𝙱𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚕 𝚅𝚎𝚒𝚕

CHAPTER 33

Your parents and Beatrice nod, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and relief. Your mother pulls you into a tight hug, her hands trembling slightly. "Good night, my star," she whispers against your hair. "Sweet dreams."

Your father nods, a hint of a smile appearing on his face. "Good," he says. "Rest well, sweetheart. Tomorrow is a big day for you...and for our kingdom."

You nod, returning your mother's hug and letting your father place a reassuring hand on your shoulder. "I will," you promise. "Good night."

After a few more words of goodnight and reassurance, you and Beatrice make your way back to your rooms. The halls are hushed and quiet, the only sound the soft shuffling of your footsteps against the stone floor.

Neither of you speak, your thoughts too tangled and jumbled for words. You're both lost in your own worlds, the enormity of tomorrow's events weighing heavily on your minds.

As you approach your bedroom door, you stop, turning to face Beatrice. She looks at you, her eyes filled with a mixture of worry and excitement.

"It's really happening, isn't it?" you say softly, your voice betraying a hint of both excitement and trepidation.

Beatrice lets out a soft sigh, her eyes reflecting the same mix of emotions you feel. "It is," she replies, her voice equally quiet. "The wedding, the marriage, everything...it's all happening."

Her words hang in the air between you, the weight of their truth settling over you. The reality of tomorrow's events is both thrilling and terrifying at the same time. You can see it in Beatrice's eyes, the mixture of happiness for you and fear for the unknown.

"You have to promise me something," Beatrice says, her voice suddenly firm. She grasps your arms, her fingers digging into your skin.

You nod, a flutter of unease in your stomach. "Of course," you reply, your voice steady. "Anything."

"Promise me you won't stop being yourself," she continues, her eyes holding yours with a fierce intensity. "No matter what happens, no matter where you end up, promise me you'll always remember who you are. You're more than a princess, more than a future queen. You're Gen. And that's the most important thing in the world."

Her words strike a chord deep within you, settling over your heart like a warm blanket. You nod, your throat suddenly tight with emotion. "I promise," you manage to rasp out, your voice wavering. "I won't forget who I am. I won't let anyone change that."

Beatrice eyes soften, her grip on your arms loosening. "Good," she says bluntly. "Because I'll be the first one to kick Prince Eris in the ass if he tries to change you."

Despite the seriousness of the moment, you can't help but laugh at her declaration. The tension in the air eases slightly. "I have no doubt about that," you reply, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips.

Beatrice grins, her usual cheeky demeanor returning. "Good," she says, pulling you into a tight hug. "No one, and I mean no one, can change the woman that you are. You're strong, stubborn, and fiercely independent. And that's what's going to make you a damn good Queen."

You hug her back, feeling the weight of her words settle around you like a warm cloak. Her optimism and strength are contagious, and you feel a flicker of courage stirring within you. "Thank you," you murmur, your voice muffled by her shoulder. "I needed to hear that."

She pats your back before pulling away, her expression serious again. "You're going to be great tomorrow," she promises. "And I'll be right at your side, ready to kick anyone's ass who tries to mess with you."

"I know you will," you reply, feeling a wave of gratitude for your best friend. She's always been there for you, through the good times and bad. And tomorrow, when you're facing the biggest change of your life, she'll be there, standing strong beside you.

"Now, get to bed," Beatrice says, her voice firm but kind. "You need your rest for tomorrow. I don't want you falling asleep in the middle of your own wedding ceremony."

You let out a tired laugh, the thought of falling asleep while exchanging vows oddly funny. "I doubt that will happen," you assure her. "But you're right. I should get some sleep."

"Good," Beatrice says, nodding with satisfaction. "I'll see you first thing in the morning, bright and early. The seamstresses will be here before the sun rises, and you know how grumpy they can be when they're woken up before their first cup of coffee."

"Oh, believe me, I know," you reply with a weary smile. The thought of meeting the seamstresses and the endless fittings and preparations waiting for you in the morning is not a pleasant one.

"You'll survive it," Beatrice says, reading your thoughts. "And I'll be there to run interference if I need to. Now go, get some rest. I'll see you in the morning."

You nod, realizing further argument is useless. "Good night," you say softly, feeling exhaustion setting in. "And Bea...thank you. For everything." You pause "I love you."

Beatrice's expression softens into a small smile. "I know," she replies, her voice quieter than usual. "I love you too, Gen. Sweet dreams. And don't forget that promise you made me."

"I won't," you reassure her, feeling a wave of emotion threatening to overwhelm you.

After exchanging goodbyes with Beatrice, you walk into your room, shutting the door quietly behind you. The silence wraps around you like a thick blanket, the only sound the soft shush of footsteps on the carpeted floor.

You walk to the bed, the exhaustion beginning to make your legs feel heavy. As you sit down, the softness of the bed seems to beckon you, inviting you to lie down and forget, if only momentarily, the events of tomorrow.

You know that before you can sleep, you need to get changed out of your dress. The layers of taffeta and silk are too stiff and uncomfortable to sleep on. With a weary sigh, you stand up and walk over to the large wardrobe that stands against the wall.

The wardrobe is as wide as the wall, made of polished oak and carved with intricate designs of flowers and twining vines. You step towards it, opening the door silently. Inside, hanging on rows of wooden hangers, are countless dresses and outfits, each more elegantly designed than the last.

After a few moments of searching, you find what you're looking for - a simple nightdress made of soft cotton. The cool fabric feels soothing on your skin as you pull it on, the thin straps falling over your shoulders and the hem just skimming your knees.

You look at your reflection in the mirror - your hair is still pinned up, your makeup still flawless. Part of you wants to leave it alone. It looks beautiful, after all. But the thought of sleeping in all that finery is uncomfortable. With a flick of your fingers, you undo the pins in your hair, letting your locks fall around your shoulders. Then, with a damp cloth, you rub away the traces of eyeliner and lipstick.

Finally, feeling more like yourself, you move back towards the bed. The soft glow of the night candle on the nightstand casts dancing shadows across the room, their patterns soothing in their repetitiveness. You crawl into bed, pulling the covers up to your chin, the heavy blankets feeling like a comforting embrace.

You lay your head on the pillow, your eyes drifting shut. But despite the exhaustion in your body, you find sleep elusive. The day's events replay in your mind, the excitement and fear intermingling until you can't tell them apart anymore. The marriage, Prince Eris, Beatrice...all of it keeps swirling around, refusing to let you find peace.

After what feels like hours of tossing and turning, your mind wrestling with the day's events, exhaustion finally wins. Your eyelids grow heavy, your breathing slows, and your mind becomes fuzzy with the edges of sleep. As you slip into unconscious, the last thought in your mind is a mixture of hope and worry.