The Wedding and Other Short Stories

Princess's Dilemma

The princess sat at her vanity, watching the sunken and emotionless face that stared back at her. She hadn't been sleeping the last few nights and there was an unfortunate reason behind it. Her wedding was drawing near, and she was not for it at all. She was so against the marriage that depressing thoughts ran across her brain like the rats that tiptoed across the castle's kitchen floor. She was marrying the man because of her father's political ventures and not because she loved him. She already knew that this twisted marriage between them was destined to fail. She knew there would never be any love between the two and she would only be used to bear his future children.

When she first met the man, she thought he was the perfect husband to be, but as time passed, he began to show his true colors. Once upon a time, he would shower his fiancée with roses and gifts from faraway lands. He took her on extravagant dates, and they shared weekend trips to his estate located on the outskirts of her country. Everything was lovely until it wasn't. As time passed, he stopped being as loving. He became incredibly ruthless and even downright mentally abusive towards her. He never dared lay a physical hand on her, due to fear that her father would strike back and banish him from the court. However, that didn't stop him from talking down to her and treating her as his maid. In front of others, they looked like a couple very much in love, but behind the scenes, their relationship was laced with insecurities.

Another thing that kept her up at night tossing and turning was the constant affairs being held behind her back. Her future husband had women who dropped by his large estate about every night. They kept his bed warm while she slept alone on a cold mattress that could not help her restlessness. At first, this small problem did bother her because at one point she was in love with the fool. Now she didn't care, and all she wanted to do was run away and start a new life elsewhere. Yet, she would never stoop as low as he did and cheat behind his back. If she did fall for another, she would simply rebel against her father, break it off and elope. As for why they were still seen in public as a couple who were very much in love, that was due to the King. He crushed every little bug that stood in his way. He bribed people with gold or threatened them with execution.

She was still stuck in her dark thoughts when a smooth voice opened up her senses and brought her back to reality. She pulled her stare away from the mirror and peered over her slender shoulder. Behind her stood a graying lady dressed in all black and weary from a hard day of work. However, for being as tired as she was the lady still wore a sweet and comforting smile. One that lifted the princess and brought joy to her life.

"Miss Rose, are you okay? I have been standing here trying to get your attention for five minutes now. I was starting to get worried", the lady said as her smile disappeared and a frown replaced it.

Rose, the princess that at one point had no name, clumsily jumped up from the vanity seat and rushed towards the woman like a child who didn't want to be abandoned. She wrapped her thin arms around the older woman's torso for a brief moment before pulling away and stepping back to give her space. She was indeed a future ruler, but that didn't keep her from acting immaturely around the people she truly trusted.

"Ahh, Ms. Nancy, I didn't see you there. I am so sorry for worrying you. It won't happen again", Rose said with a smile plastered on her pale face. There was a sparkle in her light gray eyes, something that hadn't been there previously.

This was because Nancy was one of her people. She was someone that the princess had considered as a mother figure. For as long as Rose could remember, Nancy was always there for her. She took care of her when her mother was busy helping her father rule the country. She was even there for her when her mother fell ill and passed away. As much as she loved her birth mother, Nancy was held even higher. Plus, Nancy knew about her agonizing situation. She listened to the princess whine and complained about her fiancé's affairs, and even listened to her cry and groan about a marriage that she no longer wanted. As much as the older woman wanted to help her dear 'daughter', she knew that this was the best thing that could happen for their kingdom.