The broken queen

21.

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Nancy walked toward the room that had been designated for Princess Pearl. Three maids followed her, and as soon as the guards saw her, they bowed and opened the door. She entered the chamber.

Pearl was sleeping on the small sofa opposite the large Queen-sized bed in the chamber. Pearl had tear stains on her face as if she had been crying.

Nancy tapped Pearl on her shoulder; she was exhausted, and she didn't sleep throughout the night. She wore bitterly, thinking of how bad her life was. The man she loved only saw her as the daughter of the woman who killed his sister, and nothing could change it; nothing could ever change between them. No matter how much she tried to accept that Dominic would never love her, she could never accept it.

"Princess Pearl," Nancy called. Pearl opened her eyes slowly, there were eyes bags under her eyes. She looked up, and Nancy smiled softly at her. The maids held the wedding gown, gown, veil, and shoes on the platter.

"What is it?" She sniffed and her eyes went to the maids bowing and presenting the wedding clothing.

"Your Highness, Empress Irisa and King Dominic are waiting for you. We normally would bathe you, but there is no time, so you must dress up, and we must go."

A maid helped her up; they started pulling and undressing her; she did it with an inept understanding that she was about to put her life and her child's life on the line, hoping that the two countries would end with her marriage to Dominic.

They put the crown on her head and the veil behind her forehead. Nancy took her to the mirror, they started her make-up. She did everything bitterly. She couldn't forget everything she had gone through the last time she was in Silkon Valley.

"We must leave, Princess Pearl, time is not on our side." Pearl looked at Nancy through the mirror, she stood to her feet and took Nancy's hands. She walked out the door, the maids helped with her train of gown. The guards bowed as Nancy led her to the back of the palace. It was dawn but it was better the back of the palace for anyone to not see them.

A gust of wind hit her when she stepped out of the palace. She took Nancy's hands and helped her into the carriage. Nancy followed her in while they settled for a short trip. Pearl rubbed her hands against her lap. She was too nervous and cold.

Soon after, the carriage moved out and started the short trip towards the small church on the other side of the palace courtyard. They were silenced throughout the trip. Nancy could see how nervous Pearl was, she looked exhausted and she was too worried to sit still.

Nancy didn't agree to the marriage, she wasn't sure they had any other choice. She didn't think that Pearl should be punished for getting pregnant but who would ask for her opinion? The only way to save Pearl was to get her married.

Soon after, the carriage slowed down and stopped after a while. She looked at Nancy when the carriage door opened. Nancy alighted from the carriage first; she stretched out,r and Pearl took it. She was reluctant to take it; all the fibre insurance her body screamed against her; she didn't want to do this. She didn't think Dominic also wanted to marry her outside of having the child.

She alighted from the carriage and looked around the room, she placed her hand on her little bump and looked at the small abandoned church. For a princess, it wasn't a bad omen to get married in dawn, in an abandoned church. She took Nancy's hand and walked into the church.

An old priest, Empress Irisa, King Dominic, Gabe and a small group were sitting there, mostly from Dominic's side were there. Nancy followed her towards the front of the church. She knelt and bowed at Irisa, she smiled at him. Nancy helped her back up.