While the news had spread that the Prince had found his bride, the rumors of I being a witch came from the countryside towns. The Prince didn’t seem to let that stop us, still pushing forward in planning.

“The Prince is requesting you Lina.”

I was wrapped up in a weighted blanket, just sitting on a windowsill looking over the large garden. It was deary, a mist hung over it and the paths had a damp shine to them. I loved this weather, when I was inside for the most part.

Little streaks of rain zoomed down to the flowers below and splashed off them. Water crawled down the window and pooled together making bigger droplets.

I stood up and let the blanket slip off me revealing my simple silk gown. It cascaded down around me and hid my figure. It was meant for sleeping but I wore it simply for staying inside. I also had kept my hair down, allowing it to rest on my shoulders. Malum seemed happier with this relaxed style, humming continually against my collar bone. I grabbed my link purple shawl that I had brought with me and followed the maid to the Prince’s office. Then she left and I entered.

“I want this definitely, this has to go in on the main table.”

He was pointing to some silverware, cream plates with a ram design in the middle. A elderly man is presenting them to him. I close the door behind me and the Prince's gaze whips over to me.

“That took a bit, the maid didn’t stall you right?”

“No I had to grab my shawl.”

“Oh, good. Anyway help me organize this, it is your wedding as well.”

His face brightens up into a grin. I went and sat down next to him, sitting for hours choosing curtains to food.

-

“Alright, most important part i’ll leave to you and- she should be here close to now-”

After hours of planning, a woman with a brown bob came in. She was wearing black formal pants with a green blouse. She kept her hands behind her back and bowed to us as the man left.

“Lina, this is Janie. She works for a dress maker that's in town. You’ll be going with her to get the dress design done.”

She nodded and gave me a polite smile. I stood up, quickly bowed to her as well.

“Ah- nice to meet you too!”

“Uhh- Ms-”

“Lina, you are considered royalty now, no need to do that…”

“Oh…”

“Anyway your highness, shall we go?”

She bowed and headed for the door and I quickly followed behind. Janie walked firmly with her head held strong. Her strength and confidence echoing in the hall with each step. Unlike my very light steps, pittering down the hall alongside her. We step out the main doors and pass through the fragrant garden, the feather light petals flowing through the river of wind.

As we step out the gate the bustling street slowly comes to a stop as we weave our way through the heavy mist left behind from the gossip and rumors. We then step into a bright studio type of room, racks of dresses hanging from them glittering with gemstones and glitter. The wedding gowns flowed down the floors and were taking up a lot of the space in the shop.

“Mr.Leka I have the princess!”

A series of swears followed a thump and crash, Janie gave me a look that told me to not ask.

“-sorry coming right now!”

A man wearing an older style of tux came stumbling out of a closet stuffed with a white overflowing fabric. He stumbles out but quickly stabilizes himself and adjusts his monocle and smoothing out his vest.

“Alright! Let me see her-”

His eyes immediately land to my shoulders, noticing the bulkiness of them.

“I can’t say I am not surprised...at the same time I can't say I am…”

I bring my arms around myself hoping to hide Malum and my body as well.

“But-”

I look up to him.

“-I will still be thrilled to provide your dress madam!”

He almost immediately dropped his professionalism and turned into a dog, taking measurements before I could even utter a word. I swear I saw a few sparks come from his monocle as he muttered to himself on what would fit me and what would flatter my figure. He scurried off across the shop picking up assorted types of dresses and zoomed right back over to me.

“Alright! I have multiple types of dresses that should fit you. But now it's time to work the bride magic!”

He excitedly pulls me off to the dressing rooms and Janie follows in with us.

-

The dress was adjusted at the back so it fit properly temporarily. I looked into the mirror to see a bride, but it didn’t look like me…

The dress puffed out at the waist down and the torso was constricting and filled with lace, then I looked up to see a beautiful princess. But-it wasn’t me…

“Princess, how do you feel about this…”

Mr. Leka looked up and down my frame but shook his head when he met my eyes.

“This doesn’t feel like your own body when you are wearing this right?”

I nod my head, tears threatening to spill in fear of troubling him. I’ve already done so much to worry people already.

“It's fine dear, it's normal for dresses to make you feel like that. I’ve done my job long enough to know if dresses won’t work out.”

He undressed me with the help of Jamie and dressed me in a mermaid dress with sleeves. It fit snugly on my shoulders as I shifted them around. There was no sparkle on the dress, which I liked. But it was filled with lace which ruined the simpleness of it.

“You don’t look too happy in this either, but what do you like so far?”

“I love the fact it has no sparkles but- the lace ruins it for me.”

“So do you hate the lace overall or just the quantity of it?”

“I just don’t like it.”

“Okay then, lets try this one. It's not as trendy as those are but it's still just as beautiful.”

