Six months later

♡ Odette's POV ♡

It was a clear summer day over the Manor, June having just started. The weather was nice, the heat not yet arriving and scorching the land. A few clouds were scattered about in the sky, but all of them airy and white, not showing any foreshadowing of rain.

I would know, I was staring out of the window in my room, Falene claiming I couldn't leave at all. I knew she had good intentions (even if I thought they were a bit superstitious), but I hadn't been let out all morning, and it was starting to drive me crazy.

I huffed as I walked over to my plush bed that hadn't been slept in since I got back from the hospital. There really was no need for me to have my own room anymore, and as a result, this room was going to be completely torn apart and re-purposed. I fell back on the ivory and grey covers, mindful of the curled hair Falene had labored over for hours. I didn't want to ruin her masterpiece, she had done it special for today anyways.

Today. I couldn't stop the smile from forming on my face as I thought about everything that would happen. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would break out of my chest and fly free, excitement only encouraging it on.

I heard the door open, my head turning to see Falene and her platoon of beauticians following in line. More accurately: my mother, Ivy, Erica, and Lady Malik. Ivy was lugging a black dress bag over her shoulder, lying the expensive gown down carefully on my covers once I had gotten off the bed.

"He didn't see?" Falene asked Ivy, her superstitious beliefs getting the better of her.

"I thought he wasn't allowed to see Odette in it, not just the dress." Ivy said, rolling her eyes teasingly as she unzipped the bag. "But, no. He didn't see it. I hid it in the Elite training center."

Falene sighed in relief, while I sucked in a breath of anticipation. I had only tried it on once, and I hadn't seen it in months. My mother gripped my hand tightly, a peek of white fabric making my heart race faster.

Ivy pulled the gown out of the bag, ruffles and lace complementing the jewels that had been sewn in. It was most definitely fit for a queen, the skirt one like a ball gown. Lace flowers seemed to cascade down the bodice, the dress looking like one I had wanted since I was a little girl.

I had wanted to get in it immediatly, Ivy making some joking comments to me about how I must have gained a few pounds since the last fitting as she was zipping me up, but it didn't matter to me. After I had gotten home since being hospitalized, Zayn had done everything in his power to make sure I was back to 100% again. And if that meant I had to eat a bit more and gain a little weight, then that was fine. I personally would rather be healthy than horridly thin and frail. I had learned my lesson.

As I stared in the mirror, I was speechless. I didn't recognize the girl in the mirror.

She was a bride, healthy and glowing, beautiful and loved for who she was. She wasn't Odette Carlton, the only thing that made us seem similar was the identical sizeable scar on her right shoulder, still slightly discolored and stretched from the incident long ago. My fingers instictively reached to pull up my off-the-shoulder sleeve to hide the hideous mark, someone's fingers lightly slapping them away. I turned to see Erica smiling at me.

"Leave it. Let it remind him of how strong you really are."

♚ Zayn's POV ♚

I was freaking out.

Eli was the only one managing to keep me calm in my bedroom, helping me dress in my official Empire uniform. My fingers were shaking too much to button the stupid jacket, my lip becoming the subject of torture as my teeth kept biting it. Falene had told me if I dared to run a distressed hand through my hair she had spent all of forty-five minutes doing, that she would personally kill me before I stepped foot on the altar.

"W-What if she changes her mind?" I nervously asked Eli, who only rolled his eyes. His silver wedding band that fit snug on his ring finger wasn't helping, the light gleaming from it seeming to mock me.

"Why would she do that you idiot?" Eli asked exasperatedly. He was getting a little sick of my panicked questions. I didn't really blame him.

"Shut up. What if she does though?" I pressed on, Eli raising one of his eyebrows humorously.

"Then that would be a waste of an expensive wedding dress that you paid for." Eli laughed, a groan escaping me as I remembered the many zeros I had seen on the receipt from the dress shop. Too many zeros. I had argued that Odette didn't need to go overboard with an expensive wedding dress since that would take money out of things like the honeymoon, but Ivy had argued that Odette had survived a near-death experience and therefore deserved an expensive dress.

