My father's Princess

Chapter 15

"Oh dear. I'm sorry to hear this." I'd only seen Lydia with Cooper after the first meeting, and she was surprised not to see him today. As I told her the week I went through she told me advice. We talked for hours before it was time for me to go home. "Annabelle?"
"Yes Lydia?"
"You know who you love as soon as you meet him. Don't let him slip away because you are scared of change." I didn't quite understand what she was saying though I think she was telling me to take back Cooper. However I couldn't do that. Not with a whole country counting on me. "Goodbye Lydia." She knew that it was a long shot to convince me otherwise and waved as I headed back towards the castle to prepare for dinner with Lucas.
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"Good evening, my princess." Lucas kissed my hand as he kneeled before me. "I am excited to see what this arrangement brings us."
"As am I, my prince," I said bowing. I played with my steak and potato dinner as our parents discussed politics. I looked up to check the clock on the wall when Lucas caught my eye. He too was playing around with his meal. Sheavesland is not good growing land and is mostly dessert. Since there isn't much grass for cows to graze or land to farm, potatoes and steak should be a rare treat. So I was surprised to see him not indulging in his supper. He looked up and noticed me then winked. "May I please be excused for some air?" He asked hopeful I would follow. I got his hint and asked to be excused too. We walked out together into the garden leaving our parents to discuss the alliance. "I saw you playing with your dinner. Were you not pleased with your meal?"
"Oh no it was very good I just didn't have a strong appetite. And what about you? I saw you do the same. Are you to not hungry or are you not eating for other reasons. If that is the case you should know that I think your the fairest maiden of all the lands." I blushed. "Why thank you, but no, I am just not hungry."
He stared into my eyes as we sat upon the stone bench. "I thought you were pretty before, but seeing you in real life, the pictures I saw do not do you justice."
"Thanks," I said just above a whisper. "Is something wrong?" He asked. "No I'm just a little tired," I lied. "Well maybe we should retire to bed." I knew my face showed shock because Lucas replied quickly, "I mean I should go to my room and you to yours." I felt relived and nodded. As he walked me back to my room he grabbed my hand. I didn't squeeze his back, but I didn't let go. Finally we reached my door. "Goodnight my prince."
"Please call me Lucas, Annabelle." I nodded wanting to enter my room and fall into the bed, but I knew he wasn't done with the conversation. "I can't wait 'til tomorrow."
"Ya."
"Are you sure nothing is wrong?"
"Yes, just very tired." He held my chin and pushed it up to gaze at his eyes instead of the floor. I realized then how tall he was. Almost taller than Cooper. "I've heard about how your mother treats you. Annabelle I will never let anyone treat you like that again. If something is wrong I want you to tell me. If you don't want this, us, then tell me. I know your mom is forcing you into this so we won't attack you, but I'd never attack this country, even if you break my heart." I could tell he truly meant everything he said. He kissed my cheek before walking away. "Good night Belle." When Lucas gave me yet another nickname, it showed that he had feelings for me that were anything but fake. I started to wonder if I felt the same way about him. Then I remembered Lydia's words. That's when Realized that she wasn't convincing me to stay with Cooper. She was telling me to give Lucas a chance. I decided that Lydia wasn't as crazy as I thought. When I entered my room Baylee wasn't around. I figured she was doing some chore outside my room, and she'd be around to talk after my date tomorrow. I was wrong.
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"Good morning my princess," said a strange voice. I was still slightly drowsy after my alarm woke me up so I thought I was hearing things. My eyes shot open. "Where's Baylee."
"Your mom sent her away to a different room. I'm your new servant, Aria." Though I was very mad I figured at least she still works here. I'll find what room she's working in later and request for her help with something made up. "Should we get started on your hair and makeup?" Aria asked. By the time we were finished I looked like I had the fur of a poodle with the makeup of a clown. I didn't understand why mom thought I'd look better. When Aria finished I went into the nearest bathroom and washed away all the hairspray and makeup. I applied a light coat of blush and some mascara then straightened my hair. When mom saw me she looked pleased. If only she knew what Baylee would've made me look like. "Aria did an amazing job! You look beautiful!"
