His foot tapped against the floor, his stomach and heart a jumble of nerves. He was back to being the little boy who lived on the unexpected. To not knowing the next mold he was going to be forced into.

The palace's garden was silent, with the occasional exception of a whisper from the audience: consisting of the 7 young men he had met earlier and older gentlemen who studied him like a shark to an unsuspecting fish. 

The traditional priest was replaced by an older man in a casual suit and tie, or casual compared to the robes of a priest. 

In front of the mysterious individual with his eyes set on the ground, was an open booklet, opened to a marriage certificate. 

Seonghwa was a signature away from being a married man. With the responsibility of taking care of a woman whose face he hadn't even seen and the child she would bring to the world. 

Wedding bells, funeral bells to his freedom, began their slow twinkle. 

He felt a vile taste build up his throat but he kept his last meal down. Oh, he was hungry. When was the last time he ate?

Princess Annabella turned the corner, her gloved hand looped around San's arm, who was still glaring at Seonghwa. She was wearing a long, white dress with a sweetheart neckline and a lace button. 

And, her face was still under a veil. 

I'm not going to see my wife's face on our wedding day?, Seonghwa neared his eyes at the woman who seemed to have comfort only behind that piece of dark fabric. 

As San helped her stand in front of her future husband, he gave him another warning glance before hugging Princess Anabella and hurrying to take a seat next Hong Joong, who looked like he was about to have a panic attack of his own. 

The ceremony went by uneventfully, externally, at least. Acceptance was asked, but Seonghwa knew he was to be married whether he accepted or not. 

He now held the cold pen in his fingers, staring at the empty line where his name was to be. 

"Please sign your name to agree to your end of the matrimonial ceremony."

His signature ended up looking like a scribble made by a child and his hand was still shaking when he handed Princess Anabella the pen. 

An audible breath escaped her lips before she imprinted her full name on the paper, tainted yellow: Annabella Sofia of Sonar. 

They, as in the now-married couple, faced each other. Seonghwa grabbed the ring with the diamond in the middle from one of the black boxes, made of velvet, on the table. Grabbing Annabella's shaking hand, he slipped the cold band on her finger. She reached a hand, graceful even through the trembles that were going through it, for the box before grabbing his hand and slipping the freezing silver band on his ring finger. 

"Congratulations. You are now bonded by the power of Sonar and its people. You may kiss the bride.", the officiant gestured to Anabella. 

Seonghwa gulped, his heartbeat in his throat. "Yo-you may lift the veil.", Anabella said, her lips forming more of a whimper. 

He raised a shaking hand and gripped the black silk. 

With a deep breath, he lifted the veil. 

There was a burn mark across her olive skin, right over her eye. That eye was white, from pupil to iris to everything else. Her pink, full lips shook as her other eye, golden like the sun during sunset, scanned his face for a reaction.  

She was in the fire, Seonghwa thought. 

Seonghwa had been at school, filing books in the library after getting in trouble for spilling milk in the eating quarters of the school, when his neighbor's daughter,  Zarian, although he called Zari, came running in to tell him his house was on fire. And, when he had gotten there, his parents and 3 siblings were already in body bags. 

He leaned in and placed a kiss on Anabella's plump cheek.

What'd you think?

Would y'all like a double update since this chapter is kinda short? If I do update again, it will be tomorrow in the morning. So, yes? No?