WHEN HANA curtsied to me, I panicked. I didn’t want her to feel like she was with royalty, but more like her best friend. “Rise,” She did. “What do you want with me, your majesty?” I shook my head, telling her she didn’t have to call me that. My eyes met hers. The words melted off my tongue, sounding like mush on hers. I couldn’t help but drift my eyes away from hers, landing on her lips. I imagined how soft and warm they would be pressed against mine. “What should I call you?” My eyes snapped back to hers. I smiled. “Louie,” She asked me another question. I answered truthfully, but still couldn’t stop running my gaze down her soft, long, brown hair and onto her lips. I loved the way they changed shape so easily. I saw out of the corner of my eye her blush turning deeper. I offered a tiny smile, eyes flicking from hers to her lips, trying to decide which I liked better. I was standing so close to her! I could grab her hand and test my theory on how warm and soft they would be. I swung my arms at my side to rid myself of the urge. I took a deep breath and stepped closer to her, opening my mouth to tell her how I really felt about her. And why I was here. The door slammed on the other side of the wall, and Father came storming through. He grabbed my collar again, and dragged me out of the school. The carriage ride home was long and boring. I sighed as I watched the road pass by under us, thoughts on those eyes. Soon, the castle came into view. It towered high above the roof of the carriage. We went through the high-security gates, bumping over the drawgate bridge that had already been lowered. The castle was well-kept. The paintings hanging from the stone walls depicted the first king, King Vigilius Ouellette I and his wife, Queen Rona Selena Balliol Ouellette I, and all the past kings and queens. A crystal chandelier hung low from the high ceiling of the entrance hall. The room was mostly empty. Stairs towered to the upper levels in front of us, splitting into the two sides of the second level. The stone tile clopped with the sound of our feet as we climbed them to my room. “You are not allowed out of your room for the next few weeks,” my father said, “Sophie will bring you your meals. You are not to talk to anyone other than her, or any substitute for her. Even then, you cannot say anything other than what you would like of them.” I nodded, gazing around at my room. It was the same as I had left it; doused in green. The four-poster bed had dark green curtains tied back over the dark wood. I sighed, and sank onto the lighter green silk sheets as my father left. The chaise pressed against the wall was made of a forest-green fabric. A desk stood next to it, the mirror’s rim painted a different shade of green. The seat tucked under it had a cushion of the same green. I fell asleep. I heard a knock on my door when I woke up that morning, I opened it, eager for someone to talk to. “Hello, you’re highness,” the girl at the door said. I nodded, avoiding her hazel eyes for fear of bursting into tears. She had a tray stacked with toast and eggs. My mouth watered. This would be the first time I got any decent food in months. She placed it on the coffee table in the center of the room. “Would you like anythin’ else, your highness?” “No thank you, Sophie,” I replied. “Alrighty then,” she smiled. My eyes burned. “I’ll see you again at noontime,” she curtsied and left. I stayed in bed all day, only coming out when I heard a knock at my door when Sophie came with another meal. At about two o’clock that day, I heard a knock on my door. I knew it wasn’t Sophie, she had already come, bearing hot onion soup and a cup of water. “Come in,” I sighed. “Vigilius,” “Yes Father?” I groaned. “The Prichards are coming for the wedding in two days. They will be staying for two months, and leaving.” I moaned again. I don’t want to meet my betrothed. I thought bitterly. “If you insist on knowing your betrothed before you wed, you must.” I shook my head. “I don’t even want to marry her.” Father sighed, sinking onto the padded seat next to my bed. “I understand how you feel, but we can’t afford to lose this war.” I exhaled a long breath. What about my future? I still think she could somehow turn out to be a spy! In my silence, he stood up. “You are to be well-behaved around them, and try to get to know your affianced,” he walked out. “Good riddance!” I mumbled.
Haha! Guess what, folks? I MADE IT TO 168 PAGES! I added some stuff, but still. ONE SIX EIGHT! It's amazing. -OREO out
