It was a really great day for the kingdom and everyone was excited, because after more than five years the kingdom would once again have a Queen. That was right. That day everyone was waiting for another royal wedding and also wanted to see the bride. Because rumor had it that she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

Many people, coming from all parts of the kingdom, were standing out of the cathedral where the wedding was going to take place. Only a few of them were lucky enough to get inside, because the interior was fully booked for the royal families and other noble people. They did not complain though. They did not complain, because they wanted to see their new Queen no matter what.

However, there was one problem. She did not want to be visible.

The very beautiful black-haired girl, Regina, the future bride, stood in the middle of the room, staring blankly ahead, while servants put the wedding dress on her. She was grimacing from time to time, because her back still hurt – oh. Cora enjoyed her being in pain as punishement for her mistakes – but Regina knew better than to show any weakness. Her mother did not tolerate such behaviour (well, her mother did not tolerate anything related to her. Sometimes she wondered why the woman even gave a birth to her and also, what kind of crime she had committed that she now had to have Cora as her mother. No one deserved to have her as their mother).

"I have to admit that you've done a great job here," the girl froze for a moment when she heard her mother's voice and was almost certain that her heart stopped beating. She had no idea what the woman was doing there; she hoped not to see her before the ceremony. "My daughter looks very beautiful in this dress."

The three maids bowed deeply before the guest and Cora smiled at them. However, the future Queen knew that her smile was fake. She was not born yesterday. She was aware that her mother liked pretending being a loving parent, while her true colours manifested when they were alone. Not even her father knew what was going on behind the closed door of their mansion during her „lessons". And it was nothing pleasant. Her body knew it too well.

"I would like to talk with my daughter alone," the woman said, fake smile still on her lips. "May you leave us alone?"

Regina's mind was screaming for help, because the women bowed again before her mother and then before her, and left the room almost immediately, leaving her at the mercy of Cora. And she was one hundred percent sure that the woman did not know the meaning of this word.

There was a moment of silence. Mother and daughter looked at each other carefully, measuring each other. It was a competition to them, which Cora of course won. Regina was not brave enough to look at her mother any longer, so she lowered her head.

"Tell me, my love, how's your back?" Her question seethed with venom and the smile turned into a victorious smirk. "Are you in pain?"

All Regina wanted to do was snort and roll her eyes, since it was obvious that she was in pain, but in the very last moment she stopped herself. She knew that her mother wanted to provoke her and she could not let her win the war, especially since she had already let her win the battle. Not this time.

"Not as much as in the beginning," she started, raising her lips in a small smile. "Thank you for asking, mother."

Cora walked toward her, watching her daughter carefully and then put her hand on Regina's cheek. The princess froze for a moment, but almost immediately changed her attitude. She knew better. She should not let her mother see her discomfort, unless she wanted to be penalized. Her mother never tolerated such behaviour.

"I punished you only because I love you, my dear," the woman said as she still had her hand on her daughter's cheek. "You're my only child. I want all the best for you."

"I know, mother," Regina agreed and looked into her mother's eyes, although it was still hard for her to maintain eye contact. Especially since she was going to lie now. "And I'm pleased that you showed me what I did wrong. I really have no idea what I was thinking when I let Daniel touch me."

Although she did not mean it, her heart hurt like hell. She loved her husband and the only thing she regretted was that she had not died instead, or at least with him. She would have been happier that way.

"I'm glad that you learned your lesson, Regina," Cora nodded shortly. "Because my heart always aches when you don't behave like a good girl and I have to punish you."

The future bride bit her tongue in the very last moment. She wanted to say that it was not the truth and her mother liked punishing her for no reason, but it was pointless. She was already in pain, forced to marry a man she did not love (bloody politics) a week after losing her husband and she knew that the woman would punish her even now. And she really did not want to be in even more pain at her own wedding.

"I'm sorry, mother."

"I know, dear, you've been forgiven," the witch said and looked at the crown on her daughter's head. "And soon everything will change for the better."

There was a moment of silence. The older woman smirked, walking toward the huge mirror, while the princess unknowingly put her hand on her belly as if she thought about what would happen in a few hours. Her mother addressed the issue of her virginity (and it hurt so much... even more than flogging what seemed to be imposible) and the King would never know that his wife was not pure during their wedding night.

The wedding night.

Regina shuddered at the thought of it. She had known her future husband for a very long time and she thought he was a great person, but he was old enough to be her grandfather (in fact King Leopold was the same age as her grandfather) and... no. Thinking about it made her sick. Besides, her Daniel died only a week ago. She could not imagine sleeping with another man while she still missed her lover.

"I talked with Snow White before I came here," the princess turned toward her mother almost immediately when she heard the name of her future stepdaughter. It could not result in something good. "I am so proud that soon she'll join our family."

"Are you, mother?" She did not believe her. Cora had known Snow as long as she did and they barely talked with each other. Mostly because Regina kept the girl away from her mother (she would not let this woman anywhere near the younger princess as long as she breathed), but Cora was Cora and you could never be sure about anything with her.

