Anamaria

Chapter Twenty Four

Anamaria

I look at the beautiful castle in front of us as I get out of the carriage. Prince Harper came to greet me and offer his hand. I hesitated to take it. I glance at Anabeth, who just shrugged and walk up the long stairway by herself. It was rude for me to ignore it. My arm slowly touch the prince's hand. My body was on fire, it's just like my arm is in prison. I wanted to yanked away but I didn't.

The Prince didn't spoke to ever since I arrived. He just came and offer me his hand. As we got at the entrance, Anabeth was waiting by the door. She stared at my arm and the Prince. She gave us a weak smile as she lead the way to the palace's dinning hall.

Anabeth has been acting strange lately, she doesn't escape nor disappear. She is always home and doesn't run away anymore. She seem quieter and skinner. To be honest, I kinda miss the old Anabeth.

"Anamaria!" The Queen ran up to hug me. "I'm glad you both can make it,"  said and hug Anabeth next.

I realized that the dinner isn't only for us. There were four other unknown guests. Princess Pamela glare at me and Prince Harper, instead of getting mad, she sigh. Prince Harper took a seat next to me as Princess Pamela glare at us.

She gave me a soft smile before taking a sip of champagne and stared at the mysterious handsome young man in front of her. She look hurt, how would you feel if your fiancé like someone else?

It's official that my heart isn't build for the Prince. It was just a silly crush, I have no place for Prince Harper.

"Anamaria, Anabeth. I would like to introduced you to someone." The King said standing up. "Meet Prince Dillion," he said referring to the man sitting in front of Princess Pamela.

Prince Dillion, right, Princess Pamela's older brother. The Prince stand up and bow as I curtsy back. He has a beautiful smile, but his smile were full of pain. As he sat down he gave Prince Harper a not - so friendly glare. Prince Harper ignored the attention.

It's clear that both prince doesn't like each other.

"And that's Lady Catherine of Chadwick, Erin's friend." Catherine gave me a bright smile.

"And the last person is Duke Jacob of Alistair." The Duke was very young, he had a dark feature. His black hair smooth out perfectly and his shaved beard was clean and balanced. His olive skin luminous and his black eyes glow.

Black eyes.

Alistair.

His eyes are the same color as Anabeth. Black eyes are very rare. I didn't expect a Alistairn to have black eyes.

The Duke didn't smile, he just stared at me and nodded.

That's when Prince Harper stand up, "as you guys know, I declared war on Ravernica. There are many gossips and rumors around the town that there's no way we can defeat Ravernica. Ravernica became a threat to us. As we all know, that Ravernica is a cheater, they invited the Lancaster military to join the war.
In order to win this war, we invited Alistair, Chadwick and Kirkpatrick to team up against Ravernica."

As the Prince took a seat, everyone clapped. Except Anabeth who were too busy looking at the young duke.

"Anamaria, honey, did the Ravernican threatened you when you were there?"

I shook my head. No. All the rumors were fake. The rumors that the Ravernican treated women like slaves were fake.

"They didn't, your majesty. There's nothing to worry about." I said softly as the Prince of Kirkpatrick glance at me.

"Of course! There's something to worry about!" Prince Erin spoke up. "It's a big deal, Anamaria. You don't know what they can do to you!"

You just don't know them like I do, I wanted to say.

I nodded as the princess spoke, complaining about Ravernica. Everyone's attention were on her, including Anabeth. Except the duke of Chadwick, who is busy staring at Anabeth.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Princess Pamela turn her head away from Princess Erin as she dropped her fork and get up from her seat.

"Pam, my dear, where are you going?" The queen asked, everyone paused the conversation and turn their attention to Princess Pamela.

"Excuse me for a second," Princess Pamela said waiting for the queen approval. The queen nodded her head and the princess left the dinning hall.

"Excuses me too, your majesty." I said to the queen. The queen was about to speak but I cut her off. "I promise I'll be back," I smile as I follow the princess.

Once we were outside of the castle garden. Princess Pamela turn to me, "do you need anything?" She asked. There were tears in her eyes.

"Are you alright, your highness." I asked as I took a step toward her.

She shook her head, "I was never alright since I found out about the arranged marriage." She said softly then look at me. "Anamaria, Harper really love you, give him a second chance."

I looked down to the groin, feeling bad for Princess Pamela.

"I can't," I said softly and the princess look at me perplex.

"Why not?" She asked. "Is he not good enough for you? Is he not a gentleman or do you have someone else in mind?"

I froze and shocked by her questions. "Your highness, I have someone else in mind." That's wasn't a lie. "But I'm not sure I can work things out with him. I love him."

She took a deep breath, "then you'll already know how I feel about Prince Harper."

She took a seat on the bench near the fountain as she signal me to sit next to her.

"I've never been in love before," she started. "I don't know what it feel like or how I should act." She paused and wipe her tears, "I love Prince Harper, not because he is my first love. But he used to make me happy when we were a child. I've been a foolish all these years, Anamaria. I've been a fool! The Prince only like me as a sister." She grab my hand. "He doesn't love me, he love you, Anamaria. Give him a second chance."

"I thought you said you love him," I reply. All these years has also been a misunderstanding to me too. I feel bad and guilty. As much as I like Prince Harper, nothing can replace the feeling I have for Prince Garrett.

Even though, the Prince is getting marry to someone else. Princess Pamela studies my face and release me hand.

"It's Garrett, isn't it?" She asked.

I look at her perplex.

She sigh, "I knew it."

"Your highness, it's not what you think." I said.

She cut me off, "I know exactly how you feel when you love someone and they are getting marry to someone else. I faced it before, Anamaria. I faced it before I know about my engagement with Prince Harper."

She wipe off her last year drop and take my hand, "we should go back inside."

Anamaria