The Prince and The Pauper
Chapter 10 – The Wedding
The next morning was the day of Prince Kenji and Princess Mizuki's wedding. Princess Mizuki walked into Kazumi's room in the morning, telling her to put on the Bridesmaid dress she had picked out for her.
Kazumi did as she was told and noticed that Princess Mizuki was wearing the same bridesmaid dress as her.
"Where is the wedding dress?" Kazumi asked Mizuki.
"It's in my chamber here. Come with me. I want you to help me put it on so you know how too." Mizuki replied.
Kazumi nodded and followed Mizuki to her chamber they had been at yesterday when they came up with this crazy idea of theirs.
The wedding dress sat on display in the middle of the room. Mizuki took it off the manikin it was displayed on. Kazumi helped her slip it on easily.
"You remember the plan right?" Mizuki asked Kazumi.
Kazumi nodded. "Of course. It's been stuck in my head ever since yesterday. I still can't believe I'm the one getting married today."
The princess hugged her friend gently. "It's OK Kazumi! You'll do great! I promise!"
The pauper girl hugged her friend back. "Thank you Mizuki. I hope I do."
The wedding began an hour later after Kazumi and Mizuki had returned from the chamber. Kazumi and the other bridesmaids had walked down the aisle first, holding red tulips in their hands.
As Kazumi took her place next to the other bridesmaids, being the main one, she stood by where the bride was supposed to stand. She looked over at Prince Kenji who was already staring at her. She looked away at that moment, a slight blush on her face.
She still couldn't believe that she was going to get married to the prince. She saw King Arashi enter the wedding chamber at that moment, arm-in-arm with Princess Mizuki. She had completely forgotten about the King. Surely he would do anything to stop his son and a pauper girl from getting married.
Princess Mizuki looked content as she walked down the aisle, casting a glance toward Kazumi and smiling. Kazumi returned it.
After the princess was escorted down the aisle, she took her place across from Prince Kenji and King Arashi stood by his son. Kazumi panicked for a little inside her mind. What if the plan didn't work? Wait a minute...Prince Kenji WAS strong enough to hold back King Arashi.
The pope, or whatever he was called, interrupted her thoughts, saying, "We are gathered here today to join-"
Kazumi didn't pay attention to the rest of the words. She zoned out by King Arashi walking away from his son and taking his rightful place in the audience.
That is, until the terrifying part came. "Do you, Princess Mizuki, take Prince Kenji to be your husband till death do you part?"
Princess Mizuki looked back at Kazumi, signaling it was almost time. In a firm voice, Mizuki said, "I don't."
The crowd gasped. Prince Kenji said in the same firm voice, "And I don't take her to be my wife."
The crowd gasped again, and King Arashi grew furious now. Mizuki slipped off the wedding dress and lace, a bridesmaid dress underneath. The princess helped Kazumi into the wedding dress and put the lace on her.
King Arashi didn't like this, not one bit. "Guards! Retrieve that peasant girl and throw her in the dungeons for life!"
The guards moved, but Prince Kenji stood in front of the young pauper girl. "Whether you like it or not, father," The prince spit on that word, "I am getting married to Kazumi. And there is nothing you can do about it."
King Arashi moved so quickly no one got a chance to see what he did next. It happened so quickly, even Kazumi was caught off guard.
The King pushed the prince and Princess Mizuki away from Kazumi, pulled out a sword from his belt, and held it to Kazumi's neck. "If you don't marry Princess Mizuki, then I will kill this girl myself!"