Seconds in Time

Page 2

I stared down the road from my window at a group of royal servants on a mission. I pushed my brown hair out of my midnight blue eyes and smile pleasantly at the utter perfection of the weather. The spring sun shown brightly down on our village and the warm breeze smelled of fresh bread from the bakery next door.

"What do you think is going on?" Crystal, my best friend, asked as she walked into my room. She must have just gotten here.

"I don't know. I'd say whatever they're up to is pretty important though." I answered as she took the spot next to me.

"Well, they kind of only come here if it's for something important." She reminded me. They all live on the castle grounds like they did in the dark ages. It seems to me that they never leave there for anything. Well, not unless they're bringing some sort of news to us.

We watched in silence as they marched closer and closer until finally they stopped and knocked on our front door. Crystal and I gave each other a curious look before walking quickly downstairs. Once we got into the kitchen my father had just opened the door for the group of important looking men who walked into our home without invitation.

"Is this the residence of Lillian Kesinger?" A man with light eyes, dark hair, and fair skin asked in a voice what was much louder than necessary. The whole village could probably hear him.

I shared a look with my mother and father. They looked as clueless as I was.

"Yes." My father answered simply and looked to me so they knew who was who. The man approached me and bowed deeply. Had he done it to someone else I would have laughed because it made him look like an idiot.

"Prince Alexander Valois has chosen you to be his bride. Tomorrow, you and your belongings will be brought to the castle and the wedding shall commence in a fortnight." I think at first I didn't believe him. I mean, you can't just walk up to someone and say, hey...um you're getting married to a prince in two weeks. Yeah, because that's no big deal.

He held out a black velvet box and I hesitantly took it. I flipped up the lid and stared at the most dazzling ring I had ever seen. The large, clear diamond glimmered in the light of our kitchen and the small, rose pink diamonds around it enhanced its beauty.

"Have a good day." The loud man bid me and with one last bow he turned and left.

The four of us stood in completely still silence. I looked from the ring to Crystal and then to my parents. We were all clearly stunned and speechless. It was impossible that I would be married to the prince of our kingdom in two weeks. Things like that just don't happen. The wish of becoming a princess that all little girls make at some point never comes true.

"Are you okay?" My mother asked me gently. I was more than happy to have the silence broken.

"Well...not really." I choked out.

We all sat down at the table and I took the ring out of the box so we could stare at it. It really was beautiful, but I didn't want it. I didn't want to marry Prince Alexander and I had no desire to be a princess. At the age of sixteen I shouldn't have to be thinking about my wedding.