Chapter 4: Imbalance
Once the decision to get married was made, Keintheart Kingdom set about preparing everything related to the day. Starting from the decorations, the food to be served and also the invitation letter.
Because this was a big wedding organized by such a big kingdom. For three weeks, preparations were made as carefully as possible so that there would be no mistakes or shortcomings in this wedding.
Likewise with the bride and groom, a week before the wedding, they practiced for the holy ceremony that they would perform for real later.
Unfortunately, their foundations were filled with grudges against each other, and the rehearsal was not done properly. Cynical looks and glances adorned the eyes of both of them.
When their hands were tied in front of their chests while holding a glass of wine, both still wished for their hands to be released.
"For the next one, you must drink wine to each other. First start from Princess Jillian to Prince Dion and then vice versa,"
"We drink from the same glass?!" they both asked.
"Yes, that is the ceremony, because you will become husband and wife and everything will be lighter if done together," replied the priest. Reluctantly, the two could only obey and do as the priest said.
Jillian held the glass up to Dion's mouth for him to drink, but of course things wouldn't go smoothly if there was any resentment in her. Jillian deliberately pushed the glass so hard that Dion choked and some of the drink stained his white shirt.
"Ahh... I'm sorry, my husband. Your future wife is a bit careless when it comes to this..." she said in a teasing tone.
Dion's bloodshot eyes glared at Jillian, bringing out all the horrifying aura within him. But Jillian who didn't care just stared flatly at Dion, now it was the man's turn to do it. As he drank the glass to Jillian, he deliberately let go of the glass, spilling all the contents onto his future wife's dress.
"You-!!!" snapped Jillian.
But just as she had said earlier, Dion replied with a mocking smile.
"Ah my wife, are you alright? Should I ask the maid to get a rag to clean your dress?"
Jillian's hands clenched into fists in annoyance, she pulled at Dion's bound hands until he fell backwards while she ducked on top of him. "You're so annoying! Can you cover that face of yours?!"
"You started it first! What's wrong with my face? It's handsome!" Dion retorted irritably.
Theodore, who was helping to supervise, could only shake his head at the behavior of his brother and future sister-in-law. "If it continues like that, when will it be over? You guys can't calm down for a day when--"
"No way!" cut in Dion and Jillian in unison then glanced at each other and turned their faces away.
Even the priest who assisted in this exercise was speechless seeing the bride and groom who were both stubborn like that.
"How is it Prince Theodore? The wedding is the day after tomorrow..." asked the wedding priest.
". . . I don't know, whatever. I'll just go back to organizing my troops," Theodore replied resignedly and left the altar.
*****
In the afternoon, they ended the chaotic practice. Both of them went back to their respective rooms and cleaned up.
Jillian threw herself on the bed because she was too tired of being played by Dion all day.
Frustrated, Jillian got up from her bed and went outside. She walked around the vast palace, until she saw a path leading to a tree with bushes.
Jillian followed the path and saw a lake in front of her. But on the side of the lake, there was a man in fancy clothes sitting brooding.
"Crown Prince Dion, huh? I didn't know a man like him still had time to relax at a time like this."
The silver purplish haired woman decided to walk closer to the man who would become her husband. Faintly, she heard Dion mutter, "Going into the lake must feel refreshing..."
"Then just go in..." replied Jillian as Dion reflexively looked back and found the Crown Princess there.
"Then what, are you going to drown me?" he continued to ask Jillian and the look on her face told him that the question was also an answer.
"Of course, that way I won't have to marry an annoying man like you."
"I knew it. You'll be in charge after my death."
"Exactly. I no longer need to bother serving you. I only need to tell Crown Prince Dion that he chose suicide because he refused this marriage."
Dion blinked his eyes then a sly smile was painted on his handsome face. He got up and looked at Jillian, "Yes. It may sound very easy. But..." His hand swiftly caught Jillian's and pulled her into the lake. "Unfortunately the lake is not as deep as you think..."
Jillian saw that the water didn't even reach her knees. She let out a long sigh. "That's a pity. I thought it would be so deep..." she complained disappointedly as she lifted her wet dress.
"If you swim to the center, it will be deep enough there," Dion replied. Hearing that, Jillian immediately pushed Dion to the center of the lake.
Of course Dion was very surprised and immediately swam up, 'I shouldn't have said that earlier...' he regretted in his mind.
"Hurry up and die."
Dion swam back to the higher side and splashed water on Jillian's face. "Ahh--!"
The man laughed at the sight of Jillian getting wet. Annoyed, Jillian twisted herself and her dress, making an even bigger splash on Dion.
"Uwaa--!" Dion tried to hold on and splashed Jillian again. An annoyed Jillian scooped up the mud with her hands and threw it at Dion's face. Instantly making the man's face full of mud.
Without thinking, Dion washed his face with water. Jillian tried to use the opportunity to leave, but Dion kicked mud into Jillian's face instead. "Where are you going, Crown Princess?"
"Kkhh--" The woman threw mud again, but Dion managed to dodge it and pushed Jillian into the lake again. At that moment the two looked like children busy playing. Until the maids saw them as a couple in love. But the reality was far from that.
Seeing Dion laughing, Jillian laughed softly and then pulled Dion back into the middle of the lake and left him there. But after a while, Dion didn't surface.
'He... Can swim, right?" she thought.
But still, Dion didn't surface. This made Jillian dive into the middle of the lake and look for him. However, unbeknownst to her, Dion was waiting for Jillian to go inside and pull her to the bottom of the lake. Jillian broke free from Dion's pull and swam to the top.
Unfortunately, because of the dress she was wearing, it was quite heavy for Jillian to swim. So Dion reached the top first.
"You little-!!..." she grumbled in annoyance. 'He's playing me again.'
Dion pulled Jillian's arm to get back on top, but Jillian sank Dion's head down instead.
Blurrpp
"Just die already! I hate you so much!"
Afterward, Jillian climbed to the edge and adjusted her top dress. Since she was wearing a off shoulder dress, the chest was slightly exposed. Because of the water absorbing into her dress, the top kept falling down.
"What's wrong?" asked Dion, who also climbed to the edge of the lake.
"N-nothing..." Jillian turned her back to Dion.
"Any injuries?" Dion walked around to face Jillian. Jillian's dress had fallen down and exposed part of her chest clearly.
For a moment they were both silent, until Jillian's face turned red at the realization. "You pervert!" Jillian plucked the grass around her and threw it at Dion.
"Wait! I didn't mean--" Both of Dion's hands were right in front of his face, trying to block the grass from hitting his face.
The woman got up irritably and covered her top.
"Hmph!" She walked away, leaving Dion sitting on the side of the lake in confusion.
"What's wrong with her?"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone