Chapter 3 The Ceremony

Eleanora pov

Ferdinand held me by the hands staring deep into my eyes.

"Baby, trust me on this; everything will be fine," he assured with a convincing smile, giving me hope of a new found start.

His smile was so brainwashing, always getting me to fall to his command like a dracula hypnotizing its victim.

"Please, it's already time. You have to return to your room so you can quickly get dressed," he added after a peck on my cheek.

"Already time?" I muttered with a slight raised brow, gripping my nightgown tightly.

"Yes."

Ferdinand replied.

"Sorry, I forgot to tell you. You eventually passed out yesterday and slept throughout the night in my room," he added with a gasp.

I was unaware that it was already morning, thinking it was still yesterday, everything just happened in a flash. Ferdinand walked to the window side and rolled the curtain open. The light shone on my face, and I could feel that same joy returning to my heart-but with doubt. Deep inside me, I didn't want to disgrace my family. So, agreeing to what Ferdinand said seemed like the best choice. I sighed, then walked out of Ferdinand's room.

"Ma'am, I have been looking for you everywhere! Where have you been?" a voice sounded just ahead of me, snapping me out of my thoughts. I was unaware that I had been walking one step at a time while staring at the tiles downwards.

I raised my head and saw that it was the makeup artist who was supposed to get my face done as early as possible.

"Oh, sorry, I... I..." I tried to speak but suddenly began stuttering.

The makeup artist, Jane, stared at me confusingly before responding.

"Ma'am, no need to explain. Let's just go to your room so I can get things done before the wedding ceremony begins."

"Your mother is already waiting for you; she came to your room earlier before now," Jane added.

"She came?" I asked curiously with a surprised look.

"Yes, ma'am. I told her you must have gone out to get something. After that, she left. Your mother was curious to see you though, she's such a lovely woman" Jane replied with a grin.

I got to my room and quickly freshened up. When I came out of the bathroom, Jane was already ready with her makeup tools, preparing to perform her magic on my face.

I sat on the chair, and Jane stood in front of me. She took the powder brush, dusted it on my face, and then started working her enchanting talent on me.

"Can I ask you a question, Jane?" I asked politely, forcing a smile from my face.

"Yeah, sure," Jane replied, then continued what she was doing.

"What would you do if you found out that your best friend was a betrayer?" I asked with my lips pursed, looking for an exact answer that could clear off my broken and betrayed heart.

"This is a tough question, but if I'm to judge, I think I would leave the friend for good because she might repeat the same thing over and over again," Jane replied with a scoff, chuckling.

"Are you experiencing the same issue?" she asked jokingly, still haven't gotten a hint of what had Happened, but i think her random question was actually heating a point.

"No, no," I retorted with a chuckle, faking a smile.

"I'm not. I'm just curious about how people tackle such issues," I replied.

"Oh, okay," Jane smiled, using the brush on her hands as it moved round my face.

Some minutes later, Jane was fully done with the makeup on my face, and I was ready to go.

My wedding gown shimmered in the light with stunning beauty.

"Ma'am, you look very beautiful," Jane complimented with a grin.

I stared at myself in the mirror and saw how beautiful I was, but I wasn't free from the guilt. I felt like what I was doing wasn't the right thing. Deep inside, I knew this wasn't my choice. My heart was broken, and it couldn't be fixed. Sadness suddenly clouded me from the thoughts in my head.

Knock! Knock!

A knock sounded on the door.

"Come in," I replied, gasping while staring at myself in the mirror.

"Oh, my dear Eleanora, you look very beautiful," my mother's voice sounded.

I stood abruptly from the chair I was sitting on and quickly ran towards her, hugging her tightly.

"Mother," I called out.

"My baby, you look very beautiful in the wedding gown," my mum complimented with a warm smile.

"Thank you, Mum," I replied.

"I came here earlier, but your makeup artist told me you went out to get something."

"Yes, that's true," I replied with a grin, trying to hide my broken self, forcing a fake smile on my face to make my mother think everything was fine.

Soon, the ceremony was already starting. I stood at the entrance of the garden where the ceremony was taking place. The garden was designed just perfectly the way I wanted it to be. The flowers were present, the pink cotton yard was well arranged at the top and corners of the transparent roof, and an artificial green carpet was laid from the door where I stood to where the priest was standing.

Ferdinand was at the front together with the priest, staring at me. Ferdinand's father was right beside me. He held my hands, and we gradually walked on the green artificial grass carpet to the front of the stage. Then, I turned and faced Ferdinand. His father looked at me, smiled, and then walked to his seat.

"Are you ready for this?" the priest asked.

Ferdinand nodded his head before I did the same.

"Yes," I replied.