Hidden Crowns: A Royal Romance

Chapter 2

Alexander's POV:

This is my favorite feeling in the world.

I clutch my hands tighter onto the reins of my horse, bending lower as to become one with him. He runs fast, faster than any other horse we have in the kingdom. The wind blows through my hair and I take in my surroundings.

A large open field, a few trees, mountains in the distance. I slow our speed and climb off my horse.

He nudges my back.

"Alright, alright, you earned it." I say and pull out an apple from my saddle bags. I extend it out to him and he neighs before taking it into his mouth.

I reach back into my bag and pull out my sketch book and a pencil.

"You can roam around a bit as long as you don't go far." I say to my horse, Atlas.

I sit against a tree and prop my book up on my knees. I open it up to a blank sheet and begin drawing.

I love to sketch. People, animals, sceneries, anything under the sun. My best friend, Henry, says I could make a living off of my artwork if I wasn't already a Prince.

Drawing is a way I can escape the realities of life. Especially out here where I don't have people breathing down my neck to make the right decisions within the kingdom.

It's a miracle I was even able to sneak away as I am now. My mind reflects back to this morning.

"Prince Alexander, you are needed by the King and Queen at once." A guard says and turns back to the hallway.

I scramble from my seat in the library and rush to meet them. They don't like waiting on me.

I enter the room and notice everyone is already seated. I duck my head and sit down by my father.

"Alexander." He nods. "Welcome."

I nod back.

He stands and addresses us all.

"It's come to our attention the Kingdom of Caledonia is at need of our armies. There is a supposed threat on their land. The agreement between myself and King Andrew is to form a unity among the kingdoms. This will be done by a marriage between the Princess of Caledonia and you, Alexander. In turn, we will send forth our armies if need be to defend their land."

My eyes get as wide as saucers. "Uh, dad, I mean, sir, are you sure this is the best way to handle this?" I ask. "Why don't we confront the problem head-on and figure out who's behind the threat of war?"

"Alexander, you are of age to be married. That is all that is holding you back from taking the title of "King" in our kingdom. Your twenty-seventh birthday is weeks away and your mother and I were married at twenty. It's time to settle down and claim responsibility for this kingdom." He says without removing his eyes from my own.

I don't say anything. My father is the only person in this world that can make me nervous. I know better than to challenge him in front of the people of the castle.

"The Princess will be here in two days time, and you will be married a week from today. You should expect to take your position as King soon after that." He explains further.

I nod my head and ask permission to leave.

I get up and run for the doors of the castle. The only thing I need right now is my horse, a fresh breeze, and my sketch book.

How am I supposed to marry someone I have no idea of who they are? What if she's just like all the other princesses that only want to marry me for our kingdom? What if we have absolutely nothing in common?