Forgotten

-Chapter 37-

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One day until I become Mrs. Romano, Queen of Facia and Gaiden. One day until Leo and I have to put on the best show of our lives. One day until the games truly begin. I sat up groggily, my head spinning. Last night was a mess of memories. The only thing I clearly remember is Leo's hands gently caressing me. I'll cherish that moment forever; it'll be the only one.

I didn't really want anyone bothering me today. Despite my amazing sleep last night, I was still extremely tired, more so mentally. With all the drama going on I feel I can't keep up. And it's more exhausting than any physical workout.

I sat for a while, staring at the wall before me. Knock, knock, knock. I looked up at my door as it slowly creaked open. Queen Gabriella came slowly walking in. "I'm sorry if I am disturbing you, Princess." She spoke sheepishly. I shook my head, "You're good. What do you need?" I questioned and she gave me a small smile before sitting beside me on the bed. The intimate action shocked me, and I shied away from her. "I wanted to give you something that's been in my family for years." Gabriella reached into her petticoat and pulled out and small giftbox wrapped in silky white ribbon. "It's a tradition for each woman to wear it when they wed."

I untied the ribbon, and it floated onto my lap. Listing the lid carefully, I gasped at the beautiful head piece inside. It was a small flower crown. The "branches" were made of carefully crafted gold and had such intense detailing it looked like it was simply twigs painted in gold. The flowers were made of various colored crystals, each shaped into some sort of petal. It shone under the light of my bedroom, and I held it up to get a clearer look. "It's beautiful," I whispered, then turned to smile at the Queen, "Thank you." She just nodded and stood back up.

"Thank you for making my son feel again. I can see it in his eyes. He looks just like that happy little boy again. It's been so long." She mumbled the last sentence and my heart broke. I wish the look she saw in his eyes was real just so the happiness she felt had a purpose. But it was just as much a figment of imagination like the rest of the relationship was. "See you tomorrow." I called as she was walking out. She turned, gave me a loving smile, and then left the room, closing the door softly behind her. All this lying was really starting to make me feel insane. I stood, placing the crown gently on top my desk, and then laid down to sleep.

...

"Princess! Princess, wake up!" My eyes refused to open, even to respond to the incessant voice that kept repeating itself. "Athena!" My eyes shot open. "Finally." Selena huffed. Her face was hanging over mine and I groaned before rolling over. "No. It is your wedding day you must get up." My head shot up quickly, making me dizzy. My wedding day?! How the hell. "You've slept the past fifteen hours, Princess. What has you in such a tizzy you should need that much rest?" She didn't even let me respond before she kept talking, "It's six in the morning, time to get ready if you want to be on schedule." She said promptly before the yanking the pillow from under my head. I groaned and flipped back over. "Fine." I hissed and sat up. Selena gasped and my adrenaline spiked, instantly checking the room for danger.

"Oh, my heavens, your hair!?" She shrieked and I rolled me eyes. I thought someone had died. "Blah, blah." I mumbled and she crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at me. "It's the biggest day of your life, darling. Get up." Then she sashayed over to my door and stood next to it, waiting for me to leave. I stood up, took a second to gather all my consciousness, and followed her out of my bedroom. "I bet your excited to finally move to Prince Leo's room tonight." Selena gushed as we walked down the hall. Her silky hair swished gracefully across her back and my half-awake self was mesmerized. "Yeah. Very excited." I mumbled and she just tsked me.

I had truthfully completely forgotten about that. People thought it was weird that I wasn't sleeping in Leo's room and so we told everyone we were waiting until we were married. They didn't question it after that. Selena guided me into one of the palace's ginormous staff bathrooms that she has completely cleared out except for everyone that was in the wedding. Aries and Sofia were already in here, patiently waiting for Selena's demands and they started laughing as soon as they saw me. "Bridezilla called, she wants her look back." Sofia cackled and I rolled my eyes at her stupid joke. Aries just giggled. I finally looked in the mirror and almost laughed at myself. My hair has never been so ratty and deep, purple eyebags hung under my eyes. Drool was dried to my cheeks and my silk pajama set was in desperate need of a steaming.

"Let's get started!" Selena shouted, clapping loudly, "I want all the ladies' makeup done within the next hour and I want the mens' hair to be so shiny I can see my reflection." Selena's staff got to work right away. The man that did my makeup the other day came up to me, smiling so big I couldn't see the rest of his face. "I am so honored you chose my makeup look." he gushed as he started setting up his products, "It's like, the biggest accomplishment of my entire life." He peered up at me through his thin-framed glasses and I noticed he had purple contacts in to match his purple hair. I smiled, "Well, thank you for doing it." My tone was extremely awkward, but he didn't even notice as he happily got to work.

Two hours later my hair and makeup were completely finished and Selena immediately got me standing to put my dress on. Aries and Sofia joined me to get dressed as well and they wouldn't stop fawning over my new look. "You look so gorgeous." Aries said softly and I smiled at her. Sofia just continuously rambled about how excited she was for me to become her "sister". "You're already like a sister to me." I replied and she rolled her eyes, "Not officially."

Once we were all ready and dressed, we stood admiring ourselves in the mirror. Sofia and Aries looked gorgeous. Aries usually curly hair was straitened and lay flat against her back, all the way down her waste. Sofia's was curled into perfect beach waves, and she looked as beautiful as ever. Something was missing, though. The flower crown.

I started to rush to the exit of the bathroom, but Selena threw herself in front of the door. "You cannot go out there, Princess. We don't know where the prince is and he can't see you." I rolled my eyes and tried to get past her, "I need my flower crown, it was a gift from the Queen." "Then I'll have someone send a help bot to get it, just please stay here." I stepped away and sighed, "Fine."

Not even five minutes later there was a knock on the door. I rushed over and opened it to achieve my crown. What I saw, though, was much more heartbreaking. "Ina?" I whispered. My lifeless friend just stared at me through soulless eyes. "I have a delivery for Princess Athena." Her robotic tone made me shiver. Her my best friend was, on my wedding day, but not in the way I had wanted her to be. She held the crown out, staring at me. Waiting. I carefully took it as a tear rolled down my cheek. She turned and walked away, her mechanics softly humming until I couldn't hear it at all. Another tear fell. And the another until I collapsed on the ground.

"Athena!" Sofia yelled as she came rushing to my side, helping me to stand. My cries were silent, but she saw the streaks on my face. "What happened?" She whispered as she wiped the tears away with her thumb. "Why would they send Ina? Especially today?" I whispered and I saw the realization hit Sofia's face. She wrapped me in her arms and rubbed my back, "I'm so sorry, A." Selena came over in a rush, "What's going on?" I looked up at her and screamed, "Your makeup! Makeup emergency, I need backup."

Once Sofia calmed me down and they fixed my makeup, it was time. "Ready?" Sofia asked as we walked towards the castle's chapel. "Ready." I replied, more for myself than her. We stopped at the doors that opened to the aisle in the chapel and I took a deep breath. Angelo suddenly appeared, out of breath from rushing her. "Sorry," he wheezed, "I got caught up with something." I just laughed and Sofia glared at him before they linked arms. The classic wedding music started, and the doors opened. Aries walked first, holding the rings. Then Angelo and Sofia. I heard soft "oohs" and "awhs" from the crowd as they admired the dresses. Then it was my turn. With my head bent low I stepped into the room. Then I looked up. His eyes locked on mine, blazing. My eyes locked on his, flaming. We were fire on fire, and this was about to be one big explosion.