The Bride

Chapter 12//: A snobby, rude model

♕✿~♕✿~Chapter 12//: A snobby, rude model♕✿~♕✿~

Alexis' POV

"Miss? We have this dress for your date with His Majesty," one of my maids says quietly, offering me a dress.

Distractedly, I wave her off. "No, I don't want to wear a dress. I'll just take some pants and a shirt," I tell her.

The maid shares a look with the other two maids, a look of confusion apparent on all of their faces. Never have I ever gone for a casual look when I was going on a date with Ahren.

The young ladies all seem to hesitate to listen to my order, sure that they misheard me. I could hear their thoughts, left out in the open for any Whisper to hear.

Did she really ask for that?

Maybe she actually said something else, and we just didn't hear properly. I need to sleep more.

I'm surprised she's not asking for another revealing dress like she usually does.

I shut out the thoughts, not interested in hearing more. It always hurt slightly when I had to hear what people honestly thought of me. It was never anything good.

"People don't expect you to be nice, Alexis. They expect you to play dirty. To be mean. So keep up the appearance or you'll just be boring news to the rest of Norta." My mom's words flash into my head. In a sick, twisted way, she was right. I was expected to be a snobby, rude model. And I had to keep up the look and stay on the news. It would help my popularity as a model.

"Didn't I tell you guys what to do?" I force all of my confusion and frustration from the past few days into my voice, making it sound annoyed and dangerous.

The maids jump and quickly rush out of the door, not questioning my order again.

I let out a shaky breath, the adrenaline pumping through me. It was tiring keeping up with the 'snobby, rude model' look. It took effort to insult everyone on a daily basis and bring drama.

But according to my mother, being nice wasn't going to help me in any way.

♡

"Alexis, what are you doing? You're wasting time," mom says in exasperation, grabbing my phone out of my hand.

A whine starts to escape my mouth, but I shove it down as mom throws me a warning look.

"You should be preparing to meet the prince. You have to plan what you're going to say and do," mom chastises me, an accusing look in her eye.

I let out a sigh. "Mom, this Choosing is to find love. It's all about romance, not manipulation."

She shakes her head at me. "That's where you're wrong, Alexis. This is your chance to be queen. It's a chance for you to have power. Forget love, it's not important. What you need to focus on in life is to be successful. Not a petty thing like love." Mom rolls her eyes.

I frown. "Well, can you really say that? I mean, you married dad because you love hi-"

"Oh, please. Your father means nothing to me on that level. He was from a High House. I saw the power, and I took a chance. Now it's time for you to do that," mom tells me in a voice that suggests she thinks she's superior to me and knows what's best.

I swallow down a lump in my throat. "Right. Of course," I murmur, not wanting to have a conversation with her anymore. "I get it mom. You're right. I remember everything you've told me to do: do whatever I need to do to get the prince's attention, use my looks, and get rid of the other competition. Easy enough," I say sarcastically.

Mom doesn't get the sarcasm. Instead, she nods at me, pleased that I remembered her 'words of wisdom'. Her words, not mine.

"And don't forget, act like everyone supposes you act," she reminds me. I feel empty as I reply with a "right."

"Why do I have to act like people expect me to, anyways?" I murmur under my breath, not intending for my mother to hear. But of course she hears and answers it for me even when I don't want an answer.

"Because the person Norta expects you to be causes trouble, which keeps you in the news. More people know about you. Simple as that. Try to keep up, Alexis," mom berates me once more before finally leaving my room.

♡

The door to my room opens up again, my maids hustling back in with the clothes I asked for. White jeans and a navy blue shirt, the colors of my house. I silently take the clothes from them, staring at the fabrics.

"I can get dressed myself," I dismiss the maids quietly. Not wanting to test my temper again, they leave my room immediately.

This date with Ahren didn't feel...right. But the cameras had been there, and the Alexis Merandus everyone thought they knew wouldn't hesitate to accept a date with His Majesty.

But the real Alexis Merandus didn't think it was right to go on a date with Ahren when Madison was out there, possibly getting tortured or something worse than that. A nauseous feeling in my stomach formed as I got dressed for the date. It didn't feel right to continue the Choosing when it was clear Ahren and Madison had had something during the competition. And yet Ahren was continuing the Choosing, like everyone expected him to.

Maybe we were more alike than I thought.

We were both acting for the sake of everyone else. People's expectations on us were forcing us to make decisions that we might not normally make. Our character was being shaped by others. We were letting ourselves be controlled.

And frankly, I was getting sick of letting that happen.

Shouldn't I be able to live how I want, without others forcing me to make certain decisions?

As I laced up my shoes and walked to the door, my mind being overrun with other people's thoughts, I came to an answer.

Yes. Yes I should.

♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~

Sorry this update took a bit longer to come. I was binge watching some Netflix and got carried away (oops).

This chapter is dedicated to Lelushio who wanted a chapter in Alexis' POV to show she's not as monstrous as everyone thinks she is. After all, everybody has a story, and Alexis has one. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and the little look into Alexis' life.

Have a great week!

Glass_Sword