The Gold Queen (Prequel)

December 3, 1994: Day of the Wedding

***Sofia***

An army of woman scramble to get everything ready as my mother barks orders at them. I sit anxiously in the makeup chair while the hair stylist finishes unpinning my curls and brushes through them. Small hair jewels and my tiara are put in place and pinned securely at the top of my head while the makeup artists powders my face once last time for good measure.

Amidst all this chaos, I wanted nothing more than to scream and run away. Run to the beach and let the ocean pull me away into oblivion. But my mother taught me long ago how to keep my emotions in check and I stare blankly at my reflection in the mirror.

A Queen must always look calm and collected even when stressed, I remind myself.

My dress is brought out and Cassandra helps me slip into it. The gown had long sleeves that hung off my shoulders, it’s beaded bodice has sweet heart neckline that hugs my curves just right while a long train trails behind me. My mother places the Sol de Oro sash on me, completing my royal regalia. As I look into the mirror, I could not help but admire my tragic beauty.

“Te ves preciosa, mija {You look precious},” my grandmother beams as she walks into the room, taking my hands in hers.

I force a smile and her face softens.

“You will make a Great Queen,” she adds, caressing my chin. “And Julian is so lucky to have you by his side.”

I hold back tears as she k****s my forehead.

We can’t do this! Solana sobs. Please don’t do this!

“Thank you, nana,” I smile back.

“Alright, everyone. It’s almost time,” my mother clasps her hands together. “The Sun will be reaching its peak in a few minutes and we must hurry.”

“C-can I have a few minutes to myself please?” I plead, feeling as though the walls were closing in on me.

“Mija we don’t have time-“

“I just need a few minutes!” I snap, on the verge of tearing off the dress. “It’s the least you can do for me.”

She glares at me for having snapped at her but I couldn’t care less. I was at my breaking point. I needed time to breathe. I needed to stop feeling like I was suffocating.

“Please,” I ask once more.

She clenches jaw before giving in. “Two minutes, “ she sighs. “You have two minutes.”

Everyone shuffles out of the room and I’m left alone with a million thoughts bombarding me. I suck in gulps of air as I pace back and forth, trying to convince my self that what I was about to do wasn’t a bad idea.

“I can do this,” I mutter, wiping at my eyes, careful not to smudge my delicate makeup. “I can do this. I can do this.”

The door suddenly bursts open and my father storms over to me.

“Papi-“

Before I know, my father pulls me into his arms, resting his chin on my head and caressing my hair. The dam finally breaks and my tears spill onto my cheeks.

“Ay, mi niña,” he whispers as I sob. “Ay, my dear niña.”

“I-I can do it. I-I just need to-“

He lifts my chin up so my eyes meet his. “It’s okay, mija. It’s going to be okay. You don’t have to do this,” he soothes. “You can leave right now and stop this. It’s not too late. I can get you on a taxi and you can go somewhere where it’s safe while I sort this all out-“

“And leave you here to deal with all of this?” I shake my head. “Dad, I can’t do that to you or the Kingdom.”

“Why not?” he chuckles half-heartedly. “I’ve gotten this kingdom through war once. I can do it again.”

“No,” I retort. “No. I’m not running. I accepted this proposal and I intend to see it through,” I declare, staring into his eyes.

He doesn’t seem convinced as he looks back.

“Sol de Oro will not go to war because of me,” I say, wiping my tears and hardening my face. “I can do this.”

“Mija-“

“Dad,” I say sternly, reaching for my flower bouquet. “It’s time.”

He exasperates in frustration but does not protest any longer. Interlocking his arm with mine, he leads me down to the main lobby and towards the rose garden where Julian and I would exchange our vows. My father’s hands tremble as he reaches for the door handle and I place a gentle hand on his arm.

“It’s okay daddy,” I whisper, giving him a reassuring smile. “I’ll get through this.”

He swallows hard before forcing a smile on his face. He swings the door open and leads me to a small tent where my mother is waiting for us. She sighs in relief when she sees us and gives me final look through.

“You look stunning, Sofia,” She whispers and I give her a tiny smile. “Now just take a deep breath. It’ll all be over soon.”

