The Prince's Bride Part 2 - J.J. McAvoy Page 0,133

on top of the horseback beside me.

I nodded.

It was hard for him to hear anything else over the screams and shouts.

And just like that, we were off. I sat straight and proper, knowing that all the cameras were on me and this carriage. Also, knowing that there was a little girl watching somewhere, I made sure my curls were extra big in the back for her. As I looked straight ahead, there were people on both sides of the road, waving flags, waving their hands, and calling out. I knew they couldn’t see my face well due to the veil, but I did wave every so often, my face fluctuating from wide smiles to nervous smiles and thinking, Oh, my God, this is happening.

On every other pillar down the road, there were official banners of Gale and I. It was surreal, and it only became more unimaginable when we arrived at the abbey, which was massive and daunting, even with all the greenery they had added to the entrance.

When the carriage stopped, and the door opened again, the sound of the people gave me goose bumps.

Taking a deep breath, I was helped out by none other than Wolfgang, who stood tall with the Sliver Eagle Medal of Courage pinned to his suit for his act of saving me.

“Welcome, ma’am,” he emphasized, nodding his head to me.

I wanted to say it was too early for the ma’am, but it really wasn’t. I was at the door already.

“Here you are.” Eliza smiled as she handed me my bouquet comprised of the flowers of the nation. “Don’t worry; I have you covered from back here.”

She moved behind me to fix my train. It was too much for just one bridesmaid, so shockingly enough, Sophia stood with her. She wasn’t wearing black for the very first time, and instead, wore a soft gray. I looked back at her, and she just nodded. We weren’t friends. We weren’t enemies. We were just two women who had fallen in love with princes and now supported each other whenever we could. And that was enough.

“And I have you from the side,” my mother said, coming up next to me. This was the reason why she had chosen to be the mother of the bride. Because, in Ersovia, both parents walked you down the aisle, and if one wasn’t there, then the other did it alone, so long as they were family.

“Please don’t let me fall,” I whispered to her.

“Have I ever?”

“Yes.”

“Not this time. Come on, we’re walking,” she replied, and when I entered, everyone stood. The sound of the music drowned out the sounds of the crowd.

Slowly, I began my walk down the red carpet to where Gale stood, dressed in a black and gold royal suit, with his mother beside him dressed in full regalia, scepter, a white and golden robe, and the same golden crown I had worn during that state dinner. As there was going to be a coronation today—on my wedding day—I did not wear a crown to enter. But I did not focus on her for long. Instead, I turned my focus onto Gale, who smiled wide even though we were both told to keep our composure.

Seeing him smile made me smile.

I was getting married to him.

Dear God.

Thank you.

Truly and sincerely with everything I have and I am.

Thank you.

Odette.

I could stand and watch her walk to me all day.

It made me want to dance.

It made me want to run down the pews and shake everyone’s hands.

We had chosen this day because, to us, it really was our wedding day. It also happened to be so many other things, but the only thing that mattered to me right now was this part. I’d care about the other parts in a moment, but this one was for all the world to see that Odette was my wife. It was my favorite.

We weren’t supposed to talk.

However, when she reached me and put her hand in mine, I couldn’t help but say, “You are more than what beauty can describe.”

Her eyes watered, and her lips wavered, but she held back and only said, “Cheesy.”

Oh, how I wanted to laugh. But again, I had been warned many times. Be composed. So I held back my laugh and stepped forward with her.

The archbishop talked and talked in front of us. There was something about the power of sacred marriage or such. But I barely heard anything else. My heart was drumming too loud in my chest. It was