1 Arranged Marriage

Queen Eleanor's eyes became overwhelmed with tears as she quietly sobbed, with a wave of her hand Euphoria dismissed her maids and turned to her mother.

"Mum,as much I hate what is about to happen I have no other choice than to go ahead with it, you have to be strong as the strong queen you are".

"Euphoria I'm sorry, i always looked forward to the day you would wed but not like this".

The queen tried to muffle her sobs before she ended up soiling her daughter's wedding dress.

"Mom, as a princess and an heiress of this kingdom it is my duty to play my part in keeping the kingdom safe".

Euphoria knew she was just reciting some motivational mantra she read from a book in the library to ease her mother's state otherwise heaven knows she actually wanted to run out of the palace but she knew she couldn't, if marrying a man she despised could put an end to the century existing war that was costing their kingdom so many lives then so be it.

Before the queen could reply two maids came inside the room and announced the king's arrival.

King Xanak dressed in silver and red embroidery entered his daughter's chambers and saw his wife's emotional state, he couldn't deny that he wasn't affected by the fact that his daughter had to get married to the very being she always detested so that the age-long bloodwar could come to a halt...but as the type of king he was he refused to show weakness so he put on an expressionless face and approached his wife and child.

"Eleanor wipe your tears, I will not allow my wife to succumb to emotional turmoil"

Euphoria bowed her head on noticing the king's presence.

"Father did you come to wish me farewell"

She tried flashing her brightest smile to lighten the atmosphere but she herself knew that her father was torn between doing the duty of a king and saving his kingdom or doing the duty of a father and refuse the situation.

"My sweet daughter, I know I have failed you as your father and I want to apologize------"

Euphoria couldn't bear it anymore, seeing her mother and father distraught and sad, she knew that this was what had to be done and though it was against her wishes she embraced the concept of marrying someone she couldn't even call human but if it was for the betterment of her people, family and loved ones then she was more than willing to put her freedom on the line, so taking a deep breath she held her mother's left and her father's right hand and cradled them tenderly trying as much as possible to stop the tears forming in her eyes from dropping.

"Father, mother you have always fufilled your duties as parents and great rulers, of course this situation isn't the best it could be but it's time I fulfill my duties as a princess of this kingdom and ensure the safety of our subjects and my family"

The maids gathering around the door started clapping for their heiress making Euphoria and the queen chuckle lightly.

"Alright then if you'd do the honors of walking me to my wedding hall father, I'd be pleased"

The king gave a slight nod as he held his wife's hand and led his daughter to the throne room.

******

Euphoria gathered the hem of her dress in her hand and tried to slow down her anxiety as she heard a guard inform her father that her husband-to-be was arriving, rumors about him which were believed to be true circulated around the capital, some said he was the definition of a supernatural abomination..... whatever that meant while others said he was a demon incarnation.

Still lost in her thoughts the door of the throne room swung open as the courtiers blew their trumpets.

"Attention everyone, announcing the arrival of the crowned prince of the kingdom of Venthral, Avieneonix"

Gushes and loud murmurs could be heard as the groom made his way to the position of his soon to be bride.

Euphoria could already guess what everyone was talking about....he wasn't what she expected although she didn't know what to expect but not this. She had always been apprehensive about this man for being the person who was always rumored to be the most lethal weapon of their warring kindom, the person who could singlehandedly slaughter legions of men with his talons and bring destruction to his foes, to her he was nothing more than a souless savage but his looks were seriously making her doubt her resolve against him, she had hoped to see a beast-like looking man with sharp talons protruding out of his nails and sharp gruesome teeths with hulky muscles perhaps that would have fueled the fire of her distaste for him but staring at his features made it difficult to do so.

His long turtleneck tuxedo like shirt was the whitest hue of white she had ever seen and his pants (trousers) a bright shade of golden hue... the perfect contrast against his gleaming silver eyes, his aura oozed confidence but surprisingly instead of arrogance or intimidation his thick long eyelashes gave out a feeling of  poised subtleness, was there a mistake somewhere this couldn't be the killing machine could it?. Euphoria had to slap her right cheek to stop herself from drooling like everyone present, only the king was a bit relaxed even relieved more so.

"Your majesties"

He bowed his head turning to the king and queen and lord was his voice heavenly, Euphoria pinched her head again trying to get rid of the thoughts forming in her brain.

"Mum, where are the rest of his entourage?"

She asked avoiding his gaze, he was looking at her as if he expected something worse...well the feeling was indeed mutual.

Queen Eleanor looked around trying to find them, she really wanted to see what vampires, witches, orcs, dijins etc looked like although Venthral was initially the kingdom of the population of vampires, it had other supernatural beings who had migrated there.

A small dazzling smile appeared on the crown prince's face, it seemed he could figure out what the queen and her daughter were wondering about, only those that took part in the battle field had close contact with variety of their kind.

He turned to them and whispered.

"My people are busy renovating our home to befit the princess's welcoming so they couldn't attend but some of the high ranking officials will be here shortly after the wedding ceremony"

Euphoria nodded, slightly getting upset because she embarrassed herself by half-drooling infront of the man she was mentally bad-mouthing few minutes ago.

"Where is the priest" The queen yelled making the subjects present to laugh.....the queen was elegant but definitely wasn't as patient as one would expect.

The priest who was battling nerve-anxiety on the sight of seeing the crowned prince of Venthral Avien slowly raised his hand up from the podium.

"Oh pull yourself together and let's get this over with"

Half yelled Euphoria.

The priest gulped and taking a deep breath he approached the altar where he motioned for the couple to step forward so the ceremony could begin.

*******

FEW WORDS INTO THE WEDDING

*******

"Do you princess Euphoria Riven of Caxayan, the first born daughter of king Xanak Riven and Queen Eleanor Riven take Prince Avieneonix of Venthral as your lawfully wedded husband in sickness and-----"

"I guess so"

She looked over at her groom who had a carefree expression on his face as he slipped the beautiful ancient green jade ring on her finger.

"Um....ok um, do you prince Avieneonix take princess Euphoria as----"

"I do"

She took the other ring and quickly slipped it on his finger trying to avoid touching him as much as possible.

"By the power vested in me by his Majesty the king I pronounce you both husband and wife-----"

Claps were ringing around the hall as bells and jungles could be heard everywhere, the king was a bit relieved that the crown prince didn't behave as horrendous as he expected while the queen was happy that their kingdoms had finally been united.

Euphoria turned to Avien signaling him that it was finally over and just as they were about to step down from the altar the priest called back their attention.

"Prince Avieneonix and Princess Euphoria you both have to kiss each other to seal the deal".

At that sentence Euphoria's eyes snapped in horror to Avien's direction whom started choking.

Euphoria's squinted her eyes at him, did he possibly despise her so much that kissing her disgusted him.

The king cleared his throat and intervened to salvage the situation.

"Um everyone, we should allow the couple proceed with other things as you see that they are quite shy"

The queen nodded instantly supporting her husband's initiative.

"Oh yes, they can do it in a more comfortable space".

Euphoria closed her eyes shut trying not to turn red from embarrassment at her mother's words 'do it in a more comfortable space '.

Just as Euphoria was about to step down from the podium the crown prince reached out and held her waist.

" If she's willing to do it in front of everyone present then so am I"

Well now it was Euphoria turn to choke.

Author's word:- Hi everyone, i would greatly appreciate your votes, ratings  on this novel, if you see any typos I'm sorry I'll work it out🖤.