e i g h t

The wedding is tomorrow.

This is the last night I get to stay at my home. Once I get fake married to the Prince, I'll reside in the palace. After our deal is over and I officially become Juliet Montague, I'll live in Montague mansion.

But it's my last night in Capulet mansion.

Instead of sleeping, I creep into the fighting area. I learnt few self defence tricks and sword fighting here. The fun I had with Antonio is all embedded in this place.

Next I go to the sewing room. Matilda loved it and we had numerous forbidden conversations here. The walls of the room still bear our secrets.

Next, I go to the kitchen. It's empty. All the servants have gone to sleep in the servants' quarters. My mother and I baked cakes here. All the traditional recipes are still fresh in my mind. I touch all the drawers and utensils, giving them my last memory.

Then I go to the garden. The moon shines dimly making all the stars glow more brighter than usual. I look up and take in the scent of the garden. My father, uncle Cynthius, Rosaline and I planted most of the plants and trees here. Aunt Achilla, who is well versed in herbs, taught us numerous medical uses of these plants. Sometimes we would talk for hours in this very place I stand.

I turn around and find Rosaline by the fountain. When I go closer, I notice the tears escaping her eyes, hidden behind her red locks.

I hug her from behind.

"And I thought I was the weaker one amongst us." I say lightly.

"You are." She gives out a small laugh. It was more sad than happy.

I sit beside her. " You know Tybalt once told me that he would do anything for you. I doubted him. Now I know he was being honest." I smile at her.

"And how's that?" She sniffed.

"Because I found something in his room."

"What might that be?"

"A book you dearly wanted to read but it was forbidden in Verona."

"He bought that!! That had to be imported from South Asia. Due to the war amongst the rulers, any entities from the region were banned in Verona." Her eyes widen.

"I think he might have sneaked a book for you. You know he could have got killed if he was caught."

"But why didn't he give it to me?"

"Because he waited for your birthday." I answer.

My comment makes her sob harder.

"Rose- Rosaline. Come on, sister. You know better than that. He died a fair fight. He doesn't need mourning, he needs commemoration." I hug her sideways.

"He surely does. He killed someone close to the Montague. Both sides had casualties."

"Don't you sometimes think how we could be if both the families decided to have peace?" I let my thought out loud.

"I do. It would be peaceful. But not typically entertaining." She replies.

"So deaths are entertaining?" I ask her.

"Not deaths. No not that. The fights amongst the servants in the market. Those are hilarious to watch." She smiles for once during our conversation.

"Do you miss him?" I ask slowly, afraid she'll cry more.

"He is my brother -- was my brother. But he was annoying. Atleast now I don't have to fight to get the last bit of dessert." She gives me a sad smile.

"You don't have to. Isn't that a good part?"

She gives a slight nod. Then she wipes her tears and faces me, red eyes directly looking into my soul. For a moment, I'm afraid she'll notice my cover. She'll find my lies and deals and secrets.

"Aren't you missing something too?" She asks smiling.

"I certainly miss Tybalt. He could be annoying but the arguments were entertaining to me." I smile back.

"Not him. You miss the mansion."

"Why do you think that?" I look at the ground.

"Because it's your last day in the mansion as a member. You'll live in the palace tomorrow. And that's why you are roaming in the middle of the night." She answers .

"Those who have weights don't get the sleeps." She adds.

"They absolutely don't." I sigh.

"I'll miss you, my younger sister." She pinches my nose.

"I'll miss you more." I return.

"You need company to sleep tonight?" She asks as she gets up.

"I'll prefer solitude." I reply and she leaves me alone for the night.

I know just well were I need to go next.

I go behind the mansion and search for the hidden ladder. Once I find it, I place it to reach my balcony. Then I climb up, just like I did when we returned after sneaking.

I stand in my balcony and recall all the nights I spent with him, conversing in this very balcony. I recall the sneaking in, rides through the woods, disguising as a servant in the palace, dancing near the shore. All the long conversations in the nights where no one could hear us and the sea waves produced just enough sound to calm our minds. All the nights we distributed our robbery to the small secluded countryside.

And my favourite, roses for secrets.

.

.

.

"Does sneaking around match your standards?"

"What is an adventure without a risk, my lady."

"If you wish an adventure, quit being a lady. "

"But us meeting today is the highlight event of my day."

"You know I hear you say this every night, my love." He whispers.

"And you know how much you love hearing me say this every night we dance." I whisper back.

"If loving you is a sin, I accept the punishment."

"Well, why did you summon me, darling."

"I pronounce you wife and husband."

I sleep with these thoughts running in my mind.

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"Do you take Lady Juliet as your lawfully wedded wife and vow to stay by her side from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death?"

"I do." Prince Esculas says loudly.

"Do you take Prince Esculas, the heir of Verona, as your lawfully wedded husband and vow to stay by his side from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death?"

"I do " I say loudly, then I whisper so slowly that even the priest cannot hear "not."

Prince Esculas smiles at my wit and nods.

"I pronounce you wife and husband. You may kiss the bride." The priest announces as the crowd cheers from below.

I never thought about the kiss.

I take a step back but Prince Esculas takes my hand in his firmly and kneels down. I'm shocked by the gesture.

Then he kisses the top of my knuckles.

Nobody dares oppose the prince except for the king.

"My son, you know you can kiss your bride publicly. You don't have to feel shy." He says with laughter.

"I'm paying my respect, father. The land and it's people should be shown how to treat my bride. I'm setting up an example." He answers.

The crowd goes silent with this statement. Then someone from the commoners clap and the entire hall erupts with clapping noise.

I give a deep courtesy to the Prince showing my respect.

I'm the Princess. For the land.