Destiny is a Strange Thing: Heartless ending

Chapter 4: Proposal

Abigail began pulling a pale blue dress over my head as I wriggled into it, feeling numb as ever.

The king was coming. The happy, awkward king. The man I have been trying to keep out of my head, trying to prolong the thought of.

My mind buzzed, what I am I to say? I simply must say no. I cannot imagine myself unhappily tied to him for the rest of my life. I fumbled to put on a pair of blue rhinestone earrings as Abigail pulled my hair into tight bun at the top of my head. I tried to rehearse the scene inside my head. My mother and father will wait patiently. He will ask for my hand. I will refuse and convince him that there are far more beautiful girls in the land who will surely interest him much more than I possibly could. My hair was pulled back tighter and tighter and I felt the tension between the strands increase and my scalp being pulled in places. Behind me I heard the door bang open. My mother framed the doorway. A crimson dress billowing out in front of her. "Catherine! What are you doing there dawdling, the king is due to arrive in ten precise minutes and I expect you ready for your beau. I can't have you having his majesty wait for you." she exclaimed shrilly. "He has tolerated enough already." I hear her murmur under her breath.

She turned to me. "Now when he proposes, I expect you to accept and be grateful for the incredible kindness he is doing you, child. Even after having you being carried off in another man's hands TWICE he is still willing to accept you. THAT is love Catherine. Not one of your silly fantasies" She said. I flinched as Abigail stuck a pin into my hair. My mother will never forgive me if I don't accept his proposal now. And she has a point. He is still willing to marry me even after everything that happened. I ought to say yes. But not him. I can never see myself have any affection for him. Ever. Even sealed in matrimony I can never love him. My mother stepped closer to me. Abigail stopped pulling my hair unbearably tight for a second. She puckered her lips, scrutinizing me head to toe. "Abigail, make her hair tighter." She said gesturing my hair. My eyes widened as my hair was stretched until I felt it was being pulled out of my head. I gritted my teeth and stayed silent as various painful adjustments were made to my appearances. After a further ten minutes my mother looked me over once more. She held my shoulders and gazed at me with glistening eyes. "You'll be the most gorgeous queen Hearts has ever seen, my beautiful daughter. I'm so proud of you." she said, eyes glazed over with a dreamy look. I forced a weak smile. Her hands once again fell to her sides as she turned and strutted away.

I exhaled as much as I could in the constricted corset. Abigail adjusted my pins and fixed some stray hairs. She smiled at me. "Go be a queen." She whispered. I sighed and let a fake smile play on my lips. Then she left so she can arrange the snacks for my 'Beau'. As soon as I was alone, I began pacing and practicing my response to the proposal. "I must say no. I will say no. I have to." I said to myself repeatedly.

On my 42nd round, my throat was raw and I doubted my decision more than ever. But I knew I must and I had to. I heard light footsteps pattering down the corridor, as I dreaded the inevitable. Abigail once again knocked gently. Opening it she whispered, "The king has arrived, my lady."

My spirits sagged.

I allowed myself to be lead down the corridor and into our parlor. There on the plush couch sat the king, gorging his mouth with some sort of tart. My father and mother sat on the couch on the side. Abigail stood at the very corner, keeping her eyes low. Next to her holding a tray of biscuits was Mary Anne. She shot me a quick glance and I stepped into the room. I looked away from her and forced myself to look at the man who is to be my husband. The king didn't seem to notice me, he was indulging himself in the assortment of pastries and desserts set before him. As I entered my mother stood up. "Ah there she is!" she gushed pulling me by the shoulder into the chair opposite the king. Once he managed to get the dessert down his throat, he beamed at me eagerly. There were crumbs in his twitching mustache and cream surrounding his lips. He hastily wiped it with the back of his sleeve. "Catherine! What a delight it is to see you again." I dipped down into a low curtsy keeping my eyes set on the rim of my dress so I wouldn't have to meet his expectant eyes. "Th-the pleasure is all m-mine I assure you." I mumbled trying to keep my voice still. "I must say, these Lemon tarts are quite exceptional. Did you bake them?" he asked in an attempt to spark conversation. I looked up. Three sunshine yellow lemon tarts sat on a silver tray. Bright and crisp. I felt a sharp tug at my heartstrings. Hot tears poked at the back of my eyes. "N-no." was all that I replied. I looked down at my lap determined not to let the tears show. Suddenly, like a bursting dam, I felt every minute I had spent with Jest, every memory of him, come flooding back to me at an excruciating speed. I felt myself drowning in them, drowning in the tears that I had cried for him. They blocked out the things happening in the room, the conversations around me. They choked me, choked my mind. I couldn't think straight anymore. I felt in each heartbeat a prominent throb. A stabbing pain. Each breath cutting me into pieces, tearing me apart. I knew then that how much ever I want to say it, how much ever I know I will be condemning myself to a loveless life. I know I will never be able to say no to the king. I am not strong enough. In front of me I see the king, eyes shining anticipating the right moment to ask. My mother and father keenly listening to each word, waiting for the moment it will happen. The king nervously clears his throat. "C-C-Catherine, my love." He starts, kneeling down on one knee. W-will you marry me and be mine forevermore?" he takes my shaking hands in his, which were slightly sticky from the desserts. His eyes waiting, hopeful. The words escaped my mouth before I knew what I was saying.

I had just accepted the king's proposal.