Seconds in Time

Page 4

I picked up the ring and stared at it for another hesitant second before sliding it onto my ring finger. I was used to wearing rings, but this one was heavy and felt out of place. The silver band fit perfectly around my finger. I wondered how much the royal family knew about me if they knew that my ring size was seven.

"Do you think all those things we've heard about him are true?" Crystal asked no one in particular.

"With my luck, I'm sure of it." I grumbled and rested my hand on my cheek. I probably wouldn't be resting my elbows on tables for much longer. I have good manners, but I have a lot to learn about etiquette. I'm not exactly princess material.

"Maybe it won't be so bad." Crystal and I both looked at my mother as if she were stupid. "What I'm saying is, maybe he'll warm up to you and you'll warm up to him. He isn't a bad looking young man and you're good at making people smile. So, maybe somewhere throughout this process you'll actually fall in love." I believe my mother has been eating too many cocoa puffs because she's gone a bit coo coo.

"Don't give me false hope. I'm going to count on a loveless marriage and if that happens to change at some point then I can be pleasantly surprise. However, I highly doubt that it will." I'm not exactly an optimistic person, which has served me well over the years. If I expect the worst whatever ends up happening isn't as bad.

"Am I going to see you after all of this?" Crystal asked, seeming worried about it.

"I don't know. You know they never leave the castle, but I don't want to be locked up in that place for the rest of my life." It wasn't much of an answer, but I didn't know what to tell her.

After about half an hour more of talking father walked in the house with Juliet and Leonardo. From the looks on their faces, especially Leo's careless expression, I could tell he hadn't told them. I rested my hand on my lap so they wouldn't see the ring yet.

"What's up?" Leo asked as he and Juliet pulled up a chair. I let out a breath and I could tell they were both staring to get worried.

"I'm engaged." I finally said and held my hand out for them to see the ring.

"Oh my god!" Juliet exclaimed and looked closer at the ring.

"Who?" Leo's voice was full of disapproval. He hadn't even bothered to look at the ring. I wasn't all that surprised that he was acting the way he is. Leo is like a brother to me so he's a bit over protective.