Chapter 25
CARINA
The morning had been chaotic, to say the least. I barely had any time to breathe before I was tossed left and right.
The moment I woke up, Lama Selene practically shoved Falco out of our room and assembled everything for the wedding.
Make–up.
Hair.
Getting dressed.
It all felt too fast yet slow at the same time.
At one point, Luna Selene even spoon–fed me while the hairstylist curled my hair. I couldn’t even remember the details.
Peeking out of the bedroom window, I couldn’t help but gape at the scene below. This morning, only the trusses had been assembled. Now, it was filled with various decorations.
Luna Selene had really outdone herself. I thought it was going to be a simple garden wedding, but she turned it into something straight out of a fairytale.
The garden, which was already lush, was now adorned with an overwhelming amount of flowers. Roses, lilies, daisies–every imaginable bloom had been added. Yet, it didn’t look messy at all. They were all complementary.
White, flowy cloth hung from trusses, creating a canopy that swayed gently in the breeze. It looked pretty cozy despite the grandiosity of the entire place.
And butterflies. Real, fluttering butterflies danced among the flowers, their delicate wings catching the sunlight.
“What the heck?” I muttered under my breath. “How much did this whole thing cost?”
The whole thing looked like it belonged in a storybook, too magical to be real. I couldn’t recognize the garden I’d walked through so many times before.
I turned away, suddenly feeling nervous. I played with the beading of my dress as I walked to the full–length mirror across
the room.
I caught sight of my reflection and shakily smiled.
Jana had worked her magic, draping me in the gown I had chosen.
She had tailored it a bit, and it was now the perfect match. It felt like the dress was a part of my body with how well it clung to my figure.
My hair had been swept up, leaving soft curls to frame my face. Along with that, my make–up was glowy and pink, and I was thankful that it didn’t look excessive at all.
I barely recognized myself again.
Just as I was beginning to feel nervous, I heard a knock at the door.
“Come in!” I called, turning toward the sound.
The door creaked open, revealing Alex.
She stepped in cautiously, her peach–colored gown shimmering, faintly in the light. It was simple yet flattering, perfectly complementing her sharp features and tall frame.
“Wow,” I said, unable to keep the smile off my face. “You look amazing”
Alex stopped in her tracks, her blue eyes scanning me from head to toe. Her jaw dropped slightly, and she let out a dramatic sigh
“Girl, have you seen yourself?” she said, clutching her chest. “I think I’m about to have a heart attack!”
“What? Why?” I asked, laughing nervously.
“You’re so beautiful,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief.
“No wonder he likes you,” she muttered, sounding a bit inaudible,
I blinked, confused. “Huh?”
“Nothing.” Alex said quickly, a hint of color rising to her cheeks. “Anyway, Carter’s outside. I told him not to come in.”
I chuckled, relaxing a little. “Yeah, I don’t think I’m ready for anyone to see me just yet.”
“Even me?” she asked.
“You’re fine.” I said, feeling comfortable in her presence. It was the reason why I had asked her to be my maid of honor in the first place.
“Thanks for agreeing to be my maid of honor,” I said softly. “I know we’re not that close, but it really means a lot to me.”
Alex waved a dismissive hand, but her expression softened. “It’s alright,” she said. “Besides, it’s better than leaving you to deal with your bridesmaids alone. They’re…not great.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“It seems like most of them are your twins‘ friends,” Alex said, rolling her eyes. “I don’t get it, though. If they were asked to do something like this, then they should at least fake liking you.”
“Figures,” I said with a sigh. “They probably just wanted an excuse to dress up and take pictures. Still, I didn’t have a choice. My parents chose them. We need to have an entourage.”
“I guess,” Alex said with a smirk. “But hey, at least you’ve got me to keep them in line.”
“Thank you,” I said sincerely. “At least it’s you. I don’t think I could handle this without someone I trust.”
Alex shook her head. “You know, we should’ve been friends sooner,” she said. “But with me always at the borders and you in the doctor’s office… well, I guess it just never happened.”
“Yeah,” I said, smiling. “But better late than never, right?”
She nodded, and for a moment, we just stood there.
“The guests are coming in,” Alex said after a while, glancing toward the window.
I walked back to the window, peeking out once more. The garden was filling up quickly, the once–empty chairs now occupied by guests dressed in their finest.
The sight made my stomach flip. This was really happening.
Alex must have sensed my nerves because she placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You’ve got this, Rina,” she said.
“And if anyone gives you trouble, I’ll handle them.”
I laughed, feeling some of the tension ease. “Thanks, Alex.”
She gave me one last smile before heading toward the door. “I’ll be in the next room if you need me,” she said.
She closed the door, but I heard her bickering with Carter.
“No, you can’t see her! She doesn’t want anyone else in there,” she said, and I swore I heard a smack, too.
I chuckled, shaking my head, before peeking outside the window again.
“It’s my day,” I muttered, trying to condition myself.
“Let’s have fun, Rina.”
