Myan knew that crying was pointless but she couldn't help herself, although it was especially uncomfortable to see through glossy eyes and being unable to wipe her tears, she let it fall down her cheeks.
The royal entourage were dressed in a fancy attire and even though they couldn't see her face through the beaded facial fence, she could easily read the discomfort in their eyes,
seeing through those fake smiles and pretense.
As was tradition, four guards bowed beside each corner of a mat that was sewn onto a square shaped wood. It resembled a carriage, except it had no roof, they referred to it as a Typh.
Her servants helped her on to it. Myan wasn't used to having things done for her and found it extremely foreign. The guards lifted the carriage onto their shoulders and began to move to the event while drummers and dancers escorted them to the courtyard. There was so much merriment and it accompanied discomfort.
Trumpet sounds altered the drummers' when they got to the courtyard and there was immediate silence.
The royal matchmaker was going to join the princess and the lord. It was a big need for a lord to get married and he usually had the most beautiful wife. The lord was allowed to have as many wives as he wanted and that was one thing that moved so many people in this case. Ash had never had a woman to call his wife, so there had to be something special about the fourth princess that caught his attention.
The other princesses were unable to make it to the wedding because of the distance, but they made sure to send their greetings.
They placed the carriage beside Ash and Myan's heart froze in fear. What if he sensed her nervousness or overall, had the ability to tell that she was not the princess?
She exhaled when his lips pulled into a smirk, "good girl." The carriage was taken away so the marriage ceremony could begin.
It was then she noticed he wasn't dressed like he was here to get married. His shirtless self had his nipples censored with green leaves that were tied to his short pants with strings.
He had had a crown with fire symbols all around his head while his hair sat in a sleek, shiny bun above his head.
When he realized her motionless state, he put his lips into a friendly smile. Myan's breath seized again but this time it wasn't because of her anxiety. How could one man look like a god? He had such a beautiful face and his smile just brought that feature out.
She snapped herself back, recollecting how there was no time to think about all of that.
"The rituals will begin!" The matchmaker announced and a gong was hit.
"The couples will rise now." A voice called in direction and when Ash stood, Myan knew that she was to do the same.
"Hold each other's hands." The deep voice continued to order. Ash flinched when their palms came in contact as he glared at her.
"Why are your hands cold?" He asked her sharply.
Myan had no way to tell him that she didn't have her fire powers. For someone who had never been able to control fire from her hands, her hand would be extremely cold to his natural warm ones.
She only shook her head in response, knowing very well there was nothing he could do to stop the wedding from happening.
He didn't complain further and just let things happen.
"The first ritual begins." The voice continued. "Bow before the king and his queens for the royal blessings."
Myan and Ash walked to where the king and his wives sat, hand in hand, and knelt before his throne. Myan's gown was held up from behind to ease her movement.
King Roy was a little hesitant to place his hands on their head because Ash was superior to him and he was doing this against his daughter's happiness. He expected her to react but she was only kneeling there in obedience.
"You have my blessing." He sighed, failing at keeping a pretend happy face up.
This went on from queen to queen. The fourth's princess' half siblings that still lived in the kingdom were present at the wedding and sat in one corner, from the left of the king, and they looked dead and did not find this wedding ceremony pleasing in any form.
"It's time for the fire bath." The coordinator began when they returned to their previous sitting spot.
Myan couldn't help the gasp. Things had been ruined for her. She snatched her hand from Ash's and stood to her feet sharply.
The fire bath was a traditional ceremony where the bride and groom stood in the middle of a huge fire display. For anyone in the fire world that had experienced crossover, this wasn't supposed to cause any harm, their skin didn't even feel the presence of the fire but for the servants who didn't get married with such a ceremony, they would burn into ashes instantly.
Murmurs filled the room and the man in a robe that was supposed to set the fire wasn't sure what to do.
"What's wrong fourth princess?" The coordinator asked her.
She couldn't talk so she kept shaking her head like a stabbed lizard. She met Ash's intense gaze burning through hers and feared what would happen. She knew the fourth princess couldn't be that far gone and there was nothing anyone could do if they got caught, making all of this go in vain.
"I-" Myan began, stopping halfway after the realization that anyone would know that she wasn't 'herself', especially Ash.
She sighed in defeat. She was going to die eventually, before the moon was up so this could as well serve as a good option.
"Let the ceremony proceed." The coordinator said, after there was no response from the fourth princess.
Myan sucked her breath in as the fire was set up, biting her lower lip in fear of the unknown.
"The bride and the groom will now walk into the fire bath." The coordinator directed.
"Ready?" Ash asked, extending his hand to her.
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