The Crown

Chapter Fifty

There hadn't been this much commotion in the castle since Tobias' previous wedding with Lauren.

Tobias knew that - and, the night before his wedding, he couldn't sleep.

Laid out hanging on his mirror was his suit for the wedding. 

He was sleeping in his bedroom, alone. Beatrice and Christina left the day before back to her parents' house for a traditional meal they had for the bride - a custom in their village. They would all come back in the morning to the castle to get ready, but as for now, the bride and groom were alone.

Tobias stood and stroked the fabric on the suit. It was the same suit he wore to Lauren's wedding, and it was the same one his father wore to his parents' wedding.

He wanted to burn it.

He snatched the suit and dragged it on the floor. Tobias pushed the doors open to the garden and headed to an old fire pit. He passed by the area where the wedding would take place - a bigger space than the one he was planning on having with Lauren.

Tobias luckily found a match lying on one of the rocks. He tried multiple times to light it, and when he finally did, he threw it onto the wood and sparked up multiple flames. Soon enough, there was a big enough fire in front of him, illuminating the suit as if it was asking to be thrown in the orange.

He grabbed the suit and stared at it, stroking the fabric one last time before letting it drop into the flames. He watched with glee as it crumbled and became smaller by the minute. When it was over, Tobias sat down in front and embraced the warmth on his skin.

"Crap," he muttered as he rubbed his eyes. "Now I have to find myself another suit," he looked up and saw the sunrise, groaning. "And the wedding is in six hours."

Tobias groaned as he stood up and walked back inside the castle. He grabbed a coat and walked out to the front doors. He headed to the stables and took one of the horses, saddled him, and rode towards the town. The horse galloped fast down the long pathway towards the town.

When they had arrived, Tobias slowed down and looked around for any open stores. He was near the bay area when he saw a store with windows lit up. He attached the horse to a pole and walked in. An old lady turned around and gasped, resting her hand on the counter to help her bow.

"Your highness," she stuttered as she approached. "What brings you here? Aren't you supposed to be in the castle, asleep?"

"I need a suit, madam. Might you have some?"

"Of course. Traditional?"

"Yes. I had an accident with mine, so I need another one. Urgently."

"Don't tell me it's for your wedding today."

"Then I won't say anything."

The old lady laughed and left to the back of her store. She came out with a suit in her hands and handed it to the prince. Tobias looked at it and stroked the fabric. He enjoyed the feel it felt on his skin, and it was much nicer than the one he was going to wear. He nodded his head and walked over to the counter.

"I'll take it."

Her eyes widened as she went behind the counter and took the tag off. She wrapped it in a bag and handed it to him.

"How much do I owe you?"

"Consider it a wedding gift, your highness."

Tobias shook his head and took out the money pieces he had in his pocket. "Nonsense. Please, how much?"

"I urge you, there's no need. It's a gift."

He sighed and nodded, retracting his hand and taking the bag. "Good day, madam."

"Good day, King Tobias. The new Queen will be incredibly lucky to have you as her husband."

Tobias nodded as he left the store. "Princess," he mumbled and hopped back on the horse. He tapped lightly on the horse to make him move. The horse galloped at its own pace, slowly, as they rode back to the castle.

Beatrice too was unable to fall asleep. Christina had left to her family for the night and was going to come back in the morning, so Beatrice was left alone. She stared up at the ceiling - the oh-so-familiar one from every night she was unable to sleep, or needed some time to think.

The news of her wedding still hadn't settled with her father, although the invitations were sent out two weeks prior. Her mother was overjoyed when she saw her daughter again and threw a small gathering in the bride's honor. "I can't believe that I just got my daughter back and I have to give her to a husband," she said as she kissed Beatrice's cheek.

Caleb had finally asked out Susan again. In fact, the thought hadn't passed his mind until Susan arrived at the gathering and caught Beatrice's eye. She instantly went to Caleb and urged her to go talk to Susan. Caleb reluctantly went, and when Susan opened her mouth to say hello, Caleb interrupted her and blurted out that he'd like to continue their lost relationship. Susan agreed, of course, and they left the gathering early to be together.

Andrew sulked the entire night and complained numerous times to his wife. Natalie ignored most of them before eventually telling him to retreat to their bedroom until the gathering was over. He didn't argue and laid down on the bed, complaining to himself for the next hours until it was over. When Natalie walked inside to go to bed herself, he closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. He waited until she was asleep before leaving the bedroom and walking outside into the cool breeze.

"You couldn't sleep either?" Beatrice asked as she walked outside and found her father standing by himself in front of the house.

Andrew cleared his throat and turned around, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "No, Beatrice, I couldn't. Shouldn't you be resting? You have a very long day ahead of you."

"I wouldn't think of it as long, but exciting."

"Yes, very exciting."

Beatrice sighed and stood beside her father. "I'm scared. I don't know how to be a wife."

"Do you know how to be a...whatever you call it...before being married..."

She chuckled. "A girlfriend?"

"That," He sighed and smiled. "Your mother and I got married two weeks after meeting each other."

Beatrice nodded and looked at the ground. "Do you ever regret marrying Mother? I mean, were you in love with somebody else?"

Andrew looked at his daughter and shook his head. "Of course not. I'd never regret having married your mother. Sure, I wasn't on board with the idea at first, and neither was she, but I fell in love with her the second she announced she was pregnant because I realized I didn't want anyone else having my children other than her. And, it turned out just how I wanted."

She blushed and smiled. It felt nice to hear her father was finally past everything and realized that what mattered was that his daughter was happy.

"Go to sleep, you don't want to be tired during the ceremony."

"I don't think I could be tired," Beatrice confessed before she walked back in her room and went under the covers, finally falling asleep.