{Rosalina}
I ride in the carriage along with Lilith, my fingers fiddling with one another. Today is the rehearsal dinner. This shouldn't take long, I don't think. I'm not entirely sure what to expect. Graclynn told me she'd help me out with most everything, so that does bring a bit of relief to me.
"You're going to be fine, milady," Lilith assures me.
"I know," I reply confidently.
And that's the truth. I know I will be. I'm not as nervous as I was the night of my birthday, but then again, this is only the rehearsal dinner.
The carriage lurches to a halt and I glance out the window. It would seem that we have arrived.
The field looks very nice. With it being spring and all, the grass is a vibrant green with multicolored flowers sprouting everywhere. Honestly, I couldn't think of a better place to have my wedding. It's absolutely gorgeous here. Yes, a church is ideal, but this is much better.
With the help of the coachmen, Lilith and I climb out of the carriage, walking to meet with Julien and his family. My mother and father climb out of their carriage that had followed behind us along with my mother's maid, Crissy.
Graclynn, who is with Lord Howard and Penny, make their way over to us all and we make small talk as the maids and butlers get everything in order for us to begin walking through tomorrow's events.
My mother walks up to me and pinches my cheeks, making me pull away from her. "Rosalina, dear, are you excited?"
I nod my head with an indifferent expression, humming my response.
"Oh! You must be Rosalina!"
"Yes, ma'am I am," I say with a polite smile to a petite woman who walks up to me. Her hair is a platinum blonde, and her face is very defined. She shares the same eyes as Julien.
"Aunt Margaret, do we have to do this now?" Julien asks.
"Hush, child. I'm meeting my future niece-in-law for the first time. Let me get my fill of her." Julien rolls his eyes and I giggle. "Margaret of the Jetts, Lady Rosalina."
"It's nice to meet you, Lady Jett."
She scoffs. "Just call me Maggie, hunny. Better yet, call me Auntie!" I find myself laughing more. I like her. "Daniel! Come meet Rosalina!"
A nice looking man with streaks of grey in his hair walks over towards us. "My, my," he says when his eyes land on me. "You're quite the sight, Lady Rosalina."
I smile as Julien's arm snakes around my waist. Possessive ass. "Thank you, Lord Jett."
"You can call him Danny, hun. You will be a welcome addition to the family." She reaches up and pinches Julien's cheeks, causing him to swat her hand away. "I'm so glad our little Julie has finally found someone."
"Aunt Margaret, what have I told you about calling me that?"
Maggie huffs at this. "I used to refer to as Julie all the time when you were little."
"I'm a grown man now. I'm getting married."
Danny laughs. "You'll always be that little boy with enough energy to build a manor all on his own to us, Julien." I find myself trying to hide my snickers. "Now, come on, Maggie, let's leave the betrothed alone."
"Bye, dear! You're welcome to come see me whenever!"
I wave back and wait until they're out of ear shot before I start laughing as quietly as possible. Julien seems thoroughly annoyed.
"Julie?" I ask.I then purse my lips to silent my laughs. "That's... cute."
"Oh, shut up."
"Is everyone almost here?" My mother shouts.
"No," I reply. "We're missing Aunt Alicia."
My mother waves her hand dismissively. "That's fine. We can begin anyway."
"No," I snap. "We'll wait for her."
My mother narrows her eyes at me. "She is one of my bridesmaids. She has to be here."
I look to Julien and see he's got an amused smirk on his face. "It's alright, Victoria, surely we can wait a few more minutes."
"Of course, Lord Gray!"
I huff. "You have her wrapped around your finger."
He only shrugs. "I have a tendency to do that, my dear."
"I've noticed..." I murmur.
"Rosalina, this is going to be wonderful!" Graclynn says, shaking with joy. Her arm is locked with Lord Howards. I glance him up and down. He gives every appearance of a good man, but I know his secret, even if I have no proof...
