My nervous system is yelling. In a few hours, I am getting married to a rumored beast.
"Well, I hope he's not. Though it was prophesied years ago that a dragon lord shall arise from a family and heal our land. But I think it will probably be the first son and not the last, right? But what if it happens that my husband is the chosen dragon lord or a beast? I'm doomed!" I couldn't help but worry.
"Hey you don't know that yet, your husband might be nice," Ariel, my twin sister, blunted out from behind me.
I stood there in my heavy dress, hoping my father would at least reconsider his decision and not get me married to the so-called monster.
"Ariel, I'm scared," I replied.
My sister held my shoulders from behind to console me, tapping them severally to assure me everything would be fine.
"If anything happens to you, send me a letter and I will storm into that kingdom and deal with anyone who bothers my twin sister. You trust me on that right?" She asked, teasing me.
"Of course, you are the complete opposite of me, you should be getting married to him, you are his match. But Father picked me instead, I'm too fragile for this," I blurted out weeping.
"Don't cry honey, I guess the reason he picked you was because he was assured you wouldn't argue back or cause any trouble. If he had picked me, I would have set dangerous traps for the groom and his entire family. Making sure they leave this kingdom without their middle tooth," Ariel whispered close to my ears, making me giggle between my tears.
My stepmother came into the room to inform me that the guest was around and it was time for me to go out.
"Are you ready?" My twin sister asked, stretching her hands to me.
"No," I immediately blunted out.
"Shh, you will be fine," she assured, pushing me to the door.
Nervously, I picked up my heavy dress, to avoid tripping over, and quietly walked into the dining hall.
"Here's my beautiful daughter, your daughter-in-law," my father announced, causing all the guests to fist their eyes on me.
"I hate you," I whispered under my breath, irritated.
Looking around, I didn't find my so-called husband anywhere around.
"Great way to show interest, he isn't even here to marry me," I cursed at him, pissed.
I concentrated on my last meal in my father's kingdom, and soon the introduction was over.
I got into the cart with heavily soaked eyes, catching the shadowy figure of my sister waving me goodbye from one of the palace rooms.
Bracing myself to meet my husband who refused to appear at our wedding.
"This is a bad sign," I whispered under my breath, rolling my eyes in disappointment.
It was a perfect eight-hour drive from my kingdom to there, I got down immediately when we arrived.
"Agatha, my name is Lunaria, I am the king's first wife and your mother-in-law." She introduced herself warmly.
"My son might be mean to you, but I'm your mother alright. Let's be friends," she added, holding my hand to take me inside.
The gesture was very warm, ever since the death of my mother, it was the first time a woman ever spoke to me so lovely and sweet.
"Alright lady Lunaria, I will be pleased to be your daughter," I replied, nodding my head In agreement.
"Then call me mother," she retorted smiling.
We walked into the kingdom at dinner time, everyone was present at the dining hall.
"A big family," I murmured.
Lunaria, my mother-in-law held my hand tightly, refusing to let go, it was as if she was protecting me from something.
"Mother is my husband among those men sitting in the dining hall," I couldn't help but ask, I wanted to see what he looked like.
"No baby, he's hardly here. Those are his brothers, come. Sit beside me," she replied, dragging out a chair.
"Wow, she's so beautiful that I want her for myself," one of the two brothers stated.
"Nathan definitely doesn't deserve her, he doesn't deserve anything good," the other brother retorted.
The smile on my mother-in-law's face disappeared.
I stood there shocked and confused, how can they speak of their brother like that?
"Caspian, Get me Kethan. If he refuses, drag him out here to meet his new wife," the king commanded.
"What is going on in this family?" I couldn't help but wonder.
Soon, my husband walked through the dining hall looking unreal.
"What is he? A falling angel, why is he this perfect, gosh!" I muttered
He sat opposite me and I couldn't help but stare at his baby-looking face, long latches, and soft pink lips.
"Hey wifey, are you sure you want to be married to him, you can change your mind and marry me instead, I want you on me already," one of the brothers spoke again, right in his presence.
"Don't let anyone force you into it, he's a monster and you will regret it,'' the other brother added.
Unable to swallow their insult against my husband.
"Firstly, my name is Agatha, and not wifey. Secondly, don't talk about my husband like that. Thirdly, if I am to pick all over again, I will pick him. You are the ones that are not worth being his brothers," I retorted.
The king slammed his fist on the table in anger, my mother-in-law held my hand to calm me down and my husband simply ignored everything and concentrated on eating his meal.
"What, you didn't slam those fists on the table when my husband was being bullied. Sir, I think you are being partial. Please leave my husband alone. You are making it too obvious he is not welcome," I argued.
The king stood there frozen, trying to take in what just happened and who just spoke back at him.
"Wow she's very bold, speaking to the king like that," the brothers spoke again and smirked.
In a wink of an eye, Kethan was done with his meal and quietly stood up to leave.
"Wow, this is a toxic family," I thought to myself.
Dusting myself, I also reciprocated my husband's moves, I stood up to leave the dining hall.
"And where do you think you are going, if you leave along with him, you are picking his side over ours. Choose wisely and carefully," One of the brothers spoke again.
Ignoring him, I looked at the king.
"Sire, my husband and I are done with our meal, if you will excuse us, we have new and engaging things to do as a new couple. I hope you understand," I stated and then turned towards the brothers.
"I don't know what is going on in this family, but don't you think asking a married woman to pick a side is stupid? It's either my husband or my husband. Till death do us part," I retorted and scoffed. Then I turned to my mother-in-law.
"Goodnight, Mommy. please rest well," I said, pecking her on her forehead.
Then quickly trailed behind my husband, Kethan.
I got into the room he was in and shut the door. He was there lying on the bed; I don't even know what his voice sounded like.
A kind guard brought my suitcase in, exhausted. I walked towards the bathroom to take a shower and when I turned back to see if Kethan was still ignoring me, he wasn't in bed.
Shock, I looked closer, baffled. Shaking my head to terminate the thoughts that he was weird from my head I turned back to take my shower peacefully. And there Kethan was, In Front of me.
"Did you disappear?" I couldn't help but ask, humans can't be that fast, or am I just paranoid, I thought to myself staring at the strange man in shock.
"You told my father we were going to do engaging things as new couples," Finally, his voice sounded out in the open air, extra manly, thick, and gentle.
"Mmmmmm, it's… impossible for you to hear that, you were gone when I said those words," I stammered, trembling.
"Are you scared of me too?"