POV: Cat
My first instinct was to laugh.
It was a joke right?
Engaged?
I knew it wasn't true. There hadn't been a proposal.
Hell, the Prince and I hadn't met until five minutes ago.
And I definitely wasn't involved in some sort of arranged marriage...at least not one I was aware of...
The deathly silence that filled the room and the sinking feeling my stomach said otherwise.
It couldn't be true...could it?
"We're not engaged," I decided out loud. My voice was determined, as if I didn't hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
I lifted my chin, trying to look as confident as a person can in socks and Birkenstocks.
The Royals were silent. I looked between them, seeing the sadness in each of their eyes.
Then, in an instant, the spell was broken.
"I told you all this was a terrible mistake. Look at her," Prince Leopold sneered, his eyes raking up my body. "She's just a girl."
I tried not to shrink under his gaze. Tried not to read into his words.
'Just a girl.'
Like I was nothing. Worthless.
The hurt and fear in my gut twisted into something darker. Something angrier. My hands turned into fists in my lap.
How dare he treat me like nothing.
Leopold said something that sounded like a curse, then stormed from the room through a door in the far wall, Princess Lupa quickly after him.
I stayed frozen in my chair, unsure if I should shout for Mr. Arsenault to come save me or start giving a lecture on feminism.
"Henri," The King said softly.
"It was a pleasure to meet you," Henri told me sincerely. He reached for my shaking hand, gently squeezing my fingers, before following after his brother and sister.
"Mademoiselle SinClair," the King began beseechingly, as soon as the door closed.
"Cat," I corrected, then hurriedly continued: "Look, I don't know what's happening here but–"
"Catherine," the King said again. "Please. Allow me to explain. To apologize for my youngest son's brash behaviour."
I stopped talking.
The King reached out and took his wife's hand. "There have been some current events in our family which have caused great pain to both us, and the people of Solis. My eldest son, Prince Henri, has recently renounced his claim on the throne."
"I know," I replied, and tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear. I knew Prince Henri had been next in line to be King. Read online that he'd given up his title shortly after he'd had his heart broken by his fiancee. "But what does that have to do with what Prince Leopold said?"
"Long ago," the King said, "our families were great allies. Then the wars with the French came. Our ancestors made a vow, a decree, to protect the families and countries. A decree which says that in times of crisis, the heirs to the thrones will be wed. Ensuring that the bloodline remains protected. That the countries can be led by either family."
My eyes grew wide. So I was in some sort of arranged marriage my great-great-great grandfather dreamed up?
Surely that couldn't be legal, right?
The document was probably hundreds of years old.
My family's supposed country didn't even exist anymore.
"I asked you here Catherine, because my hand was forced," the King continued. "We are in a time of crisis. Leopold is not ready to take the throne. The people do not trust him. Do not believe him capable of leading the country. He's young, and reckless, and not fitting to the ideal of a king."
"I can't marry your son," I told him.
"I'm not asking you too," the King said.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
"Our offer hasn't changed," he said. "Stay for the summer. Enjoy the sea, and wine, and clothes. Have your picture taken by the press, shake hands with the people of Solis, buy my son some time. Some favour."
"No wedding?" I checked.
The King shook his head. "No wedding."
I bit the inside of my cheek.
I wasn't in love the idea of pimping myself out to the royal family for a few months to make Prince Leopold look good. Especially since he'd just been such a demeaning asshole.
But, I supposed nothing had really changed. I got to stay in the palace for the summer. They would pay me for my duties, which meant I wouldn't have to work three jobs next semester. My mom would get to enjoy some time alone with her new husband, without me hanging around the house for the next four months.
Then I remembered the anger in Prince Leopold's voice, the darkness in his eyes, and felt a lump forming in my throat. Did I really want to deal with him all summer?
"Can I think about it?" I asked.
The King nodded. "Of course. Mr. Arsenault can take you to your chambre. You must be very tired after your journey."
"Did you know about this?" I asked Mr. Arsenault as he led me up a winding marble staircase.
"Did I know about what, Mademoiselle?" the bodyguard said, all innocent.
"You know what the hell what," I told him.
Mr. Arsenault remained silent.
"You know," I sighed, genturing with my hands. "The whole fairytale thing? The engagement thing? The Prince Leopold hating me thing?"
