Some minutes later, I slowly opened my eyes and realized the car had stopped. Wait, opened my eyes??
I fell asleep?
My eyes widened and I looked up, making eye contact with the king. He was looking at me with an unreadable expression on his face. He already had his crown placed back perfectly on his head.
"For a minute there I thought you weren't going to ever wake up."
"Sorry." I said with a sheepish smile.
"Hmm. We're here, make sure to wipe that drool off your face before you get out of the car." He said and got out of the car, again doing things like these before me. Does the King seriously have no courtsy or he's doing these things on purpose.
I almost scoffed. Almost.
I reached up to my cheeks to wipe off the drool, but there was nothing there. When I say nothing. I mean nothing. My cheeks were fucking dry.
I glared at the back of his head and got down from the car with a hassle as I tried not to trip in the heels that was killing my legs. I took a deep breath and took my position beside the king, my eyes were trained on the ground as I tried my best not to look at his face or I might lose my shit.
I flinched at the sudden noise that erupted and looked up. I realized two things.
One, we were in front of the palace, a neat red carpet placed right from our feets to the entrance. And the noise was from what seemed to be the town people or villagers, they looked really happy, for their king perhaps?. Or for the kingdom?. Definitely not for me.
Two, the sky was dark. Dark as in it's night kind of dark. How long was I asleep?
The loud cheers invaded my thoughts as we walked to the front of the palace, my hand was once again placed in the elbow of the king as we walked. I gave smiles here and there at the people as we walked by them. When we finally reached the palace door, my ankles were throbbing. But I hid it with a painful smile, I must look like a fucking clown.
A beautiful fucking clown.
I resisted the urge to cackle at my inside joke.
"Welcome your Majesty, it's good to have you back home again." A man in uniform said as we reached the entrance of the palace.
Your Majesty??
What happened to me bitch?
"Thank you Wilton. It feels good to be back home." His Majesty replied calmly.
"This way." 'Wilton' as I now know him to be, said with a smile and began to walk forward, leading the way. We we're greeted by a mass of staffs lining up on both sides of the red carpet leading to the grand stairs. They all greeted us with a smile on their faces which I returned. Better make a good impression on first meeting right?.
The cheers outside died out as we walked after Wilton, leading us to God knows where. The bedroom I hope, cause I need to get out of this thing. We walked up a few stairs, in which honestly I would have required a stop if Wilton hadn't declared we were here already. I was dead on glaring at the back of his head, hoping he would catch fire by the will of my mind. My glare, however, dropped when he turned around to look at us with a stupid smile I want to fucking smack off his face.
"We spent all day preparing this bedroom for you, I hope it fits perfectly to your liking your Majesty." He said politely.
"Thank you Wilton."
"My pleasure sire. We've also commenced with the little gathering you requested. The guests awaits your presence very soon. I shall take my leave now." He said with a bow and turned to walk away.
This fucking bitch.
"Wilton."
The said male turned around to face me. Eyes regarding me as if seeing me for the first time. I want to scoff so bad but I maintained my composure.
"Do you not see me standing here?. Or perhaps you need help with your sight." I asked.
His eyebrows raised in surprise and I saw his eyes flicker to the king then back to me. I could feel the king's gaze on me as well but I paid no attention to him as my attention was focused solely on the disrespectful human in front of me.
"Of course I see you-"
"Then why act as if you're blind?'
"Arabella-"
"As your Queen, you have no rights whatsoever to completely disregard my presence despite standing right in front of you. I demand respect." I stated firmly, ignoring the king's call of my name.
"I'm very sorry." He apologized and I stared at him expectingly. He seemed to catch on to what I was expecting as he sighed and rephrased his words.
"I'm very sorry, your Highness." He said with a slight bow.
"Apology accepted!. Now let's not let this happen again alright?, we do not want to test my patience now do we?." I said with a kind smile.
If Wilton was surprised by my sudden change of mood, he didn't show it as he bowed once again before turning around and walking away with no further discussion.
I know my actions may seem a bit rude, but all my life, I've lived up to this Royal title. I sacrificed everything to be who I was today, friends, great relationships, my childhood basically my whole life. I will not let just any person disrespect me.
The smile on my face dropped as I finally turned to face the King. There was a slight frown on his face as he regarded me in complete silence.
"Wilton is the Royal General head of the army of Elsmore. And a very great friend of mine. He's not just any person, you should respect him." He stated calmly.
"Well respect is earned, not given. Your Majesty."
I replied curtly and walked forward, not waiting for his as I opened the door myself and walked into the newly decorated room. I refused to be impressed by the interior decor of the room and walked straight to the closet, ignoring the king's presence behind me. I was upset, I knew it.
"Let me make one thing clear Arabella".
His voice halted me in my steps.
"We are married, you are my wife, yes. But until your coronation, you're still a princess. People will address you as the Queen from now on, but you will legally hold that title only when I say so. I hope we've made ourselves clear on that."
"....and when will be my coronation?". I asked, trying to look unfazed my his words, where as I as drowning inside.
"When I say so. It could be next month, it could be next year. I will crown you as Queen only when I deem you fit for the crown. Until then, do not boss my people around, do not talk back, most especially to Wilton. You obey and respect me, you're just my wife, understood?." He stated firmly, eyes dead set on me.
With a shaky breath, I could only give a nod and watched as he walked out of the room.
I needed space. Enough space to calm myself and not think about how my husband just poured those hot words onto me and sided an army General, a great friend, instead of me.
So, until my coronation, I'm just his wife, nothing else.
We'll see.
He'll see. He doesn't know me, he knows nothing.
After getting out of the uncomfortable wedding dress, I tried finding something comfortable to wear from the available clothes I could find. Then I remembered Wilton saying there was a gathering in the ballroom. I groaned loudly.
This is going to be a long night.
Little did I know, this was going to be the last of my happy days.