To Know Love

Chapter 1

Chapter 1:

“Bella.”

I woke up to the bright ray of sunshine streaming from my window, or rather, Sky was nearly shoving me off the bed to wake up. My name is Princess Isabella Marie of Analei, but I prefer Bella. My father, King Carter, and my mother Queen Eliza, are your two average parents. And Sky (the girl who’s annoyingly waking up right now) is my mother’s lady-in-waiting’s daughter, and my best friend. She also lives in the castle, so we’re pretty much a done deal. Nothing could ever prepare you for Bella and Sky.

But secretly, I think, no I know Sky would trade places with me in a heartbeat. Well, to be a princess at least. She loves the whole idea of living the life of regency: the servants, the rooms, the luxury.

“Bella! Wake up already! You’ve been sleeping all morning.”

“Hmmm?” I arose from my slumber and glanced at her sleepily. “What do you want now?”

“Hello!” She said in a ding dong voice. “Have you totally forgotten? Prince Derek is arriving. Today!” With a flip of her blond hair, she muttered “duh.”

Oh my gosh, I did forget. How stupid. I scrambled to my feet and dashed for the door. Prince Derek was the most handsome person in the kingdom, according to all the ladies in the court. At a skyscraping height of six feet, with blond hair and blue eyes, clearly not my type. My mother tells me I’m throwing away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, keeping him to myself.

And I’ll tell you why: Prince Derek and I were betrothed when I was three, so we’re like destined for each other. Sort of.

In my mother’s perspective.

My ladies-in-waiting immediately hurried my running bath. Today was mineral salts and lavender oil. Stella, my hairdresser, flipped my hair around, making some weird artwork out of it. The maids fitted on my gown while I impatiently complained about standing too still.

“Honey, by the time I’m through with you, Derek will be asking for the wedding early!” Stella  chided, amused.

Prince Derek came every summer to our kingdom to spend the summer. Our parents had pushed us against our will in hopes we will fall in love and unite our kingdoms. Okay, how awkward is that?!

Stella pushed more pins into my hair. Staggering on the edge of sheer boredom, I decided to steal a glance at Sky. Since she was my bestfriend, I took her everywhere with me, through thick and thin. Even to greet Derek. For a girl with medium blond hair, she was getting it curled with flowers being embedded along with a scaly green dress. She actually looked...pretty. I dared not to glance at myself until I was finished though. So, as far as I know, I could be a total freak show.

Suddenly, the door flew open. My mother bustled in, with the click-click of her high heels. She looked calm though. It was her job, to act as if the world was running smoothly at any minute. If the kingdom was under attack, my mom would act like she knew what to do.

Now that I took a closer look, she was carrying a small blue, wrapped box in her hand. Whenever Prince Derek arrived, we always handed gifts to each other, but by force. Neither of us really enjoyed seeing each other. Two summers ago, we had placed worms in each other’s soups and poured water on our pillows.

“Isabella I have-” She stopped dead short.

I just stared back, my feet killing me from all this annoying standing.

“Bella darling, you look so beautiful!” she gushed, cupping her hands around my face. I decided to glance at myself. Just this once.

And I was beautiful. My gown was light blue with silver bows. My long dark brown hair was entwined with small flowers around the top of my head. Silver lace around the dress created this show.

“Just one more ingredient.” My mother placed my royal crown on my head. The gold crown goes well with the dress, I thought.

“Bella you’re so pretty!” exclaimed Sky.

“She certainly is!” My mother squeezed me tight, but I was not the one to take compliments so easily.

“Okay, okay!” I grumbled, pushing her away. “So what’s Mr. Handsome getting this time?”

She held out the small blue box. “I think it’s time.”

Sky and I peeked inside. “No,” I whispered.

“Yes!” She gushed, obviously proud of herself.

Inside was the official Royal Ring of Acquaintance. A symbol of forever connection between two betrothed people. In other words: No backing out at this point. I died a little inside.

It was a golden-bonded ring, with an emerald glistening and embedded on top of it. On either side of the emerald, there was the kingdom symbol, a lion, with a gold crown holding a rose.

I slowly closed my eyes and fought back all the tears, yelling, screaming, and anger welling up inside of me.

This cannot be happening.

No, it wasn’t.

Please, God, tell me this is a dream.