Crushed Royally

Chapter 15

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        I stared at Chace, my mouth half open. He ignored the looks from everyone else and walked up to me with a determined look. "Rose," he said. "I'm so sorry I was like that to you. I thought about it, and I realize why you couldn't tell me." He looked over at William and sneered. "Just the thought of you marrying that.. that thing is just repulsive."

     William said nothing, just stared at us with an eyebrow raised and a smirk on his face. I glared at him before looking back to Chace, my gaze softening. "So this is the one Rose was all 'oh, boo-hoo!' about," William said. I turned to him and glared more fiercely, grinding my teeth. I resisted the urge to slap him.

    "Really?" Chace said, sounding amused. "What else?" William scratched the back of his neck. "Well, she would sit in her room and cry for hours on end. Then she would stare at a picture she had of you and-" I cut him off by putting my hand over his mouth. "Ha-ha," I said sarcastically. "Nice joke, Will." He took my hand off his mouth and glared at me. I glared back.

    "You know, it's like I didn't even come all the way to see you, what with all the glaring matches you're having with him," Chace said. "No, no," I said. "I hate him." I pointed to William as I said this. "Don't worry," William muttered. "Feeling's mutual, Princess." Both Chace and I glared at him this time.

   "Chace, I-" Father stormed up the altar. "What is going on here?" he boomed. I winced a little. Chace stood up straight. "Sir, I'm here to stop the wedding," he said. "I love your daughter with everything I have." Father looked a bit surprised. "You love her?" he asked softly, glancing at me. Chace ruffled my spiked hair. "Yeah, even if she prefers to look like a boy," he teased.

   King Perrin came waltzing up the steps. "So, is it true?" he said. "Are we going to call off the wedding?" Father looked at me, his expression a little pained. "But, honey," he said. "How are we supposed to unite the kingdoms." Just then, an idea sprang to mind. I could see William sneaking little glances in the crowd at a petite blonde girl, and her blushing. I recognized her as Father's assistant's daughter.

   "What if William marries her?" I asked, and pointed the blonde out. Father looked at the line of my finger. "My assistant's daughter?" he said. "You, there! Come up here a minute!" She scampered up here. I noticed she chose to stand right next to William. Even I had to admit they looked like a good couple. Her blonde hair is a great contrast to his dark brown.

   William grabbed her hand and squeezed, whispering words into her ear. King Perrin smirked and Father smiled. "So," he mused. "You're already infatuated with her." William looked up, his expression sheepish. "I'm sorry, father," he said. "I couldn't help myself." The girl shrank into his side.

   "What's your name?" I asked. The girl looked up and squeezed William's hand harder. "Cecily," she said softly. The visitors that all came here to see me and William marry all looked confused. King Perrin and Father exchanged a glance and smiled at each other. "It's settled," King Perrin said. "Cecily and William will get married, ensuring unity between the countries," Father said.

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   I looked at Chace. We haven't been able to talk for the past few hours. I was whisked away to help with broadcasting the news to the world, and Chace was left behind. We were now in the empty ballroom. Peter had congratulated me on finally getting something I wanted.

   "Chace," I said. He picked his head up and yawned. "You're finally done," he said sleepily. I smiled. "Yeah," I said, sitting next to him and leaning my head on his shoulder hesitantly. "Mm," Chace said. "I love you, Rose. I really do." I sucked a breath in. 

   "Do you really mean it, Chace?" I asked. He stood up suddenly. "I have a very good idea," he said. "Of how to prove it to you." He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the room where they broadcast things out for everyone to know.

   "Excuse me," he said to one of the cameramen. "Can you film something for me? Just for a second." The cameraman looked at me and shrugged. "Whatever," he said. "Ten.. nine.." He pulled me into the camera's line of view and waited until the cameraman said it was okay to start talking.

   "I know I'm probably interrupting something you wanted to watch, but I just want to prove something," he said. "Is this going out to everyone?" The cameraman nodded. "I love Princess Rosealinda," he said loudly. I gasped, putting my hand over my mouth. He must love me! Me must!

   He gently turned me. "And just so no one gets any ideas about stealing you away.." he said. I could sense he was about to kiss me, but I stopped him. "Wait," I said. I turned back to the camera. "I love Chace!" I said, just as loud as him. He looked mildly surprised. "Just so all you girls out ther don't steal him away from me.. And don't think I won't see you all looking at him like he could be yours one day! I know how good-looking he is!"

   Chace turned me quickly and kissed me, hard. It wasn't a very chaste kiss, but it felt like the best kiss on my life. That is, until Mom Father came and yelling, telling the cameraman to shut the camera off, and we had to stop kissing. But that doesn't mean we didn't kiss behind closed doors!

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