"Yes... I think it will be," I respond, still slightly unsure if I believe this or not.
It's like over time, I've grown more and more accustomed to the idea that the rest of my life has been decided for me. I wish it wasn't, but what can I do? I'm just an eighteen year-old girl. No one cares about what I think. I know I could never love Julien and I know he could never love me. As long as he keeps his promises... this won't be a complete and total disaster.
I find myself internally groaning. Used to the idea or not, it doesn't make me hate it any less.
Finally, Aunt Alicia's carriage comes trotting down the dirt road that leads to the field. I smile unconsciously.
"My apologies for being so late," she says, climbing out. "I'm afraid I lost track of time!"
"Of course you did, dear sister," My mother says, her tone a bit snarky. "My, you'd be late to your own funeral if you could will it!"
Aunt Alicia gives her a curt smile. "Funny that you should know. I wouldn't expect to see you there."
My mother's jaw drops but she quickly snaps it shut, pursing her lips. "Now that everyone is here, let us begin!"
I move forward, cutting my mother off. "I would like for Graclynn to be in charge of running things."
"Rosalina, you don't have to--" Graclynn tries to plead.
"She's my maid of honor, it's partly my wedding, and I want her to do it." I gaze up and Julien. "Is that alright, darling?"
He nods. "I think it's a fantastic idea."
I have to hide my smoke of triumph as my mother looks utterly dumbfound. At least Julien is on my side-- rather it's for the sake of image or not. I know he would never say not to me in front of all these people.
After that, everything seems to go smoothly. All my bridesmaids, Penny, Lilith, Aunt Alicia, and Janey (Lilith's big sister) figure out where they're standing, with Graclynn closest to me.
Then the groomsmen, whose names I've just come to learn, Lord Kingston, Lord Reeves, Lord Hunter, and Lord Miller, decide their placement as well with Graclynn's help. To be quite honest, I've never seen nor heard of these men in my life. Lord Danvers, Julien's best man, stands closest to him.
"Okay, everyone," Graclynn says. "Let's run through the headings. You don't have to say all of your vows, or any of it, actually I implore you not to. We just need to know the general order of the ceremony."
I laugh and look at Julien who's just smirking away at me. I find myself rolling my eyes. Graclynn reads through the headings aloud. Julien and I lean in for the kiss, but I back out last minute.
"Let's save it for the actual wedding," I say coyly.
He has a strange glint in his eyes that I can't recognize. Could I have angered him by chance?
"Yes, let's," He replies curtly.
I just give him the dashing smile he would give me if the situation were flipped.
After that, we practice my entrance, my father being the one who escorts me down the aisle, and then our exit. First, Julien and I. Then the bridesmaids and the groomsmen, side by side. Finally, after we've all passed, our families will follow suit.
Of course after that we would head to the banquet that will be at the Gray Estate. Generally, the bride's family is supposed to host that, but since Julien offered, knowing we're a bit short in the money department, he said he'd do it instead. Sneaky bastard trying to win everyone over...
"Excellent, everyone! Let's run through it all one last time, and then we're done."
"Perfect," a familiar, snake like voice floats into my ear. I turn around and see its Viviane. Of course it is. I'm surprised she hasn't made her presence known sooner. "Lady Rosalina," she says to me. She then looks Julien up and down lustfully. "Lord Julien."
"Lady Viviane," I say, my tone sickeningly sweet. "How lovely it is to see you again."
"Hm, yes," she replies, seemingly uninterested. "Julien, I was wondering if you would like to meet me and the Renoir manor after this. For old time sake?"
I look up at Julien curiously. Yes, Julien, do you?
"I'm sorry, Lady Viviane," Julien says before lowering his voice. "I'm afraid I don't like to be seen with a woman who suck the first dick they see."
Viviane gasps very dramatically. She raises her hand and I don't know what I'm doing nor why until I feel my face stinging with white-hot fire.
