Tap tap tap tap tap

The heel of my shoe tapped nervously against the floor of the carriage, which was the result of my nervousness as we were escorted to the castle. Once again, Alexei was seated opposite me. But unlike before, the air around him was thick and filled with tension. His head was down, his hair hiding his face from me so I couldn't see his expression. What I did see, though, was how he got noticeably tenser the closer we got to his home.

Was the king really that bad?

"Cynthia."

I flinched "Y-Yes, sire?"

"Please stop that horrendous tapping," he groaned, flicking his hair away from his face "It's distracting as all hell."

Well excuuuuuuuuuuse me, PRINCESS.

I huffed out in irritation, and rested my arm on the windowsill "Forgive me, I've never met a king before so I'm a tad nervous."

He let out an unamused laugh "Wait until you do meet him."

"W-What?"

"Nothing, just know he is not a Benevolent king like Elias." His eyes narrowed "When he walks into a ballroom, the party dies faster than a forest caught in a wildfire. And that's when he isn't enraged." The boy shivered slightly and adjusted his cloak "Cindy?"

My eyes widened. Since when did he call me that again "Y-Yes?"

"For your own safety, do not get on his bad side. I can't promise I can protect you from him."

"Protect me?" I almost laughed "Why would you even— I don't need protection, especially not from you."

"You will do if you keep that attitude up. I suggest you come to terms with your situation, my queen. Because without my father's approval, you won't survive a week in Roseya. He'll make sure of it."

I shrunk back in my seat. Empty threat or not, the way he said that had me terrified for what was in store for me as soon as I walk through those royal castle doors. Would they stay shut for good?

"I-I understand..." I muttered, my hair falling over my face to hide myself from his eyes. I was three years his senior, and yet I felt so small compared to him.

—-

I was dragged off by at least ten maids as soon as I stepped out of the coach. Shane did try and snatch me back, but Lizza stopped him and said I'll be back with him when I was 'presentable'. I honestly found that to be an insult; what was wrong with what I was wearing now?

"How on earth did you wash this?" One of the maids held up my dress as I was helped into the bath "It's filthy, and discoloured!"

"I think it's fine, as long as it's wearable."

"You call this wearable? Did you not have anything in Beliak?"

"I made do." I pouted and sunk my head further into the bath, until everything under the tip of my nose was submerged.

"Oh you poor girl," another maid cooed as she began shampooing my hair "Well it's a good thing Prince Alexei saved you from that place."

I scoffed, which caused a few bubbles to rise. He's the one I need saving from.

"Okay, Princess!" an older looking maid barged in with two... tents on each arm "You have a choice of two gowns. Choose wisely, you must be presentable for the king!"

Staring at each gown, I scrunched my nose up in disgust. This is what the king wanted to see?!

"I'm not wearing those."

"Oh but you must!" The maid washing my hair gasped "King Albert has a very strict taste and will only acknowledge the fairest maidens! You should feel honoured!"

Oh I am honoured, lady. Honoured to be threatened, engaged against my will, taken to a foreign land with my best friend, ordered around by a kid, and forced into a tent while being told all this is an honour!

I sighed. For mother and father...

"The blue one." I muttered, nodding towards the sky coloured piece of fabric. It was immensely less hideous than the other one, but still something I'd rather not be caught dead in. The girls seemed satisfied with my answer, and therefore yanked me out the bathtub and into a soft white towel. I was dragged over to a large mirror, where they proceeded to dry, dress, and slap makeup on me. One maid grabbed my hair tightly, causing me to wince, and began doing it up in a tight braided bun. It was uncomfortable, but I wasn't going to tell them that.

"And... there!" One of the younger maids piped up once she had finished colouring my lips a deep rouge colour "Now you look like a princess, fit for our prince!"

Looking at myself up and down, I noticed how much skinnier this dress made me seem. It looked unhealthy, just like the situation I was in. My face, though pampered and prettied up, was sad under all the makeup. These girls thought my situation was an honour....

I thought it was a nightmare...

I was lead down the hallway by a short brunette maid with rounded glasses. She was tense, with her back turned to me at all times. She hadn't said a word to me since she came in to say I was needed in the throne room, as if she was afraid of me or something...

