I wanted to kill him, that's what I had at that moment. What would I do? The king was already looking at me with a questioning look to see if I was going to say "pleasure my future father-in-law, I accept to be the princess of this whole thing". Say no, say no to all of this, be free, and dance again in the palace ballroom.
- Pleasure... Your Majesty - I must have gone mad.
The king smiled the same charming smile as James, so that's where that wonder was coming from...
I'm getting married. I'm going to get married. I'm going to marry... a prince. Does that sound nice to you? Yeah, maybe it is, but nothing changes the fact that five minutes ago I didn't know that. No wedding ring, no kneeling request, no passionate kiss beforehand. This was not the fantasy I created for my engagement proposal.
- My love... Can we talk outside? -James looked at me in amazement, perhaps because I had called him my love.
- Of course, my love...well, I could sense a slight sigh of relief.
We bowed to the king and walked hand in hand to the door of the room.
- What the hell has gotten into you? To come up with something like this, are you out of your mind? - I slapped him on the chest until I couldn't stand it any longer. I turned to leave, until he took my arm and turned me back.
- Is that any way to treat the heir to all this here? - I rolled my eyes and he smiled debauchedly. Ridiculous!
- Excuse me, your majesty supreme- He laughed, after all that has happened he still has the nerve to laugh at my face? - Idiot- I whispered.
- I can explain if the young lady will allow me to say something without interrupting and cursing me.
- Speak!
- My father wants to force me to marry." He sighed tiredly, and I could tell he didn't like the subject. It's kind of a tradition to be married to assume the throne, if it's not me, it will be one of the closest to the succession of the throne that wants to revolutionize everything and end our Royal lineage.
- And where do I fit into this story? - Straight to the point, I hate beating around the bush.
- He told me that I should find someone at the ball tonight - A little of the initial anger goes away and I uncross my arms. I confess, I felt flattered that I was the Chosen One. - He saw us dancing and thought you would be perfect for the "job" of princess- Those words were like a punch in my stupid face for thinking that maybe I was special. Of course I'm not, he's only known me for 10 minutes or less.
-So this was all just cheap theatrics to keep his throne from being stolen. Stupid. A thousand times stupid!
- What was that? - he asked confused. You see? I really shouldn't have accepted that!
- Forget it. So that's it, you used me for your family to continue this stupid tradition? - I was really angry, angry at myself to be exact.
James rolled his eyes, tired of all this, ready to give it all up. What does he want? For me to agree to everything without getting at least one decent request?
- I need your help... It's not only my royal lineage that is at risk, the whole kingdom is at risk if this wedding doesn't happen, please... - He was going to say my name, but he doesn't even know it.
- Dear James, you see? You don't even know my name, why should I help you?
- I can reward you for this, I know that life in the village is not the best, you could bring your family to live with us, everything would be better for you, you just have to pretend to be in love with me, we get married and I get to save the kingdom- Super normal thing, of course!
- I... -I was about to say no, but thinking about it, I really needed help, I couldn't be selfish enough to let my sister get worse just because I don't love him. Does that make sense? For me, at this moment, it makes a lot of sense - I accept... but don't think that I will do it just for you, I need to think about my family, and this would certainly help me a lot...
- Then... - He pauses for me to say my name.
- Emillya to you- I roll my eyes. In fact, I think that's what I'll be doing the most while I'm by his side.
- Then it's settled. Emillya- He holds out his hand to seal the deal but I just turn to go back to the dance. I still can't believe I'm doing this.
James picks up his pace to catch up with me and we walk back to the dance together.
- By the way, beautiful name, weird but beautiful." He laughs, and for the first time since I met him, I smile, really smile. He was a clown, to be honest.
And the doors to the ballroom open. And there was James holding hands with me. Millions of eyeballs watching me. This is the end of me!