Drayce woke up early just like Seren. From the bedchamber next to his, he could hear voices and understood his soon-to-be queen had woken up. But from the tone and manner of her speech, he could guess she was not in the best of moods. Either it was because she had just woken up, or it was because of the wedding.

Just like Seren, royal servants accompanied Drayce to get ready as a groom. He let the servants do their jobs with his ears and mind only focusing on the bedchamber next to his. Seren had barely talked and all he could hear were the hushed voices of the female servants helping his soon-to-be queen prepare.

​​

In the middle of his preparations, Arlan, who was dressed in ceremonial clothes worn by Griven royalty, entered his bedchamber.

It did not take long before the servants excused themselves from his presence, leaving the two handsome royals on their own.

Arlan observed his friend clad in his wedding attire. Contrary to his usual pure black outfit, Drayce was wearing something bright and eye-catching at the moment—the traditional long robe of a groom in accordance with the style from the Kingdom of Megaris, which was mostly red and black with elaborate gold designs embroidered on the expensive fabric with the crest of the Ivanov Royal Family on its center. On his long jet black hair, a heavy crown made of pure gold and embedded with jewels rested on it, signifying his status as monarch of his kingdom.

There was a teasing smile on Arlan's face as he faked a sob. "Finally, the King of Megaris who had never glanced at any woman before is now getting married."

"No one was worthy to look at..." Drayce countered as he picked up his sword and placed it on the ornamental scabbard on his waist. He smiled, "...until now."

Just as the two stepped out of his bedchamber, Drayce heard Seren's voice complaining to someone.

"Are these necessary?" he heard Seren asking.

"These are all from the King of Megaris so we have to…" This seemed to be her nanny.

"He also sent those two wooden boxes. Should I keep them on my head? This is so uncomfortable. I cannot even breathe."

Drayce couldn't help but let a small chuckle leave his lips as he continued to walk away to go towards the wedding venue under the escort of his knights.

Hearing his amusement, Arlan turned his head just in time to see the pretty wide smile on the groom's face. "What happened to make you smile?"

Drayce raised his hand, asking him to keep quiet, as he continued to listen in to the conversation between the two women again. He had to slightly strain his ears as the distance was increasing between him and Seren's bedchamber with each step he took.

"Just till the wedding," the nanny replied. "Later, we can take it off."

"By that time, I won't be alive, either because of all this weight or suffocation."

This was the last thing he heard from Seren as he soon left the royal residence. The brief overheard conversation left Drayce smiling along the way.

"Seems like you eavesdropped again," Arlan accused.

Drayce had no reason to hide. "Only to know what she thinks."

"And what did you get to know?"

"Nothing so good."

"A poor girl going to marry a devil, what can be so good about it?"

"This only applies if she knows who she is going to get married to."

Arlan exclaimed, "She doesn't know?"

"Only the name but not the person."

"Hmm, she will know soon then."

"I hope she won't run away when she knows."

Arlan scoffed, "As if you will let her go."

Drayce could not brush off the sly smile on his face. No matter what happened in the future, there was no way he would ever let her go. Once he thought of her as his own, then she only belonged to him and him alone.

-------

(Seren's POV)

After leaving my bedchamber, Martha guided my way towards the wedding venue. The two female servants standing outside my bedchamber followed behind us. Because of the wide heavy skirt flaring out of my hips towards the floor, not to mention the delicate heeled shoes on my feet, I walked with unusual slowness, the servants even holding the heavy skirt in their hands. Without them, I didn't think I could walk in this attire; with this heavy bridal dress and tons of jewelry almost burying me under its weight, I would have fallen twice and probably be dragging myself towards the grand hall with much effort.

With each small step, I felt my chest getting heavier, making it difficult for me to breathe. Could it be because the corset was fitted too tightly? Was it because of all this weight on my slim body? Or... was it the anxiousness my mind felt because it was my wedding?

Wedding? Something to laugh about. I didn't even know who the person was other than knowing the most superficial details about him, things that were known by basically anyone in the kingdom. That he is the king of the eastern kingdom called Megaris and that he is the youngest and most powerful king recorded in recent history.

'Why would he agree to marry me, a cursed princess... a witch?' My mind could not help but wander in order to distract myself from getting nervous. Many questions kept filling my head with every step I took. 'Is he so ugly and scary that no princess from any other kingdom wants to marry him so he has no other choice than to marry me? I guess it makes sense. Though I am a witch, he will at least get to marry a proper princess.'

Soon, we reached in front of the wedding venue and the royal guard announced my arrival.

"Her Royal Highness Princess Seren Ilven of Abetha has arrived!"

I stopped in front of the large double doors and inhaled deeply. 'Calm down. Whoever he is, I can just run away once I get the chance after leaving Abetha.'

The knights opened the door for me- the path to my freedom