18. Maisy
Maisy woke up in her familiar bed in her rooms in Aenicea long before her alarm. She didn’t get up, though. Instead, she just lay there beneath the sheets, feeling heavier and sadder than she had known was possible.
On her first wedding day, Maisy had been worried and anxious, but she’d also been hopeful. She’d known that Niko was going to stand her up and that she would finally have the freedom to make her own choices and live her own life. It had been stressful, but it had felt right.
Today didn’t feel right at all. Instead of stepping into a future of independence, Maisy would be binding herself, forever, to a man she didn’t love and who didn’t love her. At the same time, she’d be giving up any chance of happiness with the man she did love.
If only Xander loved her back. If he’d given her even a single sign that he cared about her more than about his duties, she would have been ready to fight for him. He hadn’t, though. Because he didn’t love her.
“Maise?”
Maisy looked up and saw her sister standing in the doorway. Contrary to Maisy’s first wedding day, Lily had a subdued posture and was messing with a strand of her hair. She was still wearing her pajamas with little cats on them that Maisy had gotten her for her last birthday.
“Hey, Lil.”
Lily crossed the room and climbed onto the bed.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.” Maisy tried to smile.
“Hey.” Lily put a hand on her arm. “You finally started talking to me like I’m an adult yesterday. Please don’t start hiding stuff from me again.”
“The truth is, I’m sad.” Maisy shrugged. “I’m heartbroken. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to be marrying Niko today.”
“Shouldn’t it?” Lily scooted closer. “Just because you can’t be with Xander doesn’t mean that you should marry a man you don’t love. There might be someone else out there who’s just perfect for you.”
“Xander felt perfect — and look how that turned out. Lots of people are happy in arranged marriages, which this basically is. I just want to do what I have to. Can you help me?”
“Yes.” Lily sat up straighter. “Of course I can. One of the designers dropped off a dress for you this morning. There’s also a breakfast tray in the living room. Do you want to start getting ready?”
“Sure.” Maisy took a deep breath. “Thanks, Lil. Just give me a minute to shower, and we can meet in the living room.”
“Okay. I’ll take a quick shower too.”
Maisy dragged herself through a warm shower. When she looked at her reflection in the mirror afterwards, she hardly recognized herself. She was a little tan from the Kanalean sun and her hair was wet from the shower, but that wasn’t it. Maisy didn’t recognize this woman who had finally experienced love and now was leaving it behind.
Stop being so dramatic. Lily had been right. Just because Maisy couldn’t be with Xander didn’t mean that she wouldn’t find love someday. Maybe she and Niko would eventually fall in love. Or maybe she’d find fulfillment through family and friends and her own children. Maisy was strong. She’d been through worse. It just didn’t feel like it right now.
Breakfast was a somber affair. Both Maisy and Lily tried to make cheery conversation, but it was hard with the heavy truth hanging over them. Maisy was relieved when Lily finished the last sip of her tea and got to her feet.
“Shall we get dressed?”
“Yes.” Maisy paused. “I don’t know if you’re invited to the ceremony, but I’d like you to be there.”
“Thanks.” Lily grinned. “I don’t think I was invited. Everyone’s always trying to keep me in the dark about stuff, but I’m really not all that much younger than you.”
“I know.” Maisy bit her lip. “I’m sorry. I’ll try to do better about telling you stuff. And you can tell me things too, you know.”
“I know.” Lily smiled at her. “I always tell you things. You’re my big sister.”
Maisy’s heart warmed. Even on this difficult day, she had her beloved sister with her.
“And you’re my lil sis.”
Lily snorted at the childhood nickname. “You haven’t called me that in ages.”
“Maybe it’s time to bring it back. Now, let’s see about this dress.”
Lily hopped up and headed to a black garment bag that was hanging on the back of the door. She opened the zipper to reveal an off-white dress in a simple style, about knee-length and with capped sleeves.
“It’s not quite as pretty as your first wedding dress, is it?” Lily asked. She tilted her head to the side and looked more closely. “Sorry, was that rude?”
“No, you’re right.” Maisy got to her feet and crossed to Lily and the dress. She tilted her head as well. “It’s looks so… muted.”
“I guess they figured you didn’t need to be all fancy for a secret ceremony.”
“I guess. I mean, I don’t need to wear something fancy, but I feel like this really sets a tone for the marriage.” Maisy winced at her own words. She didn’t want to think about marriage. At least not to Niko.
“You should wear something else.”
“Come on — Mom and Dad would be furious. As would the king and queen. I’ll just wear what they picked out.”
“Maise.” Lily rolled her eyes. “You’re going along with this whole sneaky marriage-slash-annulment, even though it means giving up a man you love, just so that our parents will be happy. You should at least wear something you feel comfortable in.”
“You know what, you might be right.” Maisy zipped the garment bag closed with finality. “I am going to wear something else.”
“Yay!” Lily clapped her hands then grabbed Maisy’s hand. “Let’s go find something nice.”
They went into Maisy’s room, where Lily flung open the closet. There were rows and rows of outfits, picked out mostly by the palace stylists and designers, for all manner of occasions. There were pantsuits and formal skirts, flowing dresses in a variety of colors and fashions, and several more casual pieces. None of Maisy’s clothes from Kanalea were there.
“How about this one?” Lily suggested, pulling out a pink dress with flowers on the bodice and the hem of the skirt.
“That might be a little… frilly.”
“Really?” Lily smoothed the dress’s skirt. “I love it.”
“Do you want to wear it?”
Lily’s eyes lit up. “Can I?”
Maisy chuckled. “Of course you can.”
