Excitement

17

A day before the wedding, the palace has been decorated with flowers, lights, and colorful carpet spread on the important places of the palace. The floor and walls were cleaned, dust-free. Everywhere the smell of lavender surged.

Nina is scared to realize that she's bound in this boring palace life. How could she ever stay in here without a friend or a relative or at least someone she could laugh with. She's clear that Theodore will never stay beside her. He's away from morning till sunset, if this is what he calls his resting days then she wondered how his normal days would be? She cannot catch up to his life.

A person, he's fine. He talks respectably but he sometimes teases her. She couldn't say he's a bad person yet she can't accept he's a good man. He's like a great mystery to her, right now.

When she's passing each moment in uncertain anxiousness, someone came into the chamber to see her. It's a woman.

Nina stared at that beautiful woman, thinking who she could be.

"You are going to marry my brother,"

"Yes," Nina nods confirming that she's Maximus's sister Reva.

"What's your name?"

"Nina Bahitti, your highness," Nina answered.

"Don't call me that; Reva is better as we both are in the same age,"

Nina nods with a smile. That one gesture made her realize that she's different from Maximus.

"So, I heard how you met him? That's so interesting," Reva giggles. "I never thought he would like someone instantly,"

Nina didn't know what to say.

"Come and sit. Let's have a chat," she said.

Reva married two years before to one of the wealthiest men in the Kingdom, she has a daughter. Her life is all settled and she has done all the things which a young man ought to do.

"Your eyes look pretty," Reva said.

"Thank you. You are so kind," Nina replied. "And you look pretty too,"

"Don't flatter me,"

"I hope you are not nervous?" she asks.

"Truthfully, I am,"

"Don't worry, my brother is a wonderful person. He will take care of you," she said.

Nina smiles. "Can't wait to see the wedding," she said.

They talked for some time, and Reva left to see her daughter. The sun has set, and the moon glowing brightly in the night sky. Tomorrow this time, she would be married to Theodore.

The maids asked her to take enough rest because tomorrow is a big day. She has to feel energized for the tiresome life she's going to make as hers.

Theodore came back to his chamber, after meeting his friends. His friends, they weren't close friends, just the men who were in his pack of soldiers. No one ever was close with Theodore because he is the King's son. He was always treated differently and maintained with respect and distance.

Even now, the woman he's going to marry treating him in the same way. She's hesitant to show her emotions just because he's the crown prince and she's hiding what's going on in her mind.

The fault is not on him, he threatened her which he would never understand.

Theodore always thought one day he would marry the woman he loves but now it has changed. Whatever he thought in his life has never happened.

He looked for Nina to know if she's awake, but she's not in the living room. The door to her room is ajar, he walked in to see her sleeping soundly, the lamb is still on suggesting that she must have fallen asleep without realizing it. Kneeling beside the bed, he watched her for, he couldn't take his eyes off her face. She's perfect in every way.

Are you my destiny?

What are you, Nina? He whispered with a smile.

Tomorrow, he going to take her as his wife. He's going to share his life with her and eventually he has to share his secrets with her. If she isn't the woman, he expected her to be then both their lives would be ruined. But he has a strong feeling that she would understand him better. He will make her understand him.

Theodore turned off the lamp and came out of the room.

The next morning, Nina woke up earlier to get ready for the wedding. She took bath before Theodore wakes up and her maids took her to somewhere else to get ready. As per one of the customs the bride and groom shouldn't see each other in the wedding attire before the ceremony.

Her sister and mother were already there to her surprise.

"When did you both come?" Nina asks.

"We were here since yesterday but we just went out to look around the city," Agnes answered.

"You know what, Nina. People outside were all talking about the crown prince's wedding and curious to know his beautiful bride," Lilly said. This pregnancy makes her glow like a crystal under the sunshine.

"Oh, is it?" Nina felt sick of anxiety since the moment she woke up and this talk worsened her condition.

"Yes, you don't know. You are the talk of the town, honey," Lilly giggled.

Agnes was speechless to see Nina's wedding gown.

"Oh my Lord! Don't tell me you are going to wear this," Agnes asked with a smile.

Nina smiles. "I picked up the simplest one,"

"Nina, you have to thank me for this. Without my advice, you would have missed this life. You have to be grateful to me for all your life," Agnes said.

"Mother, please. You don't have to say that to Nina now," Lilly frowned.

"But I told her the truth. I didn't say anything wrong, did I, Nina?" Agnes justified it.

Nina for one last time gave Agnes the satisfaction she needed. She agreed to that with a smile.

As she got ready, Agnes left to be with Albert only Lilly stayed with Nina. They talked about their old life and how they used to play around. Now they were no longer those little girls and entered the adult's life.

"Be careful with your in-laws. They are not normal people, they are royalties," Lilly said in a whisper.

Nina nods and looks at the maids, "As far as I spoke to everyone, they were all kind,"

"I am glad to hear that," Lilly said and leans closer to Nina's ears.

"Nina, did anything happen between you and him?" Lilly asks, "I mean more than kisses and hugs,"

"No," Nina retorted.

"That's surprising," Lilly squinted her eyes. "You must be hard to resist for him. Maybe his majesty will do something tonight,"

Nina blushed with the thought that Theodore wouldn't do that as she won't let him. But who knows, she isn't the decision-maker here.

"Look at how you blushing like a tomato,"

"Hey, stop it, Lilly," Nina giggled. They both stared at each other.

"I am so happy for you, Nina," Lilly said.

"I know," Nina nods, "Promise me that you will come to visit me often and I will come to see you whenever I could," Nina said.

"I will, your highness," said Lilly.

"Let's always remain like this for the rest of our life," Nina said.

"I promise you that," Lilly agreed and they hugged each other.

By the time, her father and Agnes came in, she wore her gown, jewels and other costly accessories they left for her.

Albert got so emotional seeing his daughter dressed up like a princess and told Nina that her mother would be so happy if she was here. That made Nina sad too and thanks to Agnes, they cut down their sadness short to make a good impression in this royal palace.

They were escorted to the court hall where Theodore's family were waiting for them. Nina can't deny this fact that she's thrilled to see Theodore and for the life she's going to live with him.