I wasn't cheap, I just preferred not to drain the Empire's finances for a dress Odette was going to wear once.

Maybe I was cheap...

"She loves you. She stayed with you when you were going through tough times. Heck, she stayed with you after she was almost killed by Revolutionaries! If that's not devotion, I don't know what is, my friend." Eli said, restoring my confidence.

"Alright." I agreed after Eli had finished buttoning up my jacket. "How do I look?" I asked him, watching as he looked over my official uniform of black slacks and my red jacket with shining medals pinned on it for the tiniest of imperfections. He was dressed in something similar, only his the colors of England's Union Jack flag.

"Great. Time to get this show on the road."

Odette had picked out everything for the wedding: the colors, the dress, the reception decor, one of the cakes. She got to pick out everything...except the honeymoon. That was all my doing. I had kept it a secret too, Odette had no idea where we were going.

Everything was set up and ready. The wedding would take place in the back gardens of the Manor, all of the pretty flowers and foliage coming straight from our expert gardeners. The wedding colors were light pastels and white, Ivy having shown me her bridesmaid dress that was a blushing pink with disgust after they had come home from the dress shop. She claimed Odette was trying to spite her by making her wear such a horrid shade, but said she would suck it up for one day.

I met everyone but my bride on the back balcony of the Manor with two French doors that led to the wedding aisle, a quick glance outside through the glass confirming all the guests were here. All my groomsmen were present: Eli, Sebastian, and the Elites-in-training who I had gotten rather close to when Odette was in the hospital: Louis, Liam, Niall, and Harry. The last four were dressed in regular suits since they didn't hold royal titles, but they were happy nonetheless.

Odette's bridesmaids were excited and bubbly, all admiring their dresses and how handsome their men looked. Erica was in a robin's egg blue dress, Falene in a spring green one, my sisters in yellow, orange, and purple, and Ivy in the hated pink dress.

Needless to say, Ivy looked quite happy with Sebastian by her side in his uniform. It had taken a while for him to recover fully, but here he was, smiling and already having a good time with Ivy.

Odette's mother and mine appeared soon after I arrived, both women chatting excitedly before my mother noticed me.

"Oh look how handsome you are!" My mother exclaimed. "Isn't Odette so lucky?"

"Is she ready?" I asked, Odette's mother nodding happily.

"Then let's have ourselves a wedding."

All of our guests were here, the justice of the peace was already at the altar, and I'm sure Odette was somewhere being hidden so I wouldn't see. My mother kissed me on the cheek before opening the doors, the crisp spring breeze blowing into the Manor. She alerted the small group of classical musicians to be ready for Odette's arrival before walking down the aisle and taking a seat by my father. I took in a deep breath as the small orchestra began to play a soft tune, each of the bridesmaids and groomsmen walking down the aisle, leaving only me and Odette's mother. I was about to walk down the pastel blue carpet of an aisle when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

Odette's mother was already crying happy tears as she pulled me in tight for a hug.

"Please take good care of her." She begged. "She loves you so much."

I hugged the woman before releasing her and giving her a small nod.

"I will."

And with that, I walked down the aisle by myself, taking my spot next to the justice of peace, and waiting for my queen to arrive.

And when she did, I was speechless in a way I will never forget.

♡ Odette's POV ♡

My mother was waiting for me on the back balcony when I emerged from my hiding place. She smiled at me and held her arm out for me to take to walk down the aisle.

"Your father would be so proud of you." She said, and I nodded.

Dad may have been taken away from me from lung cancer, but I knew he was smiling down at me from up above.

My mother handed me my bouquet from a table next to the doors, a bunch of pastel flowers bundled together with tiny white ones. She adjusted my veil before smiling in satisfaction.

"Time to make you a queen."

The doors were already opened, and when I stepped onto the light blue carpet, everyone stood up and stared in wonder at me. However, I wasn't focused on everyone, only one person who couldn't take his eyes off me. The orchestra played "Here Comes the Bride" as I walked towards my future, Zayn seeming to be ensnared in a trap of my beauty as I reached the altar.

