26 WIFE AND HUSBAND
Princess Fen walked down the staircase as her maidens helped her raise the tip of her gown from the ground. She was walking like a chameleon that is being forced to move from its comfort zone.
Princess Fen was just wondering how her life was going to be after the marriage.
King Wang Lei sat on the well-furnished seats properly kept for him to sit. He was waiting patiently for the marriage ceremony to begin. His only wish was that the reason for this arranged marriage between their children should remain a secret. No one knows what will happen if prince Gen or princess Fen finds out the truth.
Prince Gen was kept in a room to wait for the ceremony to commence before he would be called forth.
The smiles on Prince Gen's face were out of control. Only he knows why he was thrilled about getting married to princess Fen. Even though prince Gen knew that the princess was marrying him without her wish, he believes that she won't regret marrying him. He was determined to take good care of her as his wife. The thought of having another woman after princess Fen didn't cross his mind; neither did he hope to divorce her one day. His daily prayer was that 'the princess should be submissive, and he will treat her like a queen.
When princess Fen came to the door, the guard was informed to usher her in, which he did. He informed the princess's presence and then motioned her to enter. Princess Fen gently stepped into the hall. The first thing she sighted was her mother's empty seat.
"Where could she have been?" She thought to herself. Letting go of what seemed to be a distraction to her, she took the courage and looked around the hall and had a glimpse of the guests' faces. Immediately her eyes came in contact with king Wang Lei, she quickly turned her face away. Her gaze was fixed on the floor as she took a few steps to where her father was sitting. She could feel the eyes of everyone on her. Everyone was staring at her like some kind of goddess.
"People will stare at you in your wedding dress as if they haven't seen a bride before. Does a wedding gown change anything in you?" Princess Fen rhetorically asked herself in her mind.
She walked slowly as she kept her gaze low, only studying the floor, instead of looking at her front. She found herself standing in front of her father. Her father smiled at her and then gestured to her to sit at a table nearby. King Dingbang was pleased to see her in that dress.
Princess Fen went to her seat and sat down, feeling nervous sitting in the presence of everyone as the bride of whatever ceremony was going on. Her mind was not at rest because her mother was nowhere to be found in the hall. Princess Fen tried to raise her head to search for the queen, but shyness took the best of her. She remains calm and composed.
After a few minutes, where the hall was silent, the guard informed the groom's presence and everyone's gaze turned to the door. Princess Fen slowly raised her head as she glanced at the door. Prince Gen elegantly stepped into the hall, looking happy and gallant. There was no bit of shyness in him. Well, the only thing that matters to him now is his marriage, not minding what others might think of him. He walked up to where king Dingbang was sitting.
"Your Majesty," prince Gen bent down and greeted king Dingbang. On seeing the empty seat beside king Dingbang's throne, prince Gen was surprised to see it empty. He wondered why the queen hadn't arrived yet. Prince Gen's immediately recalled that he didn't see the queen in the previous event.
King Dingbang was smiling, but when he noticed that prince Gen stood looking confused, he knew that prince Gen was thinking about the queen. All of a sudden, the smile on King Dingbang's face disappeared. Prince Gen took off his gaze from the empty seat to king Dingbang, and the king gave him a reassuring smile that, 'all is well. Prince Gen smiled back at the king and then took his seat. He sat on the other side of the table, where Princess Fen was sitting.
Prince Gen intensively stared at princess Fen, but she never raised her gaze to him. She was deeply praying for the wedding ceremony to end in no time. If she has the power to fast-forward the time, she would have done that without asking for anybody's permission.
The hall went silent again until king Dingbang came up to speak.
"I greet you all. Actually, everyone knows why we are here, but that won't stop me from introducing it appropriately. We are here to celebrate my daughter or our daughter rather because she belongs to almost everyone." King Dingbang said with a smile, and the guests clapped at him and laughed.