He then pulled off a silk smooth pure white dress that had no sleeves or straps. The flowing fabric almost begged me to wear it. Then he grabbed another hanger that held a shawl with ruffles that matched up with the dress. My heart missed a beat as they put it on and slipped a veil on my head. A flower pin slipped into my hair just above my ear underneath the veil.

I was met face to face with myself. Raw emotions entered my veins and allowed me to cry out of happiness while I rub the tears away with my hands. It filled me with warmth, and I knew I couldn’t possibly walk down the aisle without it.

They hugged me and assured me that the dress was mine. I could tell it had to be. But unfortunately others don’t agree…

-

There was a hanging tension in the streets, people had started gathering in groups at this time. People were handing out masks for some reason, but Janie pulled me along quickly. When we got to the gates it was eerily quiet. Janie handed me off to one of the guards and they quickly escorted me inside the mansion. No explanation was given but something was going to happen.

-

Warning: This will get very graphic and contains hate speech towards the trans community (This is for plot and I hate to do this to readers but it is a necessary component to the story.) I love all of the LGBT community and that is why I wrote this story! In no way do I hold discontentment or hate for it! You are beautiful as you!

The protesting had been ongoing for a few days, completely halting the preparations for the wedding. The protesters had made graphic signs of what witches were capable of. Of how the kingdom would fall under rule of wicked witches and all rams would be forced to dress in women's clothing. The world would fall into complete chaos. Witches were men, they can’t have children. What if the witch is possessing the prince? Witches are just Vaidos and fags. Why don’t they just become a fanny pack sense they are already fannys?

I hear these things shouted, I see signs saying it, I see the hoards of men and women dressed in male clothing.

I am not doing that to him! Why am I hated so much!? Why can’t I just live, can’t I be allowed to walk alongside my fellow woman? Is it because I am stronger? Is it because I was born a man with a feminine heart?

Why do they hate me so, why do they transfer that hate to him? I’d be better off living my lonely life in that worn down cottage on the village's edge. Ms. Lix and her husband could still talk to her like a normal person. Most of all I cannot bear a child because of this body, what if he wants children? I can't give him children! He can’t even enjoy the pleasure of being with a woman, why why why!

-

After that I couldn’t eat, let alone think. I had tried to escape the mansion 3 times but finally gave up when they stationed guards in front of my door. I also locked it from the inside to lock out my maids who kept trying to force feed me. I stared at the small clock on the nightstand, the second hand making its rounds 60 times per hour.

The twilight slid into dawn and the morning light attempted to wake up my hazing mind. I knock echo through the room, at 7:01. I didn’t answer.

They knocked again then she called out, not my usual maid. 7:02

“I am entering Princess.”

They shook the door, attempting to open it. 7:03

There was panicked whispering as they got the key and tried to stick it through a clogged key hole. 7:04

There was no point in leaving, they would just grab me and tie me to a pole and either force feed me or burn me. 7:05

The whispers turned to shouting down the hall. I’d rather starve to death than suffer another bite while he has to deal with the people who hate me. 7:06

They start banging on the durable door, shouting to me, but I can’t understand anything. 8:06

There's a gathering outside the door, I can hear everyone murmuring and newspaper employees interviewing the maids. 12:30

Knock Knock Knock

The distinct sound catches my attention, my stomach growls weakly. The clock that I swear said 12:30 was now 1:57. My mind was still hazy, coming in and out of reality as the outside world turned quiet. Steps rushed down the hall and then bloomed with shouts of scared reporters.

“Leave now.”

“Bur sir-”

Footsteps followed the silence, I turned my head limply towards the door.

“Lina…”

Malum slithered out of my chest and made his way down to the floor and crawled back up the door and unlocked the door. He quickly came back to prevent any damage to his body from the outside world. He slowly opened the door just as Malum dived back into my thin torso. His eyes went wide, seeing my withered body sitting up against the wooden frame of the window. His hands automatically shut the door and clicked the lock, dropping a bad in his hand and rushed over to me.

Malum had been draining my body out of energy, which you could see by feeling my stomach which had caved in. He swept me up and laid me on my bed carefully.

“Lina...I-”

He chokes a little.

“When did-why-just...Lina, please eat first…”

He grabs my bony hand and presses it to his lips.

“Please Lina…”

His tears fall to my hand and the mist over my thoughts rises. His silver eyes pleaded with me, filled with tears. I nod weakly, my throat too dry to speak.

“Good-good...please Lina don't fall asleep on me.”

He gently lays my hand down and quickly gets up and grabs the brown bag. He opens it and takes out a packaged sandwich and a small thing of apple sauce. He also pulls out a spoon, plate, napkins, a glass, and an unopened bottle of water. He sets them up on the bedside table, opening the water and pouring it into the freshly washed glass.

“I guess you haven’t drank anything either…Please don’t do this again, luckily I had access to the pharmacy for some medicine.”

He helps me sit up and take down the water along with a small pill. He silently feeds me the whole container of applesauce as I start to daze from exhaustion. He lays me back down, my head hits the pillow and I am absorbed into darkness.