Sienna didn't know what to expect. When she imagined royalty, she imagined glamor, jewels, a thick crown, maybe; what she found was nothing of the sort. The Lady and Lord of her country were in business wear. The Queen wore a long, flowing white gown dotted with yellow flowers. Gold bangles dotted her left wrist and gold earrings were in her ears. She wore sophisticated black heels, not too high in height, but elegant enough to show she had a graceful walk. Her husband donned a suit with a solid yellow tie. His look was sleek, but Sienna felt the touch of color was for her benefit. They were still royalty, but they were trying to look casual to meet her.
"Sienna Carlton!" The woman said cheerfully, her heels gracing across the tiled floor as she neared Sienna. She threw up her arms as if she meant to embrace Sienna, but instead, she waved them off as if to dramatically present Sienna to the room. She turned to face her husband. "We meet her at last! Did you ever think it would happen, Alfred?"
The King was sickly. Sienna could see it the moment their eyes locked. His skin had a yellowish twinge and his eyes were sunken in, spacey, and a little distant. The Queen moved back to his side, let his arm lace with hers, and brought him forward.
This was it. Sienna was about to be acquainted with royalty. James dropped her arm and stepped back, leaving her with her soon-to-be-family. He threw her one last, longing look, but said nothing as he exited. The door shut firmly behind him, but Sienna didn't see it. She was face to face with the King and Queen.
"This is Alfred," the Queen said pleasantly. "I am Suzanne."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Sienna said, bowing her head and performing a low curtsy. She offered her hand to the King. He shook it gently, his fingers not quite clasping hers. "My name is Sienna."
"Honey, we know who you are! We know all about you!" The Queen chirped. "Whether from Leonardo or Matthew, all we hear are very wonderful things. I couldn't wait to meet you, but Leonardo assured me that meeting Matt's mother was probably the last thing on the list considering our circumstances. It hurt, but I agreed. Meeting your boyfriend's mother is always traumatizing, so I can't imagine what it feels like when his mother is the Queen."
Sienna felt her cheeks turn red. "Yes, it can make you nervous," she said.
"Oh, you're so honest!" the Queen draped her hands across Sienna's cheeks. "I love everything about you."
"Honey," the King released Sienna's hand and held his wife's shoulder. "We just met her. Let us give her the air she needs to breathe."
Both of them retracted, letting their hands fall to the sides. The King and the Queen were just the average parents. They wanted what was best for their son, and, without knowing it, they had let their gay son choose duty over love. They had taught him right, to serve his nation first, and he did it selflessly. He was admirable, especially with these two to guide him. They wanted the best for him and they expected a lot in a short period.
"I know the circumstances aren't the best, but we are glad you see the significance of this change." The Queen went on. "With Alfred's deteriorating health, it has been essential for Matthew to find the right girl to take our place with him. We need him, as a nation, and his time is short for freedom. I worry about us making him rush, but I feel his choices are smart ones. I know the girl we chose was not the best, so for him to choose you, we feel this choice was an educated and intelligent one. We trust our son."
We trust our son.
Was this how parents thought? Sienna didn't know whether to be disgusted or fascinated. Yes, they saw Matt making the correct life choices. They were right for the country. But did they know the reality behind those choices? No, they didn't. They were a complete family unit. They loved Matt and Matt loved them. Matt made this choice alone: country over self. If he didn't, it would cause more stress on his mother and father. His mother who was trying to keep it together and his father who was barely standing were his priorities, He owed them, Sienna could see. Adding an extra burden to them could destroy what little peace they had. His father didn't want to die with a crown on his head and a nation to lead; he wanted some peace and freedom. Matt was giving him that fresh breath of air to be as he pleased in his final days.
"I don't know what to say," Sienna said. "I am honored to be here, but I did not expect it to happen so quickly. It's still pretty shocking."
"Oh, honey, we know. We heard from Camryn about your sister. We are so sorry about the timing of all of this." The Queen tried to keep a straight face, but worry lined her face. "We can postpone if you want. It's just...we are trying to change the crown placement. We expect Matthew to be King within the next few months and Leonardo crown prince. I am so sorry we are rushing things..."
"I understand, please don't feel like you are pressuring me into anything," Sienna said. "I want to do what's best for everyone."
The Queen's hand went over her heart. "Matthew was right, you're an angel."
Sienna could feel her face heat. This felt all wrong. Matt's mother was gushing like any teenage boy's mom. How would James be in this situation? Would she dote on him the same, or would they have looked at him like a disease? This situation was so fragile Sienna couldn't process. Matt had painted her up and down for his parents, all while lying about his sexuality.
"The wedding is to take place in a week," the King said. "If there are no objections."
"None on my part," Sienna said. "That is quite soon. Will there be time for everything?"
"We are thinking a very simple, personal ceremony. Your family accompanied by ours. No outside guests. The crowning will take place two weeks after." The King was all business and Sienna really appreciated it at this moment. One more minute of the Queen's squealing was going to make her vomit the truth.
"What do you need from me?" She asked.
"Well, we would love a public announcement from you and Matt this evening, but before then, we should get you fitted for the dress of your choice. A lot of time and effort goes into party planning, as you can imagine, and we are on a clock." The King tried to smile. The upturn of his mouth made Sienna's heart hurt. "I cannot wait to see my son standing at the end of the aisle, awaiting the walk of his Queen."
