My father's Princess

Chapter 14

It was late at night when I heard a quiet knock on the door. My hair was a mess and I only had my boxers on. I put my robe on and answered the door. I was surprised to see Annie standing in the doorway her face red. I wondered if her mom had done something to her again. "Oh Annie have you been crying. Come inside. Eli has the night shift at the gates so you can sit on his bed." Annie shook her head. "It'll be easier to do this out here." Then I knew what was coming. My heart pounded fast as I stepped outside. There was no way this was happening. She told me all about marshland and how  she'd have to go through with arrangement for her mom if she wanted Selene to stay. "We can sneak around. That's what we've been doing for six months why stop now?"
"Ya, but how long will that last. My mom won't be happy until we are married and then what? I'm not going to cheat on my husband, even if I don't like him." She was about to talk more but I pulled her into my arms. Our lips pressed against one another. I kissed her with passion on her lips then moved to her cheek and down to her neck. She shook with every kiss as if I was only making this harder for her. "I'm not giving up on us until your wedding day." She cried into my shoulder. "I can't cheat, Cooper. That's just not me." I kissed her again to make her stop talking. "But Cooper-" she started before I interrupted her. "You may play by the rules but I don't. I'm not giving up on us."
"Cooper I have no choice. If I don't go through with this then who knows what will happen. If I cheat with Lucas then who is to say he won't find out and attack. If my family, or Selene, or Baylee, or you die, I wouldn't be able to live with that. Coop, I'm doing this for you."
Now tears were falling down my cheek knowing she wouldn't give in. "I love you Annie. Don't leave me."
"I love you too Cooper. That's why I'm doing this."
"I'd rather die than lose you." Annie shook her head. "You'd take a whole country with you though, maybe even me, and I know your not that kind of person." She was right. I was being selfish. "Oh Annie." Tears rushed down my face and she wiped them away. "I'll never forget what we had. Goodbye Cooper." Her warm body left my arms. After I was sure she was gone I went back inside and cried. I'd only cried three times in my life, when I was born, after my parents, and now. She was right. I remembered what it was like when my parents died. I felt like it should've been me, not them. My parents died for me, and I'd be a terrible person to ask Annabelle and the whole country to do the same. I didn't hear Eli come in. "Dude are you crying." What gave it away? My red eyes, the wet bed, or my loud sobs? No duh I was crying. I didn't answer him. He climbed up and sat next to me. "What happened?"
"Annabelle. Her moms forcing her to date Prince Lucas. I don't blame her for not fighting more. Selena's uncle just died, and if Annie doesn't obey her mom, she won't have anywhere to stay. I know it's for the best but-"
"I understand. This is hard, but you know it's right." We sat in silence for a few minutes before I finally pulled myself together and got ready for a long day at work.
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The walk back to the castle was long and lonely. I didn't regret what I did because I knew I had no choice, but it still crushed my heart. When I came back into my room at about 5:30 a.m., Selene and Baylee comforted me. Then they did my hair and makeup for my meeting with mom. Pounds of makeup later, my face was no longer red and I headed down the hall to my mothers office ready to state my demands. "Hello mom."
"Annie." I took a seat across from her at her desk. "Ok let's get to this. I know that you agreed, but I also know that you want something in return." I nodded. "Which is why I already arranged tomorrow afternoons date at the stables since I know you already spend most of your day there." I wanted to cry just at the thought of that. "But I assume you want more."
"Yes. Of course you know about marshland but what you don't know is that Selene, your remember her right?" Mom nodded "Well, Selena's stepparents made her parents abandon her to go live her uncle- in marshland." Mom looked sincerely sorry. "She was one of my favorites. I thought of her like my own child. Though I was surprised why someone as nice as her would hang out with you." I figured she would insult me somehow but I was glad she was on Selena's side. "Well she survived, but her uncle did not. She was away when sheavesland attacked, though her uncle was home. Now she has no where to stay. I understand that this alliance is very important so all that I ask is that Selene stay here. She will be in marshland for the funeral tomorrow through Friday, but as soon as it is over I wish for her to stay with me in my room."
"Well of course! That s a small favor to ask for this alliance. Though someone as wonderful as Selene deserves her own room. We will begin construction today. Is that all?" I was so pleased that this meeting went so well. I shook my head. The only thing that could make this more perfect was if Cooper was still mine. "No that is all. Thank you mom."
"Of course darling. I'm so happy that you are finally realizing your priorities." I left the room pleased with the results of the conference.
Later that day I dropped Selene off at the airport. Since I was avoiding the stables, I didn't know what to do with the day. I found my self in my car heading down the same boring road to Lydia's. Though this time only the radio was there to occupy me on the dull  ride.