The Royal Arrangement

Chapter 8

24/3/2019 (2218 Words)

Ariana's POV

My body froze when I heard him speak those words. It was like an ice bucket had been thrown over me and I was frozen in place. I was only just able to say 'I do' and get the ring the prince's finger and let him get the two on mine before I could feel my legs about to give way. The prince noticed and pulled me into his arms just as we were pronounced husband and wife. He gave me a quick look, then placed a kiss right beside my lips, so that to everyone else it would look as if he had really kissed me. He took my hand and led me to a side room, presumably to fill out the wedding certificate.

Once we were out of sight of prying eyes, he directed me to a chair and leant against the wall opposite me in silence until we heard Alessia and the king's voices. The king entered the room first with a cold expression but was immediately followed by Alessia who had a juxtaposing glint in her eyes that made me feel a tiny bit more comfortable in the company of two very intimidating men. The prince and I signed the wedding certificate with King George, Alessia and my dad to witness it, then the king took the prince to the other end of the room to have a hushed, and by the look I saw on the prince's face, a very aggravating conversation. It left me in the company of just my dad, as Alessia had gone to make sure to make sure the reception was ready, and gave us time to talk.

''Give him hell Ariana.'' My dad told me with a small smile tugging at his lips and a slight nod of his head in the direction of the prince.

''Of course.'' I replied simply with a little smile of my own. I hugged him with as much strength and love as I could muster into a single action, but separated from him after only a few seconds as the prince and walked back over to us and was waiting to enter the reception.

I made my way over to the doors and stood beside him, just as the doors were opening, he grabbed my hand and threaded it through his angled arm.

''Just go with it.'' He murmured out of the corner of his mouth. I nodded and looked forward, as if having my arm linked with the prince's was nothing out of the ordinary.

We entered the room and were immediately met with an oncoming sea of cheerful and congratulatory faces, though it was easy to see past many of those masks and to the real faces of the upper class. Most of them looked down on my family and friends. After the 'meet and greet' portion of the day, the rest past in a blur. Soon the prince was approaching me whilst I stood to the side of the room with Holly, Gemma and Toby, telling me that we had to leave for our flight. I could only give him a small nod of acknowledgement and he told me to meet him at the top table in ten minutes to announce our departure. I made my way up to him once I had said my emotional goodbye's to my family and five minutes later we were walking out of the hall, arm in arm.

We entered the lift just outside the hall and the prince pressed the 5th button.

''You look beautiful, Ariana.'' The prince said, interrupting the silence.

''Oh, um... t-thank you your highness''.

''You're my wife, you can call me Lorenzo.'' He said stiffly, but still with some kindness. All I could do was give him one of my now well-practiced and weak smiles.

The lift came to a stop and the pri- Lorenzo stood aside to let me out ahead of him. We walked into a huge and grand living room with an open layout. The kitchen was to the side, fully equipped for whatever you wanted to make with a decently sized round table and chairs, there were also five doors leading out of the main area.

''Your highness-''

''Lorenzo.'' He cut in.

''Lorenzo, who's place is this?'' I asked.