Chapter Four.

It was almost midnight, yet the ballroom was still crowded with well-wishers from the Kingdom of Trinigad and the other four neighboring kingdoms. Some were dancing to the solemn music in the background, some were engaged in conversations, some were feasting on the sumptuous feast prepared by the finest chef in all the land, and a few found pleasure in being onlookers. My father sat amidst the crowd, next to the Alpha kings from other kingdoms. He was full of smiles as he spoke, but his voice was drowned by the music coming from the performers. One of my hands rested on my cheek as I sat close to Alexander. I was now legally tied to him, we had both exchanged rings of eternity at the altar, and it still felt like a nightmare. I couldn't believe I would be spending the rest of my life with someone that didn't love me, with someone that resented my father. We both hadn't said a word to one another as we sat, quietly, receiving gifts from well-wishers. 

I took my hand from my cheek as the next well-wishers came up the stairs. Alexander stood up immediately, wearing what seemed like a genuine smile on his face as he pulled a lady in for a hug. The lady was beautiful, and just like me she had a crescent moon birthmark on her forehead. I knew her. She was an Omega from the kingdom of Eortí, her name was Chiara-serafina, one of the four Omegas whose beauty rivaled mine. Next to her stood Jacob, her elder brother, and the Alpha king of the Kingdom of Eortí. I had seen them before at numerous balls, but never had I spoken to them.

It was also quite surprising that a monster like Alexander was close to Chiara and Jacob.

I stood up in courtesy, feeling a bit left out as Alexander conversed with them. It was obvious they were all close with one another, and I wondered what their relationship was. Particularly, I wondered what the relationship between Alexander and Chiara was. The way he smiled at her gave rise to a certain feeling in my chest. Was it jealousy? Was I jealous that the monster looked at Chiara in a way he has never looked at me? Could this day get any worse?

I cleared my throat, bringing their attention to me. I forced a smile. "It's a pleasure to have you both at my wedding," I said, staring intensely at Chiara-serafina and her brother. "I am Princess Annalisa."

"Pardon our rudeness, princess," Jacob said, stretching out his hand towards me. I acknowledged his hand, and he placed a light kiss on the back of mine. "It's a pleasure meeting you. I am Jacob Finley, Eortí Alpha king, and here is my younger sister, Chiara-serafina Finley."

Chiara smiled, staring at me with dark eyes that reminded me of obsidian. She tugged strands of her brown hair to the back of her ear, "Congratulations, Annalisa. My brother and I wish you a happy home and a hundred years together."

"Thank you." I didn't need her wishes, but I couldn't tell her that. Besides, a happy home with Alexander? If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. I couldn't even see myself spending the night at Alexander's place, more less a hundred years.

I remained on my feet as they continued their conversation with Alexander. They all seemed like they had a lot to catch up with, and I stood by the sidelines, exasperated as I watched them talk. The worst thing was that I couldn't understand their conversation. They spoke in a foreign language, one different from the language spoken in Trinigad. 

After a while, they stopped talking. Alexander moved away from them, passing me a smile as he dragged me by my left hand, till we were far away from our well-wishers from Eortí. He let go of my hand eventually, looked around and when he saw no one was present, he leaned in towards me until I felt his lips against my ear. My body tingled at the contact. "At least try wearing a smile, Annalisa."

"And haven't I been wearing one?"

He moved back from me and passed me a look. He pointed at my face. "If this is what you call a smile, then you fail woefully. It's obvious you're faking it."

"Maybe it's because I never intended to marry you, Alexander. I don't know what you did to me on that day in the garden nor do I know what you said to convince my father, but know this, I would be the one to expose your true colors to everyone." I said.

He ran his hand through his hair before adjusting the collar of his black velvet tailcoat. As usual, Alexander looked magnificent, dressed in a steampunk shirt, a tailcoat and ankle length trousers made of the finest silk material. When I first set eyes on him in the early morning, I was blown-away by his beauty, but when he said his first words I was reminded of how much of an asshole he was.

I wished his character was as beautiful as his face was. 

"At least try forcing a smile. Everyone here is going to notice something's wrong if you don't smile."

I sighed. "You know what, Alexander? Something's wrong and you know it," I said, "I never consented to this wedding. I have no memories of what happened during these past four days after I visited the garden with you. I have no clue as to why you hold so much animosity towards me. For all I know, I've never erred towards you."

I took a breather. 

And then, "Do you think I'd also forget that you threatened to kill my father? Not only that, you also bit me on my neck. So tell me, why should I be happy?" I stopped talking, staring at Alexander's face for any sort of emotion. But he gave none away. His face was as stoic as it could get.

"I didn't tell you to be happy," Alexander scoffed, passing me a dirty look. He brought his fingers to my face, caressing my chin, quite subtly. I was tense. "I told you to pretend to be happy. Can't you do that, Annalisa? Who knows, this might be your last laugh, so laugh away, my dear."

Aggravated by his words, I brushed his finger off my face. "Don't you ever touch me, Alexander," I was furious. "Next time you touch me I promise to bite your fingers off. You just wait and see, I will have you begging for mercy at my feet and when that time comes, I will have the last laugh."

