towards him before he could even process it my body clung to his he stood limply as i hold him even tighter.

"oh megumi! i- i'm so-"

"shh princess!!" megumi cuts me off,  i felt a strong presence behind me. toji grabs me by my shoulders pulling me off of megumi and into him my face bumps into his chest.

"son. Y/N's and i's wedding is tonight i expect you not to bother her. she has many duty's today i don't want her to stray from her course."

"..yes father, i understand."

"sweetness? i change my mind. go get ready for the wedding. it doesn't hurt to get a head start; for all i know is the seamstress could take an eternity with you, you can eat something at the rehearsal dinner."

"y-yes.. toji, i'll go then- goodbye megumi."

i murmur knowing it was better to obey than it was to put up a fight. i rush out of the dinning hall trying to avoid any conflict today, i practically ran to the castles fitting room where i saw the seememstress.

her head snaps to the direction of the door swinging open she looks over at me smiling, she motions for me to come closer i do with a frown. she notices my dull expression she looks back at me empathetically.

"are you alright Y/N? you know.. his majesty is a great man."

"..."

"come on, don't be so glum! you'll feel better with your dress on. come! his majesty picked it out himself."

she said with a smile, she grabs a dress from her many, many, racks full of dresses ranging from all sorts of colors and patterns from blues to pinks and greens but there was only one white one it hung in the center of all the dresses.. she shows me a beautiful ball gown with pearls and lace; i smile at the dress but my smile dropped almost instantly as the seamstress continued to speak.

"well- technically his majesty selected this dress for his late wife, she looked beautiful in it. he wanted to honor her with it; you know.. you resemble her quite a lot she had shorter hair than you though.."

"oh my, look at me rambling! i'm sorry Y/N!! come, come i'll get you in this dress."

..he had picked this dress for his late wife? i felt that same feeling of disgust build up in me once more. and the fact that i resembled her didn't help one bit. i stare at myself in the mirror as the seamstress laced up my corset. how could he..? was i that much of an after thought that he couldn't even bother to pick a new dress for me?! how could i be so stupid to think he cared for me. to think toji or megumi cared for me was foolish. and i hated myself for thinking that.

after quite a bit of lacing, stitching, and alterations she was done she claimed the dress was the perfect match for me but it wasn't. it was the perfect match for the girl- no.. woman who wore it before me, no wonder i was only an after thought i was only a girl. i was half of tojis age for gods sake! i could never compare to the other woman he had loved before me.  i quickly thanked her and left the room.

i looked out the windows just contemplating, the sun was setting i knew the reception was approaching. i should turn left and go back to the dining hall but i simply couldn't! my feet felt like they couldn't move and i knew i couldn't go through with this; knowing that i was a simple after thought to toji broke my heart. i hiked up my dress sprinting down the hall in the opposite direction i ran and ran until i couldn't anymore. i didn't know where i was going but somehow i ended up in the gardens. i looked around to see no one was here though it seemed there was something lurking in the shadows. but there couldn't be right? all the servants must be inside preparing for our rehearsal dinner. i push my own thoughts aside and sat down behind a bush placing my head into my hands i could only do one thing. and it was cry.

TOJIS POV:

it had been a while now, and Y/N still hasn't come back. i wonder what was taking so long? the servants had began setting the tables and preparing the rest of the castle for the guest tonight maybe she was mixed in with the crowd of servants but i couldn't spot her anywhere.

i looked around turning to my son only to notice he hadn't seen her either, his eyes also scanning the room for her. he turns to me.

"father.. may i- go search for the princess i understand you're busy and i just want to help-"

"go on, bring her back without a single scratch."

with this megumi nods, he walks away from
me swiftly. i can see the urgency in his movements.

MEGUMIS POV:

i had a feeling she would get cold feet, it was bound to happen right? this means i had a chance.. i quickly walked to the gardens i look around but i fail to see any clues. i felt strange it seemed as if i was being watched. but nobody was there? it must be my imagination. i was about to go investigate.

but suddenly i hear quiet sobs and gasp for air, i walk around until the sounds were at their highest volume. i look behind a bush to see Y/N hunched over in her dress sobbing like a baby.. my heart felt as if it was breaking right then and there.

"princess.. you'll ruin your dress if you continue to sit in dirt and sulk."
i sat with a small chuckle. she looks at me her eyes swollen and full of pain.

"i- i don't think i can do this megumi.. i love you too much to leave you behind."

"i know you do, but this would ruin my father.."

"...i can't." she whispers, i don't know what came over me but seeing her in this much pain broke me. i crouch down besides her cupping her face.

we sit there in silence, i take a deep breath before smiling at her. shaking my head i couldn't believe i was about to do this..

"then will you run away with me?"

OWJAOKA UH OHHHH!!! i love rising actions hehe, don't worry guys there's much more drama to come; tysm for reading i hope you enjoyed!! pls leave comments!
word count: 1543
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