The Seventh Prince

Chapter 5

Everyone was busy all morning. Whatever he tried, Luke could get out of his parent's, a worker's, or one of his brother's sight for more than twenty seconds. He eventually got the notion that he wasn't going to be able to just ask his father if he could wander around town for awhile. He needed a plan.

Scarlett had found out about the unification the morning it was announced to the kingdoms. She had, along with everyone else, celebrated this monumental occasion. It wasn't until the next morning, however, that she found out about the upcoming marriages of the seven princes to the seven princessses.

"What?" she muttered under breath as she ate breakfast while reading the newspaper.

"What's it say?" her mum asked. 

Scarlett looked up. "It says that to celebrate and solidify the unification, the marriages of West Ostaria's seven princes to East Ostaria's seven princesses will take place on May 14, in four months! Why are they all getting married?"

"I don't know. To make the island unification more official, I guess," her mom replied, not making the connection between the marriage announcement and her daughter's boyfriend.

Scarlett couldn't believe it. She quickly snatched the grocery list off the table, and said, "I'm going to the store. Do we need anything else?" Her mother looked over the list and sent her off on her way.

"Father!" Luke said loudly later that afternoon. "Father!"

"Luke. What's so important?" King Samson replied.

"May I go to town?" he asked, praying for him allow it.

King Samson looked confused. "What do you need to go to town for, especially in this busy time?"

This was what Luke was expecting. Fortunately, he'd already thought this out. "To get a gift," he said. "A small one like a little necklace or something. For Alice." He knew that these last two words were his only hope.

The King smiled at his son. "Go ahead. But be back in time for dinner."

Luke glanced at the clock. He had a little over an hour, which honestly was a lot longer than he'd been expecting. "Thank you," he said and ran off.

He hustled through the streets of town until he came to the small local jewelry store. He'd been here before looking around, but today he was going to by something. Two somethings, in fact. He found the necklace he'd liked for Scarlett, a golden heart locket with a ruby heart in the center of it and a golden chain. Then he bought a silver bracelet for Alice so he had something to show for his time out in town. He put the two in his coat pocket and hurried back onto the streets heading for Scarlett's house.

He took a deep breath as he walked up their porch steps and knocked on the door.

"Hello," said Kaya who opened the door. 

"Is Scarlett home?" Luke asked her. Kaya knew who he was, even though she had never met him. She had caught Scarlett dressing fancy one day and begged her to tell her about her date. 

"I'll go get her," Kaya said. "Uh, come on in."

Luke entered and closed the door as Kaya ran to the other room. Within seconds Scarlett appeared. Luke smiled at seeing her. She wasn't happy but she still couldn't help but smile.

"So," Scarlett said. "You didn't think to tell me about this whole getting married to the princesses of East Ostaria thing?"

Luke's smile faded. "What do mean?" he asked. "I came here as soon as I could."

"Luke we had dinner the day before this was all announced. You're a prince! You know everything like three weeks before anyone else," Scarlett argued.

"I didn't know until that night Scarlett, I swear," Luke defended himself. "I haven't been able to get out of my parent's sight for the past two days. I lied just to get off royal property for an hour!"

Scarlett sighed, knowing he was right. "You're getting married to some princess in four months."

"Four months and two days," Luke specified. He looked Scarlett in the eyes and said, "I am going to do whatever I can to stop this."

Scarlett was about to cry. "You can't do that! The kingdom won't be united and everything will be just the way it was and it'll be all my fault."

Somehow, Luke smiled, "Okay," he said slowly. "I'll do whatever I can without causing an Ostarian civil war." Scarlett smiled. Luke pulled the necklace out of his pocket and placed it in her hands. "For our anniversary. One year, well, technically not yet but I don't know when I'll get to see you again."

She gasped, "Thank you, Luke. I love you."

Just then, Scarlett's mother arrived home. "Luke?" she said surprised.

"He was just stopping by for awhile," Scarlett said quickly.

Her mother paused, "Why don't you stay for dinner?"

Luke looked at the clock, realizing that if he didn't hurry he'd be late. "I'd love to ma'am, but I've got to be back home for dinner." He quickly hugged Scarlett and sprinted out the door.