His Royal Highness

Invitation

After a very eventful outing we headed back to the manor, I felt good after seeing Vi even for a short time. I could hear people talking outside as my carriage went through town, even Violet was uncomfortable with all the chatter.
"It's okay, I'm used to it." I said to her with a smile.
"How can you be used to this milady?" she asked me, I looked out the window.
"I've been sheltered my whole life... I've come to accept gossip about "The Black Princess". I said. I know about the rumors from my friends who always come and tell me everything happening in the world outside my manor, I've come to accept that everyone looks at me like some rare gem.
"Do you know why they call you The Black Princess milady?" she asked me.
"My very long and unusual black hair and bright blue eyes, the fact that my father kept me home all the time... I am very mysterious aren't I?" I said with a giggle. My hair hit the back of my ankles and was a pure black color, my father said it was like my mother's hair. My eyes are as blue as the sky and I get that from my father, I always felt different but black hair isn't that unusual blue eyes with black hair that is unusual to people. my skin was as soft as cotton and didn't need makeup like most noble women, I suspect that's the main reason why most noble women don't want anything to do with me.
"I could steal the hearts of all the men in this country and not even try." I said, Rin sighed.
"Do you think you're cursed milady?" she asked me.
"no, I think I'm just me." I said with a smile, she smiled back.

We finally reached the manor and were greeted by my father's secretary which wasn't a good sign at all, I exited the carriage with his help.
"Lady Aria, your father was very worried about you being out in town today and would like to have a word with you, If you please." he said, I nodded and headed for Father's office. I became anxious the closer I got, he never called me to his office for a good reason. I knocked on the door and he told me to enter, I opened the door and he was sitting at his desk.
"Hello father, You summoned me?" I said as I curtsied.
"You have been invited to a tea party. You will be attending this one. No exceptions." He said without even looking at me.
"A tea party? for whom?" I asked, and his secretary stepped in.
"For Lady Mary of House Martin." he said, I gasped.
"Her? You want me to go to her tea party? Father, you know she's the reason I'm called The Black Princess why would you send me there—" he stands up.
"You are going. Leave." he said, I huffed and left his office. I entered my room and slammed the door shut, I have never been more pissed off at my father than I am now.
"Why is he doing this to me?" I said, I grabbed a pillow and threw it at the balcony door.
"It's like he wants me to be hurt..." I said.

I sat on the couch when I heard a tapping sound from my balcony door. I jumped up grabbed the candle holder and walked towards the door, I heard the tapping again. I go to the side of the door and open it and as I swing the candle holder a hand grabs mine.
"HELP M—" his hand covers my mouth, pushes me back into my room, and closes the door.
"It's me!" he says, I open my eyes and see Vi. He releases me and I slap him in the face.
"W-what was that for?" he asked me holding his face.
"Why the hell would you do something like that to me?" I said to him, he looked at me with searing grey eyes and smiled.
"You look so cute when you're flustered." he said, I took a step back and clutched my chest. How could such a man speak to a lady? 
"We barely know each other and you are coming to my room so late in the evening why?" I asked him as I took another step back, my perception of him had slightly changed after what just happened, I could always just scream for help but I didn't want him to die for entering a Duke's daughter's room. He took a step forward and my heart jumped out of my chest, I took a step back again but this time I stepped on something and could feel myself falling back, I closed my eyes when I felt a hand around my waist I opened my eyes and Vi was staring directly at me with his piercing grey eyes. My heart was jumping completely out of my chest at this point and I could feel his strong long finger on my waist, I knew I was blushing when I saw him smirk.
"You are a very clumsy woman." He said I felt my face get hot as he lifted me to my feet. I brushed myself off and straightened my clothes.
"You are a very disrespectful man." I said as I walked passed him onto the balcony.
"If I'm so disrespectful..." he says as he walks closer to me.
"then what do you call an unmarried woman..." he gets closer.
"who lets an unmarried man.." he's right behind me.
"sleep in her bed?" he whispers into my ear.

