Under the Water (Book 1)

fourteen

The next morning I feel exuberant. I nearly laugh at the feeling I am brought with. I feel Happy. That alone gets me out of bed to brush my hair, put my makeup and dress myself with the long puffy red dress that has white designs etched across all the sides, hems, and the edges of the long beautiful dress. I twirl around the room humming. My hair is pulled back in a Twist faux braid that I proudly did myself. I've styled the fronts.

Lastly I go into my safe at the edge of my room and see my crown the one made for today and until I become queen. It's to symbolize the heir. The gold leaves surrounding the crown represent that I will do anything for my country. There are little rubies in the crown specially for me.

By the time Ali comes in I am all ready for today. She lets out a long whistle.

"You look so perfect Scarlett. " She smiles at me and I hug her tightly.

"Ali will you take a job as my assistant for me after today so I won't have to stop seeing you?" She nods before making final touches on my dress and makeup before shooing me out of my room and towards the stairs to the engagement room but I take a slight detour going down to the room that I know Ansell is in.

I knock on the door and hear someone unlocking it. Its him. The blood rushes to my head quickly and I smile at him saying;

"Is it against the rules to see you before the ceremony?" He gapes at me.

"I don't know, but I do know that nobody could wear that better than you. " He pulls me up to him, with me falling into him as if we're dancing. But no this is real and he is holding me, draping in his arms and he kisses me on the cheek. His lips are sweet like sugar but not sticky, just perfect like him.

I breathe in that moment for a long time, wanting to savor it. His hair falls over his eyes while he looks down at me still in his arms. His crown is on and its gold like mine. Its more kingly than mine since he is a guy but they match perfectly. His suit is white with little red etches on it, symbols of power, marriage, and strength. He makes me stronger.

"I've never kissed anyone." I whisper to him and he grins;

"Well when we are engaged I will make sure that your first kiss is perfect Scarlett. "

"Really?"

"Absolutely." He doesn't hesitate one bit. I smile back at him, happy. Its different than what I usually feel. I feel like I can actually rule the Aurum Imperium, that I won't mess up. That feeling alone is enough to make me soar but to add that I have someone who will listen to me for a change.

"Are you ready?" I ask him as he steps out the door, taking my hand. I accept it and walk down the stairs with him almost eager to get to know him better.

We match perfectly and we look amazing or how a future king and Queen should look, scary, beautiful, flawless. That is how he makes me feel. The people around us, guests, people from the inner circle and servants gape at us walking to the court room together.

I just see a blur of faces in the crowd and that is all that they should be. I spot my family at the head of the room with people around them asking questions but when Ansell and I walk in the room they all fall silent.

"Let's get this started. " The king announces and tells us to stand by the throne that usually my parents occupy but today it's mine and Ansell's for the taking.

The ceremony takes about 3 hours and when we finish the kings (Both Argentum and Aurum) announce a lunch in the dining hall. Amelia, Becca, and Kaidenn sit with the dutchess' and dukes. I dont even see the new servants around the room watching me. But they are. They are always watching

I eat silently at the head of the table with Ansell.

I see a kitchen servant with faded blue eyes and jet black hair come up to me and refill my water glass and I shake him off not even caring.

The lunch take at least 2 hours and then they have the after party which takes who knows long. But all I know is when I exit that door with Ansell and up to my room it's almost 11 at night and I spent the whole day indoors.

"I leave tomorrow." Ansell says at my door. I turn to him and say confused;

"Tomorrow? When will you be back?" I ask quickly eagerly.

"Soon enough. Hopefully next week. You be good okay?" He takes my face in his hands and kisses the top of my head bidding me good night.

"Okay. Goodnight. " I say to him.

That night once I am ready to go to bed do I realize that I don't mind so much anymore that I'm getting married.