"Indeed," the woman said with a smirk and approached her again. "Who would not want such a wonderful girl in the family?"

Regina said nothing, but her eyes were carefully observing her mother. She could tell that she was up to something, but the problem was... she had no idea what her mother was planning. However, she did not like her sudden interest in Snow.

"You're right, mother," the girl finally said, nodding shortly. "She's a wonderful girl."

"It's a shame I can't say the same about you," Cora shook her head as she touched the princess's cheek. "You're as far from being perfect as possible. Sometimes I wonder what I have done to have someone like you as my daughter."

Regina intended to say that she asked herself the same question, because she really had no idea what she did to deserve a mother as Cora, but she ended up bitting her tongue in the last moment. She realized that it would not bring anything good. She should keep her emotions and thoughts for to herself. For her – and others' – good. Besides, the woman's words hurt her more that she was willing to admit. She really sought her mother's approval but she was never enough for Cora.

The girl put the hands on her belly once more and marching to the other side of the room, she missed the witch's smirk. Her mother knew very well how to make a mess in her head without even trying.

"I want you to be proud of me..."

"I know, my dear, and you're on the right way," the woman started, still smirking. "All you must do is marry the King."

The future bride felt tears appear in her eyes and turned toward her guest, almost crying.

"Mama, please, I don't want to marry the King," she knew that it was pointless, but she decided to try one last time anyway. "I don't want this life."

"I thought you were done with that nonsense, Regina," Cora started threateningly, grabbing her daughter's chin. "I thought you said you wanted to be a good girl and make me proud."

"I did, but..."

"Then why – for once – can't you do as you were told? Why do you always have to make everything so hard?" The witch shook her head, sighing heavily. "I had such high hopes... but you, foolish girl, you disappointed me again."

The princess groaned as her mother released her quite brutally and began rubbing her chin. Her mother's grip was very strong. In the meantime Cora walked toward the mirror again.

"Do you know what this is?" she asked a few moments later, showing her daughter a box she was now holding. "Do you know what is inside?"

The woman did not wait for an answer and took off the cover as soon as she had finished her sentence. Regina cried out when she saw what it was.

The box contained a heart.

"I warned you that if you refused to marry the King, I would rip the heart of your lover's niece out," she started, clearly amused by seeing the horror in her daughter's eyes. "But then I realized that ripping Snow's heart out was a much better solution."

"It's not her heart," Regina whispeared in fear. "It cannot be hear heart. Mother, please, tell me you didn't rip her heart out!"

The future bride was so afraid that she did not care that someone had actually lost their heart. In that moment all that mattered was to make sure that both Snow and Ruby were safe, with their hearts intact.

"Do you want to find out?" Cora smirked, taking the vital organ out of the box. "Should I crush it now or you'll start being an obedient daughter and for once do what you should do?"

The princess stood speechless, staring at the heart. She was always frightened when she saw one. However, she nodded almost immediately, after hearing the woman's words.

"I'll be good, mother," Regina whispered. "I promise, just return the heart to its owner, please."

"Oh, but it only depends on you, my dear. If you're a good girl, I will do it. But if you're not... then I will crush it. Understood?"

"Yes, mother, I do," the princess answered quietly, refusing to look at her interlocutor. "And I won't disappoint you. Not this time."

"You'd better not," the witch nodded sharply, hiding the heart into the box. Her moves were carefully watched. Then she waved her hand and it disappeared. "Now come. I promised Snow that you would see her before the wedding."

"Regina!"

A girlish voice reverberated like an echo, as soon as Regina entered the room where one very impatient princess waited for her. Snow ran to her, but she did not dare to hug her as if she was afraid that she would wrinkle her dress. The girl, however, knew that her mother, who stood behind her, had something to do with it. In the meantime, the four knights who were there too, bowed deeply before her.

"Good afternoon, Snow," Regina greeted politely as she put her hand on the girl's cheek. "You look very beautiful, my dear."

"And you look stunning," the eleven-year-old whispered timidly. "The maids did tell me that you were the most beautiful bride in the Enchanted Forest, but that's an understatement. You're the most beautiful bride in all the realms."

"You're very courteous, child," Cora joined the conversation and Regina knew that she said that only to make her feel worse. "I'm glad that soon we'll be a real family."

The younger princess said nothing, just smiled brightly hearing the woman's words. This poor thing had no idea what was going on around her and really thought that the witch was honest with her.

"May you leave us alone, mother?" Regina asked politely a few moments later, looking at the woman. "There are a few things that I want to discuss with Snow before the wedding."

"Of course, my love," Her mother smiled in a fake way once again and with that she left the room.

The eighteen-year-old was aware that the woman was not happy, but as soon as she closed the door behind her, she put her hand on the girl's chest, sighing with relief when she felt her heartbeat. Then she hugged her future stepdaughter tightly. The heart definitely did not belong to Snow.

"What are you doing?" Snow asked with a small smile. She was so happy that her friend was there, that she did not notice that she had put her hand on her chest.

"Nothing. Do I need a reason to hold you in my arms?"

"No."

"Then don't talk, just hug me back, dear," she said with a smirk.