Silence falls on us all. I breathe in deeply through my nose, trying my best to hold back the tears from the pain. My hair hangs in my face, hiding my water eyes.
I just stepped in front of Julien to take the blow Viviane was about to deliver to him. What the actual hell?
Julien moves fast pulling me behind him and stepping before Viviane. "Leave." he demands. I peak around him and see Viviane's lip is trembling.
"But--"
"Leave!" He shouts so loud, a terrified shiver runs down my spine. And I see her race off towards her carriage, her maid at her heels.
Julien turns to me, brushing me hair out of my face, and tilting my chin up so that he can examine my face. A single tear falls as he does so, and he wipes it away with the pad of his thumb.
"Are you alright?" He whispers. I swallow hard and nod. Why is my heart beating so fast? "Why did you do that? I could have stopped her before she even got the chance to strike me."
I look away from him. "I don't know... I just... I don't know."
He caresses my hurt cheek softly before letting his hand fall. "Someone make sure her name is removed from the invite list," Julien commands.
Graclynn rushes towards me with her dress hitched, Aunt Alicia, my parents, and Lilith not far behind her.
"Are you okay?" Graclynn asks me.
"Yeah, I'm alright," I reply. I repeat myself as the others reach me. "I'm fine you guys, really. I'm okay."
"Wretched girl, ruining a day such as this," Aunt Alicia says, glaring down the road that her carriage had disappeared down.
"Honestly, Victoria, why did you invite her?" My father asks, obviously mad.
She shrugged. "Viviane and Rosalina have always been at odds. But that's no reason not to invite her to the wedding."
This just seems to add fuel to the fire. "Really, Victoria? Even after the incident of her ball!?"
"Okay, okay," Aunt Alicia says before they can have a full blown argument in the middle of the wedding rehearsal. Julien holds me tightly and close as they seem to ignore my aunt.
"What about it? They're just young girls fighting! It's not that out of the ordinary!"
"Honestly, women are you blind?!" My father's voice amplifies. "Viviane has mad Rosalina so miserable! I don't know why I'm so lenient with you! This is your child not your toy!"
I turn and hide my face in Julien's chest. This seems to light something within him.
"HEY!" Julien barks. "I will not have you ruin our wedding rehearsal. Take this fight elsewhere or leave. Are you mad yelling at each other like this in front of all of these people? You'd think you'd be a little more respectful. Especially seeing as this your daughter who is getting married."
My parents stare at Julien bewildered.
"Uh..." Graclynn fumbles for words. "Let's take a ten minute break everyone! We'll run through this again after." She turns to me. "Let's go check on the little ones and see how the decoration making is going."
I nod but before we go, Julien asks, "Lilith, could you get me a cool cloth for her cheek?"
She nods, bowing her head. "Of course, milord."
We set off towards the little house that sits on the field. We're all three quiet the whole way there. But the second we walk in, the silence is broken.
There are about fifteen kids, ages three to nine, running around the place like crazy. The older ones are quietly painting and pasting the garland, but the younger ones? Well.. they're a sight.
Lilith runs in, a damp cloth in her hands. "Here you go, milord." She goes to dab at my red cheek but Julien shakes his head lightly.
"I'll do it," he says, taking it from her and pressing it gently to my cheek.
"I'm going to help the maids rangle these guys up," Graclynn says, obviously amused by the children.
I nod to her and she hurries off to calm the children.
"This should prevent it from swelling too much," Julien tells me softly. I wince a bit as he touches a tender spot on my face. "Ice would be better, but we're out in the middle of nowhere, so I'm afraid this'll have to do."
"No, it's okay," I reply quietly. "Thank you."
"For what?" He asks me, seeming confused.
"For making them stop fighting and for... this."
"Well, Rosalina, it's my job to take care of you now, whether we like it or not. I told you I would protect you... and I meant it. Although it seems to be a bit flipped today."
