The Royal Wedding by Shree Lakshmi (best books for 7th graders TXT) 📕

join them. At first she objected but the queen ordered her to go along with them. Reluctantly she joined them.
Edward and Stefan were in their evening dress looking handsome and Elena looks beautiful in her long off-shoulder pink dress. Sam also wore her favorite white knee length dress with a black strap around her waist. Everyone in the room was gazing at them.
“So Sam, I was asked what will you do after this marriage is over?” Edward asked her.
“Hmm...” She sipped her wine,” I think… I mean I have to do justice to my course, right?” She laughed nervously.
“Yeah, I mean, you should do what you want to do, right Stefan?” Elena looked at him.
“Yeah,” he said slightly irritated.
“Okay, enough of the heavy, for the past one hour we have been discussing about the palace, the job and also your past,” Elena looked at Sam. She gave her a weak smile.
“So? What do you want to do? After all it was your plan,” Edward smiled at her. Elena smiled shyly.
Everyone can notice the way she looks at Edward and the sparks in her eyes, but why would she do that? Only if she likes him or love him?
Sam couldn’t understand since she began to observe them. Elena shared a lot of time with Stefan but her face glow up whenever she sees Edward, even if it’s for a few minutes. Does Stefan know anything about it?
She sighed and continued listening to their chatting. The dinner was served in a royal manner and the hotel took ever measures serve them personally. Stefan excused himself for a phone call. After a few minutes, Elena’s phone began to ring.
“Hello,” she said and listened.
“Oh no… really…. Okay okay I am coming,” she looked worried and hurriedly got up. Edward also got up. Sam looked at them
“Wait! What happen?” He asked her.
“My mom, its emergency. I have to go,” she began to leave. Edward stopped her.
“I will drop you,” he looked at Sam; she just nodded her head to continue only to forget one thing that she will be alone with Stefan. They left her behind and exited the hotel. Just then Stefan came to his table.
“Where are they?” He looked at her pointing to their empty chairs while sitting before her.
“They left. Actually Elena’s mom called her so she has to go,” she said casually avoiding his eyes.
“Oh! Okay,” he sighed and called for the bill.
***
“Stop” Elena suddenly shouted at Edward.
He abruptly applied the brake and looked at her confused. Elena took her regular breathing and stepped out of the car. She began to feel nervous. She had planned everything correctly.
Nothing has gone wrong now and she has the right moment now to say to him. The cool air began to flow making her shiver. This was the moment. The night was filled with stars and a crescent moon, no one in the street. She heard him getting out of the car and stood before her.
“Elena? What happened? Why….” He couldn’t continue further.
She moved closer to him until they were just inches apart, clutching his suit with both her hands and lifted on her toes to meet his face. He didn’t move but slowly he brought his face forward until their lips met.
At first he kissed her lips but the heat from her body which was now leaning on him, made him to deepen his kiss. He felt her hands around his neck and his hands around her waist making her closer to him. He never felt like kissing anyone like this. It was passionate and romantic. They moved in sync, making him crazy to want more from her.
She fitted so perfectly into his arms. No one ever was so perfect before, for him. Then reality strikes him, his mind flashed Stefan’s face. He suddenly lifted his face and saw the innocent face filled with disappointment. He removed her hands around his neck and moved away from her, avoiding her eyes, looking confused.
“Ed?” She called him sweetly.
Anger rose in him. She can’t call him like that. Why? Why did she kiss him?
“Why? Why did you do that?” He ran his hands nervously on his hair.
“Because…. Because I love you, damn it,” she said angrily while shaking. He looked at her tear filled eyes. She said those words while he can’t say that.
“No…. No… Elena? You know what you are talking about? This can’t happen,” he said slowly grasping her shoulder. He wants her to understand the situation.
“Why can’t? Why can’t this happen? I am in love with you and I can’t marry him,” she was shaking and crying.
“Your marriage is in a few days, you are already engaged,” he hissed at her.
She again clutched his suit with her hands tightly and looked seriously, “then answer me one thing. Why did you kiss me back?” She demanded.
Edward stood there silently looking in her eyes. He can’t answer her and can’t express his feelings. He is in a dilemma. He can’t betray his friend and his family, who looked after him. No, he can’t do that.
“Well, that was a mistake,” he said angrily.
“What? A mistake?” Elena gasped and moved away from his shock.
“Yes, a mistake and I shouldn’t have done that. If you get into the car, I will drop you at your house,” he seriously said and left her. He waited for her in the car. He knew he was doing the right thing. After a few minutes, Elena stepped into the car and he accelerated it. They didn’t talk and remained silent.
