Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Jasmine’s P.O.V.

No words. I have no words to describe how I am feeling right now. This is the dream which I’ve been chasing all my life. Dolling up for my Prince Charming to look like a queen on my grand day. Unknowingly a small smile crept on my lips as soon as the reason for my happiness flashed in my mind.

The coachman soon pulled over the carriage. My heartbeat accelerated as the time finally arrived.

When I am going to be Theo’s.

It’s really happening.

“Come, Princess,” Ara chirped and opened the door for me. I nodded and placed my hand on her palm before alighting the carriage. Ela immediately grabbed the hem of my long veil while Ara guided me to the church. I glanced their way only to find them smiling ear to ear.

‘Idiots’

I internally scoffed watching their sparkling eyes, probably patting their backs for accomplishing their task.

‘Only if they know.’ I resisted the urge to chuckle.

As decided, I used my spells on these two jerks and got them under my control. And voila! Till now things are going according to my plan. No one has suspected me. ‘Body swap’ will work until I become Theo’s. After that, everyone will come to know that I am Jasmine, not Diana. To be honest, I am really scared of facing the aftermath but the fire of hope that Theo will never be able to reject me is goading me to take the risk.

But it is the truth, not my plain imagination. Once I become the Queen of the Theo dynasty, no one will be able to harm a hair of me, not even Theo himself.

“This way My Queen.”

I looked up only to see George smiling at me. I nodded and grabbed his left arm gently as we both walked down the aisle. Lifting my eyes, I slowly scanned my surroundings. Ariel was standing along with Theo who was looking extremely handsome just like his great grandfather, Elijah, our Moon Prince. Ariel was looking gorgeous in her maroon gown and was admiring me from afar with teary eyes. Huge white flags which were made of pure silk were dangling from the ceiling. The royal symbol of the Theo Dynasty was embroidered on them with golden thread. The church was decorated with flowers and everything seemed so surreal. This was the life that I used to live in my dreams once. Now, it will become a part of me.

‘I couldn’t be luckier than this.’

As Diana’s parents weren’t invited so George took the responsibility to walk along with her to the aisle. He may be a jerk but I can’t deny the fact that he is a good friend. If Diana would have happily accepted Ariel’s request, they all would have been celebrating this moment right now.

All of a sudden, I felt my chest tightening when Rose’s face flashed in front of my eyes. Today is my big day and my sister, my only family isn’t present. My heart turned heavy with guilt for betraying Rosie who is like a mother to me. She made so many sacrifices for me but see what I am doing today? Deceiving her to fulfill my stubbornness. But I am helpless too.

My eyes pooled with tears but I forcefully pushed them back.

‘I am sorry Rosie but I will die if I didn’t get Theo. I hope you can forgive me, one day.’

Meanwhile

Diana’s P.O.V.

“WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, ZAC?? ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO YOURSELF??”

I shouted at the top of my lungs while staring at the charcoal-haired guy who was looking at me emotionlessly.

Calix brought me and Rose to the Rose Garden. Rose went to her house ’cause she needed to pack things for herself and Jasmine as they both will be leaving Moonland along with me. I wasn’t supervised when Calix followed her. He was head over heels for her but Rose still hadn’t forgiven him. Though Jasmine had made a good plan to save me and Rose, I can’t help but worry. Theodore is still in Moonland and when he will come to know the truth, I don’t even want to imagine what’ll happen.

While I was pondering about the current situation, I saw Zachary coming toward me with a smile but

Alone?

I was shocked to see him alone but the moment he told me the reason, I lost it.

“Jasmine wants to marry Theo and she refused to come with me.”

That’s what he told me. But the shocking part was that after giving me a succinct reply, he was telling me to leave.

I marched towards Zachary whose eyes were hollow and face devoid of any emotion, “Rose is out with Calix. What will I tell her? A-And how can you leave her just like that?”, I bellowed on his face. He was chill as ice and that was pissing me off.

But to my surprise, Zac let out a loud sigh and cupped my face in his palms.

“Baby, she loves Theodore. She even begged me to help her. Do you think I didn’t try stopping her? I did but when Jasmine threatened me that she will fight me that’s when I put my weapons down because I would have ended up killing her. Now tell me what should I have done? Moreover, I also think that Theodore will be happy getting a life partner who loves her more than herself, the same way I love you,” he said with a soft smile and leaned towards my lips.

I immediately jerked back, “What is wrong with you Zac? Life partner? Jasmine isn’t a princess, Zac. You don’t know Lord Ernest and Theodore. Theodore may be reticent and impassive but he is a walking danger. He hates commoners and the moment, he’ll come to know that Jasmine tricked him, he will crush her between his fingers. That’s why Rose and I were always against Jasmine’s obsession with Theodore. I shouldn’t have left her with you. Jasmine is a child but you are mature, how could you-“

But before I could lash out at him further, he pushed me back and growled.

“DAMN IT!! DIDN’T I SAY THAT I WAS TRYING TO CONVINCE HER? NOW, IF SHE WANTS TO RUIN HER LIFE THEN WHAT MORE CAN I DO?? I CAME HERE TO TAKE YOU WITH ME BUT YOU’RE UNNECESSARILY TYING YOUR FRIENDS BEHIND MY BACK!! I AM NOT INCUMBENT TO HELP THEM!!”

I flinched by his bitter tone. But Zac turned around and combed his disheveled hair with his fingers in frustration.

I lowered my head as guilt struck me hard. He won’t lie to me; I am well aware of Jasmine’s obsession with Theodore. She had been crushing him since childhood. But I didn’t know that her sweet fantasy would one day take such a lethal turn. But Zachary really has nothing to do with all this neither he is at fault.

