AVERY

  Finally, it was the day of the wedding. Everyone was running around and getting everything ready. Since the sun rose, I was already up and about. My maids washed me properly, fixed my hair, and did my makeup.

  The ceremony will begin before lunch time and I was a few hours away from getting married. I stared at my reflection on the mirror and almost did not recognize myself.

  I was wearing a light shade of pink on my eyes, a rosy pink blush on my cheeks and soft pink on my lips. My hair was tied in a messy bun decorated with small flowers and pearls. My dress was long. My shoulders were exposed and the top part of the dress was shaped like a heart.

  "You look so beautiful as a bride, Avery." Meylin said from behind me. I smiled and looked at her from the mirror.

  "Do you really think so?" I giggled, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

  She nodded and sniffled. She was wearing a simple pink dress because I told her that I wanted her to attend my wedding as a friend, not a maid.

  "Her Majesty did not want to come in here because she said she might just burst into tears." Meylin said and laughed.

  I laughed as well and sighed, "Mother can be so dramatic sometimes. I completely understand."

  We stayed in the room for a few moments, waiting for someone to call us. We talked about our childhood and how we always got scolded by our mothers, erasing the anxious feeling of the wedding. A couple more moments passed and Captain Richtan called us.

  "It's time, Your Highness." Meylin sighed and smiled. We both got up and she fixed my veil.

  As I walked towards the venue, my heart pounded loudly against my chest. My mind was blank, but there was only one thing that came into my mind.

  I wonder what Typhone looks like in his suit.

  **********

  It felt like a long walk to the altar and I was getting anxious as I held the bouquet of pink roses. Once we stopped in front of the large oak doors, I took a deep breath and waited for the guards to open them. A few moments later, the doors opened and I felt all the guests turn their eyes on me.

  I kept my head bowed, but I decided to take a peek. Everyone was really looking at me, however, there was a big problem.

  He's not standing at the end of the aisle. He... He's not there.

  We waited for a couple of minutes and I stood there looking like a fool waiting for a groom that went missing. They were all waiting. Minute after minute passed and Typhone still has not arrived.

  "The runaway groom, huh?" I mumbled under my breath, the side of my eyes stinging as tears threatened to fall.

  Just as I was about to curse the King of Beasts in my head, a loud boom and roar came from behind me. I immediately turned and there, I saw a beautiful shiny red dragon mounted by none other than King Typhone. Everyone was panicking, but the knights calmed them down and I watched as the king unmount his dragon, caressing his scales. All of the knights approached him, made a path for him and stood straight as a sign of respect.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  The dragon left and King Typhone was slowly approaching me. His white suit and pants complimented his tanned skin so beautifully. There was a gold chain attached from his coat to his shirt. There was also the familiar rose brooch that was attached beside the cold chain. His hair was slicked back in a messy way.

  I swallowed thickly and looked up just as he stopped in front of me. He took my gloved hand and kissed my knuckles.

  "I'm sorry for being late, princess. I hope I didn't upset you." He whispered softly.

  I huffed, trying to really sound upset, "No, but it made me mad."

  He chuckled and placed my hand to wrap around his muscular arm. We looked ahead and watched the guests stare at us. We then walked down the aisle side by side and I felt my cheeks heat up from our brief talk earlier.

  The ceremony began and that's when I realized something.

  Oh. I'm... I'm getting married.

  **********

  After the ceremony, the banquet was held in our huge ballroom which was only used a few times a year for important banquets like birthdays and victory celebrations.

  I stood by my husband's side the whole time and talked to the guests. I was starting to get tired, and was surprised that Typhone noticed it.

  "Shall we take a seat, princess?" He asked, wrapping his arm gently around my shoulders.

  "Oh. Uhm... no. I'm alright. Don't worry." I smiled a little, but he was not taking no for an answer so he gently led me to a couch.

  He sat beside me, "Do you want me to massage your feet, princess?"

  He was teasing and I playfully slapped his arm.

  "I do not need that and also, why are you still calling me 'princess'? Were already married so that makes me..." I paused because I could not believe that I was about to say that word.

  "Yes. You are my Queen now, but... I enjoy calling you princess. It's become a habit." He chuckled and I huffed, blushing slightly at his words.

  "Congratulations on your wedding, Your Majesties." A voice said.

  I looked up to see King Ferhann with his signature red suit and a woman dressed in a fitted dark blue gown that was really sparkling. She had beautiful silky black hair and thick red lips.

  "Ferhann. I see you've brought along... Lady Emillya." Typhone said. He sounded disgusted and I looked up at him.

  He looked down at me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders as he introduced me to the woman.

  "Have you met my wife, Queen Avery Orianna? My dear, meet Lady Emilya Prothens of Traciana Empire." He introduced with such confidence. I was about to stand to greet the woman, but he held me back in my seat.

  Lady Emillya looked embarrassed and bowed to both of us, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."

  Did she... intentionally really say that?

  "That's 'Your Majesty' to you, Lady Emillya." Typhone growled in a firm tone.

  "I apologize, Your Majesty. Where are my manners?" She giggled and bowed to me again.

  King Ferhann chuckled and said, "Come now, Fervocour. Why are you embarrassing your previous fiancé like that?"

  Fiancé? This woman became his... fiancé?

  "That was the past, Ferhann. That woman was better off in the streets rather than on my bed." Typhone glared at the couple before us and both of them stiffened at his words.

  A lot of people heard Typhone's words and started whispering amongst themselves. King Ferhann and Lady Emillya bowed and congratulated us once more before leaving.

  Typhone sighed and looked at me. I tilted my head to the side as if asking him what happened earlier.

  "Emillya was offered to be my fiancé by his father who was a Duke of Traciana. I accepted because the Empire is known for being a really great donor to the needy." He explained while rubbing circles on my shoulder.

  "Then? What got you to call it off?" I asked, scooting a bit closer to him.

  "The king and queen of Traciana is very kind, firm, and their political people are held on a tight leash. However, Duke Prothens offered her to me to get a higher position which we didn't know at first. Emillya was clingy, but when I'm leaving for a mission, she'd often have men in her room." He looked at me and my eyes were wide open.

  "Then, you broke it off?"

  "Yes. Because I did not like that she was bringing different men into her room while drowning in the riches I gave her. We found out about her father's intention and the King of Traciana lowered his title to Baron." Typhone chuckled.

  "I think he kind of... deserved that." I commented and he hummed.

  He rested his head on my shoulder and mumbled a soft 'Yeah'.

  I don't think that's all there is to it, though.