Elena looked straight to the road without glancing at him. When they reached her house, she stepped out the car and walked away without looking back at him. When she was out of sight, he sighed and leaned back to his seat. He closed his eyes and remembers the moment they had. That was the most amazing thing that ever happened to him but the most idiotic thing that he will regret it for hurting her.
*****
Venice has been the only place, Sam dreamt of ever going there. Its cool climate and beautiful places create a center of attention to her. The houses along the banks of the water and the journey along the river is what she has been waiting for years. She remembered asking her dad about the visit to Venice but he refused it. Never had she realized that she will be going there, to her actual home town.
Home town… sounds so awkward.
But she had no other choice but to visit this place, not until this morning. She was getting ready and packing her bag when somebody knocked her door and she opened it. Last night after the dinner, she didn’t talk to Stefan. She decided that she would leave early in the morning. Rose can manage herself.
Damn her, she shouldn’t have opened. The queen herself entered the room and gasped when she saw her packing.
“My dear, I never thought that you are upset here,” she took Sam’s face in her hands and looked sadly.
“Your majesty, it’s nothing...” But she interrupted her.
“Aha… Sam?” She gave her a smile.
Yeah, she forgets that she has to call her aunt. How can she call the queen her aunt?
“I am sorry, aunt” she shrugged lightly.
“Yeah, that’s fine. I have a favor to ask,” suddenly she looked seriously at her.
“Sure, just say it,”
“Visit your grandfather once,” she brushed Sam’s cheek lightly.
“My what?”
“He lives in this place, outside the Venice in a big palace. I want you to meet him and inform him,” she held Sam’s shoulder.
“Inform him what?”
“About your father,” she said it slowly.
What kind of father is he, who doesn’t care about his son’s death? Sam doesn’t want to go. She hated it that minute. She managed to refuse but the queen already made arrangement and she left with no choice. But she doesn’t know what she planned for her.
“Don’t worry; he is a nice old guy. You will like him,” Stefan turned to her while steering the wheel. She nodded at him and turned to see outside. They passed the forest and wide plains. He never got tired even though he was driving for four hours. She glanced at him, his soft cheeks and the firm jaw, his eyes focused on the road and his body firm along his seat. His hands on the steering wheel which touched her body many times.
She shook her head to ignore those memories. When the Queen told that Stefan is going to accompany her, she couldn’t say no to her. The Queen assured her that if Stefan talks to him, he will listen to her.
“So, how do you know him?” She asked while glancing at him.
He didn’t answer her immediately. When he did, he replied coolly.
“My mom always used to bring me to him; I am kinda close to him. He is a very nice guy. He lives alone now, all his daughters were now with their husbands and his only son was your father,” he stopped at that and looked at her.
“Oh!” She avoided his eyes and turned her head to look outside.
She slides the windows down and sneaks a look out. The way is wonderful. It’s narrow and the air is filled with wild flowers. They passed the hills and turns. As if reading her mind he began to explain her about the place. She asked him lots of questions and he patiently answered her. The atmosphere was cool and she felt the olden days were back when she used to ask him lots of questions and he answered them without fail.
She leaned back and closed her eyes. She could feel the turns the car had taken but slowly drifted into sleep.
“Sam, we reached,” somebody was shaking her shoulder but she rejected and held the hand tightly. She could feel being carried away in someone’s arms and finally she felt the soft bed. She wanted to open her eyes but she hardly opens her eyes. Then she felt someone kissing her forehead and drawing her covers.
***
“How could you think that I will accept her,” Sam’s grandfather asked him while drinking coffee. Stefan stood at the nearby window, looking outside while the sun was setting down.
“I don’t think you would have any problem with her,” Stefan made clear in his voice.
“Stefan, your wedding is coming. Why did you bring her here? Why can’t his father bring her?”
“Why don’t ask her when she wakes up,” he turned to him drinking his glass of wine.
“Very well, then have a nice sleep, we have a lot of things to do tomorrow,” saying this he left the room.
Stefan finished his glass and set it on the table. He couldn’t say anything about Sam’s father because it is her part to say. He knew that a long journey will make Sam tired so without hesitating he made her sleep on the bed. She is so innocent in her sleep, like a child. He kissed her and left the room. At first when he mentioned about Sam, her grandfather didn’t speak but he saw the anger in his eyes. He turned to his room but he came across a pile of photo frames on the wall. Few of them were of his mother and himself. But one photo in the middle of the wall has attracted his eyes. In that photo, a young man wearing his polo shirt and white trousers was smiling and holding the trophy in his hands. His face looked familiar, finally he sighed in relief when he came to know the reason. That man is Sam’s father.
***
Sam woke up early in