Page 14 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

I’m just the daughter of a spearfisher, I thought, trying to root myself in this strange new reality.

I turned to the priest, as if to ask for his help, but he only smiled, expecting me to know the words.

Keanu reached across the altar and took my hand, forcing my attention back on him.

“With the sea as our witness and breeze as our song,” he said, an amiable smile on his face, and I repeated the words, my voice shaky and small. Why was he smiling? Should I pretend to smile? What would that benefit me?

That I am confident, and that I will figure this out… even though this entire world of royalty was foreign to me… I forced a smile, and his eyes sparkled as he continued to teach me the words. When I said the final sentence, an edge came into my voice.

“Together, we will walk through the shadows and the light, bound by love deeper than the ocean and as faithful as the stars guiding voyagers home.”

As if there were any love between us! I was sure I’d be sick if I had to say one more word.

The priest recited something poetic about the vows, had us exchange rings, then said, “You may now kiss the bride.”

Before I could even meet Keanu’s eyes, to see what we should do, he kissed me.

Honestly, I had never been kissed before, and I grew up accepting that a man would not choose to kiss me. Instead, he would kiss me because he felt he had to, and, well, here I was. Keanu kissed me due to a sense of obligation.

So what made it feel genuine? He was gentle, his arm slipping behind my back and drawing my body towards him, and his other hand cupping my chin.

Those in attendance cheered, but I couldn’t hear them because my head was reeling. How could a man this good-looking, a man of his status, stoop down to kiss me? Me?

I gasped when he pulled away, a gleam in his bright eyes. What was he thinking? Was he laughing at the way my cheeks burned hotter than the sun at midday? He took my hand and raised it to the people. I glanced to the side, seeing tears in both Kiki's and mother's eyes. Mother looked elated, while Kiki’s tears were probably because of something else…

My death. I locked eyes with my new husband, and before I could think about what was really going on in his head, he pulled us forward, rushing down the aisle. He hurried, and his rough hand clasped mine, as if he were eager to get out of there.

When we reached the hallway, he didn’t stop, but rushed past the servants and guards, only stopping when we entered a grand ballroom. My head started spinning again.

Tables of food and chairs to sit in filled the room. At the head of the ballroom was a table and chairs for the bride and groom.

Servants stood at attention by the doors and near the tables, and they bowed when we entered. But Keanu paid them no attention. He turned me around, pulled me close to him, and said, “Listen. There are many here who dislike that you are from a lower class. I need you to just follow my lead tonight, understand?”

I melted under his gaze. It was so sincere, yet so intense. How could a man make a girl want to swoon and hide at the same time? Was it because I saw this man when he was dead, or because I was anxious about everything that was going on? He smelled of fresh sandalwood and tropical cedar, a mixture that was both inviting and intoxicating.

“It’s not like I have anything to say anyway,” I replied, realizing my voice was shaking.

His eyebrows furrowed a little. “I do not wish to make more enemies than I already have,” he said. “Especially for your sake, wife of mine.”

Wife of mine? I blinked, and he grinned. It seemed he enjoyed baffling me, and it was easy to do. I was tongue-tied around him and his confident presence.

“You’re very bright,” he said, “But you are also new to all of this, and I don’t wish for you to say something wrong. Not until you get a feel for this society, and, with the amount of women who have wanted to wed me, I don’t want you to become a target. I intend to protect you in any way I can. Do you understand?”

The sound of footsteps and voices came from the hall and his eyes flicked up, as if knowing everyone would soon join us in the ballroom. His grip on my waist tightened and he drew me closer to him.

“Do you trust me, moon of my tide?”

Moon of my tide? He already had a poetic nickname for me? It was rather romantic, if I allowed myself to think that way.

I swallowed hard. Keanu, this young, dashing chief, was asking me to trust him so that he didn’t make more enemies.

So the women who desired him wouldn't pursue me. My shoulders felt tight at that thought. How many women, exactly, wished to become his wife? Just looking at him, I hoped I wouldn’t find out. It would make me feel even more insecure.

So he intends to protect me… But, why? I was going to die in a month if I didn’t break his curse.

Perhaps I don’t know what I’m getting into, I told myself.

I nodded. “Yes, Keanu, for now.”