Part 30. The Wretched Engagement

The day she had been dreading the most dawned upon her. Talia, never in her wildest dream, imagined that she was letting it happen. Not doing anything to stop it. Then again, Ajaxson promised Lukas that it's nothing but a fake relationship, something to make their parents happy. Nothing else. She truly wanted to believe him. 









Her sisters refused to leave her side, insisting on adorning her with all the jewels and bestowing with exquisite material for her gown. The moon princess accepted all of that with a fake curve of her lips. Artemis and Clio were the only people who understood her inner turmoil.







She had, however, tried to remain calm throughout everything, wearing her silver crystal crown -encircled with tiny strands of ivy and blooming flowers-on her head. It not only kept her long hair perfectly in place but made her look like a powerful princess.









Funny how that worked. Talia felt precisely the opposite of powerful, longing to see her Prince. After that day, he kept his word and did not show up at her place. Not even a single letter from his side. The latter part hurt, but that must be nothing compared to the kind of pain she's putting him through.









Right now, Talia was thoroughly enjoying the complete silence surrounding her like a bubble. It was something she never got in Mt. Olympus, what with the sounds of people chattering and milling around always present in the background. She was asked to rest in chambers until someone came to escort her. 









All alone, she couldn't see the smirk on Heras face or listen to the equally revolting ideas she had for the marriage ceremony. There's only so much the moon princess could take, in all honesty.









"Your Highness! Its time"









That lasted for a second. She huffed under her breath, blinking at one of the maids standing in the doorway. 











"You look simply gorgeous, your honour." 









Talia hummed. Her skin looked the prettiest shade of golden under the sun's fading rays, and her hair was a gorgeous colour caramel, styled into a simple braid, with loose curls tucked behind her ear. The pink of her cheeks and plump cheeks particularly accentuated under the light, making her glow. 









Stepping in the main hallway where her engagement was to take place, she huffed a breath. The air was warm and pure around her, scented with the faintest trace of roses and chocolate in it floating through the breeze.









The moon princess took in the familiar faces, noticing how her uncles were missing among the crowds. She was aware that Zeus was fighting with them about something silly and, out of spite, did not send them any invites.  









“Let’s go” Hera nudged her to the raised platform in the corner, where she could see everyone. 







Her eyes kept searching for certain someone.







Ajaxson arrived a few minutes later, grinning at her as he stepped through the gates. Cheers rang in the air as he stood by her side, their parents nudging them closer. The entire fiasco was making her temples throb in pain. 









“You look lovely, my dear fiancé.”









The moon princess battled with the inner urge to tell Ajaxson not to take any of this to his heart. To tell him that this wasn't happening. He was becoming attached to her and drunkenly confessed having genuine feelings for her now. It wasn't a shallow infatuation anymore, and he might have misunderstood her once or twice already. 







“Thank you”







Their parents cooed, gushing about the couple to others who came to hand their gifts. Another tradition. The couple were supposed to get blessings and gifts before the engagement took place. Judging from the crowd gathered in the living hall, Talia knew that she was in for a very long day.

***

Her cheeks hurt from trying to smile too much, thanking every single of them as she took the expensive wrapped gifts. Mostly jewellery or crystal dishes. That’s what they handed out during the engagement.









Just then, her eyes fell on the Prince. The love of her life. Lukas kept motioning her something, but she couldn’t take a hint. 









When Ajaxson tried to break their eye contact, she stepped on his feet with her heels. Hard.









“Talia," Hera gasped, grey brows knitting together. "What is the matter with you?"









The moon princess shrugged. "Nothing. I just slipped."









Her betrothed leered at her, but amusement did seem to linger somewhere around his eyes. She sent him a slight grimace while he affectionately caught her hand, placing a tiny kiss atop her knuckles. Her face fumed at that. Did he have a death wish? 









“You should be careful, my dear.”









“Could I be excused?” She boldly asked, catching Lukas eyes.









From the way he kept on motioning her, the Prince wanted to say something. But what was so important, Lukas could not wait till the end of the day? 









