That was the reason I was separated from my mother from birth. Aunt was the one who breastfed me, and in some ways, she's the one I take as my mother.
The other one is just a surrogate mother to me.
"Are you trying to insinuate I am lying?" Glaring at me, she placed her hands on her waist, a dark look on her face.
"Of course not. Why should I say that?" I mock the gasp. "I can never call you a liar, Aunt, you're far from that."
"Hmm." She pursed her lips, giving me a long stare, one that took all my willpower not to cower at the hotness of her gaze. "Since we had that sorted out, can we continue?" She gestures to the beauty material.
"Yes of course." Looking at the numerous things she brought in made me frown, "why do I need to have these applied to my face? Is there anything wrong with my real face?"
Aside from the dark circles around my face *one that was caused by the tossing and turning I had on the bed last night as I thought about the right approach for what am about to do.* there's nothing else wrong with my face.
I'm still the same as I've always been.
"According to the headmistress, you need to be made as beautiful as possible."
"Beautiful? But that's for females!"
I know I don't take my classes seriously, but that doesn't mean I don't know some basic stuff.
Aside from the arithmetic problems, I know some of the words I was taught.
" And you're getting married to the devil. In some ways, I think you're the bride in this context. "
" Bride? Gods forbid! " I hastily stood from the chair. " I can never be a bride to anyone. "
I look at myself in the mirror as I tried to think of the reason they thought I should be treated as a bride, but saw nothing.
There are no soft edges to my face, nothing that can show am a female.
"But that's how it'll work here, and that explains the robe your father ordered and the face paint." Gently placing her hands on my shoulders, she urged me to sit back on the chair.
"I know you don't want this, and neither am I supporting this, but it's your destiny, Grys. You can't outrun that.
The deed has already been done, and the deal have been sealed long before you were born.
In some ways, you have to take it as a sacrifice you made for the kingdom. You're the reason this kingdom still has people in them…."
" Sacrifice for the people, you say?" Standing from the chair, I darkly glare at her. " How can you talk about sacrifice when the so-called people I sacrificed for don't know I exist?
Doesn't care about me, not even my happiness!"
Presently, they're out there making merry while some are getting ready to attend the wedding, all for the chance of getting to see the devil.
They don't care about me. No one cares about the unlucky prince who's about to get married to the devil.
They don't care at all. All they care about is getting to see the devil, and nothing more.
No one cares about me. No one is bothered about my state.
"That might be true Grys, but you have those who care about you." Taking my hand in hers, she placed it on her chest. " I care about you Grys, don't ever forget this.
Should there be a way to get you out of this, you know I'll gladly do it for your sake. " Letting go of my hand, she lightly caresses my hair.
" I know I have you." Smiling up at her, I face the mirror just in time to see something black running down my face from my eyes.
" Gods!" I almost leapt out of the chair had it not been for Aunt who held me still.
" Had it not being, r one thing, I would have smacked you on the head." She darkly glares at me. "Why must you ruin the face paint I applied to your face?"
" Am sorry, Aunt." I made to touch the odd black thing, but she slapped my handoff.
"I am talking about the one you ruined, and you're trying to ruin it some more?"
"I'll do no such thing."
" Then sit still while I make your face one that can't be easily recognized by those who knew you."
And she did so.
Changed Was Perfectly my face to the point I couldn't recognize my face at all.
It's as if a new face was handed over to me.
"Make sure you break necks." She winks at me before taking her to leave.
"And I intended to do that."
Making sure Aunt is no longer in my wing, I prepare for the great day.
This is what I call the climax of the day. It's something to mark my day with.
*
Someone knocked on the door the moment I was fully ready to leave.
Checking myself in the mirror, I smile brightly.
Am set for today.
Set to show them how much they messed with the wrong guy.
"My prince." One of the numerous guards I have bowed lowly, but not before I saw the shocked expression on his face when he saw my clothes.
I bet none of them is expecting this type of colour during a wedding. These are mostly worn in burial ceremonies during the war.
In some ways, I'm going for both. Today is supposed to be my wedding, but it's not one for me.
It's more like a battle.
"Is it time already?" I impatiently ask.
Presently, I can't wait for it to be time already, at least I'll get things done and over with before the full rise of the second moon.
"Yes, my prince. The king asked me to escort you to the ballroom, everything is set outside from your presence and that of your…."
I raise a murderous brow.
"The devil." He swallows deeply.
"Good, now can we go?"
"Yes, my prince." Bowing once more, he starts walking towards the said ballroom, and I allow him to lead me.