"Today," he continues, "marks the beginning of a new home and a new kingdom. Because my daughter, I'm sorry, I mean our daughter is getting married to the prince of Decresh. We believe that they love and care for each other. So, for that, let's begin the ceremony." King said as he raised a wine cup for a toast. Everyone was happy and clapping. Within seconds, musicians walk in to entertain the guests.
"We believe that they love each other." That statement kept ringing in her ears like a
bell.
"Why would he say such a thing? Have I ever mentioned that I love the prince?" Princess Fen mumbled, not knowing that her lips were moving.
"My Lady, are you talking to me?" Prince Gen asked when he noticed that her lips were moving up and down.
Moreover, he wanted to engage her in a conversation because she didn't raise her eyes to look at him, not to talk of greetings.
Princess Fen gently raised her eyebrows to take a good look at prince Gen. She almost felt like vanishing when their eyes met.
"No. I wasn't talking to you." She summoned the courage to reply.
"Alright." Prince Gen responded.
The couple kept silent for a few moments.
Music sounds can be heard from every angle of the hall as the guests dance and chat with each other. Prince Gen turned around and found his father and king Dingbang dancing together, and he almost burst into laughter.
"Old men's dance steps are always funny." Prince Gen spoke.
After a few minutes of silence between the two couples, Prince Gen finally spoke up.
"You look good in that dress, My Lady," He complimented.
"I know." Princess Fen smirked.
"Why are you looking sad? Aren't you happy that we are getting married?" Prince Gen asked, but she remained silent. When prince Gen saw that she wasn't going to utter a word, he decided to ask her, "by the way, where is the queen?"
That question just reminded her that someone was missing in the hall. That's her mother.
Queen Mei was in her room, listening to the noises coming from the hall. She wished to be there, but she wasn't permitted to. Queen Mei was sad deep inside of her, but she has to accept whatever comes her way so that peace will forever reign.
"I haven't seen my mother since I woke up this morning." Princess Fen replied with fear. She was directly looking at his face now.
"Really?" Prince Gen was surprised.
"Yes. I only saw her last night and that's all. She didn't even come to check on me when the maids were dressing me up." Princess Fen responded.
"The queen is not here and the ceremony is going on peacefully?" Prince Gen got furious.
Princess Fen could see the anger in him. Fear gripped her. She wondered what would happen to her if she dared to make him angry. The expression on his face shows that he can kill anyone if he's angry.
The anger kept burning in Prince Gen's heart. He composed himself and signaled one of the guards that were standing behind the king's throne. The guard walked up to him, and prince Gen asked him to stoop low, and he did.
"Where's the queen." Prince Gen softly whispered in the guard's ear.
"I have no idea of her whereabouts, Your Highness." The guard answered.
"Okay, asked the king." Prince Gen said.
"With due respect, I can't walk up to His Majesty and ask him such a thing." The guard responded.
"Do what he asks you to do." Princess Fen angrily said.
"Alright, Your Highness, as you wish." The guard responded and stood up. He walked up to where the two Kings were changing styles of dancing.
The guard stood behind king Dingbang and asked, "Your Majesty, the prince, and the princess inquire about the whereabouts of Her Majesty."
King Dingbang paused for a moment and then replied, "Tell them that..." King Dingbang paused to think of what would convince them that he was telling the truth.
"Inform them that the queen's step-sister is sick, and she needs help. So, the queen left early in the morning." King Dingbang said, and the guard nodded.
The guard delivered the message that was sent to him.
Princess Fen was a bit relieved, knowing fully that her mother was still alive. She was afraid that something bad had happened to her. After a long celebration, they finally exchanged gifts and that was the end of the wedding ceremony. All the maidens came to Princess Fen to tell her "goodbye." Some of them were in tears because they were going to miss her. She hugged them before leaving.
Prince Gen and his bride got into the caravan and left, with others following them from behind. Including Shu. One of the warriors took her on his horse.