A village had gathered, united in the belief that this moment would save their lives and shape their futures.
"Where is Genghis? Why isn't he here yet?" one woman asked another, her voice filled with anticipation.
"He must be inside. The festivities haven't even begun. Let's not jump to conclusions," the other woman replied, a smile gracing her face.
The attentive listeners around them nodded in agreement, expressing their approval.
"I can't wait to see how this will unfold. Once again, we'll capture the kingdom's attention! I wonder what treasures the king will bestow upon us this time!" a man exclaimed, his smile revealing his greed as he greedily rubbed his stomach.
The others regarded him with disdain, their gazes filled with disapproval.
"If I had a daughter of her age, I would never subject her to that," a woman spoke up, capturing the attention of the crowd.
She was an elderly woman, her hair white with age. Her attire reflected her elegance, befitting the occasion. She took a sip from her bronze cup, realizing that all eyes had turned towards her.
"What? Do you think I would allow my young daughter to marry a man like Genghis?"
"What's wrong with Genghis?" her husband inquired.
"Let's not mar this day with negativity. I don't wish to cast aspersions on the groom of the night. I simply pray that Sera finds happiness within herself," she replied, downing her drink in one gulp.
"If you say so, everyone, raise your glasses. Here's to a splendid union!" her husband raised his glass, and the others followed suit.
"Well, I wouldn't go that far," his wife remarked, casting a discerning gaze around the gathering.
-
"Seraphina Rose! Put that alcohol down right now!" Kara exclaimed upon seeing her friend reach for her third glass of wine for the day.
Sera had no intention of getting drunk or behaving foolishly during her own wedding ceremony, but with the grand decorations and the presence of the entire village, her nerves got the best of her.
Once her dress was fitted, her eyes landed on the nearest tray of drinks, and she couldn't resist the temptation.
To her, this was the last day she would be in the village, the last day she would see these people. If she was fortunate, she might be able to maintain good relationships with them. However, it was proving to be more challenging and different than she had anticipated.
She stole a brief glance at Kara, only to be met with disappointment.
"I'll be fine, Kara. Don't worry about me. But I must ask you for something," Sera said, approaching Kara.
She took Kara's delicate hands in her own and locked eyes with her.
"You've already granted me this grand marriage, Kara. Your father has put his entire savings into the village," she said, gazing at her friend with adoration.
Sera looked resplendent, resembling an angel on earth.
"You're not nearly as amusing as you think," Sera commented, shaking her head.
"Ask me what you want, Si."
"Hmm..." Sera trailed off, turning back to face the mirror. Her reflection made her heart sink in her gut.
Kara's expressions only added to the difficulty. Kara had been there for Sera during some of the most trying times of her life, guiding her through thick and thin to the best of her ability, despite her feisty personality.
"Promise me you'll come and visit me wherever I am," Sera pleaded, her eyes filled with hope.
The promise was for the future. If the evening unfolded as Sera had envisioned, it meant she would spend the rest of her life within the kingdom premises. With Damian's promise to whisk her away from the village and continue their plans, she knew the chances of visiting Kara again would be slim.
But Kara frowned at her choice of words.
"Of course, I would. You should know by now that we're inseparable. No one can separate us, not even God or the king, who holds the highest position," Kara said, attempting to uplift Sera's spirits.
She approached from behind and enveloped Sera in her embrace. The words held a significant promise for Sera because she knew she would be alone in the kingdom, and she didn't want that.
"You look absolutely stunning tonight, Sera. Genghis is incredibly fortunate to have you. May I share something with you, if you don't mind?" Kara asked, moving closer.
"Please, go ahead," Sera replied, gazing at her reflection in the mirror.
"I will pray daily that Genghis meets an untimely demise. And I wouldn't blame you if you chose to poison the entire family while working in the kitchen," Kara's words elicited a wide-eyed reaction from Sera.
Sera's shocked expression made her friend burst into laughter.
"Hahaha... It always ends up being funny!"
"I hope you find it amusing if someone does that to you!" Sera retorted.
In an instant, her hand reached for the wine glass. Kara swiftly snatched the bottle away and placed it as far from Sera's reach as possible.
"You should know by now that won't stop me," Sera responded, bringing a smile to Kara's face.
"We'll see about that. By the way, Sera, I almost forgot to ask..."
"What is it?" Sera inquired while adjusting the hem of her dress. She admired how gracefully it flowed, and a sense of happiness enveloped her heart once again.
"What was inside that book I found in Genghis's palace? I noticed your name written on the front page. I thought it might be something important," Kara queried.
"Ah..." Sera hesitated and glanced at her friend. "It was nothing significant. If it held more importance, I would have mentioned it. Anyway, shouldn't we head outside by now?"
"Yes, let me check the status, and I'll inform you. Don't be surprised if a group of women enters. They're about to escort you outside," Kara explained, outlining what was about to happen next.
With that, Kara left the room. She had been immensely helpful, from the makeup to the dress, providing the bride with the utmost support. What a great friend that everyone must have!
Sera gazed at herself in the mirror, realizing that this was the moment she had been eagerly anticipating for days. It was the moment when she would finally experience a taste of freedom from the village and the marriage that bound her.
Just the thought of it made Sera anxious.
"I'm truly getting married... Although I won't, there are people eagerly awaiting my marriage... What if Damian doesn't make it?" Sera's heart began to race at her own question.
"Seriously... What if he doesn't?" she questioned herself in the mirror. "Will I be forever bound to... Genghis?! No, that's not possible... I can't..."
She vigorously shook her head, searching for the glasses of wine.
"Grant me the strength and courage to endure this. And above all, dear God, please give me the faith to believe in Lord Damian! May he prove himself worthy of my trust!" she fervently prayed, swiftly downing the entire cup of wine.
-
Hundreds of eyes were fixated on Seraphina Rose. Hundreds of hands clasped tightly together, offering silent prayers as the village priest began to bestow blessings upon the gathering before the commencement of the ceremony.
As the priest concluded his words, the eyes of the congregation opened, and they turned their gaze toward Seraphina. Some eyes carried judgment, but most held genuine joy and excitement.
Before her stood Genghis, dressed in a white suit, harmonizing with the wedding's theme. However, Seraphina's own dress remained resplendent in shades of red and gold, a testament to her personal choice.
"Dearly beloved, we gather here today to witness the joining of these two souls in holy matrimony," the priest proclaimed with his weathered voice, surveying the gathering with a sense of solemnity.
Seraphina's heart quickened its pace as the weight of the moment settled upon her. Her eyes met Genghis's gaze, his toothy smile on full display.
Then her gaze shifted to the assembled audience. Their faces radiated joy and anticipation. A strange numbness enveloped her as the reality sank in that this was indeed happening.
'Damian...!' she silently chanted within her mind, repeating his name like a desperate prayer in hopes that somehow he would intervene.
"Father, today I declare my unwavering love and devotion to her, pledging to embark on a future journey together," Genghis declared, his words slicing through Seraphina's thoughts.
An inner turmoil surged within her. 'Oh, God, no!' Seraphina lamented, her gaze fixated on Genghis, the man she was about to wed.
-
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