Color of Roses

Ceremony

Chapter 26

I hardly fight the women who come to measure me for a dress I didn't want to wear. I was bathed, waxed, coated in perfume, and oiled from head to toe in preparation for whatever King Byron had planned tonight. The women returned with a light blue strapless dress. Diamonds of different sizes lined the waistline and the skirt flowed down to my feet. My hair was brushed to the side in ringlets and large earrings with cascading diamonds dangled from my earlobes. Even though I've been groomed and styled before many a times, this felt different.

The women whisper their approval before leaving me alone in my room. I glance at myself once more at the mirror. My face looked the same but I just hardly recognized myself. My door opens and I turn to face Nico.

"You look stunning," he says quietly.

"I can't do this," I say in a hushed tone.

"You have to. I know this is a lot to take in right now. But think of the future of Wysteria if you follow through with this marriage. Wysteria and Stein will be united and both kingdoms will benefit from it. Wysteria has many supplies and farmlands that are essential for Stein. We have the biggest military in the country and Wysteria could use us."

"I don't care about any of that," I argue. "I want my people happy and safe. I'm sure they're livid right now with Stein."

"You'd be surprised," Nico scoffs before looking over me one last time before giving me his approval to leave. We exit my room and I follow beside him nervously. He wraps my arm around his and I hadn't noticed he'd changed into one of Stein's uniforms. We descend the stairs and into a set of large doors below the upper walkway. My heart pounds and I pull back. "I don't feel well," I say quickly.

Nico pulls me forward and opens the door to a large ballroom. Long tables covered in assortments of food dishes align the walls and people of all sorts stand about them picking at their small plates. Heads turn towards us and I realize they're all looking at me. Nico ushers down the ballroom towards the front where Byron rests on throne overlooking the party. He rises once he sees me and steps down to greet me.

I stand before him my eyes never wavering from his face. He doesn't smile when he takes my hand and leads me to the small throne beside him. "Sit," he commands and I do. We sit silently as we watch the partygoers dance to the orchestrated music. Hours must have passed as people begin to leave and Byron remains seated at his throne without speaking a single word. People glance at me with curious eyes and I look away each time.

Byron finally stands and helps me rise from sitting for so long. His silver eye watches me and I gaze back. I can't read his face and his eyes are just as lifeless as he is. He pulls me close and his lips brush my ear. "You can return to your room now." He backs away and descends the steps and walks with the man in glasses to a group of men gathered near the champagne glasses. I stand there for a few minutes before forcing my feet to move and leave the room. I retrace my steps back to my room and I pull off my jewelry and throw it at the mirror. I pull off the dress and collapse to my bed in my underwear. I scream into my pillow allowing more tears to leave my eyes. I can't do this. I can't live like this anymore.