Written In The Stars

Chapter 2: Betting On Romance

Even though it was my father, who was beginning to stiffen in some areas, I was anxious to get the challenge over and done with, I was our best warrior and I knew that I if I held back I wouldn't hurt him but I could get him to yield.
Without hesitation I swung my blade over my head and into the floor of the platform, where his leg had been before he moved it out of the way and kicked my legs from under me, sending me falling backwards to the floor.
A little surprised, I used my instant reflexes and jumped back up, only to be met with his fist into my gut sending me straight back down again.
I couldn't believe what was happening, my father had trained me and most of our most senior knights and he was extremely skilled, I had no doubt of this, but the man was 50 and to look at him you'd think him about 20 years older, his eyelids dropped over his eyes, making his bright blue irises look a dull grey, his jawline had disappeared, his cheeks were wrinkled and loose and he complained more about his back pain every week, how could he possibly have this much fight still in him.

I had no problem with dances, in fact I loved having the occasional dress up as much as the next princess, and parties were as much my scene as a battlefield, but I refused to be forced to attend, with the entire kingdom gazing upon me, with a complete imbecile.
So on that thought I swung my head back and kicked my leg, hitting my father clean in the jaw knocking him back, regret instantly washed over me but once he realised I wasn't going to back down he grabbed the mace that was on the floor and swung it making me roll out of the way, and knock him in the back with the blunt side of the sword, sending him face first onto the floor.
He rolled over and flung the mace at my chest but I grabbed the chain and pulled it out of his hand, flinging it to the side and pointed the tip of my blade to his neck.
Just when I had thought I won, I noticed a shine of pain in his eyes and that he had one of his hands on his back as he was lying on it, I knew I should of stayed clear of his spine, "father!?"
I kneeled down and was about to help him up when he took the sword out of my hand, kneed me in the ribs and rolled on top of me, "So I'll see you in my office after breakfast to discuss the terms of your "date"."
He got up, handed the sword to Francis and they walked away, whilst I just lay there in complete shock.

I had been introduced to many a suitor ever since I turned 13, I was once even to be engaged, but if there was one fairytale princess cliche that I had to agree on, it would be true love.
I wasn't a sappy person or overly emotional, but I have made it very clear to everyone in my family that I refuse to rule over my kingdom, with my duties and responsibilities for however long I may reign, with someone I do not love.

After I had done some more training with the shotguns and a punching bag, I ran upstairs to take a shower, standing under the steamy water for just a few extra moments to release the tension in my muscles, before I stepped out and wrapped a towel around my body, as I stepped out of the bathroom I was stopped by my reflection in the mirror and I had to admit, whoever the lucky bastard was he wouldn't be disappointed with his dance partner for the night.
I stepped out of the bathroom and threw on a mini skirt and a blouse, my mother had informed me earlier we were going to an art gallery opening later and I know that the public eye doesn't see me as a boring rule follower but I wasn't going to show up in jeans and a crop top or my mother would faint.
I quickly towel dried my hair and let it my naturally wavy chestnut hair loose around my shoulders, I had quite long hair because I didn't like cutting it but it never got in the way when I needed to focus.

I ran downstairs and grabbed an apple from a China bowl in the middle of the island in our personal use kitchen, for baking or light snack we wanted to make ourselves, I didn't often have breakfast so this was a usual occurrence, as I walked down towards my fathers study, I figured I may as well get this little chat over with.
I met his secretary at her desk on the way in and smiled at her warmly, I didn't talk to her much as she was quite shy but she was a genuinely nice person and she let him know through the intercom that I was coming, but I still knocked the door to be respectful, "Enter,"

"Gwen, there you are, did you have a chance to grab some breakfast this morning or did you just skip your morning meal like every other day of the week?" He enquired, not in a stern sense, more like a fatherly concern for my diet, I took another bite of my apple and he took that as a no.
"Now I won't bother you too much with the details so that you can sort any personal questions you have about him when you talk to him yourself, so there's no need to sit down. I know you had your doubts about the potential suitors your mother and I have suggested in the past,"

"That's an understatement." I mumbled, to which he lightly shook his head,

"But I do think it's high time you started looking towards the future, I'm not getting any younger you know." He sighed lighting a cigar.

I sighed with a trace of guilt, "I know father."

"His name is Dominic Masen, he's next in line for the thrown of Valencia, he's very rich, very powerful and he's quite the ladies man, the public love him.
His father, King Erik is a friend of mine and even though he's a charmer, he's a good kid Gwen.
All I'm asking is you give him a chance, get to know him."
I thought to myself for a moment, ladies man ugh, he's probably an ass, but if it means so much to them then I'll play nice.
"Glad to hear it," I looked up and realised I'd said that out loud, "You better run on if you're to be at that museum for 3 for the introductions and the press." He reminded me.

"Art gallery." I corrected before I lifted one of his cigarettes and lighted it before tossing him the lighter and walking out.

- What do we think Dominic will be like?

- Follow for more updates on "Written in the stars" and see what happens next in Chapter 3: "Cameras Flashing"

- Thank you for reading! Xx