“If you’re not feeling well, just stay home and rest. I’ll take Zolenn to pick a bridesmaid dress, then come back to keep you company.”
“Okay.”
He left with a thermos of chicken soup, looking all concerned and thoughtful.
Once alone, I stared at myself in the mirror. The spot where he kissed me felt tainted, so I scrubbed at it until it turned red. Only then did I feel slightly less disgusted.
A short while later, the bridal shop owner called me in secret.
“Lanaya, does your husband have a twin brother? Someone who looks exactly like him came in today with a woman to try on your wedding dress. After trying it, he even told me to alter it smaller to fit her. Isn’t that crazy?”
“No, it’s fine. Just do what he said, and have him pay the balance while you're at it.”
Zolenn’s intentions were clearer than ever. She had always tried to take what belonged to me. If she couldn’t take it, she would try to ruin it. This was no different.
The next day, Yzail returned home with two wedding dresses.
“I picked up the dresses. Why don’t you try them on?”
I gave them a quick, dismissive glance before tossing them aside. I didn’t need to look closely to know what was going on.
Yzail, however, gently stroked the dress that had been altered smaller, his eyes filled with a softness I hadn’t seen in a long time. He was lost in thought, likely picturing Zolenn wearing it, walking down the aisle to marry him.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” he said suddenly, “it’s becoming popular for bridesmaids to wear wedding dresses too. It’s supposed to bring good luck.”
“Sure. Thanks for the effort,” I replied, forcing a polite smile.
Though I prefer to keep to myself, I’m no fool. My custom wedding dress had been resized to fit Zolenn. The other dress, the one in my size, was a cheap, knock-off version. In Yzail’s eyes, I was apparently only worthy of wearing something cheap, just to make his beloved Zolenn stand out even more.
When the day of our scheduled wedding registration came, Yzail didn’t mention it at all. He even took the household registration booklet, tucked it into his pocket, and headed out, though not before stopping by the bakery downstairs to bring me some soup dumplings.
“Lanaya, I bought you breakfast. Make sure to eat well and rest up these next few days. In two days, I’ll come and marry you!”
I accepted the breakfast, thanked him, and said “okay.”