We arrived at a landing with a giant painting of a man standing on a cliff in a storm, a look of agony on his face, and turned to the right.
"I have been tasked to protect you, Mademoiselle," Mr. Arsenault replied.
I wasn't sure what that was meant to answer. I guessed I needed a different approach.
All I needed to know was how insufferable Prince Leopold was going to be.
We reached the top of the stairs and took another right. "Do you know Prince Leopold?"
"I am the Lead for Prince Leopold's security team, Mademoiselle," Mr. Arsenault said, and I thought I could hear a sense of pride in his tone.
My eyes grew wide. Well that would have been good to know up front. This whole time, I was being lumped in with Prince Leopold and I had no idea. "How did you get stuck with me then?"
"Not stuck, Mademoiselle. I had the privilege of being assigned to you," his voice softened. "The Prince is a good man, Mademoiselle."
I bit my cheek, unconvinced.
The newspapers and solisians didn't seem to think the Prince was so great. Why was everyone here so convinced?
We entered a long hall, with identical doors set into the walls at even intervals. Paintings and pieces of art on pedestals decorated the spaces between doorways.
I'd been so in my head during our little trip that I forgot to pay attention to where we were going.
Maybe that was part of the plan, to get me lost in the labyrinth of halls so I could never go home.
We stopped at a door, the second last one in the hall. It was identical to all the others we'd passed, but across from a small alcove with a seafoam glass vase balanced on an elegant table.
"You chambre, Mademoiselle," Mr. Arsenault announced lead me inside.
The room was enormous. Bigger than mine and Luce's whole apartment.
There were floor to ceiling windows the whole length of the wall across from me. A beautiful antique desk and chair sat in front of them, looking out to the lush trees outside.
On the left side of the room, there was a canopy bed, draped in deep blue fabrics, and topped with a gazillion pillows. On the right, a couch sat in front of a stone fireplace, a door on either side.
"This is all for me?" I said, spinning as I took in the room.
I'd never had so much room to myself. Not at school. Not in mine and my mom's walkup. Not in the house I grew up in.
When I stopped spinning, I noticed there was woman standing beside Mr. Arsenault. She was young, with dark curly hair that was carefully pulled back in a twist.
"Uh...hi," I said, taking in the french maid outfit she was wearing, wondering what the hell was happening now.
"Mademoiselle, this is Angelique," Mr. Arsenault said. "I must leave, but she will help you with anything you need."
"What on earth does that mean?"
"Whatever you need Mademoiselle," Angelique repeated with a curtsey.
"Oh no, you don't need to…"
She curtsied deeper.
I looked to Mr. Arsenault, and he raised an eyebrow, as if to challenge me to complain about anything else.
I wasn't exactly up to date on my maid protocol, but it seemed like this was a nonnegotiable situation. I guess she came with the room. Or the castle. Or maybe just the whole almost royal situation. "Well, I guess we'll just figure it out…"
A few hours later, I was more relaxed than I'd been in my entire life.
Angelique had shown me my walk in closet, where she'd unpacked all of my belongings. Then she ran a bath filled with oils that smelled like lavender and vanilla and pure bliss.
Despite my protests, she helped me bush and braid my clean hair. She gave me a manicure and pedicure. Wrapped me in a lush robe.
When it was all over and done, I lay in the center of my giant, marshmallow bed, convinced I should absolutely stay for the summer. I mean, I was pretty sure I could avoid Leopold in the giant palace. He was probably off scowling in another wing.
Angela and I could just stay here and live in our little bubble of heaven.
I heard a small chirp, and groaned before slowly dragging myself off my bed, and moving towards the desk. I grabbed my phone, frowning when the only notifications I saw were from apps.
Surely Luce or my mom would have messaged me by now, asking if I'd arrived okay?
Shit. No data.
I hadn't had enough time before we left to get another plan or sim card. I clicked open the wifi options to find a handful of french names, all password protected.
Surely a castle had to have guest wifi...right?
I started pulling open desk drawers, looking for some sort of info packet like they had at hotels.
CRASH.
Something shattered outside in the hall.
I ran for the bedroom door, worried about Angelique.
She'd left just a while ago, promising to return with dinner.
"Are you ok–" I started as I threw the door open. Then I froze, the words catching in my throat.
It wasn't Angelique in the hall at all.
It was Prince Leopold.