The days leading up to the wedding went by in a blur of tension, color, and sound. Though Ellaria still managed all the details of the event right down to the seating charts and centerpieces, Tess was so wrapped up in the day-to-day tasks that she hardly saw Antone, and even when she did, he always seemed to be somewhere else, far away from her.

And, as she walked down the aisle toward him, she realized it was the first time he had really looked at her in days. But then, once their vows were exchanged and they'd made their traditional walk around a long, ornate wooden table, he was gone from her again, pulled into the sea of reporters while Ellaria grabbed her arm and led her toward a room in the back of the huge, majestic cathedral.

Cameras flashed in her face as she went, and she did her best to smile the way Ellaria always did, but she couldn't hide the wash of relief that consumed her the second a door closed behind her and she was alone with her sister-in-law.

"Well done, your highness," Ellaria said, and though the same chilly air coated her words, Tess knew she was, for once, not being sarcastic.

"Thank you." Tess glanced in the mirror, raising her hand to straighten the crown of lush, white roses the priest had placed atop her head. Unlike traditional American wedding dresses, Tess' gown was embroidered with emerald detailing that perfectly matched the leaves and stems of the roses on her head, the same color as the Napoline flag. Still, the tiny, perfect stitches were the most ornate thing about the dress. Aside from that and the small train, it was a plain, white satin dress, almost the same as the one she'd worn the night she'd met her husband.

My husband.

Her chest tightened at the thought.

"It is time to change for the reception." Ellaria swept across the room, her own emerald green dress billowing behind her as she worked the tiny buttons along the back of Tess' gown.

"Thank you for going through all of this. It was a beautiful wedding, truly."

Ellaria's fingers froze for a moment, but when she set to work again, they were more gentle than they had been before. "It was my duty and my pleasure. I am your sister."

"I should probably warn you, I've never been a very good sister," Tess said.

Ellaria slipped the gown from Tess' shoulders, and though Tess couldn't see her face, she had the distinct impression that the other woman was smiling.

In the mirror, Tess watched Ellaria make her way to the armoire and pull out a new, tea-length silk dress. "I'm afraid the same can be said for me these past weeks. I...should not have treated you the way I did. I apologize."

Ellaria held the dress out to Tess, and she took it, slipping it over her head quickly. "What do you mean?"

"I was embittered toward my brother and his actions. You have seen, no doubt, the political fallout of your marriage. The fact that I would have to step in to pick up the pieces was not lost on me, but I know, and have always known, that it was not your fault. I never should have taken my anger or frustration out on you as I did." She glanced away, and the sheepish expression looked strange and out of place on her face.

"Ellaria, if you don't want to marry the prince--"

The other woman held up her hand. "I will not speak about that today. Right now, we are celebrating your own marriage, and if we do not move along shortly, we will be very late."

From the church, Tess was ushered into a limo to take her back to the palace. Though the ride was blissfully short, every second that ticked by brought a new wave of panic. This was her first big event with the public, her first time speaking to the king and queen, her first time meeting Antone's youngest sister, the princess Regianna.

Try as she might to take deep, calming breaths, there was no denying the familiar, inevitable feel of it all. The humiliation she'd no doubt bring on her husband and herself. The shame she'd bring to his important, distinguished family.

"Princess, we've arrived." The driver turned in his seat to look at her and she blinked back at him, frozen to her seat.

"Do I have to go in?" she asked him, but before he answered, her door opened and a tall, familiar form was waiting for her, his hand outstretched. Cameras flashed behind him like warning lights, but she took his hand all the same, allowing Antone to pull her from the car and into his arms.

"You look more beautiful today than the day I met you," he whispered in her ear, and then, still quieter, he added, "Don't worry. The press isn't allowed at the reception. Ellaria made sure of it."

Tess swallowed hard, smiling one last time for the cameras before they stepped through the ballroom's wide, glass doors and were formally announced as husband and wife, crown prince and princess of Napoline. Their lengthy last name and accolades were recited, and she curtsied as gracefully as she could manage while the crowd of dignitaries clapped along politely.

When at last the applause faded and everyone returned to chattering and picking canapés from the glittering silver pass trays, Antone led her to the table on the further end of the room, slightly elevated from the others.

There, Ellaria sat, whispering something to Luca, and beside her sat another woman, her sleek dark hair the exact same shade as her brother's. Where Ellaria was willowy and haughty, Regianna was voluptuous and amiable, a wide smile stretched across her face as she drank in her brother and sister-in-law.

"I saw the pictures of course, but you're even more stunning in person," Regianna's accent wasn't as thick as her sister's, and she leaned across the table to dot both of Tess' cheeks with kisses. "Bellissimo."

"You're too kind," Tess blushed.

"She's not," Antone said, squeezing her a little closer to his side. "Tess, this is my sister."

"Regianna." Tess nodded. "I've heard so much about you."

