A Magical Evening (Chapter 20)
Sorry I've been gone for a little bit. I wanted to take some time off, and in the process think about how this story would continue. So now, I give you Chapter 20 (I hope you enjoy it).
Sofia and Lucinda walked into Roland's office, as Roland shut the door behind them. As Sofia and Lucinda got further into Roland's office, they saw Queen Miranda, Marla, as well as Prince Brock of Cardoenia, and Prince Doyle of Fenrik. Brock and Doyle were only about a year older than Sofia and Lucinda.
"Brock" Sofia smiled. "It's nice to see you again".
"It's nice to see you as well, Sofia" Brock smiled back.
"Doyle" Lucinda smiled. "Nice to see you again".
"And it's nice to see you as well" Doyle smiled back.
"If everybody will have a seat, we'll get this started" Roland invited.
Everybody sat down. Roland then turned to Sofia, Lucinda, Brock, and Doyle. "The four of you have had a year to get to know each other" Roland started. "Is it safe to assume the four of you are ready to proceed to the next step?".
"Speaking for Sofia and myself, the two of us are ready" Brock answered.
"And speaking for Lucinda and myself, the two of us are ready as well" Doyle answered.
"You do understand that for each couple, it will simply be a marriage of convenience?" Roland asked Sofia, Lucinda, Brock, and Doyle. "Since the four of you are gay, your marriages will simply be to provide a public sense of normalcy. In private, the four of you will be free to have a romantic relationship with whoever you please".
"Brock and I have become good friends" Sofia smiled.
"As have I and Doyle" Lucinda smiled.
"I want to assure you that I will treat Sofia with the upmost respect" Brock reassured Roland.
"And I want to assure you, King Roland, that I will treat Lucinda with the upmost respect" Doyle added.
Miranda and Marla smiled hearing Brock and Doyle's intentions toward Sofia and Lucinda.
"Very well" Roland smiled. "All this is left is to plan the weddings".
A year passed, and it was now time for the weddings. In Sofia's bedroom in Enchancia Castle, Sofia had just gotten herself ready for her wedding to Brock when she heard a knock at her door.
"Come in" Sofia invited.
The door opened, and in walked Brock's mother, Queen Jodelle.
"Your looking lovely, Sofia" Jodelle smiled.
"Thank you, Queen Jodelle" Sofia smiled back.
"We're going to be family" Jodelle smiled as she put on hand on Sofia's shoulder. "It's Jodelle to you".
"Thank you ... Jodelle" Sofia said gratefully.
"No ... thank you, Sofia" Jodelle said in an appreciative tone. "It's always been hard on Brock having to live a secret life. I'm very grateful he'll have you as a wife. I know the two of you will never have a romantic relationship, but the two of you have developed a deep friendship, and that in the long run is what's important".
"I give you my word that I'll stand by Brock" Sofia promised. "If he ever needs somebody to lean on, I'll be there in an instant".
"That's what I love about you, Sofia" Jodelle smiled. "Your such a kind and caring person. It's going to be an honor to have you as a daughter".
At that point, Sofia and Jodelle hugged each other in a gesture of true friendship.
In another room in Enchancia Castle, Lucinda had just finished getting ready when she heard a knock at the door. Lucinda went to the door and opened it. Standing there was Doyle's mother, Queen Callie.
"Queen Callie" Lucinda greeted. "Please, come in".
"Thank you" Callie said as she walked in.
"Please, have a seat" Lucinda offered.
Callie and Lucinda then sat down.
"You make a beautiful bride, Lucinda" Callie smiled.
"Thank you, Queen Callie" Lucinda smiled.
"Please, Lucinda" Callie started, "just call me Callie".
"Thank you, Callie" Lucinda said gratefully.
"Doyle is lucky having you in his life" Callie smiled. "It's been hard on Doyle having to keep his lifestyle secret, and I know he appreciates having you to confide in. The two of you have become close friends, and I'm grateful that the two of you have that".
"I will always be there for Doyle" Lucinda promised. "You can depend on that".
"I know" Callie said gratefully. "I'm glad he has somebody like you in his life. While the two of you won't have a romantic relationship, you will have a close friendship. And, under the circumstances, that's what counts. Welcome to our family, Lucinda. It will be a pleasure having you as a daughter".
Callie and Lucinda got up, and hugged each other.
In a little while, a double wedding ceremony was held in the ballroom of Enchancia Castle. Sofia and Lucinda walked down the aisle, and soon found themselves at Brock and Doyle's sides.
"Who gives away these women?" the priest asked.
"I do" Roland smiled as he stepped forward.
The ceremony proceeded, and everybody had an enjoyable time. During the next fourteen months, Brock and Sofia, and Doyle and Lucinda, outwardly become loving couples. In private, each couple were good friends. Brock and Doyle secretly engaged in gay relationships of their own, while Sofia and Lucinda secretly continued their gay relationship. Brock and Doyle's families gave Brock, Sofia, Doyle, and Lucinda privacy whenever they needed it.
During this time, Hildegard and Cleo had found men to marry. Hildegard and Cleo had carefully selected two gay men whose secret was only known to the men's families. Hildegard and Cleo had made a secret arrangement with the men's families - they would marry the men, and in return, they would keep the fact that the men were gay a secret, and the men's families would keep secret that Hildegard and Cleo were gay. They were marriages of convenience that would allow the four to appear outwardly as normal couples, while each were secretly free to pursue gay relationships with whoever they chose. Hildegard's parents, and Cleo's parents, never suspected a thing.
Near the end of this fourteen month period, Sofia and Lucinda were together one night in a bedroom in Cardoenia Castle.
"Remember what I told you about the original timeline?" Sofia asked Lucinda.
"Yes" Lucinda answered.
"Tomorrow is the day" Sofia announced. "It's time to prevent that accident from happening".
To be continued in Chapter 21.