Lily set aside the dress for herself, then returned to the closet. But Maisy already had her eyes on just the piece for the wedding. In Kanalea, Xander had commented several times on how much he liked Maisy’s green eyes. He would be at the ceremony today, and this would be a perfect chance to let him know just what he was missing. Maisy selected an emerald-green dress with an asymmetrical hemline and a fitted bodice.
“How about this?”
“You’ll look beautiful!” Lily beamed. “That color will bring out your eyes perfectly.”
“That’s just what I was hoping for. It’ll make Xander regret not choosing me.”
“Good for you.” Lily put her hands on her hips. “I must say, I like this side of you. You’d never pick that dress normally.”
“Well, I do now. Come on. Let’s see about our hair and makeup.”
Half an hour later, they were ready to go. Since no stylists were doing their hair and faces today, Maisy had settled for natural makeup that highlighted her features without overpowering them, and a simple hairstyle — mostly down around her shoulders, with a section pulled back into a braid. Along with the dress, even Maisy had to admit that she looked nice, if not exactly bridal.
Lily, on the other hand, in the pink flowered dress, looked like a princess, as always.
“Are you ready to go?” Lily asked.
Maisy glanced at herself in the mirror, took a deep breath, and nodded. “Let’s do this.”
“It isn’t too late to change your mind…”
“I know.” Maisy reached for her sister’s hand. “Come on. Let’s go.”
They walked down the hall to the judicial chamber where the wedding/annulment was being held. As they descended a long staircase, Lily reached for Maisy’s arm and squeezed.
“Maisy.”
“What?”
Lily looked pointedly at the bottom of the stairs. Maisy followed her gaze and her heart sank. Standing there, in a formal suit and tie, was the person Maisy wanted to talk to most — who was also the person she least wanted to see ever again. Xander looked as handsome as always. But something about his posture was nervous, too.
“Do you want me to make him go away?” Lily asked. She had a fierce expression that Maisy had never seen before.
Maisy bit her lip. She did want Xander to go away, but she also wanted one last chance to talk to him before everything happened. And Maisy knew that she’d have to talk to Xander for the rest of her life, as her brother-in-law. She might as well start now.
“No, it’s fine.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
Maisy shook her head. “I can do this. Alone.”
At the bottom of the stairs, Xander reached for Maisy, then let his hand fall.
“Maisy.” His voice felt like the warm sun on a cloudy day. Maisy hardened her heart.
“Yes?”
“Can I talk to you?”
“I have somewhere to be, actually.” Maisy looked pointedly down the hall. “You know, our annulment?”
“I know. But I just need a minute.”
“Fine.”
“Come in here.” Xander gestured to a side room.
“If you want to warn me not to tell Niko about what happened on Kanalea, you already have my word. We’ll forget anything happened.”
“That’s not what we need to discuss.” Xander stepped into the side room. Maisy was about to follow when someone called her name from down the hallway.
“Maisy! What are you doing? We’re about to start!”
It was Maisy’s mother. Maisy hesitated on the doorstep, then came back into the hallway.
“Coming!”
“Maisy, please.” Xander’s eyes were wide. He looked almost desperate. “I just need to talk to you for a minute.”
“Maisy, come on!” Lily was already standing with Maisy’s mother and father. They were at the doorway of the judicial room.
Maisy looked back and forth between Xander and her family. Her family might not have considered her feelings as much as they could have, but they’d always had Maisy’s best interests at heart. They’d never lied to her, tricked her, or broken her heart. Xander, on the other hand, had done all of those things.
“I’m sorry, Xander. We can talk after the ceremony.” Maisy started down the hallway towards her family, her duty, and her future. But she’d barely taken a step when she felt Xander’s hand on her arm. He bent to her ear and whispered, quietly and quickly.
“Maisy, I made a mistake. I think I can fix this. I can fix everything — if you just trust me.”
“Why should I?” Maisy wanted to lean into Xander, but she held herself back. She had no idea what he meant when he said he was going to fix everything, and she was in no mood for another one of his games.
“Because,” Xander said, his voice soft and urgent. They were almost down the hallway now. “Because I love you.”
Maisy’s heart skipped a beat. Had Xander really just said the words she’d never thought she’d hear from him?
“What?”
“Maisy!” Maisy’s mother beckoned, more forcefully this time, and Maisy felt her feet start to move.
“I love you,” Xander repeated. “And I promise I’ll explain everything as soon as we have a minute. But, if you trust me…” And he quickly explained to Maisy what he needed her to do. Maisy was reeling. She wasn’t even sure she understood Xander’s words. He loved her? Really?
Did she still love him after he’d broken her heart?
Did his plan even have a chance of working?
And then Maisy felt her sister’s hand on her other arm. Lily pulled her away, shooting a look at Xander as she did so.
“You’ve done enough,” Lily said, glaring. “Leave my sister alone.” Then she pulled Maisy into the judicial room. “What did he say to you?”
“I—”
But Maisy didn’t have enough time to tell her sister anything, because they were already in the room, in front of Maisy’s family and the royals. A judge stood in the center of the room, papers laid out in front of him. An older man and a young woman with dark brown eyes stood in one corner, probably the witnesses. A moment later, the royal twins entered together. They were dressed identically in dark blue suits.
This was the moment. Maisy had a decision to make. Still confused, still uncertain and unsure if she could trust her heart, she looked back at the twins. She wasn’t sure if it was worth it to risk everything, again, on one of their wild schemes. And Xander had said he loved her, but that didn’t mean that things would work out between them. Was it worth the risk?
But the romantic in Maisy won. If there was even the slightest chance for a happily ever after, she owed it to herself to chase it. She could take one more chance on love.
Slowly, Maisy nodded.