The Royal Contract

He stood in the front of the altar, waiting for his bride. He had never felt that time could be so slow. Every second seemed it was forever as he stared at the closed doors.

He looked around and saw his parents standing in the front row, not far from him. While on the center aisle, her parents smiled at him as they also waited for their daughter to enter.

He already knew that she stood behind that massive wooden door, just waiting for her cue to reveal herself to him. He tapped his feet on the marble floor, wanting to speed up the process.

"Relax, man. You look like you are about to be hanged." Marcus, who stood by his side, jokingly said.

But he knew that his friend had all of this under control. He had never seen a man so determined to commit himself to this marriage.

He could only wonder if the time for him would ever come to do the same thing. Would he find the girl that would make him believe in love everlasting? Or maybe he already did, but he had let her slip of his fingers.

"When your time comes, you will know how I feel," Alex replied to his friend, also addressing the others who were snickering at their side. "Don't worry. All of you will have your time."

Directing his last statement to their youngest friend, Evan. He believed they just had not yet met their match. But when they did, they would fall madly in love just like he did.

Everyone fell silent when the music started. It echoed in all corners of the old building, creating a resonating sound. A song that was beautifully sung, a serenade that touched the hearts of everyone present.

A few seconds later, the door finally opened. On the other side of the entryway stood the most beautiful bride of the decade, or even the century.

"Congratulation, man," Marcus muttered under his breath. He was never envious of his friend before, but he was definitely feeling it now. "You are so lucky, my friend."

Uniformed guards draw their swords as a salute to their upcoming princess. After an elaborate show of sword mastery, they raised their steel blades on the air, forming an arch on the entryway.

Along the aisle, a detailed arrangement of flowers, colorful lights, and assorted decorations filled the center of the pews. Then, the lights blacked out, leaving the entire room with only dim lights to brighten the shadows.

"I know." He more or less said it to himself. Seeing the woman he was about to marry made him feel that it might not be just luck.

Finally, fate had favored their union. He was blessed to meet her in the most unlikely moment. Then, an opportunity had their paths crossing again.

It might have started in an arrangement, but he knew from the very start that it had always been more than that. It might have taken him time to realize his true feelings. But fortunately, he admitted it just in time.

Finally, the music changed again, this time, more intimate than the previous one. The lights also flickered, gradually transforming into a different setting.

It was time for her to march towards the altar where her groom awaited. In each step she made, the light changed, illuminating her path, putting her in the spotlight.

The swords glow, creating a magical effect. Every time the lights bounced on its metal sheet, it produced dancing lights that formed patterns on every surface area around the place.

"She is perfect." He thought to himself as he gazed in her direction, watching her every move. Everything around him seemed to fade when his concentration centered on her.

The light when it touched her skin made her more radiant. The smile on her lips still shone through even behind her white mildly transparent veil.

Nothing else seemed to matter as his sight landed on her eyes. His hearing longed to hear her heartbeat against his. His entire body only yearned to be close to her.

He could not wait for her to reach his side as they accepted their fate and tied their lives together throughout eternity. For him, only death could keep them apart.

On the other hand, she slowly marched down the aisle, surrounded by the enchanting theme all around her. When the colorful lights moved along with her, every flower and ornament the lights touched seemed to come to life.

It was more than she had ever conceived in her dreams. It all came true because of the man waiting for her at the end of the rainbow.

"He was perfect." She thought as she gazed at her soon-to-be husband.

He stood his ground in front of the altar, full of confidence and without a hint of doubt. The strength of his love was in full display, showing everyone how much she meant to him.

It was the same love that had her feet moving in his direction. Unable to wait for the ceremony to be over and union complete. She just hoped that nothing else would stand in their way.

When she reached her parents, they took her arms on both sides, guiding her to the rest of the way. It was their final farewell to their trio and a welcome to a new member of their family.

"Take care of my daughter. She is now your responsibility." Ethan was the first to shake Alex's hand, reminding him of what he had accepted in his life when he agreed to marry his daughter.

But before Ethan could move, Alex embraced him, assuring him that he had everything under his control. "I will." He would take care of his daughter and be responsible for her safety and well-being.

"Cherish her with all your heart." Laura hugged the groom, stressing the importance of love in their relationship. Everything else did not matter if love was not in the equation.

He also gently hugged Laura, showing her that he took her words seriously and into his mind and heart. He would not marry Dani if love was the not binding force of their relationship. "I will." He swore to her.

He understood both of their concerns. He would probably say those exact words if it had been his daughter who was about to get married.

"I promise you both, Dad, Mom, that Daniella will be the center of my world. She will always be my top priority." Alex expressed his deepest feelings as he accepted the hands of her bride and cradled them firmly in his.

Finally, he felt at peace, now that she was safely in his arms. He never felt more sure of how he felt for her, more than ever. Having her beside him, ready to tell the world of their love, was an exceptional achievement of his life.

"Thanks, Dad and Mom." Dani blew them a kiss before letting Alex escort her to the front of the altar, finally leaving her parents to take their own seats.

The sensation of having him close to her had been stronger probably because of the build-up anticipation. Not to see and touch him since their last kiss had been the worse torture she ever felt.

Every soul sitting on the rows of pews inside the cathedral could not wait to witness the matrimony.. A captivating celebration of true love, a union of two people who would do anything just to be together forever.