The carriage halted at a massive palace after several days. She was escorted out of the carriage with the help of a couple of guards along with Raeyelle.
They were met with guards saluting the prince opun his arrival. They went into the palace to see the palace maids lined up and bowing as they moved through the palace.
She kept her eyes glued to the walls. To say she was amazed was an understatement
It was beautiful but she couldn't even admire it. There was far too much on her mind. She couldn't escape. No, she couldn't dare. She wouldn't even know where to go and if she somehow managed to escape.
Trying to live a different life as someone else in the lesser known parts of the town was a futile attempt because the prince had connections to find her.
She halted in her tracks and asked "Where is the servant's quarters?"
The prince halted, turned around and asked "Why do you ask?"
"That wasn't exactly the question" she retorted.
"Don't think you're going to work there."said the prince nonchalantly
"So what am I going to do here??" she question.
The prince looked her straight in the eyes and replied "You'll be my wife"
"I've already said I'm not agreeing to that!!"
At this point most of the servant's were staring at them.
He signaled to Hared to take Rae to her room then he grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the grand staircase which she supposed led to his room.
"No! I won't let you rape me!".
He looked at a her with a confused face and said "I wasn't planning on doing that I just couldn't prepare a room for you so you will have to sleep with me for the night."
"No! Have me sleep in the stable or something I'm not sleeping with you."
He let go of her hand and his face softened" How about we talk first and then see what to do hm?
She couldn't really argue with him and just decided to follow him while he was being asking.
...
They didn't have to walk for too long before they reached a huge rosewood door which she guessed was his room.
He opened it and she didn't even bother to hide her surprise. The room was massive!
The bed was placed by the window which offered such an exquisite view and a little desk table which she took to be his office. There was even a chandelier at the center of the room. The ceiling was so high she started to wonder how the person even mounted the chandelier.
"Why do you need a chandelier in your room?" she asked.
"Have you seen anyone without one?" he asked, playfully.
She ignored him as usual and he pointed to the King sized bed and told her to sit down.
She sat down and almost got swallowed by the bed. It was so soft she wss sinking into it. No one would want to leave their room with such a lovely bed.
"Was your plan to let me sit on the bed and be tempted to stay? Because it's working" she said, jokefully.
"So you'll stay?" He asked.
"No".
He didn't have time to reply.
"Listen, you're going to be my wife whether you want to or not. I suggest you don't make an attempt to ran away as you will be dealt with.
Also, you will no longer be a dame. It's too-" He didn't get to finish his words when she got up abruptly.
"No! Please. Don't take this away from me. I'll marry you but only if you let me remain a dame. It's the only thing I do. It's my only escape from reality. Please."
She got down on her knees and started begging him with tears already brimming, tears that haven't left her eyes in years. He moved forward, got down to her level and said, trying to comfort her,
"Stop. Don't cry. I'm just trying to help. It's not safe being a dame. You might get killed. With me, you won't even need to escape anything."
She shook her head vigorously like a toddler who was refusing a toy she didn't want and said
"Please, it's the only thing I live for. Don't take it away from me" The tears left her eyes like a waterfall.
His heart ached with pain to see her like this. He wiped her tears and said "Okay I'll think about it. Don't cry. On one condition, you have to sleep here tonight."
"That won't do. I already said I'll marry you so you can't say that." she said.
"I won't touch you. I promise. There's just no other suitable place for you."
She knew she'd be fighting a losing battle if she were to protest. "Fine".
He smiled triumphantly and she just hung her head low. She was about to get up when she felt a warm hand grab her and lift her off the ground. She was now on his bed.
"I'll let the maids prepare your bath. She didn't even get time to argue he was gone.
...
Both parties were tired from the activities of the day. She turned over in the bed and looked at the prince she turned around and slept.
The prince wasn't asleep yet. He was still processing everything. How he caressed a cheek which belongs to a stranger whom he had just met.
He turned to look at the sleeping girl said "Good night" and finally slept off.