Regianna grinned even more broadly, but the smile slipped from her face as she caught sight of something over Tess' shoulder. Tess turned, half-expecting to see Lord Voldemort traipsing across the dance floor, but instead she spotted a beautiful woman, probably the same age as Regianna, heading toward them with her arms outstretched.

"Antone, Antone," she called, her throaty voice carrying across the room. As she walked, the enormous, sparkling tiara bobbed in her mountain of chestnut curls.

From the corner of her eye, she saw her husband stiffen, but he reached out and took the woman in his arms nonetheless, kissing both her cheeks. "Maria," he said.

"Your father will be along shortly. What a wonderful ceremony. Beautiful." She nodded at Tess, but did not look at her. "It's a shame we cannot stay for the whole of the reception."

Antone's adam's apple froze in the middle of his throat. "What do you mean?"

"I thought your father had told you." She tittered a laugh. "My mistake. We have affairs to attend to."

"And where might those be?" Anyone's tone was light, but there was no mistake his edge of irritation.

"Best let your father explain all that." Maria craned around, then flapped her hand at her husband. "Here he comes now. I'll, well, I'll leave you to it." She shot a smile at Antone's sisters, neither of whom returned it, and then practically sprinted for the crab puffs.

"Antone--" Tess started, but the look on her husband's face made her fall silent. He had eyes for none but the slender, elderly man making his way toward them. A plain, golden circlet rested on his steely hair, and unlike his wife, he betrayed no sign of pleasure at seeing his son.

When he at last stopped in front of them, Antone bowed and Tess followed his lead, sinking into a deep curtsy. If the king appreciated the formality, he made no effort to show it.

At first, he spoke in Italian, but Antone pulled Tess close to him, nodding toward her.

"If you would please speak English. Tess cannot understand you."

The king nodded. "It would seem congratulations are in order." He glanced from Tess to her stomach and then back at his son, giving the general effect of dumping cold water over what little joy there was in the room. "Lovely ceremony."

"Thank you." Antone nodded curtly. "I hear you won't be able to stay. I wonder if I might speak with you privately?"

"I don't think that is necessary."

"Don't you?" Antone shot back, then, glancing at Tess, he said, "Why don't you go get something to eat?"

"But I..." She started, and again his gaze took the words from her mouth. At her side, someone's arm looped around her own, and Regianna said, "I'm dying to get my hands on some cake. Think they have extra in the kitchen?"

Reluctantly, she allowed Regianna to drag her away, and she listened patiently as Regianna explained the details of her recent travels, answered politely as Regianna asked her about herself, and laughed at all the right times when someone around them made a joke.

Still, as the evening wore on, she continued to search her surroundings, desperate for some glimpse of her husband, some clue that everything had worked out and that he might take her aside and tell her what was going on. But it was pointless. She was shuffled from one circle to another, forced to ask questions and make polite acquaintances while accepting congratulations and praise of her own.

Then, two hours after he'd banished her, she caught sight of him. He was on the patio, alone with Luca, a cigar in his mouth. Her breath caught in her throat, and gently she placed her hand on her sister-in-law's bicep and murmured, "If you would excuse me."

Though Regianna looked momentary taken aback, she nodded and said, "Of course," and it wasn't until Tess was halfway toward her husband that she realized what she'd done.

It was her mother's patented move. The same one her sister had inherited.

Glancing behind her, she found Regianna still standing in the place where Tess had left her--five paces from the bar. Just close enough to be convenient, but not close enough to draw attention.

A little shock of horror rolled over her, but she pushed past it, desperate to get to Antone before someone else took him away from her again.

* * *

"He cannot do this to me," Antone said, more to himself than to Luca.

He stared out the wide balcony at the crashing waves beyond, taking another deep pull of his cigar. He should have figured this would happen. That this one day that was supposed to be about love and the creation of a new family would become yet another reminder of the shackles he'd been born into. His father would have it no other way.

"A few other dignitaries wish to speak with you. We still have a few months to prepare before...before we must announce the king's decision," Luca said, lightly. "Perhaps it's better to enjoy your wedding night as you would have done before?"

Antone shook his head. "Tess is mingling, isn't she?"

"Yes, but--"

"Very well, then,"Antone snapped, ashing his cigar lightly before taking another puff.

"Well, if it isn't the man of the hour. Tell me, do you hide on the deck at every party you attend?" Tess' voice, light and sweet, filled the air behind him and he closed his eyes, willing himself to turn around and face her.

Careful to blow his smoke away from her, he turned and caught her smiling up at him, her pearly white dress complimenting her elaborate brown curls. It was like a bizarro version of their first night together--she was more beautiful than ever, even more attractive to him than she had been on that first night, but this time he was the one who didn't know where to start. He was the one who needed to escape from everything and everyone inside.

How can I tell her?

She was only just beginning to accept the fact of her own political position, of her role as his wife, and as a mother.

Could he ruin her wedding night, too? Force her to take on even more responsibility? An even heavier burden?

