Flames In The Something

PROLOGUE

Good things make choosing difficult, Bad things leave no choice

~ Michelle Cohen Corasanti

Sallie Jezelle De Clare's P.O.V

I walked back and forth in my current room, sweat dripping off my forehead. I sat on the luxurious bed with a thud, feeling nervous. 

"Hey, Sallie, chill out!" Chloe, the mansion's butler, and my dearest friend stated.

"You don't get it, Chloe. I'm not going to marry that duke! For Heaven's sake, I'm just 23! I'm not sure why my father needs to be so unpleasant to me." I said it all while grasping my hair with both hands.

"All you have to do is confess," she remarked as she sat alongside me.

"No way, Sherlock!" I replied sarcastically. I had no choice but to marry the duke I didn't even know. Even though Chloe said he's a wonderful person, I just can't marry him or anyone else. I have been a princess since birth after all.

My conscience chided, 'Perks of Being a king's child!' I rolled my eyes internally at her.

I lay on the bed for a few minutes, staring at the ceiling, when this brilliant notion came to me. "How about I run away?" I said as I sat up fast, holding Chloe's hands in mine. 

"What?" she exclaimed, nearly tearing my eardrums."Slow down, girl!" I said looking at her with my eyes wide. She pulled away her hands from me and asked, "Are you crazy?" in the frigid voice she usually used for the servants.

I made a puppy face "Chloe, you know what I need in my life. I've always been a nice daughter, doing everything they asked, following all the rules, but all I wanted in exchange was happiness. And you know quite well that happiness for me is in the freedom that I never had." I told her about my feelings.

"Sallie, you are the princess of Canada; it is unavoidable. Your destiny is to become queen and carry on your heir's line! And how can you just go out like this when you don't even own this place?" Her tone was tinged with concern.

"Chloe, my throne is mine, and my crown is mine too! And once I take over, I won't be able to enjoy my life, and you know there's no other way to break the engagement" I sigh, knowing that my next words will hurt me, but I had to do it to seek my happiness. It was either now or never. "I'll marry the Duke as soon as I get back, please, just a week or two is all I need," I plead, trying to strike the vulnerable spot one more time.

.

.

- Half An Hour Later - 

"Is that it?" I inquire with Chloe while she executes the plan. She nods her head in agreement.

"All right," I responded, taking the bag Chloe had packed for me, which had some necessities such as a phone, a toothbrush, two sets of clothes, and a hair tie. I'm not sure if I need to carry anything more with me.

Chloe intended to turn off the main switch of the mansion we are now staying in. My father, a.k.a. the King of Canada, purchased this incredible mansion in New York City as a gift for my soon-to-be-fiancée as part of our engagement. As a result, he planned to make our engagement happen here itself. Many people from all across the world have been invited. Ministers, Royals, and everyone else, I just hope it's not too much of a deal for me to skip my engagement party.

Anyway, back to the plan: after she turns down the lights, I'm meant to go to the mansion's back entrance, where my cousin Liam De Clare would act to distract the guards and allow me to flee.

And, as far as I can tell, a cab is already waiting for me a short distance away.

'Why is Liam helping us, though?' my conscience wondered. Perhaps because I suspect something is going on between my closest friend and my cousin, I chuckled as I noticed them staring into each other's eyes for the last two minutes without moving. And the grins they're giving each other!

Eww! I might puke right now... It's not that I don't want to fall in love, but witnessing someone else be all lovey-dovey is not my thing. And Liam is my darling brother and Chloe's beloved someone, so I don't believe he'll refuse us, or will he? No, he won't since he's already assisting us.

I pretend to cough so that they both return to Earth."Let's get started!" I said, and we all gave one other one more look before nodding and continuing to our separate jobs."Remember your promise," Chloe remarked, and I just smiled back. The next thing I know, everything is happening so fast that I can't keep up.

As expected, Chloe and Liam reserved a car and a hotel room for me so that I would be safe as they could handle my father stating, 'your highness, she needed some time and don't worry she'll be back soon and she promised that she'll get married to Zane as soon as she returns.'

I see the cab waiting for me when I'm finally out and breathing the fresh air of freedom. I glance at it for a second or two before turning my legs and sprinting at full speed in the opposite direction. I know I'm not doing the right thing, but I don't have any other options. I know I'm betraying them by violating their trust, but I have no choice. No way am I going to be the queen of that place!

Sorry, Chloe!

Sorry, Liam!

But I was forced to do it... and I sincerely apologize. I hope they understand!

_______________________

Author's note:

I hope I didn't bore you and this part went well. Also, I know no one reads the author's note so not gonna waste your time and hope for you to cooperate with the book even in the character's bad time :)
Plus the book is complete fiction so I hope you just don't travel from your places to NYC in search of the princess.
Hoping for your support!
Lots of love!!!