Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder novel Chapter 497

Chapter 155: Bonus Story - An Unofficial Royal Wedding

*Ciana*

In the early afternoon on the day before my wedding, I stood on a fitting platform while Brook worked on the final fitting for my dress and Sherry worked on finding the right makeup palette that would match the occasion.

I said “occasion" because it was not just my wedding anymore. The Public Relation department had turned it into this ordeal of a national celebration and public event as the first step to establish a transparent and people-friendly image of the royal court.

Floor length mirrors surrounded me on three sides while my friends worked to turn me into a beautiful princess bride.

The dress I was stuck in was far more lavish than I ever imagined. Apparently, because I was in my third trimester, the seamstress thought that weighing me down with excessive layers of fabric would make me more comfortable.

It was a hefty ball gown with several layers of taffeta and tulle making up the wide spread hoop-skirt.

The bodice was encrusted with jewel—studded lace. It snugged around my pregnant belly and fitted around my breasts, making them pop out in ways I wasn't used to.

"You look absolutely stunning, Ciana,“ Sherry said, pulling me from my thoughts.

'The seamstress and her four helpers spent more than two weeks non stop making this dress for you. She did really well, people probably won't even notice that you’re pregnant," Brook added.

'And with your natural beauty it just makes this dress so much more outstanding," Sherry added.

She started working on my hair, pinning it up in a half-up, half-down do.

'It is so easy to get a makeup color palette that matches your natural skin tones and eyes and hair color," she said.

She peeked over my shoulder and I met her eyes in the mirror. I smiled and nodded politely.

'It isn't weird that I’m in a traditional, pure white wedding dress, and also nearly seven months pregnant?" I asked, putting my hands on my belly.

Sherry and Brook laughed and kept working.

I looked at my reflection in all three of the mirrors. The dress was gorgeous from every angle, except for the fact that it just didn't feel right on me.

Suddenly, I had a flashback to when I'd tried on dresses in the Moonlit Crystal for my fake wedding to Warren.

Theo and Brook had both been there. Brook had been so full of praise for the dresses I wore, but Theo...

He’d said all kinds of things.

'... with a skirt like that, you could be dropped out of an airplane at ten thousand feet and sail gently to the ground.’

His words echoed in my head and I ran my hands along the hefty, wide skirt I was currently wearing. This skirt was so similar to that one. Would Theo think the same thing this time?

1 hope it doesn't snow, though. In a dress like that, well never find you.'

Another comment about the dress color stuck in my mind. I frowned as I examined the color of this dress. It was the purest white I'd ever seen, just like freshly fallen snow.

I groaned a little and shook my head. Was there such a thing as the flawless wedding dress?

Then there was the last comment Theo had made.

'... I just think maybe you should try a dress on in the right size. That one clearly doesn't fit. You’re spilling out all over the top of it.'

Glancing down at myself, I saw how my third-trimester-pregnant breasts popped out of the fitted cups. It was made to fit me perfectly, and according to Brook and Sherry, it was. However, to me, it still felt, and looked, like I could pop out of my dress at any moment.

The more I looked at myself, the more I felt like I wasn't wearing a dress. I felt like I was shoved into a teeny, tiny, pale, parachute!

I groaned under my breath.

This was all Theo's fault! He'd put those thoughts and comments in my mind and now I couldn't stop comparing my dress to those comments.

My eyes flicked from one mirror to the next as I tried to stop seeing the dress as something horrible, now.

I covered my face with my hands and groaned.

'I don't like how I look in this," I muttered, shaking my head.

“What are you talking about?" Sherry asked. "Ciana, you look absolutely gorgeous." “Do I?" I asked, glancing at the mirror between my fingers.

'I think you're just nervous, Ciana. You're getting married and the entire kingdom is going to be there. That is something to get jittery about,” Brook analyzed.

“Yeah...”

She was right.

When Theo had asked me to marry him, I hadn't hesitated in saying yes. Of course, at the time, I thought we'd have the chance to talk about what kind of wedding we wanted. Instead, the royal court had made this huge announcement to the entire kingdom.

Thousands of people were traveling to the capitol to attend the wedding tomorrow. What I thought should have just been friends and family turned into a nationwide event.

Never in all my imaginings had I thought I'd have such a lavish, massive wedding ceremony. Whenever I thought about my wedding, I thought about it being small and intimate. A private celebration with my closest friends and family.

This royal wedding... my skin shivered at the mere thought.

What if I rolled my ankle in the heels while walking down the aisle?

What if I tripped over the dress and planted my face on the ground?

What if I forgot my lines...?

There would literally be thousands of people staring at me and if I messed up or embarrassed myself, it would be in front of the entire kingdom. It would also reflect badly on the crown.

“Ciana,” Brook said, cutting into my thoughts.

“Huh?" I asked frantically, my nerves completely frazzled.

'You look gorgeous. You're going to be fine at the wedding because it is your day. Just forget about the rest of the kingdom," she insisted.

'I'll try..." 'Also, you're unsettled because you're pregnant. It's normal to feel emotional and vulnerable during pregnancy, but that does impact your usual confidence. Just breathe through it," Brook suggested.

I took a few deep breaths and closed my eyes. Well, I breathed as deeply as I could with the fitted bodice.

'You've rehearsed the ceremony three times. You've got this, and it is all going to go well,“ she added.

'I've rehearsed it in front of like ten people. There are going to be thousands there tomorrow!" I cried, overwhelmed all over again.

“And you'll still be fine,“ Brook assured.

When Brook was done with her adjustments, she helped me out of the dress. Sherry did some last minute touch ups on the makeup after the dress was off.

'Come on, let's get you changed into your own clothes," Brook said, handing me another dress.

It was a simple yet elegant A-line, white dress.

“Brook, this isn't the outfit I was wearing today. ” 'Did you forget? King Theo arranged a rehearsal dinner tonight for close friends and family only. Alpha and Luna Black will be there along with Lady Nita. This is the dress His Majesty ordered for the dinner, do you not like it?"