The Royal Reign

There she were walking through the castle gardens as the fresh spring grass was dripping with morning dew, the sun hit every piece of grass and flower in sight cssting an early afternoon shadow. Princess Angeline gazed at the pretty tulips and roses mesmerized by there torns and soft petals, she plucked out a single red rose she tugged carefully to not get pricked by a sharp thorn, “he loves me” she plucked at the roses petals and dropped each petal to the floor. “He loves me not” she then continue to pluck each petal off the rose completely, “he loves me” she said with the last petal in her hand, “I don’t even know if he truly loves me” she questioned herself referring to prince Liam, his father arranged for them to be wedded once the war had finished but Angeline wants to marry for true love not because of some peace treaty between two kingdoms.

“Your highness the prince is arriving shortly we must be at the entrance once he arrives, this will show A gesture of respect and manners as a princess” Julie told Angeline, Julie is her lady in waiting always around to make sure Angeline executes her duties in a responsible, timely manner.

As both of them walked towards the entrance of the castle Angeline asked Julie for advice, “Ju I know what you will say to my problem but I want to know what you will do in my position” Julie gave Angeline a ‘continue’ expression. “Well- I do not know if I want to marry prince Liam” Angeline told her and Julie stopped in place her feet glued to the tile floor, “come again? Angeline you must marry the prince, is it the only peaceful outcome for both kingdoms” Julie replied in a serious tone “if your father or the prince’s father were to here you, it would be war all over once more” Julie said in a frightening tone “we wouldn’t want that now, I understand you want to follow your heart but hear me out” Julie paused and place a hand on Angeline’s shoulder “you have everything you need and more, you are born to be a ruler even if it not what you desire entirely. This is your entire kingdom at stake I would think about it and at the end of the day it is your decision if you want to marry the prince or not, however get to know him and maybe he is the love of your life” Julie smiled inspiring Angeline to go forward with the marriage yet keep in mind her true desires.

“Thank you Ju, I feel better after that life changing talk” Angeline exaggerated, “do not mention it” Julie replied sarcastically. Suddenly the trumpets can be heard from the other side of the castle “your prince has arrived” Julie winked and lastly told Angeline “see you in a bit enjoy your afternoon” she turned the other direction heading towards the kitchen telling a nearby servant to prepare a tea lunch party.

Then Angeline proceeded on the direction towards her soon to be husband, she exited the front of the castle as his carriage was outside he opened the door to the carriage and stepped out, he was followed by his small entourage of people. Angeline did not expect him to be high maintenance at all, he saw Angeline waiting for him up the steps of the castle as he proceeded in her direction his entourage followed closely behind judging the castle from the outside, “nice to meet you my name is prince Liam of Graham” he took Angeline’s hand in his and slightly bowed and pressed his soft subtle lips onto the back of her hand, she bowed in return “pleasure is all mine” Angeline replied in a sweet smile her eyes getting lost in his “mind if I show you around, while they are preparing for tea” Angeline asked before assuming he would enjoy tea “sure I would love too” he replied courteous, he turned around and shooed off his entourage to be alone with Angeline and get to know his future bride to be and make the most of their time together.

As they walked through the castles grand hallways, they walked side by side in complete silence for a moment. Until Angeline decided to break the awkwardness silence “how was your journey here from Graham?” she asked twiddling her fingers “it was good thank you” he replied smiling and rubbing the back of his head unsure what else to reply back, “Do you think marrying will help our kingdoms?” Angeline asked bravely, Liam paused for a moment to think “I do think the war will end once we are betrothed” he looked down at Angeline’s hand and grabbed it gently “let us get to know each other since we are destined to be together after all” Liam said as he held Angeline’s hand high and gave her the right of way to walk in front of him.

They chatted for a bit about their interests, hobbies, and they were stumbling on who they use to fancy when Julie found them and called them to the dinning hall for some tea and sweets. “You must meet Julie she is my lady in waiting, I trust her as if she were my own sister” Angeline introduced Liam and Julie, but what she didn’t know would happened occurred in that moment “well, I did not know your lady in waiting would be this beautiful” Liam said as he took Julie’s hand and pressed his lips firmly onto the back of her hand, Julie with a confused expression just courtesies out of respect, and waits for Angeline to come up with something but she was to stunned to see how dazzling her future husband was with her lady in waiting.

Totally was not apart of the plan she had in mind, “Julie would you mind waiting for me in my room” Angeline tried to play it off, but Liam insisted Julie join them for tea and sweets. “Tell me about yourself” Liam asked Julie completely ignoring Angeline, both girls looked at each other as if this was a joke, it was indeed real. “I think I should be helping in the kitchen and give you and the princess alone time” Julie had suggested, the prince butted in “well once I am king I get one mistress, and I was deciding who will fill that position and I can see clearly it is you Julie, your relationship with Angeline is sisterly so I don’t think it will be entirely bad, once Angeline and I marry and then to announce a mistress” Liam finished his proposal, it was completely silent that the mouses from the inside of the walls could be heard.

Julie stayed silent and let Angeline speak for her “she declines that offer” she told him folding her arms over one another, “I thought it be a good idea since when you are baring our child one day, I can carry down my line and bare another with children too” Angeline froze at his words “that is what my father has done and his father, it is a tradition in my line to keep it growing no matter what the situation or circumstances” Liam replied sternly and stubborn to understand he cannot just put his traditions and boundaries over another kingdom and it’s tradition’s.

“You are in my kingdom and as my future husband, we have to agree on the same thing all the time, ruling a kingdom together is important to me it is not just about baring children” Angeline defended herself, Julie and her kingdom. “We will discuss this another time but for the meanwhile I order to keep Julie around, I like her presence” Liam ordered, Angeline rolled her eyes “well Liam she only listens to my orders because she is my lady in waiting unfortunately” Angeline flexed a fake smile. “Whatever I always get my way” Liam scoffed as he sipped his tea, “Julie wait for me upstairs and run a bath for me” Julie quickly left the room as Angeline ordered and she did not look back, “you make my servants uncomfortable and my self” Angeline told him “I might have to discuss this inappropriate behavior with my father prince Liam, I guess this marriage was a mistake and never was supposed to be arranged” Angeline said in a snarky voice and adding her detailed scolding to Liam with a smile at the end. “Oh okay let us see how this plays out princess, because I always get what I want, that may be you and your lady in waiting” he replied with the same sarcasm, curling his lips into a smile “I wouldn’t wait around to find another prince if I were you” as soon as he finished his statment, her father and his father bust through the doors entering the dinning hall, they both stood startled by their entrance. “Father” Liam said as for Angeline she stood in silence until they both began to speak “hello children I see a wonderful time you are having and enjoying each other’s company alone” Liam’s father says and ends his statment with a wink towards Liam, as for Angeline’s father “daughter I hope you are enjoyjng yourself, and Liam thank you very much for watching over my little girl” her father smiled at Liam.

“Oh of course your majesty it is my responsibility to our kingdoms” he replied in a fake tone and grabbed onto Angeline’s hand to make her and his father believe their love story, “young love” his father sighed. “We we’re discussing the flower arrangements” Angeline pitched in to also make it believable, once both king’s were deceived by their children they left to the library to have a meeting between themselves.

“Let go of me” Angeline snatches her hand from his grip and in a face of clear disgust, “you can’t back out now princess” he laughed and plopped back down onto his seat and propped his feet onto the table, “looks like I might stay here for a while and get to know this kingdom after all you are my wife soon to be” he said with a smug smirk and his eyes are cold, “we will see about that” Angeline spat those words and marched out of the room towards her own hoping Julie would have a plan to send prince baby maker back to his kingdom for good.