Her stepmother made a sound. “What for?”









"I'd like to eat," She replied, raising a pointed brow at the dining room.









Hera rolled her eyes, running a hand down Talia’s crown, "Wait for your father to call to the table, my dear. I don't know what is the matter with you today.”









Talia chewed on her lips, trying not to glare at her. Her stepmother acted as if she didn’t know the reason behind her sour mood. Only if others acknowledged the flair Hera had for arts.









“You should smile more; it’s your engagement after all.”







With that, the moon princess forced a smile on her face.

***

Good food and wine came first, even before the engagement. The main event is supposed to be at the end, like a dessert so everyone could be more attentive.









Talia pressed her lips in a straight line and managed to untangle her hand from Ajaxson, locking both of them behind her back. Back straight and chin high, she averted her gaze from the group, just in sync with the overwhelming need to escape crawling up the back of her throat.









Dinner commenced ten minutes later; Talia forced to sit at the head chair along with her betrothed. She noticed that Lukas was not pleased with the arrangement, seated at the far end of the table due to his rank. 









Apart from that, Talia thought about his gestures a while ago. What was he trying to tell her? 









The clinking of glasses ultimately brought her back to the present. She found Lukas studiously watching her in his periphery, unbeknownst to how long he'd been doing so, but she refrained from looking back. 







She trained her eyes on where Zeus was carefully clinking his glass of dessert wine with a silver spoon, beginning to stand. Talia stared passively as the man raised his glass towards Ajaxson, smiling at the rest of them serenely.











“My son in law, here prepared a good speech for his soon to be wife. He would like to say few words before we begin our dinner.” 







Breathless, she watched the scene unfold before her eyes: her stepmother's noise of explicit delight, Zeus grinning at his future son in law. Why were they so excited?









Ajaxson was ready to express his love for her, pour in few words which will be a final coffin, convince everyone. 







Everything came to a standstill as the sound of glass breaking echoed around. Talia froze in her seat, eyes wide as her eyes found Lukas. What was he doing? The Sun Prince flipped the cloth in one harsh tug, making all the expensive cutlery on the table clatter to the ground. 









"You are a disgrace, Ajaxson!” Lukas yelled, the echo booming around the walls. “How can you still convince me this means nothing? That’s right because you are a cold-blooded killer, a cruel man chasing after the love of my life." By the end of his sentence, it made all the people whip their heads to the Sun Prince. Murmurs and gasps began echoing around. 









"What are you doing, you heathen?!" Hera whispered, tears brimming in her grey eyes, as she pressed the back of her hand to her red lips. Her crown was tilted, cheeks growing red and untidy mascara uncharacteristically framed her waterline.









Zeus immediately came to his wife side, teeth grinding as he scowled at Lukas. It made all the gods and goddesses rise to their feet instantly, wary of their Kings wrath. 









“Everyone, please be seated”, He calmly started. “My staff will take excellent care of you while I get this minor issue sorted out.”









The coldness behind his words made her cringe. She was physically unable to move as Zeus asked Lukas and Ajaxson to follow him, heading inside one of the rooms. Hera’s heels clicking against the patio floor, her stride lavished with bliss. 







“Talia, daughter of mine, follow us”, Her father commanded before disappearing. 







Teeth already gritted, the moon attempted to brush the tears forming in her eyes.







Artemis voice sounded far away, but the concern was evident as she kept shaking her. The moon princess flinched, cringing away from her sister. Her body felt too big for her skin, almost making her want to curl up. 









“Talia, come on. Get up!”









She couldn't talk, throat raw and hurting against every swallow. Her muscles didn't cooperate when she desperately tried to get on her feet, knees wobbling. Somehow she managed to find steady ground, securing a firm grip on the table before turning towards the hallway.









Talia swallowed the lump formed in her throat,  her eyes narrowing. She worried about what waited on the other side of the room. 

***



Tell me what you think so far? There will be two updates tomorrow (hopefully?)