"Hey, umm..." I began, trying to sound as friendly as possible "You don't have to be afraid of me, I don't bite."

The girl tensed, her shoulders rising slightly, but she still walked in silence. After a moment however, she let out something barely above a whisper.

"I'm not afraid... I'm just not allowed to talk to you..."

What?

"U-Umm, okay then. Sorry." I murmured with a tad bit of guilt. I didn't want her getting into trouble... not on my account.

And so we continued down the hall in silence, until we found ourselves in front of large double doors. They seemed important somehow, which for some reason made my knees slightly weak. The maid bowed and scurried off, leaving me alone to stare at the oddly terrifying piece of decorated wood in front of me.

"Holy cow."

I turned around to the familiar voice of my best friend, seeing him look me up and down in what looked like shock. Next to him was Lizza, who seemed to be giving my dress a 'not again' pout.

"You look..." Shane paused, biting his lip "Beautiful."

I huffed "Cut the crap, Shannon, you know I look like an upside down spinning top. I wasn't even giving much of a choice."

"So this isn't your preferred style?"

"Absolutely not."

"Oh thank God," the tan male placed a hand to his armoured chest "I mean if it was, I'd support you, but this is just..."

"Blergh?" Lizza finished with a fake gag, and Shane pointed to her.

"Exactly!"

"Yeah well King Albert has very... questionable tastes in women." The female guard ran a hand through her carrot coloured hair "Thank God he didn't pass that quirk onto Alexei, or god forbid what he'd make me wear for uniform..."

Shane and I winced at the image.

"As true as that statement is..." A calm, yet slightly exasperated voice came from behind the two guards "He is still the king and his approval means everything at this time."

Shane and Lizza jumped aside to reveal the prince in a very... questionable garment. Those pants hardly looked comfortable and the navy blue coat seemed to drown the poor thirteen year old. He didn't seem too happy, due to him fiddling with his collar with his lips pursed together.

Well then... I guess he didn't get a say either. For some reason that made me feel slightly satisfied.

"Anyway," he coughed and joined my side, offering an arm to me "When we go in I must present you as my fiancé, and it is in your best interest to stay quiet unless my father speaks to you. Understand?"

I said nothing.

"Cynthia?"

"You told me not to speak unless the king said otherwise."

Alexei let out a huff, which had me sniggering. Even Shane and Lizza seemed to be struggling to hide their amusement.

"Those status climbers suddenly aren't looking so bad, huh princey?" I whispered, which had his jaw clenching to the point I could hear his teeth crunch.

Was it uncalled for? Probably.

Did I regret it? Hell no!

With a final giggle I linked arms with the prince, who was trying his best to keep his calm. I knew all this was putting a lot of pressure on him, but I wasn't one to sympathise with a life ruiner. He wants me as queen, he better expect Hell.

"Alright..." He let out a final sigh and knocked on the doors "Let's get this over with."

"Agreed."

The doors were opened by a pair of guards dressed in red and blue, who bowed to us silently as we walked by them. Lizza and Shane were just behind us, as if they were representing us, as we walked down a long red carpet.

Until we stood in front of a throne.

The king was everything I expected him to be. Big. Menacing. Dark hair and dark beard. Paralysing crimson gaze. Yeah; he was Alexei's father alright.

Almost as if they had been programmed, Lizza and Shane dropped to one knee either side of the prince and I, bowing before King Albert with their heads down. I felt like I should do the same, but Alexei held tightly onto my arm keeping me in place.

"You curtsy when he addresses you, and state your full name along with your kingdom." He whispered before leaving my side momentarily to bow towards his father "Father, I have returned from Belliak."

"So I see." The king hummed resting his chin upon his fist "So I assume your task was successful?"

"It was."

Albert's eyes focused on me, which made me flinch slightly "And who is this maid? Did you pick her up along with your fiancé?"

Maid? Pick up?!

Alexei glanced at me from over his shoulder, his crimson eyes flickering with guilt for a split second "Your majesty... this is my fiancé."

I believe that is my cue.

"Cynthia Livius of Belliak, sir." I declared through a clenched jaw, curtsying stiffly under a stern gaze.

King Albert's eyes narrowed at me, before they turned back to his son "This is your fiancé?"

Everyone in the room flinched.

