Episode 3

"It's ridiculous, Mother, I don't want to marry him!"

Melanie protested to her mother. Lady Humpring sat beside her on the edge of her bed.

"It's an idiotic tradition, I told your father, but our family has married into the royal family for centuries, from queens to ladies and lords, we have always been their circle, guarding the royal household, and what's worse, my child, your father and His Majesty have been friends since childhood, that's why your father accepted that absurd idea of marrying you off to that haughty man."

"And why not my sisters, why were they allowed to choose their fiances?" grumbled Melanie.

"They did not resist when asked."

"I don't want to, please, Mother."

Nothing could be done, the preparations were already underway, and in less than a month, the royal wedding would take place.

"It's a beautiful dress; you'll be the first to wear a design that isn't a hand-me-down," the queen said, trying to cheer up a crestfallen Melanie.

"Thank you for the consideration, Your Majesty, I am honored to be an exception to the protocol."

"The princess of Tulip Kingdom deserves all the best. Come now, trade that sorrowful face for one of your bright smiles that light up the dark."

Those words broke Melanie, how she wished the prince himself would say them to her.

"Your Majesty, I do not want to marry him."

The queen sent the dressmaker and her assistants out, along with Melanie's mother and sisters.

"You know, it's been sixty years since I married His Majesty, who was already king, so a queen consort was urgently needed. Can you imagine how I became queen?"

Melanie shook her head.

"I was bought," Melanie looked at her with great sadness. "No, don't pity me, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. In those times, even being a rich man's mistress was a lot, my mother-in-law paid my parents a hundred gold coins and a title with vast lands. I had no time to get to know His Majesty; they came for me, inspected every part of me to determine if I was fit to be a wife, and it was a horrendous wedding… It was not me who married the king, it was my father who accepted on my behalf. It wasn't until the wedding night that I first saw Tom."

"Do you love His Majesty?" asked the girl.

"With all my soul, Tom and I grew up together, we learned together and brought the kingdom to heights it had never seen before. Everything we have, we did together. It wasn't easy, dear Melanie, it was horrible and I would be lying if I told you that marriage solves everything, but I promise you that Alejandro is good, I have all my hopes pinned on that blockhead..."

"But Your Majesty, the crown prince is His Highness Gustav, the prince and I are only marrying for appearances, nothing more."

The queen shook her head.

"Someday, soon, you’ll understand why Gustav cannot take the throne. I must ensure that Alec wears the crown; otherwise, those against the monarchy will finally have what they’ve coveted since our kingdom was founded."

Melanie had a great love for her country, proud to be the daughter of one of the most important tulip merchants in the world, her father also dealt in jewelry, providing employment for many and putting their country on the map.

With that in mind, she resigned herself to be a wife in appearance only.

Throughout the wedding organization process, she never saw her future husband; he didn’t even attend the rehearsals. She had to accept a ring from the queen, a beautiful jewel signifying their commitment.

"What a complete disaster, should I give up?" she asked her elder sister, Lady Lucia.

"Why are you complaining so much, Melanie? My God, you have the grand opportunity to be a princess. None of your sisters was chosen. Just take advantage of it; you will have everything at your feet, and most importantly, you will be royalty."

The wedding day arrived.

Melanie looked like a dream, her beautiful, billowing white dress made her look like a queen herself. The royal coach awaited her, she was on the verge of tears.

"Mother, if it doesn't work out..."

"Enough, Melanie, you must not think negative thoughts today."

Arriving at St. Solomon's Cathedral, she saw reality, the crowds waiting to see her, with hundreds of guards at the entrance and her ladies-in-waiting.

Her stomach felt like it might explode any moment, her eyes burned, and her legs were numb. She descended slowly, praying not to fall in front of half the kingdom.

...

"Lady Melanie Humpring..." she heard a voice from afar.

Then she turned to see the prince, his brow furrowed as if he were speaking to her.

"Lady Melanie Humpring, your vows," said the priest.

The vows, poor Melanie, how could she say those vows? She hadn't thought about them at all.

"I... I give you my heart, my life, my time, and promise to love you, care for you, be faithful, be loyal, and... love you."

She didn't know what more to say; she was lying, unsure if she could ever love him.

The prince parroted something written on a paper; Melanie paid no attention, too focused on not being sick.

Left alone in the carriage, her torment began. Melanie waved to the crowds, hoping for a swift journey; her feet were numb, her stomach in knots.

"I hope you know you shouldn't get used to this. We were forced to marry by our families, so nothing is real. You're just a tapestry to cover up my flaws. Do you understand that?"

Melanie's head exploded.

"I understand, but no one put a gun to your head to accept."

Alejandro clenched her face so tightly that Melanie's cheeks turned red.

"Don't be foolish, please; for your own good, never talk to me like that again."

And he gave her their first kiss, right as the carriage rolled through the palace gates of Tulip Kingdom, camera flashes illuminating their faces.

Exactly as planned, the world believed they were in love.

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