Chapter 3: What?!
'Knock. Knock. Knock ' three simultaneous knocks rang at my door. "Come in" I said and Luke came walking in.
"Luke? What are you doing here so early?" I asked not expecting him. "Dad has called for a meeting Alyssa." Luke sighed seating on my bed. "So? Why are you telling me this? Father has meetings all the time it's part of being king you know."
I said and went back to reading my book. "Alyssa put the book down. It's meeting for the princesses of Darinton." "I'm not sure I completely understand what you're saying Luke." "The king has summoned all the princess of Darinton for a royal meeting in the throne room."
"What for? Did he just d ecide to start paying attention to me because of the accident?! Well no need, I'm fine now he can go back to acting like I don't exist." "Al, don't say things like that especially when it's not true, things are just a bit too complicated for you to understand right now." Luke said standing up.
"I'm eighteen Luke. Why are you speaking like I'm a child? What could you possibly have to say that's too comlex for me to understand? What Luke? " I angrily yelled.
"With time everything will be revealed but right now, you need to answer the king's call." Luke said looking at me sternly.
"Do I really need to go?" I said pouting and Luke sighed putting a hand on my shoulder . "Yes you do Al, a meeting this urgent is obviously important. " "Fine. If this is that important to you then I'll go." I said and left my room for the throne room.
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"Good afternoon your Highness" I said in a curtsey as I entered the throne room and stood beside Veronica and father turned away from stepmother and looked at me "You're late".
I nervously chuckled. "Apologies your majesty." I said giving another curtsey and groaned hearing my sisters laugh at me. "Very well then, I accept your apology. This imperial meeting can officially commence". "I have called you all here for a very important reason." He said looking at the three of us as if analyzing our expressions.
"One of you is going to be married off to a prince of the neighbouring kingdom of Aragorn."
"What?!" Veronica and I yelled shocked but Angelique had an entirely different reaction to the shocking news we had just received.
"Finally, it took long enough. What...? Why do you both look so surprised, I'm pretty sure we all knew this day was going to come sooner or later darlings and obviously the lucky princess is me because honestly, Alyssa's too ugly and V, well you're obviously unprepared and unqualified" she said in her usual bratty voice.
"Excuse me?!
I am extremely offended by your narcissistic comment especially since I'm the obvious choice" Veronica replied. "Narcissistic? Says who? The self obsessed, make up obsessed blighter who can't tell the difference between... between..."
"Between what stupid? I ought to..."
"Silence!" The kings voice roared and silence reigned through the room. "Are any of you aware that this is an imperial meeting? The choice is not up to you and the decision has already been made. The princess that would be getting married to the prince is Alyssa."
"What?!"We all yelled in shock including Stepmother.
"The decision is final and frankly none of you have a say in this. Now if you could excuse us, I need to speak to Alyssa. Alone." Father replied sternly. Veronica and Angelique angrily curtseyed and left the room taking their obvious disdain and spite with them.
"Now, now Edward. Let's be reasonable, marriage isn't a topic to be taken lightly. Surely Veronica or ..." Step mother started but was interrupted by father "You too Narissa. Leave". Stepmother huffed and left.
I stood there, in the same spot paralysed by shocked and it took a few more minutes for me to regain composure.
"Father you can't be serious. This just has to be a joke and if so, it's a very cruel one. What do you mean by I'm getting married?!" I fumed . "Well you've been betrothed for a while now sweetheart and you're of age so it's about time don't you think?" Father said calmly, sitting on his throne.
"Betrothment?!! How is that supposed to make me feel any better? Coaxing me is not going to help." I replied getting madder by the second. "This isn't about just you, it's about the whole kingdom, your kingdom." Father started, walking towards me and when he got to where I was standing, he put his hand on my shoulder and said
"Your marriage to the crown prince of Aragorn is the only thing that can put an end to the two year war between our kingdoms. You may not know this but a lot of people have suffered because of this war. Many have been killed, injured and displaced.
We are running out of resources and more than half our men are in terrible condition. It's only a matter of time till they completely destroy our defences and make their way into the kingdom and to the palace. And if or when that happens, there's no hope for the kingdom."
