Chapter 29

He must have noticed people's reactions; it was so obvious, but he didn't seem to care. My father, on the other hand, didn't react. He just gestured toward me, As I saw him turn to me I looked down quickly, then heard the clicking sound of his footsteps as he neared before sitting on the other end of the table, facing me.

He didn't utter a word. Wasn't he Supposed to greet me or at least tell me something? I don't think Father ever told me I had fought and cried the day that my father told me he was marrying me off to some stranger, but my father was stubborn and had already made up his mind "Today I gather us to celebrate my daughter's wedding to the town billionaire,"

Father spoke when everyone was seated. He raised his golden wine cup, "Let the ceremony begin, and enjoy yourselves." People clapped while dancers and musicians walked in to entertain the guests. People seemed to enjoy themselves. I, of course, couldn't see since I was supposed to keep my gaze down, because 'that's what a lady should do'. Well then, I hated being a lady.

"Don't you like the music?" He finally asked, breaking the awkward silence. I peeked through my long lashes, but once I gazed into his eyes, it was hard to look away. They were captivating. "I do, Your Highness," I replied. "What do you have in store for the tea ceremony?" Oh no! The tea ceremony! That was the traditional part of the royal wedding where the bride had to show one of her talents to entertain the guests and impress the groom. Hell with impressing. I didn't want to impress anyone, especially not this man.

"It is a surprise, Your Highness," I said, sending him a staged fake smile. Soon it was time for the tea ceremony. I was sitting in a chair in the middle of the room, and everyone's attention was directed at me.

The guests would sit and enjoy their tea while I would have to entertain them. I took up my flute before lightly putting it on my lips and started playing. Soon my nervousness disappeared, I loved playing the flute and loved the sound of it. Closing my eyes, I let the sound take me far away, to a peaceful place. Now and then I would hear some people praising me through my haze, and they applauded when I was done. Opening my eyes, I found him staring directly at me. He wasn't applauding, but there was a hint of a smile on his face.

Now it was time for the gift exchange. We exchanged our gifts, and then it was time for me to go to my new home. The knot in my stomach returned with such intensity that I felt like throwing up. Vicky came up to me while Father spoke to my husband. Husband? The word sounded strange in my head. She took my hands in hers. "Everything will be fine," she said, "just remember what I told you".

Yes, I remember very clearly our stepmother and daughter talk. To be a good wife, to listen to your husband, and to not make him angry. "Yes, I will," I said, enveloping her in a tight hug. As a newly waded wife, I wasn't supposed to hug people, but right now I didn't care because I might never see her again. Even though we weren't on good terms.

The carriage was waiting outside. The monster, or should say, my husband led the way. I looked behind for one last time and found Lvdia and Aylor standing on the balcony, their cheeks wet with tears. All this time I had not seen my sister, I made my eyes move around to at least meet her hint but I couldn't. I wasn't ready to walk to the carriage, I felt like I could escape and run away, I wasn't truly ready for that marriage.

"Wait!" A sharp voice arose among the multitude, everybody turned to look around from where the

the voice came from. "Sister?"I couldn't believe my eyes to see her scream over my name. Over a long time, I had not seen her, I just admired seeing her even once before I got into that marriage. But thank the goddess that she had appeared. Layla came quickly and hugged me in a very tight hug. "I got you sister, and you are not going anywhere with this monster!" She whispered into my ear," Come this way!" The wedding was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, but for me, it was the worst.

I had just been forced into that arranged marriage with a man I didn't love, and I was determined to get out of it. When I met my sister, she had came to my rescue. She snuck me out of the place and took me to the beach.

"I can't believe you did this," I said as we walked along the shore. "I'm so grateful."

"I had to do something," She responsively said. "I couldn't let you marry that man." I looked out at the ocean. The waves were crashing against the rocks, and the wind was blowing my hair in my face. It was a beautiful day, and I felt a sense of freedom that she hadn't felt in a long time. "I don't know what I'm going to do now," I said. "I can't go back home, neither will I be back to my apartment."

"You can stay with me," she asked "We'll figure something out." I had a weak smile. For I knew I was
lucky to have such kind of a sister. A few minutes later; I was happily walking on the beach by myself just a few minutes after I had assured my sister that I would be home by the end of the day.

Thereafter she had left me in the Cafe, in the middle of that beach. That place was cool and the terrains were nice to me. I was busy praising the beauty of the ocean, frankly fantasizing about how fun it was to be alongside my sister.

Just a few moments ago, she had inspired warmth into my heart, however, I could still think of that monster 'my husband to be' to whom we already had been married to.