After setting his cigar in an ashtray nearby, he swept toward her and took each of her hand in his, kissing her on both her cheeks as she wrinkled her nose.

"You smell like smoke," she said.

"My apologies. Maybe if you went back inside, it might give me a chance to air out--"

She shook her head. "I've had enough of being inside. I want to spend my wedding night with my husband. Tell me, what's been going on?"

"Why don't you tell me about your evening instead?" he countered, a little too quickly.

She blinked, but pressed on, shrugging. "Nothing to report. Regianna is nice. She's been introducing me to everyone."

Antone nodded. Regianna would do that. She was sweet and helpful and... had she known? Had both of his sisters known what his father had to tell him?

He shook his head. "I'm glad."

"I have to tell you, though, I think people expect to see us together. Maybe if we--"

"No. They know what a royal marriage is like. Seeing bride and groom in one place at one time is like the holy grail."

The faint smile on Tess' lips disappeared. "Right. Yeah, I guess so. So...Maybe we should just slip away? What do you think?" She nestled in a little closer. "We could hide in your room and--"

"Tess. you have a duty, now. You can't think of shirking them that way." His tone was sharp, though he knew the words were for himself, not her. Because the truth of the matter? There was nothing he wanted more than to hide away with her, go back to their week alone in bed, sharing each other and living for their little jokes and stories.

But that was gone now. Gone so much sooner than he'd expected.

"I don't get it. Why--?" she started, but he stepped away from her, dropping her hands as he moved back toward the edge of the balcony.

"You don't need to understand. Just go and do your job. Entertain your guests and play the part. When you're wanted, I'll send for you."

"When I'm wanted." Tess nodded. "Right. I understand."

He should have reached for her then, pulled her back and told her that they could run away together and never look back, but he knew that was just as unlikely as everything else. His life had only one path now, and Tess would be there for it whether she liked it or not.

For the rest of the evening, he met with dignitaries one by one, nodding and playing his cards close to his chest until at last the final bell rang and their guests began to make their departures. The music ebbed away into nothing, and when he reentered the ballroom, it was to find his sisters huddled together at the long head table, whispering to one and other as they nodded and waved to the few stragglers who remained.

"Where is my wife?" he asked them and they both stared up at him with blank, impassive faces.

"Well?" he prompted. "Was it not your responsibility to care for her and ensure she met all the--"

"We looked after her, but we are not her wardens. She went to bed hours ago," Regianna said.

"What is wrong with you?" Ellaria cut in. "You're acting like someone has--"

"Nevermind. Please see to it that everything is managed and everyone is escorted out."

Ellaria shot Luca a questioning look, but Antone didn't have time to see if Luca would be her ally on this one. He marched from the hall, stopping for nothing and no one until he reached his room. It was empty.

"Of course," he scoffed, then made off again, until he came to Tess' room. Not bothering to knock, he banged the door open and pivoted to find her sitting up in bed, her phone in her lap.

"What were you thinking leaving early? You have a duty--"

"I wasn't sent for, so I clearly was not wanted."

He scowled. "How dare you be so petty. There are more important things--"

"There aren't. Look, I can only be your show pony for so long. I can only--"

"You can do your duty and you will like it." He didn't know why he was yelling, but he knew he wouldn't be able to stop. Not until all his frustration and rage had been vented. Not until what had happened tonight was over, erased.

Her full mouth contorted into a thin, wavering line. "I do have a duty. As a human being and as a mother. Those are my first duties and my most important ones."

"And as a wife? As a--" he choked on the word. "A princess?"

"I did my duty. If that wasn't enough for you, then you can go back to treating me like your prisoner. See if I care. It's already what I am."

"Again with the dramatics," he spat.

"I am, though. I am your prisoner. You won't let me in and I can't get out. If this marriage is just going to be some sham where you won't tell me what's going on and you roll me out for state functions, then so be it, but I won't pretend it's anything more. I won't pretend that that makes me your wife and I certainly won't share your bed."

"And that's how it is, is it? You are impatient and selfish and consider it your right to remain so?"

She opened her mouth, then closed it, and though he knew his words had been harsh, he wasn't going to take them back. How dare she assume she knew what it was to walk in his shoes and bear the weight of his responsibility? How dare she presume to understand what it was to be him?

"You were raised with all the polish of wealth and none of the weight. If I shared my burdens with you, you would have no idea what to do with them. You are not--"

"Get out," she said, so calmly and quietly that he wasn't sure he'd heard her right.

"You are--"

"Get. Out." This time, though the words were still calm, there was no doubting what she'd said. "Maybe you're the one in charge of everyone else, but tonight I'm calling the shots. I don't want you here. I don't want to hear what you have to say. Get. Out. I'll summon you when you're wanted," she said, her eyes narrowed to slits.

He nodded. "So be it."

And, fuming, he slammed her bedroom door behind him.