Chapter 7 - To be the sun

Zara

     It’s been one week since I had gotten into the palace, my new home. One week since the coronation was cancelled. One week since my honour as a new bride was taken from me. All the joy and happiness had just faded away like a breeze and it was too painful to think about, so it would kill me to say it out loud. How I felt in the midst of this.

     When Fernanda revealed the secret, Zack had tried covering up by saying the ladies of the bed chamber had inspected the sheet themselves. But I had stopped him telling him it was no use to add more lies to the present situation.

     The king felt annoyed and betrayed by his family. I mean two of his children had ruined his dignity, one attempting to flee with a guard and the other deceiving the royals with a fake blood on the sheets.

     His highness, King Moretti had given a verdict that Fernanda should be on house arrest for six months with the conditions that she worked in a kitchen like a servant and not treated like a princess. Her lover, Alejandro was removed as the head guard and was led to the peasant farm to do a year because Fernanda was a royal princess.

     During the verdict for myself and Zack, Queen Moretti had interceded and said our crime wasn’t a crime but a sacrilege that we had to pay for. She went ahead saying we had to set on a journey to a goddess Juno located on an island named “Island Formentera”.

     She presides over marriage and many other aspects like a goddess will. “You both would set on the journey in three days’ time to ask for her forgiveness and to bless your marriage”, the Queen had said in radiantness as she elegantly arose from her seat with a mix of disappointment and slightly amused expression.

     I had looked confusingly and wondered what else I didn’t know about Spanish. Why did I had to set on a journey? Should I rebel? Even if I do, of what use will it be? These questions rung in my head as the royal was dismissed.

     My ladies-in-waiting had escorted me back to my room where I saw Zack on my bed with his hands on his forehead as if he is in grief. I ignored him and went to sleep for the night.

                                    *  *  *

     Ship.

I had slept the night before with a word of my mind, ship.

Today was the day we were sailing to the island Formentera and we had also packed the day before, taking pieces of clothes for a least a month because that was the period of the month that was the period of journey to be taken.

     We bid the royal family bye as we entered the ship with our belongings being carried by the royal crew. I had worn a sailor’s outfit -  a seersucker blazer with a pair of cotton pants and smart sailing jacket in royal blue not missing the coat to complete the outfit.

     Zack in turn had worn the same outfit but, his coat was black and no blue like mine. He looked noble and attractive, at the same time seductive but that was where it ended. I had untangled my hands from him as the ship started sailing.

     The ship contained the captain, officers, boatswains, sea men, and the deck cadet. We took two stewards for our meal and was strictly banned from taking our royal escorts.

     We were also given an old ship and not a brand new one. The queen had stated that we had to go like peasants which I found alluring because I hated the suffocated feeling as a princess back in the palace.

     “Miss?”. A voice called me. I looked at the direction it came from and sighted a sailor probably in his mid-forties as he came nearer.

     “Is ye okay?”, he said in his sailor’s accent as he slipped his spectacles to his nose.

     “Oh, yes. Thanks for the care”, I said smiling thinly as I turned back around, facing the waters from the ship.

     Almost immediately, I felt a bit of relief as the man walked away. He actually stunk a bit but I couldn’t say it to his face. It wasn’t a very bad smell but just a scent of sea water and fish which I both hated. The sea breeze wheezed past face splattering my jet-black hair in various directions as I fixed it back. I felt attracted to the sea and felt a surge of freedom as the clouds begun to darken. I really had this unique feeling of wanting to be here forever; presently.

     Spreading my hands wide in the air, I heard a different voice which was familiar.

     “Enjoying the breeze?”, I looked at the direction it came from and saw Zack. He had taken off his coat for some reason and was left in his shirt as some trickles of sweat beaded his forehead.

     “Tell me, how is that any of your business?”, I said turning around to walk away but he grabs my arms forcefully wrapping the other around my waist.

     “This is no way to speak to your husband”, he said.

I roll my eyes.

     “And this is no way to treat your wife. You can’t expect me to be fine with the way events turned out”, I say placing my hands on my chest to free myself but he ends up holding me tighter.

     “I have no with the event back at home but with you”, he said smirking and I laughed loudly. It’s funny how he made me sound crazy at times just by little words.

     “You can’t be serious”, trying to shift farther again but he brought me closer making me feel his erection as he nibbled my ears softly.

     “I am, you know. We both know I gave you a week to come to terms with this marriage, dear wife”, he whispers seductively in my ears and I tried to resist with the little strength I had.

I had been standing all day and could not rest my feet.

It burned.

Burned so much as I silently prayed to be the sun knowing fully well that “To be the sun, you have to first burn”.

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A/n: New update, guys!! Please consider leaving a review if you liked this chapter!!