Zayn stepped down from the altar as the justice of peace read.

"Who gives this woman up to his Majesty for marriage?" He spoke, my mother smiling as she released my hand, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek through the veil.

"I do." She spoke before stepping down and taking her place next to Zayn's parents in the chairs, Zayn taking my hand and leading me up the several steps to the altar.

He seemed almost dazed as he stared at me, unable to take his eyes off of me the entire time. I felt the same way, almost not hearing anything the justice was saying until it was time to say our 'I do's'.

"Do you, Odette Marie Carlton, take his Majesty King Zayn Javaad Malik, as your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do." I said, my eyes never leaving Zayn's as I felt a surging wave of emotion and a few tears spill over my cheeks. Zayn smiled ever so slightly and squeezed our intertwined hands gently.

"And do you, your Majesty, take Odette Marie Carlton to be your lawfully wedded wife and queen?"

Two words. Two words and he was all mine for all eternity.

"I do."

"You may now kiss your bride." The justice spoke, and Zayn lifted my veil, his fingertips gently brushing away my tears of happiness before bringing me close to place the sweetest of kisses to my lips. I heard cheering from our loved ones and after Zayn pulled away he released my hands to do something very important. He turned to a pillow held by a servant to the side, a glittering tiara of diamond and white gold resting on it for me.

Picking it up carefully, the beautiful tiara was placed over my veil, replacing the much smaller one that had been pinned in my hair earlier by Falene. The look in Zayn's eyes after it was on my head was precious. He was staring at his queen for years to come, his love that would stand by his side no matter what.

"I present to you, the ruling king and queen of the Malik Empire!" The justice happily said, and more cheers erupted from the crowd. Zayn took my hand in his and led me down the aisle once more, only now to the start of our new future.

***

The reception had been full of fun and celebration, everyone having a grand time. Ivy had been the one to catch my bouquet, the blush on her cheeks after she showed Sebastian something quite adorable.

But now it was time for Zayn to whisk me off to our mystery honeymoon, a new white dress that stopped at my knees and hugged my figure replacing my wedding dress. My curls were still intact, a gauze bandage over my left wrist matching Zayn's as he led me towards a limo out in the front of the Manor. He had changed to a suit with a black button up shirt, still looking as handsome as ever.

We were wished to have fun and be safe by our loved ones as we got inside, Zayn still refusing to tell me where we were headed even when we started moving away from the Manor.

After a long private jet plane ride, and another boat ride, Zayn finally announced we had arrived. Taking my hand in one of his and covering my eyes with the other, he carefully led me to our destination, removing his hand to reveal a private island with a beach house and sugar white sand beaches. It was a tropical place, palm trees and the smell of salt water overwhelming my senses.

Zayn waited for my reaction, and I had apparently lived to his expectations by squealing in happiness and hugging him tight. He quickly lifted me off my feet, picking me up bridal style as he carried me into the house to show me around.

I felt like I was in a fairy tale.

And the fairy tale kept going on that night as Zayn admired the healing crown Mark now on my left wrist and the sparrow Mark on my right as he laid me down on the plush bed we would without a doubt be spending a lot of time in. He had taken off the bandages carefully, kissing the flushed pink skin gently before removing my engagement ring and setting it on the side dresser.

My Marks weren't all he admired that night as he traced over the curves of my body, my white dress having long been discarded to the corner with his suit as our lips pressed messy kisses to each other's and our bodies fitted together lovingly and perfectly like puzzle pieces only fate could have created.

Zayn was perfect, an angel crafted by the heavens, and entirely mine. I still had yet to wrap my head around the concept, but as we lay together under the satin sheets, Zayn playing with my long hair, I realized life couldn't have been more perfect, more impeccable, than it was now.

"What are you thinking about, my queen?" Zayn asked as he gently twirled one of my now messy curls in between his fingers. I smiled at him before kissing him, my heart racing with the thought of a lifetime with the man I loved.

"How amazing life is going to be now that I have you." I said, and with a smile Zayn kissed my forehead before pulling me close to him.

"I couldn't agree more."