"Alexei, I told you to find a queen, not a street mouse."

Alexei straightened "Father, that's not—"

But his father only raised a silencing hand "Look at her, son. Is that what Roseya expects from a king? Has our legacy stooped so low that we pick up child bearers from the streets? Have you no shame? Did you really just spend your time in Belliak prancing around with that!"

Shane jolted next to me, his armour clattering as he angrily quaked. I didn't blame him; king or not I was so close to socking this snob in the nose. No one in my entire life had made me feel so invalid, so insignificant.

"Elizabeth," Albert sighed out "I thought I told you to keep a close watch on my son, and yet you let him disappoint me with this unworthy result?"

"With all due respect," Lizza looked up at the king "Cynthia has a lot of potential to—"

"I don't want potential, I want results! You women are all the same, full of disappointment and pointless excuses!"

I couldn't take it anymore. I began to cry... The painful sting of his venomous words made tears pool and burst from my eyes. It was humiliating; crying in front of royalty with makeup running down my face. And it was even more so when King Albert was yelling at me to shut up.

"That is enough, father!"

Alexei's sudden yell paused all movement in the room. He stood between me and his father with a tight stance, hands clenched at his sides as he spoke.

"Shannon, Elizabeth."

The two guards stood to attention.

"Please take Cynthia to her room, away from my father."

With little to no complaint, Shane took my quaking body into his arms and lead me out of the room in silence. Lizza was at my side, her hand on my shoulder as if to offer me support while we walked down the halls. It wasn't long until we made it to my assigned room, which Lizza opened the door of to let us inside.

"I think it's best you leave us." Shane muttered to the Roseyan guard "Go see if your prince is okay."

Lizza said nothing, but by the sound of the door closing I assume she left Shane and I in peace. That was Alexei's father? Well, now I knew why he was so nervous... and those warnings he gave me were useless. I didn't even say anything and Albert had chewed me up and spat me out like I was nothing.

Well, he sure made me feel like nothing.

"Cindy, look at me." Shane sighed out after a moment of silence, using his fingers to lift my chin up "Don't you dare think what that snob said was true. He ain't worth the self loathe. You may not be worthy in his eyes, but to everyone who knows you you're a damn queen."

"Shane..."

"C'mere..." He pulled me into a tight embrace after wiping my face with his thumbs "I swore an oath to protect you... so as long as I'm beside you, he won't be saying that crap again."

—-

How dare he... how dare that royal brute.

A few minutes after Cindy had left, Alexei had also stormed out of the throne room while ignoring his father's angry protests. In a quiet rage, he marched towards the training room and shrieked at any poor guard training to get out. And now here he was, his coat discarded to reveal a cream shirt, a sword in his hand slicing up a dummy with no mercy.

The door opened, but he ignored it. Whoever entered would probably see him in here and probably feel too awkward to stay. However, they didn't move. They were just staring at him with an unwavering expression. He knew what that meant.

"Come away from the door, Lizza."

"I didn't know you were back to calling me that."

Alexei let out a humourless laugh and ran a hand through his sweaty hair "You're off the hook for now... I think you've had enough of the Charoice family talking trash about you."

This time she didn't answer, which had the young teen turning to her in concern. It only evolved into anger when he saw her arms crossed tightly over her chest, and her eyes fixed on the floor. He did however keep his cool long enough to ask a question.

"How is she?"

Lizza sighed "Pretty horrible."

Al's jaw clenched "That bastard."

"Alexei, watch your language!"

"I don't care right now, Lizza! King or not, he shall not disrespect a woman in my presence!" He declared sternly "he tasked me to find a queen, not a concubine, and with the right education a queen she can become! I didn't bring her here to be shamed over something that isn't her fault!"

He turned to the dummy again and raised his sword, slicing right through the fabric until two halves lay by his feet. He had been taught to respect women by his mother; a kind and loving queen and even more so as a parent. She died when Al was only five years old, yet to this day her lessons stuck with him. That was probably why he was so mad.

That, and he felt at fault.

If only he had more time... maybe he would have found a willing bride to win his father's twisted approval... maybe Cindy wouldn't be in this mess. Maybe she and Lizza wouldn't have been shamed...

Yet again because of his father, him and everyone he dragged into his mess was as miserable as can be...