Princess Abigail fetched Jessy from her room."Mother and Father want to talk with you, Jess," she said catching her breath.
Jessy stared at the younger woman"s face.
"Calm down. Why are you panting?" she asked.
Princess Abigail smiled widely at her. "Because today we will be discussing your wedding with my brother Prince Zain!" she said excitedly.
Jessy let out a deep nervous breath. "I will look for Mother and Father first. You go ahead. I will be there once I found them."
"No need, Jess. Your parents and my brother are already waiting for you in the function room."
"Okay, let me change into something presentable first," she murmured while her heart was beating fast. She"s not comfortable with the family gathering tonight. It"s something she doesn"t want to attend but she has no choice.
After changing into a black chiffon long sleeve blouse dotted with white and red flower design and a casual cream colored loose pants, they exited the room.
The Function room consisted of several chairs that were arranged neatly around an oval-shaped table. There were fifteen chairs total inside the room.
The King, Queen, and Prince Zain were already seated side by side with each other. Princess Abigail sat quietly beside her mother.
Jessy pulled the seat beside her mother and sat down on it with trembling hands. She took a glimpse at the King"s face, he has an authoritative air around him. He was good looking, an older version of his son, Prince Zain, they had similar facial features. The Queen was also regal looking, beautiful, and elegant on her own right.
Jessy tried hard to ignore Prince Zin"s stare.
The King uttered a greeting for everyone.
"Hope everyone is feeling good and excited tonight. We will be discussing the incoming wedding of Prince Zain and Jessy. Any objections?" he joked playfully.
He scanned the faces around him waiting for an objection.
Jessy stared at the King"s face. She would like to object but she stops herself.
"There is no objection from us," Hector and Sarah talked in unison.
The King looked at Jessy.
"...And you young lady?"
Jessy smiled a little and shook her head as a sign of agreement that she has no objection to the wedding. She suddenly dropped her gaze.
She failed to see the smirk on Prince Zain face, his eyes didn"t leave her face since she entered the room.
The King continued...
"The wedding ceremony will be a simple one. It will be attended by all vampires. We will hold a bigger wedding ceremony after all vampires are already transformed successfully into human beings. It will be held in the newly constructed Island Resort which is the relocation site for all vampires turned human."
"Any objection?" again he asked the people around the table.
"None..." Quick answers can be heard among the attendees except for Jessy.
"Okay, were good. I will leave the wedding preparation to the women. Hector and Zain come with me, I have something to discuss with you regarding the new dome we"re about to built next month."
The King left the room with Hector and Prince Zain in tow.
But Prince Zain retraces his steps in a stealth manner, he stole a quick kiss on Jess" cheek and sprinted right away after doing the deed. He didn"t see the disgust on Jess" face.
Jessy flinched.
Both the Queen, Sarah, and Princess Abigail looked at Jessy with raised eyebrows.
Jessy managed to release a little smile from her lips just to diminished the palpable awkwardness that was floating in the air around them.
The Queen stared at Jessy for like a few seconds...her eyes unreadable.
Sarah, Jess" mother felt nervous with the whole scenario that was unfolding in front of her.
Jessy dropped her gaze.
Princess Abigail pretended to cough and tried to divert her mother"s attention to the wedding magazine she was holding.
"Mom, look at this! This wedding gown is beautiful and got nice lace detailing. It would be perfect for the bride. What do you think?"
The Queen finally looked at the wedding magazine and perused the wedding gown. "It"s not exquisite enough. I want the best wedding gown for Jessy! Let"s check out the other designs," she finally smiled, instantly breaking the icy atmosphere that surrounds them.
She gave one magazine to Sarah and smiled at her fondly. "Here...let me know if you can choose a wedding gown perfect for Jessy. We have to decide within this week so that we can send the perfect wedding gown design to the seamstress as soon as possible."
"Yes Margaret," replied Sarah, showing the Queen a warm smile of her own.
Jessy and Sarah looked at the wedding designs. Jessy tried to appear excited just for the benefit of the Queen who was looking quizzically at her earlier.
Deep inside she wants to go somewhere far away from here. All the wedding gowns appeared ugly to her. She doubted if she can choose a perfect wedding dress for herself.
Fifteen minutes later...
The Queen rose to her feet.
"Am retiring to my room now. Sarah, please bring that magazine with you. I need the chosen wedding design by next week," she said.
Sarah nodded.
Princess Abigail and her mom exited the function room.
When the Queen was finally out of the room, both Sarah and Jessy breathed in relief.
"Am sorry, Mom," said Jessy with downcast eyes.
Sarah sighed and rubbed Jess" back.
"I know you are not interested with the wedding. But please don"t embarra.s.s us in front of the King and Queen, you understand, Jessy?" Sarah exhaled.
"Yes Mom," she replied sadly.
"Good. Now let"s finish inspecting the wedding gown designs so that we are done with it. I know you are getting frustrated staring at this magazine..."
"Go ahead, Mom. Choose one for me," Jessy folded her arms on the table and anch.o.r.ed her head above it, she has no intention to keep looking at the dresses, it only made her more miserable and feeling wretched inside.
"Jess, what color you want for your wedding dress?" asked Sarah.
"b.l.o.o.d.y red...Mom," she replied absentmindedly.
"How about this-?" her mother showed her a flimsy flowing elegant red wedding dress with crystal beads detailing sewn delicately across the entire length of the dress. "You like it?"
Jessy nodded.
"Next, we need shoes to go along with the dress. Black, pink, red, flesh or cream-colored heels?"
"Anything, Mom. I just don"t like wearing high-heeled shoes."
Sarah showed her daughter a s.e.xy cross strap two inches flower laced red shoes. It"s a perfect match with the red wedding dress Jessy had chosen earlier.
Jessy nodded in agreement. "Looks nice," she commented in a bland tone devoid of emotion.
"We already have the wedding dress and wedding shoes, now we have to choose a bridal wedding bouquet for you. We have a calla lily and red orchid, white and red roses, apple red roses or red rose and sunflower bouquet, what do you prefer?"
"Choose for me, Mom," she yawned, feeling bored. "Am very sleepy, can I go to my room now?"
Sarah sighed, she stared exasperatedly at her daughter. "Okay, let"s get out from here. We shall continue this tomorrow."
"Whateverrrr, Mom," she replied with a sleepy voice.
Sarah shook her head, then she looked at her daughter with annoyance and let out a troubled sigh. What kind of wedding is this? When the bride was not even interested in the wedding planning herself?