Page 4 of Princess Bride Swap

She even gave her reflection a little nod in the mirror. She might miss Zia, but she was doing all of this for her sister.

And that alone would get her through.

Beau knew better than to worry about panic. A panic attack would come or it wouldn’t, but worrying aboutifshe would have one would only exacerbate the problem.

Things had come too far to be derailed by the attacks that had gotten her labeledweak,an embarrassment,defectiveand so on. This was a new life.

She had faith that she could keep her panic attacks hidden from Lyon. Particularly in a castle the size of this one. Divio wasn’t known for wanting to hear from aprincess, what with all their outdated ideas about male heirs and so on. Besides, once they had said heirs, Beau wouldn’t need to spend much time with Lyon at all. She could just focus on being a mother.

A future that filled her with hope and joy. Maybe she hadn’t thought much of being one before Zia had fallen pregnant, but now she thought... She wanted the chance to be everything her mother had never been. She wanted the chance to love, as fully and unreservedly as she loved her sister.

It wouldn’t be her husband, but it could be her children.

“We will move to the chapel, Your Highness.”

Beau smiled at the staff person and allowed a whole passel of people to lead her out of the room she’d been getting ready in and through long, wide hallways. Ancient hallways. How many women had walked down these halls in a fancy white dress to marry a man they didn’t even know?

Probably quite a few. She wasn’t unique. She was taking her place in the rich, bizarre tapestry of royalty. It was kind of like joining a club. And since she’d never been able to join much of anything, this felt like a positive spin on things.

She was brought to a halt in front of giant, dark wooded doors while a staff member whisked Mother off. So Beau was left with only the stern woman who seemed to be running tonight’s event.

They waited there for ticking moments while Beau felt her heart beat faster and faster. What were they waiting for? What was she doing?

And just about the time she thought she might blurt out some ridiculous excuse to turn andrun, the woman stepped forward and pulled open the chapel door. She gestured Beau inside.

And there was nothing to do but step forward, into the chapel.

It was a huge rook. Soaring ceilings, colorful stained glass. Much more ornate than the chapel back home which had a cozy, sturdy quality to it. This felt...delicate. Elegant. She could picture generations of Divio citizens and their pride in such a feat of architecture and art.

She almost smiled. Though she preferred sturdy and cozy, there was something genuinely uplifting about the way humans in all their faults and frailties could somehow put together something that looked like this.

A nudge had her remembering herself. She wasn’t meant to stand here and gaze at the stained glass adoringly. She was meant to walk forward. She was meant to marry the prince.

There were few audience members as she walked down the long aisle, trying to remind herself to be graceful and calm instead of her usual efficient march.

The countess sat on one side in the front pew, her father on the other. A few staff members standing in the shadows, except the one currently ushering Mother to her seat next to Father.

And then in the center there was Lyon. He stood with perfect posture in a dark suit, looking like... She could not articulate it, but she suddenly understood the novels she loved to read about reformed pirates.

He was perfectly polished, looked every inch a prince in his bespoke suit and crisp edges, but something in his eyes felt...wild. Which was ridiculous and likely her imagination. Nothing Zia had ever said and no correspondence she’d had with the prince herself pointed to anything other than a very contained, careful, determined man.

She moved closer, meeting his gaze and feeling...something she could not quite define. She had not expected...whatever this was. Because it went beyond nerves—she knew exactly what nervousness and being out of place felt like. This was bigger, deeper. Less about her and the world around her and more about something...internal.

Perhaps it was simply that he lookedather. Not with the hate her father did, or the complicated push and pull of worry and disappointment her mother did. Certainly not with Zia’s fervent loyalty and overdone protective instincts.

No, he looked at her as if she were a riddle to be solved. Which wasn’t romantic in any way, and she didn’t expect romance, she just didn’t know why the effect of it all on her was one of...anticipation.

Maybe it was just new. She’d been stuck in the same old place, being the same old person for so long. Maybe this was a fresh start.

Marrying a stranger.

Condemning herself to the unknown.

Saving Zia and her babies.

If nothing else, for the rest of her life, she’d be proud of herself for that. She would stand tall inthat. Besides, what was trading one jail for another? She’d get to be a mother in this one. She’d get to have some kind of role instead of being hidden away.

So yes. No doubts. No regrets. OnlyI do.

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