"But...but there's has to be another way. It doesn't really have to be me does..." I began protesting but was cut off by the fiery storm called my father.
"There is no other way. The king asked for a princess and I gave him you. There's no returns or "take-backs" so stop acting like a spoilt child."
" Leave now before you push me to do what I don't wouldn't want to do and bear in mind that you will be getting married 4 weeks from now." He finally said as he went back to sit on his throne. He sat looking like a tyrant, filled with pride looking down on me with his overbearing demeanor. "Oh if only mom were here to see this. To see what her supposed love has become" I said fuming.
I gritted my teeth and balled my fists in anger before storming out of there and I made sure I slammed the door on my way out.
I couldn't believe that I actually believed that things were getting better for me. Things had truly felt like my life was changing for the better. I had spent two and a half weeks on bed rest and my wounds had healed during that time since I didn't have any major injuries except for the gash which slit across the middle of my forehead that I got when I was trying to escape from my capturers. The wound had healed but it left a really nasty scar and the doctor said it might never completely fade.
I was a bit sad when I heard the news but I brushed it off with the thought that I didn't need to worry about it since I'd never get married. So instead of fussing about it, once it was a bit healed, I cut my hair and gave myself bangs. Raymond had to go back to studying but this time he could visit me and he came twice or thrice everyday, an aftermath of his hectic schedule.
Luke who had important external trade affairs to attend to decided to stay back and work from the palace to keep an eye on me. And although his hovering over me was a bit overwhelming, it was nice to have a piece of family back and with him around Veronica and Angelique had to lay off on the bullying.
Things were finally getting better. Why did my father have to sell me off?!
I hadn't walked that far away from the throne room when I felt something touch my shoulder. I turned around, forgetting all my anger as it was replaced by fear, to see Luke standing behind me. 'When did he get here?' I took a while for me to regain my composure and Luke probably noticed how startled I was since he didn't speak until my breathing had returned to normal.
"Al..." He started them sighed when he saw my sad face "I know this sounds bad but it's not as bad as you believe it yo be. Isn't this what you've always wanted, there will finally be peace, no more bloodshed."
It seemed like Luke already knew about my betrothment from the start. "Why didn't you tell me Luke?" I said holding back my tears. "Tell you what?" He asked seemingly clueless. "That was betrothed. That I'm engaged. That I'll be leaving in 4weeks married to a prince of Aragorn!" I yelled my tears leaking out the corners of my eyes.
"Like I said before some things are just too complicated but I promise I'll tell you everything when it's time and I'll make it all up to you."
"How about you make it up to me today? Father will listen to you, just tell him that I can't get married to the prince." I said desperately holding on to his shirt. "I'm sorry Al but I can't." He said his face conveying a pitiable expression.
"What?!"
"I can't. You just have to get married to the crown prince. It's what's for the best." He answered oddly calm again.
I stood in shock looking at him. "The crown prince." I muttered to myself.
"The crown prince?! The. Crown. Prince. Of Aragorn?" I yelled at him as the realization dawned on me. "You're with them aren't you? You're supposed to be on my side. What happened to siblings forever?
You do know the things they say about that man don't you? If even one of those things are true then you might have well just killed me. Of all the people who have turned on me, betrayed me, I never once expected you to be one of them. Guess I was wrong just like how I was wrong about everything else."
With that I turned away and ran straight to my room and into my garden, my favourite place on the world. And once I stepped foot in the garden, it was like my entire body had lost all its strength and I collapsed on the grass.
The pain caused by the impact was the final trigger that released a well of tears from my eyes.
I stayed on the grass sobbing for a while before I got up and laid down on my white swing in the garden. Inhaling the scent of the Lily Roses which always helped calm me down, I began thinking about my unfortunate dilemma, considering the pros and cons that may come with my marriage, thinking up plans to escape, but the truth was that there was nothing I could do about it.
And I think deep down I knew it too.
A/n: Sorry this came so late guys, alot of things popped up making my schedule a lot hectic. So to apologise further, I will be releasing 6 new chapters.