"It's a beautiful day to work wonders!
It's a beautiful day to think ahead!
Celebrate your triumphs!
Embrace your life!"
A man sang the song with gusto as he enthusiastically adorned a table.
"Darling, why don't you come here and lend a hand?" his wife called out, noticing that he was busy with the simplest task of setting up the table.
"Well, the food table should look nice,no?" the man replied to his wife's query.
The front yard of Sera's house was now a hive of activity, as decorations adorned the space. The grandeur of the setup was in preparation for her wedding.
As per Seraphina's request to Kara, the woman had surpassed all expectations with the preparations. The marriage was going to be grand. Grand unlike any celebration ever.
Thankfully, the expenses were from Genghis.
It had been two days since their return from the palace, and in another two days, the entire village believed that it would be her grand wedding ceremony.
On the opposite side of the house, Seraphina found herself in her room, trying on dress after dress, feeling the weight of the decision pressing upon her.
"Sera, you have to choose a dress already," Kara exclaimed, her voice tinged with annoyance.
"I know, but I wanted to go with red. My mother always said it was my lucky color, didn't she?" Seraphina questioned, seeking validation from Kara.
Kara rolled her eyes in response.
"I was so excited this morning, and now you're ruining it, Sera. You know what?"
"What?" Seraphina inquired, anticipating Kara's suggestion.
"Let's go to the dressmaker," Kara proposed, looking earnestly at her friend.
Seraphina immediately nodded in agreement.
She didn't want to become someone who neglected the emotions, feelings, and responsibilities that her village bestowed upon her. She understood that if she wanted her plan to succeed with Damian, she needed to align herself with the ongoing life in the village.
However, deep down, she still harbored doubts about Damian. What if he backed out knowing their plan would fail?
And when such thoughts clouded her mind, she couldn't help but wonder what her future might hold. She sighed loudly.
"Sera?"
"Hm?"
"Get ready. We're going to visit the dressmaker," Kara announced before leaving the room.
Seraphina sighed once again and sank onto the bed.
She had once doubted Damian's stability, but now she found herself overwhelmed by her own fluctuating emotions.When one question arose, a few more continued to flow in.
"I had ruled an entire kingdom, yet I've never encountered such a sticky situation," she mused to herself, shaking her head.
She rose from the bed and removed the golden dress that Kara had brought for her wedding.
"Gold... Ugh," she muttered, discarding the dress and beginning to undress. Her garments fell away, leaving her in her white undergarments. The tightness of her corset accentuated her figure, causing her to whine for how tight it was.
As she turned to retrieve the dress she planned to wear to the dressmaker, the sound of the bedroom door handle rattling caught her attention. Her eyes darted toward the door just as it swung open.
"Oh my," a male voice exclaimed, causing Seraphina to instinctively cover herself as best she could. With her petite hands, she managed to shield her cleavage and heart.
The man quickly averted his gaze. It was Damian.
Seraphina gasped loudly, her heart pounding in her chest.
"What are you doing here at this hour?!" she asked, her voice rising in pitch.
Damian swiftly turned and placed his hand over her mouth. Seraphina's breath caught in her throat as she realized his hand was touching her face, their skin making contact and igniting a burning sensation.
Her hot breath mingled with his palm.
The realization struck her that she was not adequately covered, exposing her God-given assets. Panic surged within her.
"Shh... Don't shout," Damian whispered, his voice barely audible.
Her eyes remained fixed on his hand, a strong yet gentle touch pressing against her lips. She followed the contours of his hand and met his gaze, only to find his eyes closed, his long lashes the sole focus of her attention.
Several seconds passed, and Seraphina hummed softly, realizing they had maintained this position for longer than necessary. Her hum said that he can withdraw his hand.
"U-Uh, I'm sorry," Damian hastily withdrew his hand and turned away, facing in the opposite direction.
Seraphina nodded, unable to find her voice. She reached for her dress and swiftly covered herself, ensuring that nothing was visible through or over her attire. Her gaze instinctively fell upon her cleavage, now only slightly visible compared to before.
She caught a glimpse of her crimson complexion in the mirror.