The eleven-year-old did as she was told almost immediately. Regina winced slightly, because of her back that still hurt, but returned the gesture. In the meantime, the knights exchanged glances. It was not a secret that the princesses were very fond of each other.

"Now, dear, answer my question," the future Queen started, once their hug was over. "How many brides have you seen besides me that you think I'm the most beautiful bride in the all the realms?"

Snow smiled sheepishly as she realized what the teenager meant. The truth was that Regina was the first bride she had the opportunity to see.

"You know... a few."

"Well, right..." The eighteen-year-old gently flicked the child's nose, smiling slightly. "Let's say that I believe you, dear. However, we should go. We cannot let your father wait, can we?"

"Of course not!" The younger princess grinned. "I'm sure he's looking forward to seeing you just as much as I would."

The future Queen said nothing, just looked at the four knights and nodded. It was time to face her fate.

She thought that she would be able to handle it. She thought that everything would be fine. But she was wrong. Once the church's door opened, she forgot how to breathe. Then for a moment she wished to stop the ceremony and cancel the wedding, because she was too afraid. But the words could not leave her throat – she was too scared that her mother would really crush the heart. Her legs kept walking against her will and a small smile appeared on her lips as she passed from the church's hall, although her mind was screaming for help. Her anxiety had to hit her just now.

In that very moment she had no control over her own body. She felt as if someone had cast a spell on her (oh, she would love to blame her mother for that), but she just knew that it was all because of her fears.

Because being the Queen was not something she wanted to be.

Tears appeared in her eyes once again, but she kept walking with her head high. She was a princess and soon she would be a Queen. Of course she could make a good face to a very bad game. After all it was nothing new to her.

But then she saw her mother in the crowd.

When she saw the victorious smile on her face, for a short moment she felt happy. She felt happy because for once her mother was really proud of her as she was finally a good girl. The good girl her mother always wanted her to be.

Regina slowed her walk slightly.

It was not her dream. She never wanted to be a Queen and no one could force her to be one. It was her life and she would not marry someone she did not love. Even if it cost her her life. Because she could not be a Queen. She just could not.

And what about the poor person whose heart your mother ripped out? She heard a mysterious voice in the back of her head. Will you let this witch crush it? How can you even look yourself in the mirror knowing how selfish you are?

The act of breathing became difficult, but nobody noticed. The people were too busy admiring her beauty to see what kind of tragedy their future Queen faced in her head.

Before Regina had a chance to do anything, she reached the altar and the King gave her his hand. She accepted it and then bowed before him. Less than fifteen seconds later the priest started the ceremony.

But Regina did not listen.

In fact, she was arguing with the voices in her head, since they both had solid arguments. The first one was calling her a selfish girl who did not care about others. It did not like that she even considered running away while she knew that her mother had someone's heart in her posession and that she could hurt her loved ones for that. The second one, however, was saying that it was not the truth and she had the right to live her own life. She spent her whole life

under her mother's supervision and her mother even decided who her future husband would be (and Regina did not want to get married. She wanted to have her dear Daniel back. He was the only person she could love that way).

She was stuck in the middle of the battle.

"I do," she heard the King's voice which caught her by surprise, because she was too busy listening to the voices in her head.

"And do you, princess Regina," the priest began, so she looked at him, "promise to take King Leopold to be your husband and love him for all eternity?"

She turned her head and looked into the King's eyes. They were brown, just like hers, and all she could see in them was kindness. Just like when he proposed to her.

The girl once again forgot how to breathe and her hands, which he held, began to shake slightly. Tears appeared in her eyes. Again.

She had known the King for a long time and he had been nothing but kind and nice to her (and she liked him, too), but she did not love him. Because he was not her Daniel.

"I..." But she was not able to say „can't".

In fact she was not able to say anything, because the words were stuck in her throat and she wanted to disappear, especially when she saw her mother's icy gaze.

Great. She managed to disappoint her once more.

It's time to take control of your life, Regina, said the second voice in her head. Your mother cannot force you to marry someone you don't love. She cannot control you forever.

You selfish girl! The first voice screamed. Think about this innocent heart she has. Think about your niece, Ruby... Think about Snow!

Don't listen to him, dear. You don't even know if that person is still alive. The only person you need to care about is you!

MURDERER! The first voice was not going to give up and she did everything she could to not cover her eyes. She could cry in any moment. You are a selfish murderer!

The princess looked at the King, breathing heavily. Notwithstanding, no one, but her mother and the King, who still watched her gently, saw it.

She knew what she should do.

Her brain told her to ran away and take care of herself. However, her heart told her to accept the marriage and save the innocent life, even if that meant being in a marriage she did not want to be in.

The girl took a deep breath and opened her mouth to give people the answer they wanted to hear.

"I do."

Her words were like a whisper, although the church was so quiet that everyone heard them. Her mind began screaming, because it lost the game. And her heart...

Her heart was bleeding from a small crack that had just been created.

TBC

I would like to thank you spiralnebulaM31 for being my beta.

Also, you may find me on tumblr under white-little-devil name.

Hope you're still alive.