Forums » General Roleplay » An Arranged Marriage (1x1)

Anastasia paced her bedroom floor, much more anxious than a normal bride would appear. She was beautiful in her wedding dress. It was long, brushing the ground, all white as well. It was a sleeveless dress, with a low v-neck, and all beautiful with jeweled gems all over it. She was nervous. Why? Because the man she was marrying in just minutes she had never met before.

"M'lady, it's time." The servant brought her out to the doors of the great hall. She had to wait until the right time, but then she would walk down to meet her groom.

Raphael had not yet left his room. He spent the few hours before the wedding reading. The youth's most favored past-time. Nervous. He pretended not to truly care about all of this, but it was slightly daunting. Marriage. It was only when his elderly tutor arrived to inform him of the hour that he finally put the book down and headed out for the hall.

He looked the part- royalty. A bit stern looking for his age, but that could simply be his way of covering up how much his nerve were eating at him. He was dressed in formal attire made specifically for the ceremony. As he arrived in the grand hall, he met with his father, who then directed him to stand apart from everyone else, which only made his nerves worse. Singled out and everything.

Anastasia was given the signal, and as music played and all eyes turned to her, she walked down the aisle. She was terrified. It was a good thing she had a veil on, because she simply couldn't hold back the fear from her eyes. Fright, and a desperate sadness. It was every girl's dream to fall in love and marry someone, not marry someone she didn't even know! Anastasia stood beside her fiance, and as the ceremony desired, she took his hand. She couldn't believe this was happening.

Raphael was able to keep the slightly stern, strong expression. Though it grew harder as she stood next to him. And almost impossible when she took his hand. He tried to sneak a glance through the veil, but figured that might look odd if the groom did so in the middle of the ceremony. So he waited. Besides, that time had already come. He was bid to turn, face his bride and lift the veil. As he did so, his hands were slightly less than steady.

Anastasia prepared herself throughout the entire ceremony, so that when he lifted the veil she had a calm expression. He was lucky, because she was quite attractive. Soon it was time for the words to be said. She waited for him patiently, and then took her turn answering the priest's question. "I do."

That was it, and now the worst part had come. It was time to kiss. It took all of her power not to grimace just at the thought. Kissing someone she didn't even know. Anastasia tried her best to keep herself calm.

Raphael would have breathed a sigh of relief as he lifted back her veil, were all eyes not on the pair. He could do worse. A lot worse. He did his best to keep a straight face, nodding to the priest with an, "I do." To him, the next part was the best and worst. Yes, it was going to be awkward for the two of them, but she was.. very pretty.

Then the part he figured she was stressing over as well. He glanced to his parents, then hers. This would seal the deal. He hesitated, but then leaned in, pressing his lips to hers. He tried not to make it too passionate. He didn't even know her. Just a casual, but convincing kiss.

Anastasia had to clench her teeth a little to keep from pulling back, just accepting the kiss without really giving back to it. That couldn't really be noticed though, and anyways the moment their lips met cheers went up from the entire crowd. As soon as possible, Anastasia pulled back from the kiss. She didn't look at her husband, instead looking out to the crowd of people. Her people and his people. She forced a smile. She had to do this for her people, she had to make them think she was happy with this.

Raphael released her hand as she pulled back- though no one else would have been able to tell that it happened. He had been the one kissing her, so he noticed when it ended prematurely. Prematurely on his end, anyway.

He turned to face the crowd, eyes shifting to his father. A stern looking man, more stern than the fake expression he currently wore. The man gave an approving nod, quietly applauding along with the rest of the crowd's more excited cheers. But, now what? Was she to stay with them now?

There was going to be a celebration, naturally. A big feast in honor of the new couple. And in the morning, Anastasia's parents would leave her to be in this castle forever. She was stuck in the land that wasn't her own, in a castle that wasn't hers, with a man she didn't know. Of course, in Anastasia's opinion, the worst part of the entire thing came after the celebration. When they were left alone in the room they would be sharing together. Just the thought of it made her shudder, though she passed it off as a warm and happy waving gesture. Then everyone was ushered to the dining hall where the feast would take place, and so Anastasia was forced to take hands with Raphael once more as they walked there.

