1 Chapter 1: On The Altar

Celestiel stared into the mirror, lost in thought as she stared at her own reflection. It seemed to her that the air around was choking her and making it hard to breathe. She couldn't believe she was getting married to a man she had only heard stories about and they weren't even good stories at the very least!

"Celestiel, breathe. You can't look so grim on your own wedding day," Alora, Celestiel's personal maid tried to calm the princess down.

"How can I possibly be happy, Alora? I'm basically being sold off," Celestiel replied, a trapped look in her golden eyes. "Why do I have to be the one to marry the pirate King? Wasn't Celia supposed to? How come I'm the one getting ready for marriage now?"

"Celestiel, your father is only trying to look out for Celia...,"Alora began but Celestiel cut her off with a scoff.

"My father isn't looking out for Celia, he's as selfish as they come...he decided to marry me off because unlike Celia, I'm his illegitimate child."

"Don't say that, your highness...", Alora tried to comfort the princess gently but Celestiel wasn't listening.

"I imagined I would be married off to Duke Richard's son....atleast I'd be close to home...and my mother's resting place," Celestiel looked down, chuckling dryly. "But now, forget living near home...I won't even be on land! I'll be sailing the seven seas with a husband I haven't even seen."

Alora stared at her feet. She was sad. Celestiel had been a sister to her and a best friend. To think she would probably never see her again....it hurt Alora.

And as if reading her mind, Celestiel looked at Alora and began to tear up. Alora was her best friend, someone who had looked at her and seen a person, a human being. She loved Celestiel even when her own family shunned her.

"I'll miss you so much, Alora...I don't know if I can do this without you," Celestiel choked back a sob as genuine fear slipped into her eyes. "Thankyou for being my friend."

Alora fought back her own tears as well and moved to hug the princess. "Don't thank me, your highness. It was my duty as your servant...and as your friend."

Celestiel seemed ready to keep hugging Alora there for eternity but the sounds of soft wedding music below brought both women back to the harsh reality of having to let each other go.

"It seems it is time...," Alora muttered, she placed an encouraging smile on her lips for Celestiel.

"It seems so"

Celestiel turned to look back at the mirror and Alora went to gently fluff her light brown, long hair.

"You look beautiful, Celestiel," Alora adoringly said, receiving a small smile from Celestiel in response. "If your mother was here, she would be proud."

Celestiel's hand instinctively went to the locket around her neck. It was golden and oval shaped and she hadn't taken it off since her mother had given it to her.

Alora escorted the princess out of the room and Celestiel met her father, waiting for her by the staircase. The wedding had already begun, judging from the organist's choice of melody, which meant they had been waiting for her.

"I don't have all day, Celestiel," the king spoke, a look of annoyance flashing in his eyes.

Celestiel looked down, how could he be so cold even on her wedding day? She walked towards him and when she was close enough, he stretched out his arm for her to take. Celestiel cast one last look at Alora before taking her father's arm. They both turned towards the stairwell and began strutting down.

"Don't forget your place, Celestiel, do not upset the pirate king in anyway," her father spoke, instructing her with a cold glance and she nodded.

"I know."

"I won't be with you after the wedding vows, I have work to do," he continued. "Do not misbehave."

"I'm not a child, father. I know my place," Celestiel replied. The crowd below came into view and Celestiel was awfully aware of the reality of what her life was going to be like in a few hours....she would be the pirate king's wife.

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Her husband came into view finally. His silhouette alone made Celestiel nervous, he stood there in a crisp, black suit, watching her, a black eye patch over his left eye. Their gazes met and Celestiel quickly looked down, feeling self conscious because he had his eyes on her.

Sebastian calmly gazed at his wife to be, drinking in the sight of her, she was as beautiful as he remembered, if not even more. He moved towards her and she placed her hand in his and they both stepped unto the altar.

When the time of vows came, Celestiel forced herself to look up and be done with it. Her golden eyes met her husband's eye. It was black, raven black which held a dull yet dark light within it. It fascinated and scared Celestiel. Her eyes roamed his face, taking in every single detail, like the birthmark beside his right eyebrow and the beard stubble that made him that much more handsome. Celestiel actually began wondering how someone could be so good-looking and remain a bachelor for as long as the pirate king did. If she was right, the king would be entering his late twenties whereas she just turned twenty two. Her eyes roamed his face, admiring every single feature of his; jaws that were carved to perfection, his dark, angled brows, his long, dark, wavy hair, everything. The man just seemed....perfect.

