The Crown's Seduction
Chapter 284: So Confusing

Chapter 284: So Confusing

At Wright Manor, Kingdom of Ebodia

Despite everything that she had done to try and prepare herself, Dani still felt so nervous for her own wedding. Yesterday’s wedding for Taro and Krisha went by smoothly, in her opinion. Everyone was happy, and she even gave her friend her blessing to leave when she was informed that both she and Taro had to leave early to go somewhere for their extremely short honeymoon.

"I’m... I’m getting married..."

Dani muttered to herself as she stared at herself in the mirror. Unlike how she thought that Krisha in a wedding dress was a match made in heaven, the dress currently hugging her frame almost felt off to her with how daunting its message was. Sure, she looked amazing, but it symbolized the fact that she was going to get married. To a man that she was still unsure of what his true feelings were for her.

Truly, why did things have to happen this way?

"It just went by all so quickly," she sighed. "Still, this is the path I chose..."

Sucking her emotions up, Dani nodded to herself as she turned away from the mirror. Even if these were the cards fate dealt her, she just had to accept things in stride and move on. Nothing would ever get fixed if she just wondered how things ended up that way. No, this was the fruit of her decisions, and she would accept them even if she really wished she had more time to process everything that happened to her.

"Ah, here you are," her mother, Duchess Donna, greeted her as she left her room. "I was just about to knock on your door. We were starting to get worried with how long you were taking in there."

"I just needed a bit more time to prepare for the wedding," Dani beamed, making sure to hide her anxiety from her mother. "Just the usual pre-wedding jitters, you know?"

"Ah, that I can understand," her mother chuckled. "It just feels all so surreal, right?"

"I know," Dani lightly chuckled. "It’s just weird to think that I’m already getting married."

"That’s what your father also said," the older woman joked. "But enough talk. Let’s get you to the chapel."

Nodding, Dani followed her mother all the way to their family carriage. There, she saw her parents smiling warmly at her as they eagerly supported her decision.

Meanwhile, her own heart was pounding at what she was about to do. Abel wanted to make things between them a reality, not just what they initially agreed before and it honestly confused her. Sure, she liked Abel, but did he really like her too? She... just wasn’t sure yet... and as they finally arrived at the chapel, the more she felt her emotions swelling within her chest.

"We’re here," her father, Duke George, smiled warmly at him as he held her hand.

"I’ll be going ahead then," her mother gestured as she made her way inside the chapel. "I’ll be seeing you two shortly."

Dani waved her mother away, silently hoping that she too could just sit by the sideline of her own wedding.

"Shall we then, daughter?" her father asked as he led her to the door.

"Right," she replied, relying more on her courage than her excitement as she smiled.

Taking a deep breath, Dani stepped foot in the chapel with her father. Immediately, she saw everyone currently present for her wedding. Her Queen Mineah smiling happily for her together with King Nikolai were the first she noticed.

By the front of the church, she saw her mother smiling warmly at her. Her brother Atlas was also there along with Princess Ezme, the two of them having their own wedding at a later date based on what she heard. Some of her shadow maiden friends also came in attendance, but from those that she was close with, only Zaila and Niran were present, the latter having her husband with her as they cheered her on from their seats.

And of course, last but not least, Abel was standing by the other end of the aisle, his usual smile making her feel things that she couldn’t exactly describe.

’This is really happening,’ she nervously thought. ’I’m actually getting married.’

The wedding march then came on, and Dani was shaken out of her thoughts as she began walking to the altar. With each step, she felt her heart pound with nervous energy as Abel’s visage became ever so closer.

"You look amazing, Dani," Abel greeted her as her father handed her away. "It would be an honor to have you as my wife."

"It would be an honor to have you as my husband as well, Abel," she greeted back, smirking at him in an attempt to give herself some courage. "Assuming you don’t back down now."

"Are you kidding? I’m happy with this arrangement," he scoffed. "Now, let’s get married."

Dani smiled even as her mind was sent into further turmoil. It was so hard for her to process it all that by the time she found herself back in reality, it was already time for them to kiss and be done with things.

Frankly, she couldn’t even remember saying her vows with how disoriented she was with the whole situation.

"Are you alright?" Abel asked her just as the priest announced their inevitable kiss. "You look distracted."

Thinking quickly, Dani replied, "Distracted by how handsome you are? Don’t make me laugh at my own wedding."

"Well, it would be on brand for our situation," he chuckled. "Now, where were we?"

They then kissed, and Dani couldn’t help but close her eyes as she felt Abel’s lips against hers. Her heart didn’t know what to feel. It was all so confusing, and she felt her thoughts spinning the more she tried to make sense of what was happening.

By the time the kiss was finished and they looked each other in the eye, she was hoping that the day would finally end. At the very least, that would help her ignore whatever it was that she was feeling in her chest.