As the knights moved to open the doors, I exhaled and said in my mind, 'Calm down, Seren. You can do it. It's your way to get freedom. After seeing these ugly scales on me, he will only be scared of me or will abandon me thinking I am an ugly monster. How can the queen of such a powerful kingdom be someone looking inhuman? He is only after my title, and will surely be disgusted with my appearance.'

Martha and the female servants stepped away from me. From this door onwards, I had to walk alone. The large double doors opened, and despite my shaky breath, I took a steady step forward. I walked with my head held high as instructed by Martha but I lowered my gaze so that I could only see the path I walked on, which was covered by a long red carpet with scattered flower petals.

​​

Through the corner of my eyes, I could sense the gazes on me coming from the people standing on either side of the aisle. I kept my attention fixated on the long red carpet which led me towards where the groom, a stranger, was waiting for me. Strangely, I didn't hear any whispers this time. There was soft music being played from somewhere, but aside from that and my footsteps, it was quiet; no one person among the crowd was cursing me under their breaths or calling me a witch.

'Seems like they want to spare me on my wedding day at least.'

Despite taking each step cautiously, I reached the place where the groom was waiting for me faster than I thought it would take. I paused several feet in front of His Majesty King Armen, who was standing in front of his throne, looking down on me and the groom from his elevated position. At this moment, he truly looked like a stern dignified monarch in his royal ceremonial garb, a heavy crown on his head and a scepter on his right hand.

Before the ceremony, I was instructed by Martha on what to expect. From what I had understood after witnessing a few weddings in the royal family, I also knew what I had to do. I simply stood beside the groom with my gaze still fixed on the floor.

Although I didn't raise my gaze up to look at the groom, I could see where he was standing. I didn't dare look at his face. From the corners of my eyes, I could see a tall black-haired man wearing a strange red robe standing there. Like my father, he too had a crown on his head, although it was of a different design.

I was thinking whether I should look at the groom at least once to see who I was getting married to. How scary he must have looked that he had to agree to marry me? From my lowered sight, I could only see him till half of his chest. He was much taller than me, even taller than my brother, but if I raised my sight up a bit, I might get a glimpse of his face without him noticing. I wanted to try, but then I sensed his gaze on me and I dropped the plan. Sensing his eyes never leaving my body, my heart started to beat faster, making me feel even more anxious than before.

'Is he staring at the scales on my forehead? Did it manage to disgust him and made him think of me as ugly? I hope so. Why doesn't he just give up on this wedding then?'

Perhaps it was due to my nervousness or due to the various thoughts flooding my mind, I did not realize that they had announced the start of the wedding ceremony. I did not even realize what was happening until I saw the groom reach out his hand in front of me. Only then did I snap back into reality, and find myself already face to face with the groom.

'Huh? What is he doing? What is happening? Do I hold his hand? What…?'

One of the ladies-in-waiting of Queen Niobe had approached me while I was distracted, holding a velvet cushion with a ring placed on top. It was the ring meant to be put on the groom's finger. It seemed we were already on the part of the ceremony where we had to exchange rings.

A sudden thought came to my mind. 'I will put forward my right hand to wear a ring so he won't dare hold it after seeing those scales.' I thought about how smart I am.

I picked up the ring from that velvet cushion and turned back to the groom's outstretched hand. The ring was in my right hand which had scales on its back. I doubt this proud king would let me touch his hand with my scaly one.

Not looking at his expression, I calmly put the ring on his finger. There was no reaction from him even though he saw the ugly patch of scales on the back of my right hand.

Now, it was his turn. Though by custom, every bride wore the wedding ring in her left hand, I was adamant about giving him my right hand. I was sure he wouldn't even touch it.

A man holding a similar velvet cushion approached him, and he took the ring placed on it. Just as I put forward my right hand, the groom held my hand in his left hand, his touch sending a shock of warmth through my body, while he used his other hand to put the ring on my finger. His movements were so calm and gentle, it made me question if it was real—he didn't even hesitate to hold my scaly hand.

As if it was not enough, the next moment, I felt his thumb brushing over the scaly skin on my hand, as if he wanted to check how those scales felt.

Slowly, ever so slowly, I saw my hand being moved up... and he kissed it.

He kissed it. That scaly hand. Those ugly scales that had terrified countless people.

'Is he for real?'

As I looked at my own hand being kissed, the face of the groom finally came into my sight, only to find a familiar pair of red eyes staring at me.

It felt as if the world stopped.

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