Raphael took lead as she took his hand. He knew his castle better than she. He could tell that she was far less thrilled than he was about this whole arrangement. He couldn't blame her either. Of course, he hadn't really thought about it until now. He had only been worried that he would have to share his time with a wife. Being more of an introverted intellectual, he merely tolerated formal occasions and martial training. There were a few he enjoyed, but none more than the time he spent in his lessons or in the library. And now he would be expected to share his time and bed chambers with someone. But only now did he realize how much worse it would be for her. It wouldn't be long before they arrived at the hall where the feast was held. They were to be seated apart from the others, at the head of the main table, obviously. Before he took his seat, he would pull out her chair before she sat. It was expected.

Snap- Sorry, had no idea about this thing xD

(No problem x3 it is one of my favorite features)

[Seems useful x3]

As expected, Anastasia sat down at the chair he pulled out for her, and followed the custom they held of the married couple drinking from the same cup of wine before the actual feast began. Once that had been done, and the food was served, Anastasia simply started eating quietly. She didn't eat much. She wasn't very hungry. How could she be? Her mind was on so many other things.

The youth ate little as well. He wasn't really one for crowds. He just wanted the whole public part of the affair to be over. The feast carried on for some time, his parents and hers conversing, the common folk of the castle carried on, and the lesser nobility vied for the favor of the royalty. But eventually, it drew to a close, and the guests slowly began to leave. Several times he turned to glance at his bride, hoping there was something he could say. Something nice. He would think on it.

Anastasia didn't say a word to her new husband, not that she purposefully ignored him. But she spent much of the night talking to her people, to those she knew and would miss for a long time. She didn't look at her husband much either. The night was coming to a close, and even though she desperately wished for people to still stay and talk, she knew the inevitable was coming. Sure enough, soon servants came and whisked her off, and male servants came to do the same with Raphael. It was time for them to get cleaned and changed for the night.

Anastasia was washed and scrubbed, with rose petals and perfumed bath salts and all sorts of fancy things. Then she was dressed in a sheer pink nightgown, nearly see-through, and she was given a white silk robe to wear overtop of it when she was not in bed. Anastasia couldn't believe this was happening. She was pulled, pushed and nudged until she finally stumbled into the bedroom. Raphael had received the same treatment, and his servants would have made sure he was there before she was.

Raphael's bedchamber was spacious, as one would expect. But despite it's size, it was somewhat modest. The bed was large, but without the fancy silk sheets and curtains. There was furniture, but he disdained the lavish pieces his parent's had at first provided, choosing something more rustic, but still pleasing to the eye. The only that that was particularly impressive was his private bookshelf, filled with what must have been hundreds of books. He had been there, pretending to read while he waited for his bride. Now for the most awkward part of the evening. The book was left open as he rose to his feet. "Welcome.. I suppose this is to be your room as well from now on." He attempted to sound welcoming.

Anastasia looked around, her eyes coming to settle on her husband. The first actual words he had ever said to her. "..Thank you. Yes, I suppose it is." She looked around, grasping in her brain for something to say. "It's nice." She simply stood awkwardly, her hands grasping her robe to keep it closed over her nightgown.

Raphael spent a second or so simply looking at her. Again, he counted himself lucky. She was beautiful. But again, he also felt he wasn't quite ready for marriage. And then her, she must feel awful. "Ah.. Can I get you something? Tea?" He motioned towards a kettle set on one of his desks. From the scent it wasn't the common tea most royalty dined with. Something slightly more exotic. But when you're a prince, you're able to afford such tastes. At this point, he was simply trying to ease the tension. Learn more about her through small talk, perhaps try to make her feel more comfortable.

Anastasia eyed the tea somewhat suspiciously. "No thank you..I'm not very thirsty." What if he'd drugged it? It was possible. It didn't smell like the tea she normally had. It could very easily be poisoned, or drugged, or any terrible thing. She just stood where she was. The awkward tension in the air was heavy, so heavy it nearly weighed her down. She didn't know what to do, or what to say. In all of her princess lessons, she had been told it was always the man who had to start something. She wasn't supposed to speak unless spoken to, etc.