 I felt my body tense up and weaken as he spoke in my ear, his voice was so soft yet dominating all at once.
"I-I didn't let you sleep with me you ended up in my bed." I said he chuckles.
"A Lady shouldn't say such words." he says with a smile, I huff and turn back to face the garden.
"You are unbearable." I said to him, he was such a commoner... I don't know why I ever thought he was different than other men.
"Why are you here?" I asked him, he stood next to me.
"Is it bad that I wanted to see you?" he said, my eyes widened but I didn't let him see my reaction.
"I-It is..." I said softly.
"You wouldn't happen to be going to a Tea party?" Vi asked me, I looked at him in shock. How did he know? Was he listening to me and Father?
"Y-yes I am. Tomorrow evening. Lady Mary of House Martin." I said, I huffed and rested my chin on my hand.
"You don't like her?" he asked me.
"No... Have you heard of The Black Princess?" I asked him, he shook his head.
"Well... she's a cold-hearted and vicious woman who crushes those who betray her." I said.
"She sounds simple to me." Vi said.
"When she was at a Tea party a group of noble women were chatting and disrespectfully mentioned her mother, so she grabbed a fork and put it through the lady's hand and said "Speak of my mother again and I'll end your whole line." after that no one invited her anywhere... she was locked away in her home." I said.

 I felt my stomach start to hurt speaking of this.
"How old was she?" Vi asked.
"Eight years old..." I said.
"So she's been locked away in her home for Ten years?" He asked, I nodded. I turned to look at him in his eyes.
"I'm The Black Princess." I told him, his eyes widened.
"That's why you were so excited to be outside? You have been locked away here..." he said, I nodded and looked back out into the garden which was now glittering with fireflies and lanterns.
"Yes... My father has very high connections so only the highest nobles and those who were in that room know what happened. But even so rumors about why I never showed my face started from Mary who hated me since we were kids..." I said. Before Vi could speak I heard a knock at my door and he jumped off the side of the balcony, I rushed back into my room and closed the doors. Violet entered my room.
"Milady, are you alright? You haven't come to dinner yet your father sent m-" I interrupt her.
"You don't have to lie anymore, Violet... Father doesn't care about me." I said as I walked up to her.
"Milady I-" I smile at her.
"I've accepted it." I said as I walked past her and down to dinner. All I could think about was Vi's face when I told him I was The Black Princess, he looked so satisfied and excited about it but also kept his cool. Who is this man? Why does he have such an interest in me? Why do I have an interest in him? He's a commoner and acts like a bandit...
"He's so frustrating!" I yell.
"Milady?" Violet says I forgot she was behind me. I laugh it off and we continue walking to the dining hall. 

I entered the hall and there was my father sitting down eating, he never waits for me. I sat down and started eating, it was silent for the majority of dinner when he finally chose to speak.
"I have chosen a new husband for you." Father said I stopped eating.
"W-What do you mean?" I asked him.
"You are a young duchess you will be married before your nineteenth birthday." He said, I turn nineteen in six months who does he expect me to marry?
"And who are you selling me to now?" I said to him in a snarky tone, he slammed his hand on the table.
"Watch your tone young lady." he said as he straightened up his clothes.
"I have talked with The King and Queen and you will marry The Prince." he said, my body felt numb and I could feel my throat getting tighter.
"No! I refuse to marry such a horrible man!" I yelled as I slammed my hands on the table and stood up, I could feel tears falling down my face.
"This isn't a discussion Aria. You will marry The Prince a week before your birthday. You will also be meeting the prince in one week when he returns so I suggest... You get yourself together before then." Father said as he got up and left. I fell to the floor and Violet ran to my side, I could feel my body getting weaker and weaker as the thought of marrying that sadistic vile Prince ran through my brain. Violet helped me up and to my room, I was so weak that I could barely walk. She laid me down on my bed and started to take my clothes off, I told her to leave me in my undergarments and leave, and she left and I covered myself up in my blankets and cried myself to sleep.