Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Vermin

It wasn't like she had a choice but Mira had to follow her to the bedroom where her supposed wedding gown was supposed to be. Her steps were slow and steady and just wanted nothing to do with the so-called gown but it was already too late for her as her slow steps weren't enough to slow down the pain in her heart nor her unfortunate fate.

Ava who was only doing her job gestured with her hands at the white wedding gown which was hung outside the wooden wardrobe. Was Mira supposed to be excited about it? Of course not. She had always fantasized about wearing a white wedding gown and walking down the aisle with her dad to marry the man she loved but the opposite of what she fantasized about was what was happening to her. Yes the gown was pretty with nice stones encrusted on it, but it didn't seem like hers -- it didn't just seem like what she wanted to wear.

"This dress is going to look so good on you Princess Mira." Ava's voice distracted her from her numerous thoughts.

"Sorry?" As she didn't hear what she said.

"I said that the dress is going to look good on you. I see that your makeup is already done. In that case, we have to start dressing you in it." Ava said to her.

Did she just say we? Were there more people coming to help her dress in an ordinary wedding dress? It's not like the same thing didn't happen at Havilla kingdom, she just didn't want any of that happening here. But what more could she say, she wasn't even in her kingdom where she believed she could exercise her authority as the princess. She could do literally nothing in this place -- it was obvious that she was going to be pressed down or worst still, treated as a slave.

"Are there more people coming to dress me up in this dress?" Mira asked.

"That is if you want, princess. Would you like me to dress you up in it?"

"Yeah, I'd prefer that."

Later after that, Mira took off the clothes that she came in with and with the help of Ava she wore the white wedding dress. It was the perfect fit and she looked absolutely stunning in it and the only thing missing in the glamorous look was her smile.

Gasping in awe, Ava wasted no time in complimenting her. "You look stunning, Princess! Look at you! The bride! You look like a star."

"Thank you." Mira managed to force out a smile.

"Okay you have to sit down and wait. The wedding will be taking place later on." Said Ava.

"Why? Why not now?" Mira was confused as she didn't seem to understand why the wedding ceremony was going to take long to happen.

"Your husband-to-be isn't back from his trip. He will be back today but I guess that will be later in the day." Ava replied.

Mira couldn't believe her ears. Was she playing with her right now? What does she mean by Alvarez traveled? Who travels on their own wedding day?

"I'm so sorry but the wedding cannot be held until King Alvarez returns." Ava continued wearing an apologetic face.

"So what happens to the guests? Are they going to wait too?" She was really curious to know because she thought that the guests would get impatient at some point and decide to go back to their various homes.

"No...no...no...there is nothing to worry about. The guests are going nowhere. Have you forgotten that this is a hotel and they can easily sort themselves out. Nobody is going to leave King Alvarez's wedding ceremony for nothing. He is a man of power." From where Mira sat, she could feel the weight of when she said that he was a man of power -- without a doubt, she knew that he was. If he wasn't, how then was he able to pull the wedding through in just a matter of days without dispute from her parents?

"There is no problem, Ava. Thank you for your time. I will patiently wait till then. At least I'm dressed already." Mira said to her.

"Alright, my princess. I'll leave you to rest now. There is a telephone and a card over there. Dial my number if you need anything."

"Alright then. Thank you." Then Mira watched her leave. At that point, she wished that she was her. She wished that she could just walk away from that hellhole of a place but it was too late for her now.

...

After what seemed like forever, Alvarez finally arrived and it was at that moment that Ava came rushing in.

"The king is here now." At that declaration, Mira felt her heart beating faster than usual. She didn't want to set eyes on him. She didn't even want to perceive anything about him around her. He was nothing but vermin and she didn't like vermins. Then Ava looked at her watch, "It's 7pm already. I have to apply some finishing touches on you before he arrives." She opened some of the makeup stuffs and began to redress her face and make up. "Right now, he is greeting some of the guests and I'm sure that he will be here any moment from now. So..."

"Is that a thing? I thought it was inappropriate for a groom to see his bride before the ceremony?" Mira asked.

"You don't need to worry about that, Princess. Most of these rules don't work here. He is King Alvarez and he makes his own rules but I promise you that they aren't harmful rules. At least, not to his beautiful wife-to-be." Ava answered her with smiles on her face. Mira kept mute as she thought that Ava was just as crazy as Alvarez. She just sat there silently while she touched her makeup.

"All done." Ava said after concluding with her makeup. "You really look pretty, Princess." She complimented her but there was no response coming from her. "I am going to leave you now. Cos in no distant time, King Alvarez will be here." Giving her a warm smile, she left the room.

Not quite long after she left, Mira heard the heavy sound of footsteps walking towards the room where she was. She didn't need a soothsayer to tell her that Alvarez was the one coming and the more she thought of it, the more her heart beat faster.

"Hello beautiful. You look stunning." A manly voice spoke from behind her but still, she didn't flinch and neither did she bother taking a look at him. "Wouldn't you like to take a look at the man that you'll be getting married to?" Yet still, she didn't move a muscle. Alvarez then took a few steps forward just in front of her, peering at her as she looked towards the other side and with his fingers, he turned her jaw and lifted it up to face him. "Look at me, princess. I am not so much of a patient man."