Celestiel suddenly seemed to realize something and she instantly froze. She was going to have to kiss him! On the lips! Her eyes went to his lips, they were pale red and thin, yet they looked so soft, she quickly looked away in embarrassment, gulping softly. Her thoughts began to wonder about nervously and her knees almost gave out when she heard Sebastian say, "I do."

Celestiel stared at the priest as he turned to her. When he was done, Celestiel took a deep breath and tried to level her breathing. "I do..."

"You may now kiss the bride."

Celestiel looked at her husband and he looked back at her, his expression, unreadable. He moved closer to her and Celestiel tensed up nervously. He seemed to sense it and he frowned a bit, causing Celestiel to panic even more.

"Calm down," he spoke gently. His voice stunned Celestiel into calming down. It was melodic, calm, smooth like honey, it made a shiver run down Celestiel's spine....in a good way.

His arm gently held Celestiel by the waist and brought her closer to him. "Don't look so scared, I won't eat you"

Celestiel reddened instantly and looked away. She involuntarily panicked once more when she saw Sebastian lean in for the kiss. She forced her heart to beat a little slower and she closed her eyes, awaiting her first kiss.

And then his lips met hers...so gently, so light, so sweet, Celestiel wondered if it was her imagination. It surprised her honestly, she never thought the infamous tyrant of the seven seas, the pirate king himself could kiss so....softly. When he pulled away, her golden eyes went to stare at him but he didn't look back, he turned to look at the crowd instead and Celestiel was reminded that people were watching them.

The reception started immediately and she followed Sebastian to their seats so they could rest. She sat beside him awkwardly, greeting the guests who approached them. At one point, the guests greeted only her husband and she sat, watching him handle them. There was a small, easy smile on his face as he acknowledged them one by one, it intrigued Celestiel. She noticed the pair of golden rings that hugged his earlobes and the skull chain around his neck made of gold and was mildly impressed by how good it looked on him.

"Lovely to meet you, my lady," a voice called Celestiel out of her thoughts. She looked up to see two pairs of stunning, emerald eyes. The duo was identical except one had brown hair and a nose piercing and the other, blonde and no piercing at all.

"Forgive my absentmindedness, you are?," Celestiel asked

"My name is Leonore," the one with the piercing said, a wide, friendly smile on his face. Despite the smile, Celestiel felt a little thrown off...his smile was too friendly, almost creepy. "This is my twin brother, Reagan."

The other twin offered a bow, a small smile on his face. He seemed to be on the quieter side.

"Pleasure to meet you both," Celestiel politely offered her greeting. She watched as Leonore went to whisper something to Sebastian and Sebastian nodded his head calmly before whispering back. Leonore straightened his back, bowed to the couple before walking away with his brother.

Celestiel glanced at her husband, meaning to start a conversation as the atmosphere was too tense for her. But right as she was about to speak, someone interrupted. It was Celia, her spoilt, bratty, younger sister.

"Your highness! It's so lovely to finally meet you, my name is Celia, I'm your sister in law," she squealed in her dolliest voice, making Celestiel cringe visibly.

"I'm aware of who you are," Sebastian replied calmly. Celia's blue eyes sparkled happily.

"You are? Then are you aware that I was supposed to be your bride, in my sister's place?," Celia pouted a bit and Celestiel huffed quietly. Did Celia have no sense of shame? To flirt with her newly wed husband on her wedding day?

Sebastian narrowed his eyes slightly, already understanding the relationship between the two sisters. He glanced at Celestiel briefly to see she was glaring at the intruder. He looked back at Celia with a slight tilt of the head.

"Even if I am aware, what difference would it make? I am already married to Lady Celestiel," he spoke calmly, watching how Celia's happy expression fell slowly. "Now if you would excuse us, my lady, I and my wife were about to have a conversation before you interrupted...I would kindly request you leave."

Celia's blue eyes stared at the king, picking up his mood had changed towards her, even though his smile told otherwise. She took her leave.

"A lovely sister you have there," Sebastian commented.

"You have no idea", Celestiel muttered with a sigh before realising she had spoken her thoughts aloud. "I mean..."

"It is alright", Sebastian cut her off, looking away. Celestiel stared at the man, trying to gauge his expression. He didn't seem like the stories told. The stories told he was a cold, heartless, wicked, ruthless king....but so far, he seemed like a calm, level headed man.

Or was it all an act?