I bit my lower lip and slowly approached him. He wasn’t looking at me and that was enough to break my heart. Grabbing his arm, I placed my hand on his chest before speaking ruefully, “Forgive me, Zac. I got scared for Jasmine and vented out my anger on you. I know you must have tried to explain to her but backed out for her happiness. But Zac, I can’t let Jasmine commit suicide. I have to save her. Theodore will kill her.”

“Didn’t you tell me about the magical powers of the sacred bond? It will save Jasmine.”

He harshly cut me off. My eyes widened at his reply. I craned my neck and looked at Zachary who was already staring at me coldly. I opened my mouth to say something but was cut off by a deep voice.

“King is right. Queen, you should now focus on your life instead of putting spokes in other’s love life.”

I immediately turned around and glared at Calix who was also glowering at me.

“Cal, stay within your limits,” Zachary chided him but he scoffed and rolled his eyes.

“What? I am not saying anything wrong. She keeps pestering the love birds. You got your dream man then why can’t you let others woo their beloveds? If you don’t want Theodore and Jasmine loves him then let her have him. Or you want both kings to yourself?”

“CALIX!!”

Zachary roared ferociously and immediately punched his face. I palmed my mouth while tears escaped my eyes as no one has ever talked to me this way. I was deeply hurt and offended by his cruel and harsh words. But the thing which hurt me most was that he, my Moon Prince, whom I always looked with respect is insulting me.

I looked at him through blurry eyes and found him coughing blood. Zachary was blazing with fury and was choking Calix. I panicked and ran towards them to stop this ugly fight when Calix gave a hard push on his chest making him fly backward.

“NO, ZAC!!”

I ran towards Zachary with tottering steps and placed his head on my lap. Blood was trickling down from the corner of his lips. I immediately wiped it with my fingers but Zac slapped my hand away and started getting up.

“N-No, d-don’t-“

“SHUT UP!! HOW DARE HE!!”, He cut me off with a growl. Still, I kept pulling him back by his shirt.

Calix glared at both of us and grated out, “HOW DARE I? I’ll tell you the answer today, Zac. I was the one who always fought for you two, who always helped you get Diana but now instead of repaying me, she is unnecessarily poking her nose in my matters. Your girlfriend is the biggest threat and hindrance in my path, the path which will take me to Rose. I love Rose but she hates me. That’s why I am trying so hard to win her but this woman keeps foiling my plans. Instead of making her understand, she is projecting a negative image of mine in front of her.”

I looked at him in disbelief, “What are you saying? I did no such thing.”

“That’s the problem, you are doing nothing but exacerbating the situation. You should have informed me that George is after Rose and is threatening her to marry him. I would have helped her but no, you want all the credits to yourself. You acted hero but you couldn’t do shit. Instead of being her savior, you started begging her for help. Do you even know what Rose was trying to do today? She was about to marry that fucking piece of shit only to save your ass. I would have lost her forever.” He spoke with clenched teeth while shooting me a baleful glare.

My blood boiled at his words. I stood up on my feet and walked towards him, “Rose doesn’t even know you, Moon Prince. Zac forcefully took me to Hell that day and all the chaos happened during that time. And by the time I reached Moonland, I come to know about George. I was shocked when I found him marrying Rose forcefully and still, I am to blame? I did everything to save her but Ari-“

“I DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOUR FAMILY! THAT’S YOUR SHIT!! WHY ROSE IS BEING USED AS A PAWN IN ALL THIS??”, Calix raged startling me.

“AND WE ALSO DON’T CARE WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH JASMINE NOW!! IF YOU ARE SO EAGER TO MARRY ROSE THEN HER SISTER IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY NOT OURS!!”

Zachary out of the blue yelled from the back taking me off-guard. He then pulled me towards himself such that my back met his chest. I didn’t even realize when he came near me. Coiling his right arm around my waist, he kept shouting at Calix who didn’t back down either.

“My Princess is unnecessarily worrying about those two peasants. She is interfering in your life, Cal? Wasn’t that Rose poking her nose and trying to separate her from me a few days back? You should be grateful Cal that despite all this, Princess still cares for her and is even fighting with me for her lovesick sister.” He seethed in anger making Calix go mum.

Zachary then turned his gaze to me and sighed watching my tear-stricken face. He cupped my left cheek in his palm and gently brushed away my tears. He then looked at Calix with piercing eyes whose gaze was fixed on the ground.

“I know you are worried for Rose but that doesn’t mean you can put false allegations on my Princess. Just because you are my friend, I am letting it slide this time otherwise you know I won’t tolerate a single word against my princess. If you don’t like Diana’s interference, I am taking my Princess with me. Now you’ll be responsible for whatever happens with Jasmine and explain whatever the fuck you want to your dream wifey.”

I was stunned by his words.

“N-No-“

“I will gladly take this responsibility.”

My head snapped in the direction of that deep voice only to find Calix glaring at me with fiery eyes. Zachary then rustled his large wings before wrapping them around me.

“Hold me, love.” He said while grabbing my arms and hooking them around his neck. I immediately shook my head in denial.

“No, don’t be mad. Please don’t take such a haste decision. Jasmine-“

But before I could make him understand, he hauled me towards himself with a jerk. Giving me a death glare, he pinned me down on the spot, “Stop provoking me, Diana. I have tolerated enough of your tantrums and see what it led me to. Now, you’re gonna listen to what I say with no ifs or buts. Don’t forget I am a demon, not an angel. Stop raising the bars of your expectations ’cause I am afraid you will have to be disappointed.”

He spoke with gritted teeth and closed his eyes. We were soon in the air and I know he won’t stop this time.

But his last words kept ringing inside my head.

“Stop raising the bars of your expectations ’cause I am afraid you will have to be disappointed.”

‘What does he mean by that?’

*****