A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 63

                           “Princess Sara and Juan will get married after a week. Now she’ll exchange rings with Juan to seal their betrothal,” the pleased King announced in a loud and ringing voice. A roar of applause rent the vast Assembly hall. The King continued over the uproar, “The coronation will take place before the marriage rituals on the same day.” “How convenient?” thought Juan. Obviously the King couldn’t, rather wouldn’t let his only daughter marry a pauper, would he? Hence the coronation had to take place before the marriage so that she could marry a King! He laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. It was as if he was involved in a farce.

                            Probably, he’d have been better off in that forbidden shrine, at peace with himself. Now a long life of mental torture awaited him with open arms. He knew that any person in that large gathering would’ve given an eye and a limb for the Princess’ hand and the crown. Well, he had lost an eye, though unwittingly. Now he had lost his entire life. Destiny had played a very nasty trick on him. He felt like crying. He wondered what everyone would feel if he did just that! They’d jump to the conclusion that he was shedding tears of joy. He looked at Myara as the Princess approached him with her ring. She had curled her palms into her hands and had pursed her lips hard to keep her emotions in check.

                             He was dazed as an attendant held out a large velvet-covered tray with a sparkling solitaire ring on it, surrounded by colorful flowers. He took the ring cautiously. He still had time. He could spring towards Myara and slip it on her beautiful, slender finger. But he was duty-bound. His mother couldn’t be let down, neither could the King, Queen and Sara. He felt nothing as he exchanged rings with the Princess. It was as if he was play-acting as he often did with the other kids in his childhood. Pretending to be a King and marrying a Princess and living happily ever after! Oh why had he grown up at all?

                            Dully he saluted the King, Queen and Ministers and bowed before the cheering Assembly. He was numb with grief. He couldn’t even muster a smile for the Princess as she smiled happily at him. She understood that he had been bewildered by the sudden course of events. It had been too sudden for him, after all her attempts at ridiculing him. She’d give him time to come to terms with her volte-face.

                           After the ceremony, there was a huge banquet and lots of song and dance and the celebrations continued till the wee hours of dawn.

               Then Martha started writing…..

              That week was the darkest week of Juan’s and Myara’s lives and the brightest one of Sara’s life. There were continuous celebrations at the palace which was illuminated and decorated with flowers and festoons daily. The proclamation of the royal wedding was made by official spokesmen at all the public squares of Regina. The people of the kingdom looked forward to the royal feast that would be served to all of them. There was singing, dancing and a lot of joy de vivre in the air. Only Juan and Myara were despondent and morose. It was as if they had been sentenced to death at the guillotine! They felt as if people were celebrating their permanent separation.

               One day before the wedding, Juan sought Myara’s company for one last time. She too agreed as she had desperately wanted to see him up-close one final time and say “Good Bye.” They met clandestinely at the stable behind her shack. She appeared dull, with dark circles under her eyes and listless eyes that brightened on seeing him. He appeared so handsome in his new clothes, a matching shirt and trouser suit and a hat, undoubtedly, one of the several gifts that the King had bestowed on his future son-in-law!

              She had dressed up carefully for him. A simple ethereal white dress with a colorful scarf adorned her lissome body. She looked as beautiful and fragile as porcelain. Juan’s heart went out to her. He couldn’t contain his emotions and clasped her to his bosom tightly. She pushed him away gently, reminding him, “Juan, you will be crowned the King of Regina tomorrow and marry my best friend Sara. Don’t ever forget that. Now you are no longer mine. I will never meet you after your marriage. I will go to some other kingdom and start my life afresh. Promise me that you will be faithful to Regina and loyal to Sara or I’ll never forgive you. Also promise that you’ll never try to locate my whereabouts!”

              “Myara, can’t we just elope?” he asked earnestly. She slapped him across his right cheek with all her might. He rubbed his red cheek ruefully. He had got his answer. An emphatic “No!” He knew that he had just lost everything worth living for. He said “Good Bye” and walked back towards the palace without a backward glance.

                 That night he couldn’t sleep at all. What if the King knows that I have been rendered impotent? Will he stop this ill-fated marriage? He kept thinking. Then he still had a chance of a life with Myara. But he didn’t want her also to remain childless just on account of him. No it was better that he just quietly married Sara and did as Myara bade him to. He’d respect her wishes.

                  The next day, the whole palace cheered as Juan was crowned by the King himself at the lavish Coronation ceremony that was attended by the Kings and Princes, dignitaries and ambassadors of all the neighboring kingdoms. All of Sara’s suitors had turned up to see what they had lost and Juan, the peasant, had gained!

                  He looked dazzling in rich golden robes embroidered with precious gems and pearls and lots of gold jewelry adorning his person. Sara looked resplendent in a red and gold, shimmering gown especially ordered for the happy occasion. She was swathed in gold, pearls and a sparking diamond tiara that matched his diamond-studded crown. 

                 Immediately thereafter, they went to the lone majestic Cathedral in Regina. She appeared radiant and breath-taking in her flowing, milky-white wedding gown made of the finest lace and crystal beads. He appeared every inch, the dapper bride-groom, in his crisp white shirt and shining black tuxedo with a single rose-bud pinned to his lapel.They loudly and clearly repeated their marriage vows and exchanged their wedding rings; shyly kissed each other and went about an elaborate ceremony that proudly proclaimed them as husband and wife.

                 She coyly looked at him and caught a peculiar sad expression on his handsome face. The leather patch over his right eye was the only bit marring his captivating visage. Yes, he had undergone a lot of trauma just to make her his. She owed him her life! She decided that she’d be a very good wife to him and bear him many children. She felt ecstatic at the thought of their first night together…. He dreaded it…..

      

To be continued..... 

The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.