Whenever anyone from the royal family in Gael's Kingdom was to get married, there would always be the introduction ceremony and then the wedding ceremony, both had their specific dates.
And today, was non other than the introduction ceremony. Funny how, two days had managed to pass with Samaira still being the King's future queen.
Funny? Yes, Sam found it funny, how she could do absolute nothing to escape her damned fate.
Like a sad beautiful rose, she flipped the pages of the book she was reading not caring to stare at the wonderful reflection staring back at her through the mirror.
Her own reflection was looking as beautiful as a pearl but she was more interested in the lines that made this book a book. ' The Logic Of Marriage'.
Her logic of marriage, her dreams and her ambitions would all change the course they had been set to take after one night. Suddenly annoyed, she closed the book with a soft thud and finally stared at her reflection.
If it were any normal day, she would appreciate the maids who had made her look this attractive.... oh who was she deceiving, even on normal days she preferred light make up because every time she was ever dolled up was obviously when her Mama wanted her to attract men.
She stared lazily at her reflection and then at the room which she had somewhat gotten accustomed to in the past two days.
Three maids stood in a well formed line with their heads bowed while an elderly maid stood by the wide open doors looking expectant.
It had been so these past two days, after that day when she had accepted to marry the King, he had assigned her four maids. A nice old lady named Francesca and three young girls.
Though Madame Francesca as she was called had certainly been very nice to her, it did not make her feel any less bothered and uncomfortable.
Two guards suddenly came to stand at the door next to old Madame Francesca who was wearing a maid's attire in that plump figure of hers.
" It is time for you to go down Lady Samaira", Madame Francesca said in a soft sweet voice causing Samaira to stand up from the chair she had been sitting on finally revealing her full attire.
She was clothed in a light purple long gown which did nothing but hide her curves due to its straight outline. Her blonde hair was let loose and a simple hair clip was placed on her hair.
With the same usual dullness in her eyes, she moved towards the door taking the maids along with her as they left the room heading straight to the event hall where the introduction ceremony was being held.
Sam arrived in front of two gigantic golden double doors which was being guarded by at least four guards in the entrance. She could hear the music being played down at the hall and she could hear distinct voices of the honorable guests beneath her feet.
With a not too bright smile, she walked towards the doors and one of the guards rushed to announce her. With a simple signal, the music being played changed into a more soft and slow one while the guard's loud and deep voice rang out.
" Introducing, Lady Samaira Roberts, third daughter of the Duke Alfred and The King's soon to be 7th Queen", the guard finished and stepped away from the stairs while Samaira waked ahead, the maids abandoning her in the process.
She reached the start of the stairs and with little to no movement at all, she stared down at the crowd of people waiting to know her and the well built King who stood at the foot of the stairs waiting gentlemanly for her with a kind smile plastered on his face.
Did she feel irritated by his presence? Yes, but not because he was older than her, she wasn't such a person who cared about the age rank of another.
Instead she was irritated and easily annoyed by him because he had cut short her wings before she could even succeed in flying. He could give her everything she wished for on a silver platter... but could he possibly give her the freedom to do what the men of this Kingdom did? Earning her own coins.
Taking in a deep breath and letting it out, she suddenly began her ever slow footsteps as everyone stared at her in awe at how she looked breathtakingly stunning.
Many Elites were invited to the introduction ceremony and only a few middle class folks could get an invite.
Many young ladies who knew Sam couldn't help but feel jealous for her but instead of bothering that she was marrying a man who was twice her age, they bothered more about how she had suddenly fallen into twice the wealth she already had.
Samaira was already few steps away from the King when her eyes caught two important people, one was currently standing next to her husband and the other was standing with her Mama.
It was her two sisters, Lady Eleonora and Princess Cordelia Roberts. You could say that her face immediately lit up when she saw Lady Eleanor who also smiled after they locked gaze but her distraction almost made her miss a step though luckily the King caught her.
She suddenly returned back to the present re-arranging her posture as she did not want to stand too close to King Edward who barely cared.
You might have been snatched away from me back then Alicia but I have found you in the likeness of your niece and I will never let you go, believe that' King Edward inwardly thought as he adorned a sweet infatuated smile on his face which made the observant guests truly believe he was indeed smitten by Samaira.
At this rate, the young waitresses which stood around the corners of the hall had already distributed glasses of wine to each guest as they also handed one to Sam and King Edward.
Raising his glass, King Edward began, his other hand holding Sam's left hand fondly.
" Let us all toast to new beginnings", he said with a smile on his face and some people raised their glasses in the air in agreement, only few just drank theirs without toasting.
People like Duke Alfred who was still bitter about everything and Lady Eleonora just drank their glasses.
Lady Elle who had similar eye color like Sam's did not like the situation her youngest sister was in and definitely did not agree with the King's proposal.
Samaira just stared at the glass of wine with a sour expression on her beautiful face. Seeing that, the King casually took her drink.
" You do not drink wine, well that means two for me", he said in a lively manner as he drank the other glass smiling at her then at the crowd of people who laughed to his somewhat funny joke as Samaira would term it.
" Let us all partake in a dance", he suggested with a lively expression on his face and the crowd quickly created a space good enough for dancing.
The violinist and the piano player began their beautiful dance song in which couples had to exchange partners for a while before switching back.
The King led Sam to the center of the hall as he postrated a little and kissed her gloved hands but Sam was pretty sure she felt nothing, absolutely nothing, he seemed more like a nonexistent person to her.
" May I have this dance?", he asked gladly and without waiting for her reply he took her hand and started dancing towards the rhythm of the song being played and soon enough other guests joined them at the center of the hall.
As Sam continued to dance with the King, it was like reality suddenly hit her once again and she quickly realized the position she was in.
She was at her introduction Ceremony and soon enough she would be termed a married woman and counted amongst the other wives of the King.
She was getting married and soon. She suddenly wanted to cry. The crowd and the ambiance did not make her feel any less paranoid, it only increased it.
The truth seemed to ring in her head now, she was actually helpless, she could do nothing to change her fate and that was the truth.
Prince Dino who had been watching from the sidelines saw the overwhelmed expression on Sam's face and he suddenly felt like he was feeling her panic, her whole expression said she was going to cry.
He immediately grabbed the lady he could find closest to him and brought her with him to the center of the hall, earning gasps from her fellow women and other guests.
He suddenly began to dance with the Lady and soon it was time to exchange partners and swiftly, he exchanged partners with his father as Samaira came to his arms instead.
She wouldn't have noticed considering how lost she already was in her thoughts but the grip of her current partner caused her to suddenly looked up and her eyes came into contact with a pair of grey ones.
Grey ones which stared back at her firmly and possessively. She suddenly felt a sort of emotion, she couldn't pin point it and she didn't want to sound like a crazy person but she felt secure and safe and she did not even wish for him to ever let go.
Due to her distraction she mistakenly stepped on his foot but it didn't stop him from dancing, instead he continued, staring into her eyes as if giving her assurance that everything was all right.
And when it was time to exchange partners, he did the most stupid thing he could ever think of doing.
He sent her back but instead of sending her towards the King, he sent her to to his female partner while he now became the King's partner. Man to Man and Lady to Lady, what a dance, thought the smiling guests.