"Actually mom, Aria made me look terrible. I went to the bathroom and did this myself." Mom's facial expression changed but she didn't say anything back because Lucas entered the room. "You look beautiful!" He said dropping his jaw. Moms expression was unreadable. "Thank you, as do you." I linked my arm around his and we headed to the stables. "Hello my lady." It stung not to hear Cooper call me Annie. "Hello C-" I prayed that Lucas didn't hear me. "I've prepared Abigail and Buster for you." Cooper said as he handed us our riding coats. "Thank you." I replied as we headed out.
"So Annabelle. Tell me about you."
"Well I'm sure you've heard about my dad and first stepdad." I was surprised when Lucas shook his head. "My parents homeschool me. They don't allow me to learn in great depths about other countries, but I'd love to hear about them," He paused, "unless you don't want to talk about it."
"No it's ok." I sighed then told the story for about the hundredth time. "Were you and your father close?"
"The closest."
"What about you and Adrian?"
"Ya I guess. Sometimes I still hope that one day he'll show up at the castle doors and take us back to a normal life."
"I know how you feel."
"You do? But you were born a prince. Weren't you?"
"Actually no. My parents took me in after their baby died. They didn't tell anyone that they replaced their baby with the closest replica they could find so no one knows besides my family and now you. In fact, I didn't know until my seventh birthday when some man came to the castle and claimed me as his own. My parents weren't around so I talked to him for a while. He said my mom died giving birth to me and all he had left was me. When I was only but a week young, two guards came and took me from my crib and left a bag of gold and a note on the table. He was surprised to not find a sleeping babe in the crib when he came back from the market. He said he read the note over and over trying to make sense of it. Finally he took action and came to take me back. When my parents came home and saw us they ordered me to my room right away. I figured they had sent the man to the dungeon so I went down to visit him only to find a puddle of blood covering the stone floor. My parents never spoke of him again and I never asked, but after that day I always wondered what it was like to just have a normal life."
"Do you think he really was your father?" Lucas nodded. "I do. I knew that he wouldn't come to the castle to risk his life only to lie. I also knew that my parents wouldn't kill an innocent man. Or at least I thought I knew 'til I heard about all the wars they caused. Sometimes I wonder how much they had lied to me."
"Is Lucas your real name?"  Lucas shook his head. "The man called me Marcus. I found out later his name was Gareth Wesley." Marcus Wesley. It had a nice ring to it. "So Marcus, what's one thing you would've asked your father before he died." He let out a small laugh at me calling him Marcus then thought hard about the question. "Why he waited so long."
"Do you think he blamed you for your moms death."
"I don't know. He didn't seem like someone to hold a grudge, but he waited seven years before claiming me back. Maybe he was scared, but I don't know." We were quiet for a few minutes before Lucas spoke again, "Has your mom physically hurt you?" I was shocked by his question, but answered quickly. "No"
"Good. I want you to know that your safe with me."
"Thanks," I said starting to ride again. Lucas stopped me. "I mean it Belle. I won't ever let anyone hurt you, ever."
"I know." We rode down the path in silence for a bit before I spoke up. "What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Have King Thomas and Queen Julianna ever hurt you."
"It's not important."
"It's the most important question I've asked all day." Lucas nodded slightly. "I won't let it happen again. You promised to protect me so I will do the same to you." He chuckled. "I will. I promise."
"I know you do, and thank you Belle, but my parents don't care. They will push anyone aside who gets in their way."
"Then why are the not going to attack this country as long as you are happy?"
"It's simple. I know too much. Sure, they could kill me off just like my father, but what would that do to their reputation. I doubt that they could find yet another replica. Their whole country would turn against them finally realizing they are being ruled by war crazy and blood thirsty monsters."
"Do I make you happy?"
"Riding out here with you makes me the happiest man alive." After the sun started to set we headed to our separate rooms. I was happy to find Baylee back in mine when I entered. I told her all about the day as she drew my bath. When I took off my riding coat a small paper fell out. It was addressed to Annabelle, from C.T.