I smile a little but then it falls. "Hey..." I start. "You just called me by my first name for the first time," I say. There were no pet names... just Rosalina. He suddenly becomes engrossed in cooling off my cheek, causing me to giggle a bit. "This is a new side of you, Julien." He rolls his eyes. "I like it," I say honestly.
His gaze meets mine and he looks a little shocked. I give him a warm and real smile.
I look out at all the kids and my smile grows wider. "Aren't they just adorable?"
Julien snorts. "Yeah, sure,"
I look up at him like he's crazy. "You don't like kids?"
"They're a nuisance," He replies, holding the cloth to my cheek.
I scoff. "I'm not surprised. You don't seem like the kid-loving type."
"What's that supposed to mean?" He asks me with narrowed eyes.
"Oh, nothing," I respond, amused.
"Rosalina! Rosalina!" two young girls come running up to me.
"Well, if it isn't Maddison and Addison," I say, leaning towards them. "And how can I help you two today?"
"Who's that?" Maddison asks, pointing at Julien. He seems to stiffen
"This is my fiance, Lord Julien Gray," I tell them. The two of them are Graclynn's little six year-old sisters. I've already made them both my flower girls. "Julien, Meet Maddison and Addison Young."
Julien just kind smiles awkwardly. Oh, am I going to have fun with this.
"What's a fiance?" Addison asks me.
"A fiance is someone you're going to marry but you haven't yet."
"Really? So does that mean me and Joshua are fiances?" Maddie questions.
Joshua Reed is the same age as the girls and Graclynn's parents tend to have their kids betrothed at birth.
"Well... in some form, yes, I believe so."
Maddison giggles with glee. "You hear that, Addie? Joshua is my fiance!"
Addie pouts, so I quickly tell her that she has a fiance too. "Geralt is your fiance, Addison. So, no need to feel left out."
They both get these huge grins on their faces and run off together towards their older sister, probably to tell her the news.
I laugh to myself as I stand straight. I look at Julien to find he's been watching me intently.
"What is it?" I inquire.
"You're good with children," he states.
I shrug. "Maybe."
He suddenly wears a thoughtful expression. "Maybe us having a baby is closer than I thought."
My eyes grow wide and I quickly shake my head. "No! Are you mad! No!"
He laughs loudly, obviously only teasing me. I cross my arms and huff.
"Come on, my dear, you'll be begging for my children soon enough."
I scoff. "You're despicable."
"So you have told me."
"After all," I continue. "Maybe I'll just make you take care of the baby."
I see slight fear enter his eyes and it's my turn to laugh. I turn and place my hands on his chest. "Oh, my," I gasp. "Was that fear, I just saw Julien Gray?"
"I've got no idea what you're talking about," He snaps.
I giggle, thoroughly entertained. "You know," I say. "We just might get along fine, Julie."
Julien groans, and my laughs ring out loudly.
Yes, it's just harmless fun... but I don't think I'd even want to have children with Julien. I don't love him. I don't want to love him. Regardless of the fact that we get along or not, this still was never anything I agreed to. He still threatened me into this position... but I must admit, it's getting easier and easier to do with each passing day. It's starting to feel less fake and more real.
I must be crazy. I must be. I would never be so okay with some like this so why am I now?
Sure, this rehearsal didn't go perfectly. It did kind of fall apart, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little excited about my wedding tomorrow. Even if it's basically just adding a lock to the chains.
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
Ah, so we see that Julien isn't quite as bad as we thought. I know he's not exactly a lovable character, but he does have heart, believe it or not.
I love his nickname so much. It's very fitting.
What about Margaret and Daniel? We only met them briefly, but they seem to be a lively couple.
Julien doesn't like kids? Hm. I wonder why.
Rosalina seems to be handling the arranged marriage better and better by the chapter. She doesn't agree with it, but she doesn't see away out. And she's not stupid, so she would never try to escape in any shape or form.
Thought?
Questions?
Suggestions?
Thank you for reading!❤🥰