My Royal Story

Epilogue

Two Weeks Later:
I stood behind the large wooden doors wearing a long white dress. My arms were covered by lace sleeves and a lace veil cascaded down my back and down to the floor. I held I bouquet of white lilies in my hands, my engagement ring sparkled on my finger.

Music began playing and the large doors opened. I walked down the petal-covered aisle. To my left I saw Ramona and Dominic smiling at me from the center of a crowd.

I imagined my father, mother, and sister sitting in front of them. Mom and Dad holding their hands and crying. Ana smiling at me, proud. But I shook the image out of my head, they were my past, my past that I didn't want to remember.

I looked ahead of me and saw soldiers lined up on the wall. They made me think of Luke. But that wasn't important today. Luke was one of the worst parts of my life, and I didn't want to remember that either.

I approached the end of the aisle and stood next to Bradley. His eyes sparkled and made me smile. He held my hand as we turned to face the minister.

The minister began to go through the marriage spiel. I can't remember the exact words but I do remember saying, "I do."

Bradley did the same. We exchanged rings and then the minister turned to just me, "Princess Lily of New Michigan, to you promise to be loyal to your entire state, to keep it safe, and to do what's best for your people?"

"I do."

"Then I now pronounce you King Bradley and Queen Lily of New Michigan, you both may now kiss."

Bradley wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me. That was when I realized that it wasn't my past that mattered, it was my future.