My words didn't even seem to brush the surface of Alexander. He looked at me, with a smirk, unperturbed by my threats. Then he smiled, rested his hands on my shoulders, "I heard a lady is happier on her wedding day, so put on your acting face and try fooling everyone. At least, until we get to my abode. Also I'll be leaving you with Chiara, her brother and I have matters on hand to discuss."

"Aren't you scared that I'll expose your true colors to her?"

He took his hand off my shoulders and cackled. "I don't care." 

I stomped my feet as I watched him walk away. 

Ugh. I hated him. It was like every minute I spent with him the hate I had for him only intensified. Alexander was too full of himself. He acted like the world revolved around him. Admitted, I once thought he could be the man of my dreams, my prince charming, and the next Alpha king. But I was wrong all along, I never should have judged before knowing him. 

Chiara was standing all alone as I made my way back. She now had a glass of wine in her hand, a smile on her face as I approached. "Suppose you and Alexander can't keep your hands off yourself," she said, twirling the wine in the cup. "You guys have gotten me a bit jealous."

Smile Annalisa. Smile. I mustered up a smile after minutes of my inner battle. "There's nothing to be jealous about, Chiara. You shouldn't be."

She took her seat on the same spot Alexander was once seated, and I also sat down back on the exact spot I was seated.

The music continued in the background while I sat awkwardly with Chiara. I knew not what to say to her. I was an extrovert and I wasn't the type to keep quiet for so long. And since Chiara was next to me, I decided to do some digging about my ‘husband,’ Alexander. 

"How long have you known Alexander?" I asked. 

Chiara took a sip of her wine. "Since we were kids. He actually saved me from falling off my horse. It was a perfect fairytale moment."

"Where exactly did you guys meet?"

"On a field," she replied, almost too quickly. "You know they are a family of inventors. So when his late father came visiting Eortí on an official visit to the Alpha king palace, Xander came along. And naturally, he became friends with my brother. I only got to meet him on the field after he saved my life. He is the most beautiful boy I'd ever set my eyes on, my brother still argues that he is more beautiful than I am."

I didn't really know much about Alexander's family. But I was aware that he came from a family of inventors. His family was very popular and influential across all five Kingdoms, everyone knew the surname. Kuiper. His family were the first people to invent a light bulb, replacing the fire torches and candlelights that were once used. His family were also the first to invent a rotating three-hand-fan, replacing the bamboo leaves. There were other inventions under their credits. 

"Is there anything else you want to know about your husband?" Chiara asked, snapping me out of my woolgathering.

I stared at her for a bit before nodding. "I want to know if you've ever noticed anything weird about Alexander."

"Weird, like what?"

"A Change in behavior. Or his eye color. I mean. . .um, I don't know," I wasn't really sure how to phrase my question. "Has he exhibited traits of being a sociopath?"

Chiara giggled, a smile plastered on her face as she took another sip of wine. "Why would you even ask that? Has he ever acted like one before you?"

"Yeah."

"Really?"

Without hesitation, I repeated, "Yeah."

Her smile dropped. "Annalisa, is everything alright with you and Alexander?" Her voice was full of concern. 

For some reason, I felt the need to tell Chiara everything. I didn't know why I did, but I wanted to. I wanted her to know that Alexander wasn't the person she thought he was. I wanted her to see him for the monster he really was, and maybe. . .just maybe, she would believe me. Damn it! She might not even believe me, but I just needed to say what was happening, and how I'd been doomed into a marriage I couldn't remember consenting to. 

"I need to tell you something, Chiara. Can I trust you?"

She nodded, dropping her glass on a nearby stool. "I don't tattletale."

I moved closer to her, looking around the crowded ballroom. When I saw no one was paying any attention to us, I whisper-told her everything. Everything that had gone down in the garden between Alexander and I. I didn't know what sort of reaction I was expecting from her, but it definitely wasn't a laugh. "I don't think I said anything funny, did I?" I was beginning to regret ever telling her anything.

"No. I'm sorry about that, but you're mistaken about Alexander," those words of hers piqued my interest. "He might not have meant everything he said to you. Look, Alexander isn't a sociopath or weirdo like you might think. He's just sick. I don't know why he hasn't told you yet, but he has a mental illness."

"He does?" That was news to me. 

Chiara nodded in affirmation. "According to what my brother told me he has DID — dissociative identity disorder, also known as multiple personality disorder. It's a rare type of mental illness. Although I've never seen him exhibit the traits, my brother has."

"Then how would you explain his change in eye color? Why did he bite me? Why did he threaten mine and my father's life? And how am I at my wedding that I can't even remember consenting to?" I asked.

She shrugged. ". . .like your father said, you were probably hallucinating."

I bit on my finger as I thought of what Chiara had said to me. Alexander had DID? It was an illness I knew nothing about. Even though he had an illness, I knew that wasn't enough to explain his sudden change in eye color, or why he bit me, or even why I couldn't remember everything that happened during the four days before the wedding. I definitely wasn't hallucinating, those things happened, even Alexander wouldn't deny it. 

My eyes remained glued on Chiara as she picked up her wine from the stool, she twirled it around for a bit and with a blood-curdling grin on her face she downed the content all at once. She definitely knew something about Alexander. Something she intentionally didn't share with me, and I was going to find out what it was.