Not soon enough.

The music starts to play, marking our cue to go and Dad pulls back the tent curtain, my parents interlocking their arms with mine as we walk out into the garden. On the opposite side, Julian, accompanied by his parents, emerges from a separate tent. He looks incredible in a military style tux, a red and green sash with the Estrella del Monte emblem slung over his shoulder and across his abdomen.

An aisle starts at the foot of each tent, coming together in the middle of the garden before merging into a single aisle that leads to an altar. It was supposed to symbolize our lives and our kingdoms merging into one single entity.

I can hear my heart pound against its confinement of my ribcage, attempting to escape as I approach my future husband. When we meet in the center of the garden, my father gives me a final k**s on the cheek before handing me off to Julian. Tears threaten to spill onto my cheeks again but I quickly blink them away before they fall. Julian places his hand over mine, sending a chill down my spine as we slowly walk down the isle to the altar.

My eyes scan the crowd in search of my mate. I find his father, mother and sister sitting near the front row, but no sign of Mateo and Emi. My heart sinks. A part of me wanted him here to give me strength while the other part was grateful to not see the pain in his eyes.

As we approach the elders, Julian leans down to my ear, his breath making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“After tonight, you’re all mine,”

***Mateo***

Her majesty was a smart woman but she had made one mistake in banning me from the wedding: she had forgotten to ban my family too and as dysfunctional as we were, my family had my back.

All day yesterday, my father had trained me. This morning, he and the lawyers finished up drawing up a contract for me to present to his Majesty and the Princess. The twins had also agreed to help me get into the damn building. It seems the only one left out of the loop was my mom, although I sensed she knew something was wrong when I told her I would not be going to the wedding.

“Why not?” She asks, putting in her earrings. “I thought you and Sofia were finally starting to get along.”

“Well, you thought wrong,” I shrug, stuffing my hands in my pocket.

“Well, she is your future Queen,” she sighs. “You should go anyways out of respect.”

“No thanks, I’ll pass,” I sigh. “Besides, I’m staying back to take care of Emiliano.”

She frowns but does not argue with me. Emi’s wounds were still tender and he was in quite a bit of pain.

“Alright,” she sighs, knowing I wouldn’t budge. “You make sure he takes his medicine and puts on his ointments. And make sure he eats something nutritious. No junk food. He needs his nutrients if he wants to heal quicker.”

She k****s me as she reaches for her purse and heads out to the car. With her gone, my father hands me the contract.

“Are you sure about this?” He asks once more.

“I’m not backing down,” I reply. “She’s mine, Dad.”

He swallows hard as he smooths down his vest. “Then I think you should know… how incredibly proud I am of you, mijo.”

I stare at him in shock. “What-“

“I always have been…. I just never knew how to say it,” he admits, looking at the floor. “It takes a real man to go after what they want…. And I couldn’t be prouder of you for not backing down on your mate. I-I just needed you to know that… in case things don’t go your way. I’m proud of you.”

I was stunned, a hurricane of emotions raging in my head as I process his words.

He was proud? Really?

He reaches over and grabs the back of my neck with his hand and smiles at me.

“You will make a great King someday,” he says

Before I can react, he releases me, turns on his heel, and heads out to the car, calling out to Valentina. I hear several sets of foot steps race down the stairs and Emiliano, Valentina, and a Valentina clone grin back at me.

I kneel down to their eye level and look at the clone.

“Remember, you are my eyes and ears at the ceremony,” I repeat for the umpteenth time.

“I know, I know,” the clone sighs, rolling its eyes in annoyance. “I count the number of guards and map out the exits.”

The clone hurries off to the car, leaving the real Valentina and Emiliano with me. Emiliano looks uncomfortable in his suit and I feel guilty for having him come.

“It’s okay,” he says, knowing what I was thinking. “My meds should kick in soon.”

“Are you nervous?” Valentina asks.

I rub my hands together and take a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter. Sofia belongs with me, no matter what the Queen says.”

We wait a few minutes to let my parents get a head start before Valentina and I help Emi into my car so we can head to the Reyes Hotel ourselves.

Moments later, I pull into a gas station across the street for us to wait.

