You know those bed time stories your mum would tell you before bed? Those stories about good and bad. Valiant warriors and strong princesses? Stories where right always wins even when it seems like they wouldn't? I remembered the stories her grandmother told her as I walked down the aisle. I remembered when I locked eyes with my soon to be husband, when we took our vows- the ones we both knew he wouldn't keep to and we locked lips to seal the deal. I remembered as our audience cheered. Life is not a fairy tale.The real world doesn't run on battles between good and evil. It runs on control, which my father had obtained through me. If people ever thought Africa as a poor continent, how foolish they would seem now. We ruled the world. My fathers dealings with the Western countries always included something for another African Kingdom. Often my father would tell me that I was doing a service the continent. Marrying Ryan was a service. How happy we must feel to finally be married, how relieved, people said to me. I'm not comforted by being married to a man that doesn't love me. Though I suppose I do pity him. He's stuck in the middle between my father's orders and my waning love for him. He doesn't know what I do. I suppose he'll find out soon enough.

After the ceremony I changed dresses and met Ryan out in a separate room. The sitting room we occupied had a warm happy glow, not knowing how dull and glum the bride felt. The doors opposite of the rooms entrance led to a massive balcony. Ryan held my hand tightly. I glanced up at him and he gave me a charming smile, I leaned into him slightly. No matter what he was my only comfort for tonight. We were waiting to make our grand appearance to the citizens of the American Kingdom.

"Is she here? The one you'd make crown princess if you could?" I asked softly a sweet smile on my face. We had appearances to uphold.

He looked down at me lovingly "And if she is?"

I giggled "Then I shall give her a tour. This would be her home more than mine. You are sending me away once I've been properly fucked and carrying your seed. Did you forget what you told me? Of course I was more than willing to do anything to please you. Hell, if you wanted her to share our bed and have us both every night at the same time I would have done it."

Ryan cleared his throat, "And now?"

I patted his shoulder " That sail has shipped love."

He looked disgruntled as I fixed his tie with a sly smile. His mother entered the room a proud smile on her face.

"Oh just look at you two love birds." She cooed.

"Malory." I said as we pressed our cheeks together in greeting.

"You two are perfect for each other and have been together since you were both old enough to know about the engagement. I'd say it was love at first sight." She said with a large smile and innocent eyes

I smiled back giving a small laugh "You'd be right. I fell for this devilish man when he was just a roguish boy. My, what has become of him." We all laughed.

The door opened and his father King Jeffery walked in in all his tall, silver fox  glory. His father stood proudly and he greeted us all with smiles.

"Adeyemi, welcome officially to the family. It has been put off far too long." He said his voice deep and dreamy. I locked eyes with him. He would be considered a sweet man if he hadn't been having an affair on his kind and precious wife, with me.

"Thank you, Jeffery. We should have a party to celebra- Oh well I guess there already is one isn't there?" We all laughed at my lame joke.

"All the better, again welcome. I am especially pleased to have you become a part of this family. If this one starts acting up be sure to let us know. I'll set him right." Jeffery said before kissing the back of my hand. My my, wasn't he acting brave.

Before I could thank him, my father and mother walked in. I kept my face as kind as possible. Perhaps I should have been an actress instead of a princess.

"Mother." I called walking into her embrace.

"My child. How beautiful you are today. Today is of great importance. Though I am losing my daughter I am consoled with the knowledge you are in good hands with this family." She said softly.

My mother had her ways, like telling me to stick by Ryan even after he had hurt me with his lies and cheating. However I can't fault her. How hurt she must have been when my father told her, he was getting married once more. How she must have caused an uproar so loud she can no longer stand up for what she wants. When did she lose it? After the third wife? I looked up towards my father. He gave me a smile and I froze. It wasn't feral, it didn't promise pain in the future. I had forgotten how kind he looks when he smiles. I gave him a shaky smile back.

"You have made me very proud my daughter." He said keeping his grin.

Just then the coordinator walked up to us. "Okay all the guests have arrived. Now our happy couple will walk out and greet the nation then grooms parents will join and then the brides parents. After about 15 minutes you will all retreat and head down to the ballroom and the reception shall begin."

