My eyes scanned the whole area as every eyes of the visitors are right on us. I was wearing a beautiful white long gown and a white veil is covering my face but even so, I can still fairly see the people around me. I gulp and gritted my teeth after my eyes saw my father watching us with coldness in his eyes. How could he do this to me? Why make me suffer like this? He is doing this to his own child. Does he not realize I am hurting inside? This should be the happiest event for some people out there but for me, this is the worst day of my life. "Lissia, you need to smile. Your groom is looking at you, you know?" my sister smiled while nudging my elbow to get my attention. But Behamoths be damn! I don't want this. I don't want to marry him! I don't want to hurt.... Him. Tears streams on my cheeks as I watched him with bated breath while walking in the aisle with my sister clinging to my arm. Afraid I would run away and make trouble for them. "stop your needless crying, Lissia! You do remember what we have told you right?" she hissed at me while at the same time is smiling to the crowd like nothing is happening right now. "you need to do it right." my heart drops at what she have said. I still remember what they have told me before we came here.
I remember every sentence.
Every word.
Bits of bits... I etched it on my mind.
🎊10 years ago🎊
I was sitting quietly on the floor and looking at the only window in the room. My room is small and is only for two people. It is dirty with a bunch of grime and dirt etched on its walls and floorboards. Darkness are also present and my company in a room where only I could sit. The only light I could find in this dark and lonely room is the only window I am looking right now. I was trapped here long before I can remember. This small, dark, and dirty room is mine. My home... I closed my eyes and let myself to dift off to sleep when another light came out of nowhere. The once fully dark room became less darker in an instant. In the light, a woman is standing majestically and confidently. I was shocked when several people also came and walked to me. I tried to resist. I begged for them to let me go but a gentle voice made me stop and look at the woman. "nice to meet you sister." she utters with a smile on her lips. But even though she is smiling, it never reached her ears. And even though she is gentle, it never feels warm to my ears. My eyebrows furrows at what she said and curiously looked up at her. What is a sister? Is that a food? Or something like a companion? "cleaned her up thoroughly and escort her to our office after." her eyes scanned me from my feet to my head and what I saw in there is disgust and pity. Does she think I'm dirty? The people who are now holding both of my arms bow their heads and pull me out of my home. Forcefully dragging me to anywhere they want to go. It's not like I didn't want to fight them. I just couldn't. My body feels weak just from them grabbing both of my arms. Years of having mold bread and dirty water once a day made my body so weak a healthy 3 months old baby could even defeat me. They washed me, cleaned me up, and even put a beautiful dress on me. After that, they grab my arms again and drag me to somewhere place I never know. While they are dragging me, I could only looked at the floor. The floor that looks so shiny it sparkles like gold. What did they do to me? Why are they forcing me to be cleaned? After dragging me to every places, we immediately stopped at the big door. The people who are dragging me opened it and shove me inside. The reason why I slumped on to the floor helplessly.
"tsk! Is she really our sister? How ugly!" I immediately looked up to the mysterious voice. And what I see is a young man seizing me up and down with disgust in his eyes.
"well... That is the reason why she is the perfect person to do the job." that voice. My eyes immediately looked at my left and saw the woman earlier who called me something. What is it again? I forgot what it is. Something like easter? I looked at them with confusion and the man who is quietly sitting in the middle wickedly smiled at me making me to feel knots in my stomach.
"welcome my daughter..." his voice is laced with coldness and even if he is welcoming me, his looks says it has an opposite meaning. Who are they?
__________________________________________
They saved me from my dark and gloomy life. They taught me everything I needed to learn as a princess. They fed me, dressed me up, and treat me like a fragile glass. I was happy because I really thought that they did that with pure intentions. I didn't know that they saved me just to push me deeper in the depths of hell. Maybe it would be better to just rot in the dark cell I was in before than to be their puppet telling me what to do without batting an eye. For 10 whole years they took care of me all for their wicked plan and for me to be discarded after I done what they wanted. My attention once again snapped at my sister who secretly pinched my waist for me to snapped back in reality. I looked at her and to the man who is now standing in front of me. He tall and is wearing a black tuxedo. His hair is styled pretty simple. He is also smiling and is looking at me with warmth and affection in his chestnut brown eyes. This is the man I am going to marry today. The man who is going to suffer. "you are beautiful today, love. So beautiful I can't take my eyes of you, Emeldia." his voice made me choke a sob and his smile immediately falls down. He looks at me with concern eyes and lift up my white veil. "why are you crying, my love?" his palms touched my cheeks and gently wiped my tears with his sleeves. He is so sweet. He doesn't deserve this. He doesn't deserve me. I secretly looked around me and all of the people are smiling genuinely at me at us. Except my family. They are smiling with malice. Smiling proudly at me. Smiling now that their plans are in action.
"My love, Albaster... I-its nothing really. I am just excited to be with you love." I smiled forcebly but my tears couldn't stop from streaming. He also smiled at me adoringly and gently guide me to look in our front where a priest is holding a Bible book in his hands. The priest started the event until he asked Albaster a question.
"Albaster Simon Walters. Do you take Emeldia Therese Houser to be your legally wedded wife until the end of your life? Till death, sickness and in health?" Albaster, the gentlemanly as he is smiled at me and hold both of my hands with gentleness and care he always done.
"I do." after what he said, it is now my turn to be asked by the priest.
"Emeldia Therese Houser. Do you take Albaster Simon Walters to be your husband until the end of your life? Till death, sickness, and in health?" would it be alright if I said no? I know my family would do anything to get their plan succeed. So even if I disagree and escape in this marriage, I'm sure someone would experience what I have felt. They would also be forced to be married to Albaster or to one of his brothers or sisters.
"I-I d-do. I do"
"Now I pronounce you as husband and wife. You may now kiss each to strengthen your bond for each other." at what the priest have said, Albaster gently touched both of my cheeks and gently kissed my lips. Tears once again streams on my face. Now... Now I really can't escape my fate. Now my family's plan can take into action. Now he is my husband... But this isn't the start of our happy life. Because this is only the beginning.
The beginning of a nightmare
The start of our suffering.... But one thing is for sure. I looked at my family once again. I looked at them with grudge and determination in my eyes... Albaster doesn't deserve this. He does not deserve me as his wife but I won't let Albaster suffer in my hands. Because I will do anything for their plans not to succeed. Even if it cost me my life in the end..
I will make sure of it.
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