"It's okay, it's alright," she reassured herself, her cheeks still flushed. She glanced at Damian, who had his back turned to her.
"Please, have a seat now, Lord Damian..." she managed to say, her voice slightly shaky.
"Am I safe to look?" Damian questioned in his coarse voice.
The brief encounter still left Seraphina breathless, her breathing erratic.
"Get yourself together!" she whispered to herself, attempting to regain composure.
"Yes, why are you here, Lord Damian?" she inquired, her voice slightly shaky.
As Damian stood there, memories of their initial encounter flooded back. Seraphina swallowed hard and walked past Damian towards the door.
Damian navigated the small room, making his way to the bed and sitting down, placing his hands on his knees.
The bed suddenly seemed much smaller than it had before.
"I-I'm sorry for earlier. I should have knocked before entering. But I didn't want to risk being caught outside your door, especially with your impending marriage," Damian mumbled, his gaze fixed on Seraphina.
"Well, my reputation will be tarnished one way or another if I attempt to escape this marriage," she responded with a sigh.
Damian remained silent but nodded. His mere presence sent butterflies fluttering in Seraphina's stomach. No matter how hard she tried to resist it, he seemed ethereal, and she adored every part of it.
"Yeah, well, I came here to inform you that your wedding is going to be a grand event," Damian stated.
Seraphina scowled at his choice of words.
"What?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise and disbelief. "I-I mean, I know it is going to be a grand event. That was what we were planning."
"Yes. The plan is for the villagers to see that I'm in love with you. And how you will be mine," he whispered, his voice resonating like the depths of the sea. She longed to immerse herself in his words, but she couldn't afford to develop feelings for him.
Being as lonely as she was, having experienced nothing but solitude her whole life, she couldn't risk falling for someone who desired solitude as well. The risk was too great.
His statement sent her thoughts spiraling, and in response, she nodded quickly, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "Sounds like a p-plan. I'll see you then," she stammered as she watched him rise from his seat.
He was dressed in his customary black attire, from head to toe. The way he looked intoxicated Seraphina, captivating her senses.
"Yes, princess," he murmured, sending shivers down her spine and causing her to clasp her own hand tightly. "I will see you. Please, find the best dress you can. You'll be coming with me as my future bride," he declared with a smile.
"Lord Damian," Seraphina uttered, bowing respectfully. It was the first time she had ever bowed before him, and the sudden realization of her growing attraction to him filled her with fear.
"I'm not his friend, nor his enemy. I'm nothing but a human. Protect what's worth," she reminded herself silently. And even if she developed feelings, there was no way that he'd reciprocate. So she just needed to avoid any man to woman human interaction.
Damian's expression flickered momentarily before returning to normal. "I will see you soon," he stated, his gaze fixed on the small opening in the door frame, scanning the area outside for the next two minutes.
Seraphina kept her eyes on him, her heart pounding in her chest.
Without uttering another word, he opened the door and left her room.
"Heavens!" she exclaimed, collapsing onto the bed as soon as he was gone. As he went, she took a few moments to compose herself from what just happened.
Without another thought, she hurriedly made her way outside to visit the modiste.
-
Sera, Kara, and two other women walked hand in hand outside, stepping into the front yard adorned with decorations. Some individuals were focused on adorning the roof, embellishing it with an abundance of flowers to create a prosperous and grand atmosphere.
Others were engrossed in creating intricate floor designs, showcasing the village's rich culture and traditions in every corner.
In the Kingdom of Lumina, humans were once believed to possess the greatest history. However, over time, the powerful lineage of Darklings rose to prominence and seized control of the kingdom.
Despite residing in a small village, marriages were still considered sacred, and everyone was busy preparing for the upcoming celebration.
"Look, Sera! The clay sculptors are working on your and Genghis's image! It's going to look very fancy on the day!" Kara exclaimed, directing Sera's attention towards a man of her father's age.
He was diligently sculpting, his brow glistening with sweat as he strived to capture Sera's unique nose structure. His efforts were paying off thus far.
Observing the scene, Sera realized that everyone else was also working tirelessly to ensure the wedding preparations were perfect.
A hint of guilt covered her heart.