Betrothed (NOT UPDATING ANYMORE)

Chapter One

I met him when I was a baby. It's wasn't even fair either. Our parents just got together and at my Naming declaring, "You two are now betrothed and when the time comes you will get married," or something like that. I don't even get to choose who I marry or fall in love with as they are chosen for me! It doesn't help that I'm stuck with some arrogant self absorbed boy who only thinks that women are for his personal use and gain. It's disgusting. And that's not even the worst of it.

He's pulls jokes on me and any unlucky servant or maid who crosses his path. I normally come across his stupid pranks so that the maids don't have to go through with it and then clean it. Instead, I would go through with it and clean it as I would always get blamed for the messes. Just as he always got blamed for feeding the dogs when it was really me.

I was fifteen the last time I saw him and boy was I excited for not seeing him for two years. We spent the last day together having a good food fight across the great hall while our parents tried to reason with us. Towards the end our parents made us apologise to each other. Which I did. Then I stuck my tongue out at him when my mother wasn't looking. Which now leads us two years later.

oOo

"Cassandra!"

I jumped, startled as I was lost in thought. "Sorry I was thinking about something." I smiled sweetly at my mother. "What were you saying?"
Mother and I were outside basking in the sunlight while drinking tea. It was a lovely summer day and we barely get a chance to spend our time out here.

The sun reflected perfectly off of my mothers blonde hair, making her glow. Her blue eyes met mine in a disapproving manor. "Terrence is coming over tomorrow evening with King James and Queen Louise. They plan on staying for a fortnight, maybe more."

I sighed and let myself slouch. "We saw each other two years ago around the same time." I looked at my mother. "I keep telling you this, we don't like each other. The last time I saw him was when he was nothing but an annoying boy and he threw rotten vegetables at me!"

"Which is why you haven't seen each other in two years. You two needed a break and we gave you one. Now it's actually time for you two to get married." She sighed. "Which also reminds me that you need to get fitted for a wedding dress."

I moaned and placed my hands over my face. "I hate this."

Mother laughed, her laugh sounding like bells. I admired my mother as a queen and as a mother. She was sweet, compassionate and everything I wasn't. I had inherited her blond hair, but everything else was from my father. From my green eyes to the freckles around my nose. I was loud, outspoken and had trouble keeping my thoughts to myself no matter how honest the statement was.

She looked at me with a smile and fanned herself with her paper fan. "Cassandra, you'll do fine. I think this time around you two will definitely get along, maybe even learn to love each other." She gave me a wink and I frowned.

"Mother." I said in a warning tone. I sighed and got up. "I'm sorry to leave early, but I promised Sarah that I'd help her in the kitchens."

Mother smiled. "Have fun, oh and don't forget to change into something durable."

I nodded and walked back inside the palace. It was smaller than most, but I loved it that way. Terrence's palace was larger and I didn't like it one bit. Terrence had said countless times how terribly small ours was. My head hurt just from thinking about him. I don't need to think about him. Yet. I sighed and walked into my room.

I took off my gown and put on a more durable working dress. The sleeves came up to my elbows, leaving my hands free of any fabric that might get in the way. I tied my blonde hair into a bun and pulled on a pair of old boots.

I preferred the kitchens over most of the nobility that lived here. They liked to show off and most of the ladies already disliked me, even if they wouldn't dare admit it. As for the men, well, they just completely ignored me, which was a blessing in my mind.

I ran down the corridor and followed the smell of bread. Sarah was the head of the kitchen and she needed help every now and then so I offered to help her. At first she was reluctant, but I persuaded her to since I got bored easily. I also enjoyed spending time talking to the staff and learning about them. I learned to respect them and they in turn learned to respect me, not just because I'm a princess.

I opened the door smiling, as I looked around. Without talking I closed the door, looking to find where I could help. One of the maids, Lucy, looked like she had trouble washing a large pot. In fact, the pot was bigger then her. It was about to fall, but I caught it just in time.

"Let me help you Lucy." I said with a smile. Her eyes widened when she saw it was me.

"Your Highness, I can handle it." Lucy was newer and wasn't used to me addressing her.

I frowned slightly. "Lucy, you can call me by my first name." We both lifted the pot, so it stood on the counter. I grabbed a rag and helped her scrubbing.

"Sorry. It's hard since I'm not used to it, Your High-Cassie."

I smiled. "It's okay. Just keep doing it so we break that habit." Speaking of which I had something to tell them. "Lucy do you and rest of the maids know that the Royal Family of Hern is coming tomorrow evening?"

Lucy nodded. "Aye, we were told yesterday. It was short notice but-"

"Wait you girls knew yesterday?!" My voiced raised but I didn't care. I put my head against the pot not caring about getting dirty. "Mother didn't tell me until just before I came here!" By now Sarah had come over and looked at me with her eyebrows raised.

I smiled sheepishly. "Hello Sarah."

"It's been two years since you last saw him, is he really that bad?" Suddenly all attention was on me, weather they stopped doing what they were doing, or if their ears were tuned to listen to my voice.

"Of course Terrance is that bad. Last time I saw him was when I was fifteen and he threw rotten vegetables at me. He's a brat."

Sarah looked at me, her expression turning from annoyance into one of amusement. "Ladies, back to work." She turned from me and went back to kneading bread.

I stayed for another hour before leaving to go clean up for dinner. I didn't want this day to be over and I certainly did not want to see Terrence tomorrow but, I sadly had no choice.