Chapter Text
"Let's get this over with quickly," she sighed aloud, surprising her ladies-in-waiting.
However, they said nothing and helped her with the final details before one of them opened the door for her to walk through. All eyes were on her and her grand entrance. The echo of the organ almost sounded funereal, somewhat ironic given that it was a wedding. Something that all those people could not doubt when they saw her pass by with a large new dress that was difficult to handle, an elaborate hairstyle uncomfortable due to the large number of hairpins that hurt her, and shoes with which it was difficult to take each step.
And in front of her, her future husband: a black-haired stranger who claimed to be the crown prince of Dawn.
Nami Storm, that girl who was named for having found her in the middle of a storm and raised by a farmer in one of the most remote villages, was a beautiful young woman with long orange waves who was desired by everyone despite that humble origin. Thanks to work and the natural diet, despite the hours in the sun, she only had a couple of freckles on her skin kissed by the sun she worked under and her slender figure had caught the attention of men, no matter the title. She was not going to deny how on more than one occasion she had taken advantage of the situation in her favor, with the firm idea of not having many needs, but she had never kissed any of those men and, much less, done indecent things or promised love to win their favors.
She would never cross that invisible boundary of becoming a "girl of Babylon".
Much less get married. Especially those nasty imbeciles, who believed that because they managed several lands, they could insist on asking for her hand. She knew of the threats to her mother, of the idiots who sometimes watched her on her behalf, and of those trinkets sent as gifts only to make her fall for their nonexistent charms. At least, selling all that allowed them to have a meal and a roof arranged underneath them.
Nami craved more, she needed so much more. She had dreams and she didn't want to change them to comply with locking herself in a house to have children.
But of course, she left so much time and, being the next king of that vast kingdom, she no longer had any escape or excuses to say no.
With each awkward step toward the altar, Nami swallowed dry. She noticed the taste of nothingness, as she approached her future husband. She only knew his name and how the ladies had repeated that name constantly.
Monkey D. Luffy.
She didn't know anything else. Nami didn't really know where that house really was or what kind of attitude he had. The only image she had of him was that of that very moment: a smiling boy, with a unique light that she did not know if it came from the window or if it was himself who radiated it, with a scar that broke with that purity both on his face and on his chest that could be seen.
If she had never seen him, why did he seem to be smiling as if he were glad to see her again? Would he be one of the many stalkers? A future king? Nami knew that there were people who exaggerated that her beauty was like that of a goddess, but she did not imagine that it would attract so much attention. There must have been something else because it was not normal that someone with noble blood, that blood that the priests always strongly affirmed had a divine relationship, would want to get involved with someone much less than a commoner who appeared during a storm.
When she reached his side, Nami noticed how that prince had an impulse to speak or touch her, but the priest cleared his throat to take their attention and begin the ceremony, stopping him.
Nami disconnected from reality, thinking that it would become both her and her small family once the marriage was over. Yes, it would be under the most powerful house, but what? Who would take care of her mother now that she was getting older? Would they also force her sister to marry?
Her sigh and concern did not go unnoticed, and for a moment she noticed his compassionate gaze. He was still someone difficult to describe and, above all, to analyze that simple but strong non-verbal language.
"You are officially united in the eyes of God"
With those last words, her life had been sentenced, in a marriage with that stranger. Nami sighed and was about to leave when her husband pulled her to seal the holy sacrament with a strong kiss. She didn't even know how to call it a kiss, since he had only sealed his lips with such force with hers that she felt an unpleasant pressure.
As they separated, she noticed that everyone was looking at her, waiting to see her reaction, to which Nami simply let out an annoyed sigh, something that surprised the man she was supposed to call husband.
"Well, can I go home now?"