Sienna's heart dropped to the floor. She was sealed. Done. This was happening. She was going to be Queen. She did her best to offer a small smile, bowed her head, and said, "If there's anything you need of me, let me know."
The Queen's advisor came then. He was petite and stood with an electric planner like it connected to his hands. He directed the King and Queen away and sent Sienna off with an attendant. The attendant, an older woman who worked for the Queen, was shy and tall. She talked loudly, speaking of wedding plans and colors that went far over Sienna's head. Sienna's bodyguards accompanied the two of them as they left the palace. They took another big, black Suburban across town and found themselves in a bridal store. Sienna couldn't breathe things were moving so quickly. She sat down in one of the frumpy chairs for a minute too long and the attendant began to panic.
"Are you alright? Do you feel sick?" She began to panic before Sienna could respond. "I need water over here, please! Maybe some food! I need a place for her to breathe!"
Sienna was ushered into a dressing room and left alone to panic. At first, she thought she was fine. Embarrassed, yes, but not panicking. She drew in a long breath and found her body shuddering. For the first time in a long time, she lost it. Sienna's chest grew tight and her brain went into overtime. She thought a thousand things all at once, imagined a hundred different obstacles and situations, and nearly lost everything. She dry heaved until she panicked, and then, when she finished panicking, she began to recover.
The world wasn't going to stop revolving. This wasn't the end. Paige was going to go to school and then college. Gram was going to keep her house and her private life. Lori was getting the best treatment available and she was going to start having a life. Everything was piecing together and it was going to fit nicely. Everything was going to get better from here.
For everyone except her, James, Matt, and Frank.
Their lives would be different. It hurt to say it, but they wouldn't come out of this unscathed. Everyone involved would have permanent injuries at a level where eyes could not see, but the change would be deeper. They would all be different people.
But it had to happen. It was necessary.
There was a knock at the door. "Any better, dear?" The attendant asked.
She had dropped the "your majesty" business, at least. That had nearly broken Sienna's spirit the first hundred times they had called her it, but hearing something else, anything else, made reality click back into place. She felt strong again.
"I'm fine!" She said. "Just a little upset stomach."
"We can call a doctor," the attendant offered.
"No, no," Sienna stood up. "I will be out in a minute."
Sienna shed her fears and embraced her strength. God, she needed it now. She steadied her breathing and entered the salon again. Upon arrival, she faced with friendly smiles and familiar people.
"Hey, Princess Bitch!" Lori smiled, but it looked painful. Bandages wrapped around her arm all the way to her elbow. The cuts were completely covered, but the faces Lori made showed they still painful. "They told us we needed bridesmaid dresses."
Paige, small and delicate beside Lori, offered a big grin. She was eyeing the stack of dresses next to the attendant. Camryn was chatting with security, but her eyes wandered to follow Paige's to the dresses. When she saw them, she frowned.
"Is Camryn a bridesmaid as well?" Sienna asked.
"As my engagement has not been introduced to the public at this time, no, that would not be proper for a small ceremony like this one," Camryn said. "I am here to be communication to the King and Queen, and also the wedding party."
"The wedding party?" Sienna said.
"The suits, basically," Camryn said. "I am here for the best man, Leonardo."
Sienna had forgotten that weddings came with wedding parties. That meant Sienna needed to select someone to be her maid of honor. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw both Paige and Lori giving her the best puppy dog eyes she had ever seen either of them muster.
"How big is the party?" Sienna asked.
"Five," Camryn said. "Just family."
Sienna released a breath she had been holding. The wedding would be small. No guests, just like the King said. Camryn would be there, but she wouldn't say anything. This wouldn't be open to public viewing or discussion. She could act naturally for now.
"This is happening very quickly," Gram said. "Are you sure this is alright?"
"Yes, Gram, it's fine," Sienna said, letting the attendant lead her away. The woman handed her another dress and shoved her into the closest dressing room. Just as she was undressing, Camryn slipped into the dressing room with her.
"I don't like this."
"I know you don't, and I'm sorry," Sienna said. "I don't think anyone is okay with this happening so fast, but it is necessary."
"Necessary?" Camryn squeaked. "Just let Leonardo rule!"
"He is not old enough," Sienna said.
Camryn rolled her eyes. "In whose opinion? Yours or Matt's?"
"Matt wants this," Sienna said.
"This isn't about Matt, this is about your decision to go through with a very beautiful lie," Camryn said. "How will you live with this choice?"
"I have to," Sienna said, weaving her arms through the dress pockets. "I have to, for the sake of everyone."
"And what about the man you love?" Camryn asked.
"Frank will live," Sienna said, but even to her, she didn't sound perfectly sure. She couldn't think about him, all alone in his bakery.
"What if he doesn't want this?" Camryn asked.
"He doesn't get a say, this is my decision," Sienna said. "I have already made my choice. Please, help me to accomplish this."
Camryn zipped the back of the dress and fluffed out the train. Turning Sienna around, she tried to stay straight-faced, but a tear escaped.
"You would have made Frank a happy man," she said.
"I don't know if I would have or not," Sienna said and left the dressing room and met the wedding party.