Royal Love (F1 x LH44)

One

The sound of people chatting entered my ears the moment the doors opened to the big hall. I always hate those moments, when the music starts and you have to look down at all the people waiting for you. They stare at you with a glance that could easily make you wanna sink through the ground. The hate and jealousy that they spark of is always a no go for me. Walking with a tilted head through the crowd, but the only thing you want to do is look down and run to your seat. But of course I can't do that. Because as 3rd in line to the throne there is a certain expectation that you have to fulfil. I've been trying to find out which expectations those are, but failed miserably. I don't see a purpose of me putting on a show in front of the Elite. But the King, my dad, thinks it's the most important thing in the world to make me put on a show. The people love it when I'm there, especially the press likes to talk about me all the time. Even when there's a royal wedding, they still try to put me in the show. I hate it, but I can't change it, it's my duty to represent my country. Even though I hate it, I still love my country.

And so I started walking down the polished stairs which let me to the dance floor, where I was expected to take my first dance of this evening. I held my head high and walked with a quick, but elegant pace through the room, straight to the thrones. The King already sat in his, staring at me sliding down the path. He was in the meantime talking. To who? Don't know. Don't care. But from what I saw he was talking to his son on his right, my oldest brother, the 1st in line to the throne. He's the one that one day will rule over England.

I kept walking until I reached the thrones, where I curtsied before the King, to than turn to the Queen, my mother. I curtsied to her too. She head-bowed back and I went to my seat, next to my brother's. Normally I would sit even further away, but since the 2nd in line to the throne was on a business trip, I got to sit next to the crown-prince. For a lot of people a big honour. For me a punishment. For years I've hated my brother. Mostly because he was the one who would rule over my beloved country. But when I got older and became a grownup, I got a new reason to hate my brother. I didn't care about ruling the kingdom anymore. No, I began to care about my own life. I wanted to feel how it was to be a bit normal, go out partying and do sports I love. But the minute I started being normal, he decided to step in and tried to make my life miserable. Every time I try to sneak out, he somehow ends up finding me and punishes me for not being a good royal. Therefor I hate him now more than ever. But I couldn't care less about the fact that he will rule one day, because that means he'll get too busy to boss me around and I'll be finally able to get out of here. But for now I'll just have to stick to doing my duties.

Just like now. While I sit here with my family, the crowd forms and dances around the room. I watch them move around and scan everyone's faces. As I excepted, a lot of dukes were here. I already know why, but I try to be oblivious. Of course my dad invited them, he wants me to marry one of them some day... I put that idea out of my head and look around a bit more. I didn't really thought about anything at the moment, just looking around and catching some familiar faces. It was always the same. Scanning, choosing and dancing. I always had to sit down and make myself presentable, to than choose a partner and take the first dance. Why me? Because my brother begged my dad to let him be the second. So no one was paying attention to him. Of course I had to be the unlucky one and ended up being the first one to dance. My other brother was always away, so he wasn't even suggested, which left me as last option.

I wouldn't even be surprised if I had to dance first at my brothers wedding as well. But now I had to push those thoughts away. They expected me to have chosen a guy by now and I'm lacking enthusiasm. I scanned the room one last time, before I made eye contact with a handsome looking guy. His brown eyes met mine and my lips parted slightly. The brown-eyed guy smiled at me before turning his eyes to the person next to him. Which made me lose myself and I had to regroup myself before I started scanning the room again. I picked a blonde-haired duke from the front and stood up. I walked forward and stopped in front of him. He immediately lighted up and bowed. I curtsied back and let him take my hand. He led me to the empty circle in the middle, but while walking, I kept an eye on the guy I had eye contact with earlier. I couldn't get him out of my head as I got halted by the blonde duke. I didn't know his name, nor I cared. I only cared about finding out who that guy was from earlier. Was he a duke? Maybe a lord? The questions kept coming and my head overflowed with them. I got shot back into reality when a hand was placed on my back. I looked up and found the duke I chose to dance with earlier looking down at me. He had his brow crooked, as if he just asked me something and was waiting for an answer. I had to process what was happening shortly before I said a short apology and placed my hand in his and let the other one close around his shoulder. I looked up at him and the music began to play.