The Runaway Princess

Prologue

Princess Emerald was pacing around her room. She wasn't happy and this was because of the decision her parents, especially her father made for her. Dylan, her elder brother and best friend came in looking sad. "Father won't agree" he said sadly. "What do we do now?" Emerald asked already in tears. They were silent for a while. "Run away" he suddenly said. "What!" Emerald exclaimed. She was surprised her brother would suggest such. "Yes. Run away. I know it sounds like a crazy idea but I want you to be happy and the kind of happiness I want for you cannot be found here." He said. "I have never left the palace walls on my own before talk less of living outside the palace" Emerald said. "I know and I'm going to make sure you are safe and comfortable. I promise" he said.

Princess Emerald was seventeen years old. She had been betrothed for as long as she could remember. Prince Austin and Princess Emerald had been friends when they were younger but as soon as Austin became a teenager, he never visited Emerald unless it was for an event. They were more like strangers. In the years of their separation, Austin had changed a whole lot. He used women for his pleasure and treated them like dirt.  Dylan feared for his sister and that's why he made the suggestion if running away.

Prince Dylan was twenty years old and the crown prince. He met his betrothed two years before, before his eighteenth birthday. It was love at first sight for him but not so for her. She tried to escape from her house when she heard about the betrothal and as punishment she was taken to the palace to live there. They were engaged during his eighteenth birthday celebration. Dylan convinced his parents to put the marriage on hold until they were ready. He did this so that he'll win her over before the marriage. Elizabeth, Dylan's betrothed wasn't royalty but her parents were very good friends with Dylan's parents.

Emerald pretended everything was alright but in secret, she and her brother were planning her escape. They made a fake ID with a fake name. Dylan secured a job for her. Emerald loved the business world and her father gave her the opportunity to study business administration. Dylan used this to secure a job for her as the Secretary to the CEO of Secrets Empire. He bought a three bedroom flat that was tastefully furnished. He also purchased a black venza and a cream Camry for her. He also employed a woman in her fifties to look after the house and Emerald.

They fixed their escape for night to reduce suspicion. On the night she was to leave, she dyed her golden curly hair black and straightened it. Emerald who wasn't a fan of makeup used it to change her look. She used contact lens to change the color of her eyes. Dylan booked a night flight to New York. She left her phone on her bed with an apology note. "I'll give you a call as soon as I get another phone." Emerald said and he nodded. "I'll keep you informed and let you know when it's safe for come back home." He said and kissed her forehead. Tears were already running down her face. Dylan felt like he would cry but he kept it in. "Please, don't cry" he said wiping her tears. His sister's tears were his weakness. Her flight was announced. "We don't want you missing your flight now, do we?" He asked smiling. She smiled back and shook her head in the negative. She picked up the medium sized bag of her belongings. She kissed his cheek before running away to board the plane.

Dylan woke up the next morning to see that the palace was upside down. "What's going on?" He asked a maid. "The princess has gone missing" she said. It then reoccurred to Dylan that Emerald was gone. He stood there frozen. He just begin to think about the consequences of Emerald's absence in the palace. Nothing would ever be the same anymore. "This is all your fault." He said to his father with so much anger. Dylan locked himself in his room and refused to come out. The queen had to beg Elizabeth to check on him since he wouldn't allow anyone in. Elizabeth was the only one Dylan allowed in his room. Elizabeth opened up to Dylan and they became friends. From there their relationship bloomed.