My father's Princess

Chapter 17

Lucas held my hand as we walked through the night.
"Just a little farther." As we walked over the hill I heard music playing. A beautiful moonlight picnic was setup by the lake, completed with music and flowers. "Oh Lucas!" My stomach grumbled when I looked at the fancy food on the table, and I realized that I had forgotten to eat lunch. Lucas pulled my chair out for me then sat down in his own. I was speechless. "I would do anything for the girl I love." My jaw dropped. Loved? He barley new me! But I couldn't deny that some part of me deep down was starting to have feelings for him too. However I couldn't say I loved him back because I knew that he was no Cooper. Instead of saying anything I just blushed. Then Lucas placed a gentle kiss on my lips. "Don't worry. You don't have to say anything. I know it's fast but how can I help but stare into those gorgeous eyes and not feel anything. You light up my world just like the stars on a pitch black night. And that, my love, is why I can't help but smile when I'm around you. Because you are my sun, my moon, my stars, my world, and I will scream out to the world how much I love you just to make sure everyone knows how's crazy I am about you." He planted kisses all over me as I though how funny it was that this night went from horrendous to perfect in just a short walk. We talked for hours until we could no longer keep our eyes open. I said goodbye to Lucas and went to go back into my room, but Lucas turned me around by my hips and pulled me into his arms, pressing his lips against mine. He pushed me against the door as his lips moved down my cheek and to my neck. My arm left the door and reached for the handle. As we fell on the bed I noticed that something wasn't right. Selene sat in the chair across the room not able to contain her laughter. I gasped and sat up quickly leaving Lucas kissing a pillow. "Selene? What are you doing here? Your back two days early." Lucas stood up straightening himself out. "I should go. I had a lovely night Princess." He kissed my forehead before escorting himself out. I threw a pillow at Selene. "Dear god, Selene."
"Sorry Anne. I guess I should've told you I was coming back early. No need to stay at a dead mans house with people you hate after the funerals already over. I'd ask how you've been, but from that scene I assume your doing well." I buried my face in my hands. I guess it could've been worse. It could've been Baylee. Or one of my sisters. Or my mom. Selene chuckled a bit before I threw another pillow at her as I laughed too. "So how as you vacation? Are you doing ok? How's your family?"
"It was ok, and ya I guess. As for the family, let's just say I'm glad to be back." Wanting to break the awkwardness between us I suggested we go for a midnight ride.
We snuck out from my window after making sure we were clear. No one was at the stables so we had to prepare our houses our self but it wasn't too hard. We road for hours and talked until the we saw the sun rising over the hills. I was even more tired then I was before and fell asleep as soon as we went back to our room. However not even an hour later a loud pound on my door woke me up followed by my mothers even louder voice, "Annabelle Lynn Carmichael, open this door before I knock it down! I swear if I have to come in there I will-"
"Give me five minutes!"
"You should've been ready five minutes ago! You have until 7:30, now hurry! Your going to be late!" Oh no! I forgot I had another date with Lucas this morning. I hastily pulled on a light pink sundress with lace around the bottom over my head and put on a pair of tan sandals. After I applied my makeup I pulled my hair into quick braid and made my way to the garden where I was suppose to meet Lucas. I looked like a mess but Lucas's jaw still dropped when he saw me. "Hey, sorry I'm late."
"No problem at all gorgeous."
"So what's on the agenda today?"
"Well I was thinking, you've been so kind to have welcomed me to your home for almost a month, so I arranged a flight to my home."
I wasn't really looking forward to having another dinner with his war crazy parents, but it would be worth it as long as I was with Lucas. When we got there Lucas took me on a tour of the castle then we went shopping. We walked around the market looking at everything from rusty bolts to shiny diamonds and crunchy bread to soft cookies. Lucas bought me a beautiful red dress and a ruby necklace to match for dinner tonight. I had a wonderful day with him but now for the tough part, dinner with his parents.
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"So, how have you been since you left Rondalland?" I asked trying to break the awkward silence. The queen answered with almost a whispered, "Okay," while the king just continued to stare daggers into my eyes from the other end of the table. The long dining table made the conversation all the more awkward. Lucas and I sat at one end, but the king and queen chose to sit a the other end farther away from us. I gave Lucas a look pleading with my eyes to break the awkwardness. "So dad. Annabelle is a beast when it comes to archery. I bet she could hit a bullseye from a mile away. Definitely better than any guard I've every seen."
"Are you saying that our guards are weak?"
"Well no, of course not. I only meant to share with you the talents of this lovely maiden."
"Even so, that's not a skill for a women to have. As far as I'm concerned, the only thing women are good for is making babes."
The queen stared down at her plate, twirling the noodles around her fork as if she hadn't heard the Kings words. "Father!" Lucas looked at me with an embarrassed look trying to explain for his father's cruel words. "I'm bored with this conversation. I'm leaving. Farley, please fetch Grace for me," the King said standing up and wiping crumbs off his beard, "Tell her to meet me in my quarters, we have business to discuss about the food she'll be serving at the ball this weekend." Between the kicked puppy look Queen Jasmine was wearing and Lucas not meeting anyone's eyes I could tell grace was not just the waitress. "Mother, how can you stand this? We aren't even having a ball this weekend! His excuses get weaker by the day yet you continue to ignore the fact that-"
"Yes Lucas I know, but honestly there's nothing to do about it."
I could tell Lucas wanted to say more, but he couldn't. The queen was right, no one could fix the Kings actions, but I could damn good try. I stood up and excused myself making a beeline towards the royal quarters, the ones the king and the Queen should be sharing together. I placed a single heavy knock on the door before barging in however I repaid for it soon after when I saw much more of the King than I needed to. "Dear god! What on earth are you doing in my room? Get out!" The King and the blushing maiden beside him pulled the velvet blanket up to their chests.
"No, I will not get out. You need to hear what I have to say!"
"Excuse me? Now is not the time!"
"Your right, the time was years ago. You have a son and a wife and a kingdom. You can't go running around and pull some random slut off the streets! You have duties to fulfill! You need to-"
"I will not let you tell me how to run my life! Guards!" Several guards came rushing in and tried to pull me away, but I put up a strong fight. Kicking my legs and squirming my arms I continued to yell, "Not only are you a terrible husband but you're also the worst father I've ever seen! And how can you call yourself a king? A rat could rule a kingdom better than you and he would have better manners!"
"Take her to the cells!"  Just then Lucas came rushing in. I wasn't scared because I knew he would save me, but I had to admit he was cutting it kind of close. "Lucas aren't you gonna stop him?" Lucas turned his face to the ground and stared at his shoes. "Lucas? Lucas!" He wouldn't meet my eyes. "Lucas! I love you! Lucas help!" He glanced up as the guards pulled me away, but remained as silent as death.