Author's Note: I have been experiencing existential crisis these days, and obviously, that is not a good thing. Call it a side effect from brooding too much about life and it's purpose - or anything that you'd like to call it. Either way, the effect on me is not a good thing. It's been bothering me and is currently affecting my education, my health, and my mental state. Obviously, that is not good. But! I take the time to painstakingly write this chapter and take the time to proof read it before I actually publish it. (But I actually let other people proof read it for me.) Either way, I hope you will still continue to love/like me, and still be appreciative of my writing. Please be reminded that my story is very slow, so it will take a lot in order to set things in place. If you do not like slow paced stories, then please refrain from reading my story at all. This chapter contains slight(?) drama. BEWARE. Thank you! Enjoy~!

P.S. = This chapter is in Rilliane's Point of View. I did a little switching so that it won't be so tedious.
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"Speak now, or forever hold your peace."

Such words were never uttered in this wedding. Those who wished to interfere were never given a chance.

"Speak your vows."

"I, Arthur Wilfred, take you, Kathleen Kirkland, to be my lawfully and politically wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, 'til death do us part."

"Ms. Kirkland?"

"I, Kathleen Kirkland, take you, Arthur Wilfred, as my lawfully and politically wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, 'till death do us part."

"Proceed to the rings," The priest declared.

The scent of flowers and slightly scented candles filled my nose. Blue and white banners were hung around the Church, beautifully capturing the essence of the occasion. I watched the couple in front of me, half grimacing and half smiling.

Arthur was smiling at Kathleen as if she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever laid his eyes on.

"With this hand, I will lift your sorrows - your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine; with this candle, I will light your way in darkness; with this ring, I ask you to be mine." Arthur said, as he took Kathleen's hand in his and squeezed. His eyes had a certain glint that I hadnever seen before as he looked at Kathleen - a gaze full of love.

"I do," she spoke those words in a calm, happy voice, triggering mixed feelings inside. The smile that decorated her face was unmistakably rare - one of her genuine smiles. She rarely smiled to anyone that she didn't like - at least, smiled anything genuine or said anything genuine at all.

Kathleen's words stung like knives thrusting on my back, twisting and turning so painfully. Why was it so easy for her to say those words? Couldn't she feel the least bit guilty?

"Your turn, Ms. Kirkland."

Kathleen smiled at Arthur with a unmistakable happiness in her eyes. Arthur smiled back.

"With this hand, I will lift your sorrows - your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine; with this candle, I will light your way in darkness; with this ring, I ask you to be mine." Kathleen said, sincerity in her eyes as she looked at Arthur.

"I do," Arthur answered, as he returned the gaze with much ferocity as Kathleen gave.

Ah, sincerity is clearly seen. Sincerity and love make a terrible match for me.

I knew that their marriage was completely for political reasons, but I still felt conflicted. It still hurt to have my bestfriend, of all people, is getting married to him. To him.

But still I put on a smile - for the sake of the Kingdom, and for the sake of Kathleen. I knew it was useless to try and fool her though - after all, she was a master at figuring things out. She knew how I felt, yet she spoke those words that felt like knives on my back. I don't completely blame her, though - she didn't have a choice. Nobody had a choice or a day in anything at all.

It was as if we were all simply pierrots that were proclaimed as royalty - a position as an icon, never living for yourself, but for the people around you.

What was the point of all this? They should at least be given a chance to marry the person they love.

I looked longingly at Arthur, who simply smiled at Kathleen. I felt like breaking. It was a horribly empty feeling - accompanied with an urge to just break. Like something so simple as a smile that I loved, could inflict something so painful and destructive within me.

If I had voiced my feelings, would tomorrow be different? Would today be different? Would anything at all be any different?

I faked a smile at the couple, and fought back the tears threatening to fall. What I would give for a single day in the past - to change all that is now.

They did look good together - most probably better than I would have been with Arthur.

"I now pronounce you, husband and wife," The priest declared, and gave a smile as he continued, "You may now kiss the bride."

Kathleen and Arthur smiled at each other and leaned towards each other. My heart was breaking - the excruciating pain of reality, hitting me like the piercing rays of the sun.

Their lips touched, and both deepened it. I could feel my heart breaking in a thousand pieces as I faked a smile at them. I still couldn't do anything at all. If this would have happened to my old self, she would have done something - but I can't go back to being that person. It is something that I vowed that I would never to look back to.

I felt pathetic, but there was still a small ray of hope in my heart - a tiny speck of hope.

'Don't be so dramatic, Rilliane! You're better than some whimpering little fool! You're better than this.' A voice in the back of my head whispered, taunting me.

I knew that I could do better. I knew that it was better off without all the drama. Drama is such a troublesome thing - very delicate and dangerous in many ways.

"Rilliane!" Kathleen's voice called out. I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at her. Arthur was beside her, his hand holding hers. I didn't even notice that the ceremony had already ended. I quickly "masked" myself. Again.

"Congratulations, Kath!" I gave her my faked biggest, most realistic grin. Kathleen chuckled and replied, "Thanks, Rill." Arthur shrugged and gave Rilliane a small smile. "So what do you want?" I asked her. "I need to you to please help me with changing my gown," She paused, "For the Coronation Ceremony."

"I need to change too," Arthur interrupted, "Can I join you two?" We looked at each other and smirked. 'Ignore him.' Kathleen mouthed. 'Sure.' I mouthed the message to Kathleen. I began to genuinely smile - this feeling is real, I'm not faking it. And so, we both ignored him and continued on with our conversation.

I smiled again and enthusiastically replied as if I was normal as usual - not on to some devious plan at all. "Sure, Kath! But where's the dressing room?" Kath looked thoughtful for a moment. "I think it's near the small chapel by the old ruins."

"Are you even listening to me?" Arthur exclaimed, trying to catch our attention. We still ignored him.

The old ruins by the small chapel was once a bell tower that was made by the fourth King of Spades and the fourth King of Clubs to symbolize their friendly relations with each other. It was destroyed a long time ago, during the time of the fifth King of Spades - when there was a civil war that broke out in some of the parts of Spades. All that was left of the destruction was the ruins; the only thing to be seen was a small structure of what the bell tower used to be.

"Let's go then, we have to hurry!" I exclaimed. I grabbed her hand and dashed to the dressing rooms - leaving Arthur. "Wait for me, you idiots!"

Kathleen and I laughed as they looked back to see Arthur running to them, yelling for them to stop. "Rilliane! Kath! You idiots, couldn't you wait?!"

"No!" We laughed. Poor Arthur could only groan.

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"The seemingly innocent yet quite dramatic scenery of the three was only the beginning. They have yet to know how truly cruel life really is to people like them. Don't you think so, too?"

"I do think so, too. It will happen soon. Just remember the plan."

The sound of laughter echoed.

"Of course."