Holly helped her dress and an hour later, Bianca found herself gazing in the mirror. Holly was doing her hair. Seeing her reflection, Bianca was shocked. "This is such a beautiful dress," she said as she smoothed out a frill.

The crimson silk dress with wide skirts was encrusted with numerous solitaire diamonds in a pattern of waves rising waves in descending order. The bodice clung to her over the corset and didn't have a neck. The sleeves were attached to it in a way that they only covered her shoulders. Embroidered with a peculiar shaped flower, which was flanked by two leaves, it looked like many people must have worked on its creation. A necklace with three rows of large diamonds sat on her nape and a chain of tiny droplets of diamonds was adorning her ears, low enough to brush the skin of her neck. She had applied golden glitter near her eyes, pale pink rouge and pale pink glossy lipstick. Holly was now making braids in her hair. She had arranged them in a braided coronet over her head. Over it, she covered her with a pale crimson drop veil that was clasped with pins on the back. The veil's train fell till the bottom of her dress on the back and till her bodice in the front. Holly picked up a different tiara this time—with small ruby stones—and set before it. In the end, Holly bent down and helped her to wear crimson satin shoes.

​​

When Bianca got up, she said, "I am looking like a faerie godmother!"

Holly chuckled. "No Your Highness. You are looking like a faerie."

"And I am nervous!"

Holly brushed her hands and said, "There's no need to be nervous. This is one ceremony we have been waiting for so long that I am extremely sure everyone must have sent their positive energy to you."

"Oh Holly!" Bianca clasped her hands. The way she said, Bianca felt so much better. It was like the whole kingdom was with her.

"Why am I wearing this veil?" she asked, moving her eyes around. "Oh! I forgot—so that no one can see me."

"And because only the king should be the first one to see you after the wedding."

Bianca blushed. From the corner of her eyes, she saw a movement and her breath hitched when she noticed Brantley standing on the door of his dressing room. He smiled at her.

He was wearing black breeches and a white shirt, on the chest of which was embroidered golden royal crest of golden dragons. His green cloak fell gracefully behind him. It was pinned over the right breast with a brooch that was created after the royal crest. A golden crown sat upon his hair, which were gelled and neatly combed back.

He looked so regal and handsome that Bianca stared at him, and he stared at her. Mesmerized by her, he walked up to her and offered his hand. She curled her arms lightly around them and together they walked to the main hall, where her parents, Darius and Neal were waiting.

Bianca stopped in front of her parents and they hugged her. "You look stunning Bia," said Dawn.

Darius was shocked. "Geez Bia! You can get a job at Disneyland!" She poked a tongue at him.

Neal elbowed him to stay quiet.

Three royal carriages were waiting right outside the portcullis and behind them were almost fifty royal guards on their horses. Right in front of the carriages were two horsemen with the royal flags.

They reached the temple in the next fifteen minutes. And Bianca was startled to find numerous people standing outside on the sides. Her skin tingled and goosebumps rose. Instinctively she dug her nails in Brantley's arms. He covered her hand over hers to calm her. She took a deep breath.

"This is huge," Bianca breathed out when she looked at the temple. The temple was a large space built with white marble stones.

"Yes, this is the largest temple in the kingdom of Aztec. It is the temple of Chimala."

They climbed the steep steps to reach the verandah where there were tall columns.

"This place was surrounded with blue and yellow flowers throughout the year with only a short spell of winter when the flowers turned red… as if Chimala was crying," said Brantley. He looked around. "And now…"

Warm wind reached them as soon as they walked further inside. Statues of various gods were standing in the east and the largest one was of a deity.

Chimala.

Her hands were stretched in front as if she wanted to bless them. The statues were chiseled in a way that the sun rose behind them.

No one except her family and the council members were allowed to enter.

Brantley led her to the statues where the wedding was supposed to take place. Bianca's anxiety increased.

As soon as they reached the statue of Chimala, they saw that the High Priest was offering his prayers to the deity. The Stone of Solaris was sitting in the feet of Chimala.

The High Priest turned to them and a faint smile came on his lips. He turned back to the goddess and raised his hands above his head. The sleeves of his white robe fell down. "May the blessings of Chimala be upon you." Then he turned back to them and looked at Arnik. He handed him two gold bands. "Bring your hands forward," he said.

They brought the hands in front of the priest with their palms up. "This is going to sting a little," he whispered to her.

She nodded and the priest immediately made a small cut in her palm. Bianca winced. He made a similar cut in Brantley's palm. He placed the dagger in Chimala's feet and placed the gold bands in them. Then he brought their palms together and pressed them with the bands inside. As soon as their blood fell on the floor of the temple, a gust of wind whooshed. The blood got absorbed in the floor of the temple and somewhere behind them, thin, frail vines started to sprout near the columns.

The priest grinned and then opened their palms. "Open your palms," he said.

Bianca was shocked and her eyes became wide when she saw that the cut had healed completely and the bands shone brilliantly. The first ray of sun broke through the sky.

"Your Highness, please slip the ring in her finger."

Brantley immediately slipped the ring in her finger.

The priest turned to her and said, "Your Highness, please accept our king as your husband and make him wear the ring."

With shaky hands, Bianca slipped the ring in Brantley's ring finger.

The High Priest picked up the ruby from Chimala's feet and raised it high—just enough for the first rays of sun to pass through it.

The red ruby stirred to life and every vein in it seemed to throb as soon as the lights passed through it. It shimmered and a dull crimson halo surrounded it.

He gave Solaris Stone to Brantley.

At once Brantley was down on one knee. He took the stone and offered it to Bianca. "Accept it my queen, bearer of life and love of my kingdom."

Bianca's eyes gazed from Brantley to the ruby. Her heart raced like a horse and she thought she would suffocate soon. Everything was getting too much for her.

"Accept it Bia…" came a plea mingled with love from the man who was looking up at her with thousands of expectations in his eyes. The stone glimmered in his hand.

Bianca licked her dry lips and then extended her hand to pick it.

However—