“How are you adjusting so far, my dear?” she asked.
I didn’t know what to say, and I felt like my mouth was stuck shut. I took in a deep breath, but before I could talk, the doors swung open, and Milos made his usual grand entrance.
“Mother,” he said loudly. He walked over and bent down to kiss her on the cheek. “You look as lovely as always.”
“Ah, Milos,” the Queen said in a loving tone. “We were just talking about how she was adjusting.”
“My sweet Adriana is used to constant motion,” he said with charm. “She is a school teacher in Prague. Well, she was, until I swooped into her life. We’ve been dating for several months now, but we wanted to keep it quiet. She teaches elementary English, and the children really adore her. So, she wanted to make this transition as easy on them as possible.”
I sat there listening to Milos, not realizing he was talking about me until he smiled and took my hand. I was going to have to remember all of these lies he told, if I was going to keep up this charade for a year. He continued to gush about me to his mother. I stared at the large portrait of whom I assumed was his father. They looked identical. The only difference was the King’s peppered black and gray hair, showing his seniority.
“It was hard to tear her away, since she is involved in so many volunteer programs, and the community relied on her for so much,” Milos gushed. “But alas, I was able to talk her into bringing that sweet and caring demeanor to Silesia, with the hope that she can make the same difference in our kingdom as she has for the people of Prague.”
“That is just lovely,” the Queen said, sipping her tea. “Now, I know our time is limited today, since I must get the plans ready for the dinner in your bride’s honor for tomorrow night. Let’s talk briefly about the wedding.”
“I don’t want to wait,” Milos cut in. “It must be something we do immediately.”
“While I appreciate your enthusiasm, a royal wedding can take months to plan,” the Queen said, with a knowing laugh.
“Then cut it down, Mother,” Milos responded, standing and looking around. “This Kingdom has been through enough change with father’s death. I would like to get the wedding complete and on to business.”
“Milos,” the Queen said with a disappointed look.
“Mother, you are resourceful. Let’s say a week. I want to be married within a week. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a honeymoon to plan.”
Milos looked down at me and nodded before sweeping out of the room as quickly as he had entered. I looked down at my hands, feeling slightly uncomfortable with how demanding he was. The Queen set her cup on the table and sighed deeply.
“He is so frustrating sometimes,” she said. “When he gets something in his mind he is more than stubborn. But, that being said, it may be a crazy week for you, my dear, but I will make sure you have as beautiful a wedding as I possibly can.”
Feeling that this meeting was over, I stood and turned to the servant to show me out. I stopped and turned back to the Queen, who was putting on reading glasses and looking down at some papers on her desk.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” I said with the best curtsey I could muster.
She looked up over her glasses and smiled, nodding her head at me as I turned and left her chambers.
From that moment, and for the next week, my life was hard to even recognize as my own. Each morning, I was greeted with breakfast in my chambers and then presented with a laundry list of things to do for the wedding. From dress fittings and cake decisions, to décor and even picking which set of Royal China to use, I didn’t have two seconds to breathe. The seamstress took my measurements, and by the next day, I was dressed in whatever was handed to my servants that morning. I didn’t even have a chance to unpack. I’d thrown my bags into the closet, promising I would get to them later. By the end of the week, I was more than a little exhausted by everything.
Queen Zora was always so gracious, but as she ordered the staff around and glided through the palace with purpose, I started to understand why she and Milos clashed so often. She was like the reformed version of Milos. She knew exactly what she wanted, she didn’t take no for an answer, and she won almost everything with the use of her wit and charm. The biggest difference between the two was she understood her responsibility to the kingdom, while Milos lived in his own little world.
By the time the wedding day arrived, I was so exhausted by the week, that the only thing left was my nerves. Standing at the back of the cathedral, waiting for my entrance cue, was the first quiet moment I’d had since I arrived. To be honest, the only thing my mind wanted to do was take me out of all this.
What had I gotten myself into? In the beginning,
it sounded like a great idea, but now that the wedding was about to happen, I realized I was in deeper water than I could swim in. I felt like I was barely staying afloat.
The music began to play, and the doors to the church opened slowly. My mind raced, and my hands began to shake. I immediately thought about running, just turning and bolting from the church, out into the countryside, and not stopping until I was out of Silesia’s borders. But as I stepped into the light of the stained-glass windows, I looked up to the front, and my eyes met with Milos’s. His warm smile filled my chest with excitement. Without even thinking, my feet began to move forward.
Every step I took brought me closer and closer to this man that I wasn’t even sure I liked, much less loved. However, as if his smile and warm eyes were a drug, I was drawn to him, oblivious of everyone around me. With every step of my small heeled feet, I moved closer to my place in the Silesia Kingdom, next to the devilishly handsome, future king.
In that moment, I could see nothing but my future, blinded by the grandeur of my own unbelievable life.
10
Milos
My mouth hung open as Adriana stepped into the holy lights, shining through the stained-glass windows of the cathedral. Her dress was as elegant as any royal bride I had ever seen, with its modest fitted top, large layered gown, and sweeping train. Her face was shrouded by a thin veil that flowed down over her and ended at her chin. The small glimmering tiara sitting atop her boundless, cascading curls sparkled in the light. She was an absolute vision in white. Oddly enough, nervousness ran through my stomach, as if she were an angel floating toward me.
Immediately, I stood up straight and fashioned a smile on my face, realizing my sentimentality was getting the best of me. However, as she moved forward, escorted by my Godfather, the Duke of Silesia, I couldn’t help but think that this was still her day, regardless of how fake it may be. With the shimmering décor, and the endless rows of adoring noble subjects, pressing their eyes toward our commitment to one another, I decided to let loose a bit and allow myself to be immersed in the lie, even if only for one day. I would treat her as my true bride, and even if it does not affect our state of existence, it will definitely affect the way the press views our nuptials.