All in agreement, the doors opened and I walked out to the balcony holding my husbands hand. It was warm, like always, but for some reason I expected it to be cold. We waved to the crowd in our "excitement". Like the college kids we were, we made funny poses and expressed our love more openly than the adults. Then his parents came out and we acted more tame. As if we didn't just have our audience doing a massive wave. We waved like we were taught and made funny faces when our parents weren't looking. We were young adults crazy in love just like any other young couple out there. We were kind of, almost relatable. My parents joined and we took a few more honorable pictures before playing tricks once more. I had fun during that time. I had forgotten my place and I enjoyed it. Ryan took my hand and looked down at me with his sweet eyes. Did I only think they were sweet because he has his mothers eyes? He gave me a soft kiss on the lips. Did he too forget who he was? I did not speak because I was afraid voices would shatter the moment. With our parents going ahead of us finally we walked through the doors as man and wife to the Royal community. 

The applause was loud and he held my hand tighter. We went around greeting each table, it was tiring and repetitive. When we reached the last table. I was a mixture of emotions. So I stuck with what was expected blissfully in-love. Zituang gave me a pleasant smile

"Congratulations Adeyemi, Ryan." He said kindly

"May you have a long lasting love and birth many children, quickly" Said Jaejeong who sat beside him. I could have choked. He looked right at me then to my hand interlocked tightly with Ryans' and my other hand on his forearm.

"Thank you Crown Prince Zituang, Crown Prince Jaejeong. I hope we will get started on that as soon as possible." We all gave a polite laugh.

I turned to the woman beside Jae, she had pretty brown eyes, similar to the light brown in my hazel colored eyes. He skin was the same dark caramel color as mine. Her eyes, nose and lips, she looked so similar to me. Ryan gripped my hand even tighter. It clicked then, this was his mistress, my copy cat. I stretched out a hand. She didn't give any kind words as a greeting, I can break the ice then.

"I'm so sorry, I don't know who you are. I feel so ashamed I thought I knew every Royal in the room." I said my tone kind. But really I wanted to slightly embarrass her. Only slightly.

"Oh, I'm not a Royal."

"Ah so then someone in your family married into it?"

"Um no."

"Then Prime ministers' daughter? Or relative of such?"

She shook her head.

I gave her a confused look "Ah, then who are you, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Alison DuPonte, I am a classmate of Prince Ryans'" She said softly.

Her voice, I remember it from that day she answered his phone.

"I see. You know if you had said royalty then introduced yourself as my sister I would have believed you. I have too many siblings to count and we look awfully similar. How fascinating." I said sweetly. Still my tone in that polite elegant tone I usually spoke in.

"Ah I suppose so. Though I believe you to be much prettier, your highness."

"Oh Alison, you are far too kind. Thank you so much for attending this event where my love and I join as husband and wife. I know it means a lot for him to have his classmates attend." I replied.

Ryan looked at me and placed a kiss on my forehead. "Thanks for coming Alison. I do appreciate it." He said politely

She smiled at him "It's my pleasure. It's not everyday that this happens." She said

I smiled at her and gave her a hug letting go of Ryans' grasp. "How lucky you are to have been invited, a commoner trying to step into a princess' shoes. I should leave you a list of all the duties that go along with such a role shouldn't I?"

With our close proximity I heard her take a hard gulp. "Should I steal you from him? I will do about anything to please my husband. Should I have him worry for the day he calls us both to bed? Surely I'll have you calling out my name for a change?" I whispered lowly into her ear. She shivered. Silly girl.

"I- um-"

"Do come visit us again Alison, I'm sure it would be a most climatic event for us both." I continued to whisper softly into her ear.

I could feel her body heat rise even through her dress "I-it would be my pleasure, your highness."

"Oh it will be." I purred softly before letting go. I held on to Ryans hand once more.

"Enjoy the festivities everyone." I said my tone back to it's usual tone. Ryan and I made our way to the stage where our table was.