“There are 2 guards at the front entrance,” Valentina says, reporting her clones findings. “And 8 in the garden. “

“s**t,” I mutter under my breath.

I could take on the ones inside with ease but I would need to get rid of the two in front without them alerting anyone.

“She says there also bunch of Estrella del Monte guards too.”

“I’m not worried about them,” I sigh. “They don’t know that I look like. It’s the Sol de Oro guards we need to look out for.”

“So what do we do?” Emi asks.

I stare at the twins and an idea pops into my head.

“We need a distraction,” I smirk. “And we’re going to need another one of your clones.”

“What do you want me to do?” Valentina grins mischievously.

I search my car and find a switch blade. Perfect.

I take the blade to my palm and Valentina screeches.

“What are you doing?”

“Just make a clone,” I order.

She does as she’s told and clone appears in the seat beside her. I slice across my two palms and smear the b***d on the clone’s face, dress, and hair, much to Valentina’s horror.

“Emi come here. I need to get you too,” I wince as I squeeze my palms to draw more b***d. I smear the b***d on him then take the switch blade and tear at their clothes.

“Mom’s going to kill you,” Valentina mumbles and I glare at her as I work.

Satisfied with their look, I proceed to explain my plan

“I need the clone and Emi to limp over to the hotel and get those guards’ attention,” I instruct them. “Make something up. Say you were attacked or got into an accident and need their help. Just get them to leave their post and follow you.”

Emi and the clone look hesitant but limp off to the hotel, Valentina and I watching from the car. After a few minutes of the clone’s crying and screaming, the guards follow them off, leaving the entrance wide open.

Seeing our chance, Valentina and I sprint to the main entrance and easily slip inside. We fast walk down the lobby and head straight towards the garden entrance. As we round the corner, I catch sight of another guard and I duck behind a wall, yanking Valentina with me.

Catching my breath, I lean over to Valentina and give her instructions. “Get the guard’s attention,” I order. “And lure him here.”

Valentina nods and runs over to the guard.

“Sir! Sir! There’s rogues at the main entrance!” She screams.

“What?” the guard asks, a bit confused.

“Come on, they need your help at the front!” Valentina cries.

I hear their footsteps come racing towards me and I wait on the balls of my feet to strike. When Valentina and the guard round the corner, I spring at the guard, throwing a punch to his jaw. He’s out like a light and I quickly drag his limp body into a supply closet.

“There’s seven more guards in the garden, each posted at the main entrance, back entrance, and near the royal families,” Valentin says as we lock the supply closet.

With the entrance now free of guards, we race towards the door only for Valentina to stop me.

“Wait,” She says. “We have to wait for the clone to tell me when the Elder asks for objections.”

I g***n at Valentina. “Vale we don’t have time for that!”

“Just wait!” Valentina giggles. “It’ll be more romantic.” Her eyes suddenly widen. “Oops he’s already said ‘I do’.”

“Oh for f***s sake!” I snap, pushing open the doors to the garden.

The elder is midsentence when we enter, Sofia staring solemnly at the prince

“…Bolivar to be your lawfully wedded-”

The entire crowd turns to look at us, but the only eyes I see are those of my mate. The entire world fades away as I focus on the beautiful bride, admiring the beauty of her presence. If I had any doubt about what I was about to do, it melts away instantly. She was the woman I wanted to wake up to for the rest of my life and I could not let another man claim her.

“Teo…” She whispers as she looks at me, her pools of honey filling with tears.

A group of guards come racing towards us, pulling me back to reality. I imagine a force pushing away from me and the guards fly back, crashing against some pillars.

The Royal families are on their feet as I stand proudly at the foot of the aisle. The Queen and Prince glare at me but I did not fear them. Nothing scared me more than a life without my mate. Sofia shakes her head at me, pleading me to turn back and leave, but I refuse. She deserved better than what the Prince had to offer.

“What is the meaning of this?” King Jose snarls at my King and Queen.

King Juan turns to look at me, equally confused. “Mateo, what are you doing?”

“I, Mateo Salvador Altamirano, challenge Prince Julian Bolivar to a dual for my mate, Princess Sofia Isabel Reyes.”