"What did you say to her?" He asked

"Nothing. I was simply thanking her for coming to the event." I replied "You seemed to be at a loss for words, were you that amazed by her beauty?" I asked

"No. But I didn't believe she'd come. This marriage... it hurts her." He said softly

She turned to him in surprise "Ah, so you do have a heart, I just don't get to see it." 

"I have a heart with you." He argued.

"You smacked me in the face with that weapon you call a hand. Do you not recall? You've been cheating on me with multiple women since I was a senior in high school. You don't remember that either? It all caused me pain. I've been slowly dying on the inside for years. I thought I had mended it all until you broke my heart all over again that day." I admitted as I sipped on the champagne in my glass nonchalantly.

"I really do apologize about that." He said softly

"No you don't. If you had ever been remorseful you have never shown that to me." I said softly

"And yet I was more than willing to give you the world." I said looking out to the crowd of guests

"And now? He asked he lifted my chin to look at him.

"I would still do the same. Because I am human, and humans have faults."

"You were staring at Prince Jaejeong pretty long. He also keeps looking over here. Are you sure you'd still give me the world? Even though you've let another man into your life?"

"Yes. I won't lie, I do love him. But I cannot give him the world. He too, belongs to another. Funny how all the men I have fallen for seem to belong to other women." She mused looking away from him.

"I- I care for her deeply." He said softly "W-what I said about casting you and our child away. That was awful of me. I should have never spoken to you like that. Or put my hands on you in that manner." He apologized

"Is your girlfriend mad at you? She seemed to pay you no mind when we were over there." I looked at their table glossing over Jaes' gaze and locked eyes on my lookalike "Upset that the man who has been bedding her, married a woman who looks similar to her? I'm sure she'll get over it with her frequent visits to the palace. Soon it will be like looking in a mirror that enhances your looks." I could tell he was getting more aggravated as I spoke. I looked at him with a sly smile.

"Won't it be interesting if we got pregnant at the same time? Perhaps our children will look alike as well. Would we have to tell the media I had twins?"

"Ade-"

"Calm down I'm only joking. I'm the one that is upset that you have been cheating on me to lay around with some woman who looks like a shoddy sequel of me. Now I know you weren't causing me so much heartache because she was prettier to look at." I said softly

"Babe-"

"It must be her personality then." I hummed in thought " Yes, she did seem quite charming in a way. Even I was drawn to her."

"Adeyemi."

I looked at him "Yes dear?" I replied

"What are we going to do?" He asked

"You will continue to hurt me and I'll love you anyways. Perhaps not as much as I love Jae but I will still be hurt. Since you are my first love."

"I also want you to be happy in this marriage." He said softly

"How will you do that?"

"I've hurt you Adeyemi, but I'm not the only one that has done so. Someone broke you long before I ever did." He whispered in my ear

I looked at him in shock. "How did you-"

I was cut off by the electricity cutting off  for a moment and I grasped Ryans arm. I never liked the dark. I was also very pissed, why was there a mishap during my wedding reception? Everyone was talking and moving about in the dark. Then the lights suddenly turned on. My mother let out a scream. When I turned I was in shock, my father lay face down in his plate the back of his  white traditional Yoruba clothing quickly red. I looked back at Ryan who held a seriously look on his face before it melted into concern that barely reached his eyes and he called my fathers name. I stood meaning to walk over to my mother but couldn't, I was in shock. So I stood there off to the side staring as they tried to get my to open his eyes. They didn't open. I let out a belated shriek, my hands cradling my head. I just processed everything. I turned my back from the guests and squat down hugging my knees. Hands wrapped around me, I looked to face my husband. His hands were not covered in blood like I expected.

"Honestly I didn't make much of an effort."

"Oh my Gods." I cried as he held me pressing me deeper into his chest. He was warm and I was thankful.

"There now you look properly distraught."

"How will you not get caught?" I mumbled

"I had no idea this was going to happen. However, someone got a tip that he was running a secret harem and that's where their missing daughter went. Apparently princess your father was not very nice to the beautiful daughters of generals in your kingdom. I allowed someone exact revenge but I don't know who exactly." He said softly.

"What happens now?"

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