Rittenhouse Royalty

Chapter Five

Chapter 5: Birthdays and Engagements

Over the years Lucy had learned to put on a good front for her parents. Making them believe she was coming around to their way of thinking. She spent a lot of her time (always with a guard watching her) up in the east tower pouring over the journals trying to find something in them... anything in them that could help her somehow escape her fate. Jiya had also spent a lot of her time (that wasn't spent with Lucy) trying to gather as much information from the staff as possible about what went on in the Palace that she and the princess may not have previously known about. For five long years they searched and planned and did everything they could to try and find a way out all to no avail. They were trapped with no way out.

Then it was the week before Lucy's 21st birthday and Invitations had been sent out all over for a grand ball being held in her honor. She just assumed it was because her parents were convinced she was finally ready to be the daughter they always wanted. After dress fittings and dance lessons and etiquette lessons the day of the ball, and her twenty first birthday had arrived. The girls awoke to a flurry of activity in their tower room. There were maids bringing in breakfast and the girls dresses. Others getting prepared to start on their hair trying to get everything absolutely perfect. For once Lucy was a little excited for a royal event if only because it meant she got to wear this perfect dress that was made just for her. It was a beautiful emerald green ballgown with off the shoulder sleeves and a heart shaped neck line with gold embellishments and real emerald jewelry to match it was absolutely perfect and she truly felt like a princess in it. Jiyas gown was equally as beautiful a deep blue with silver embellishment sleeveless with just thin little straps holding it up fitting her perfectly. As the girls were sitting down to breakfast laughing and thinking up different scenarios of how the ball would go, the Queen walked in holding a small box.

"Leave us." She told the staff and Jiya.

"Mom?"

"Luceilia, today you turn 21 and I am so proud of the woman you have become. You have taken everything we have taught you and are ready to become the queen you were always meant to be...."

"Queen? What do you mean? Its just my birthday I was never told anything about taking the throne. I'm not ready..." Lucy interrupted in a frightened rush.

"Luceilia, please all in good time. Here open you present. It was mine when I was your age and I would like for you to wear it this evening. Your first tiara for your first ball."

"Its beautiful, Thank you."

"There is more. Tonight will serve not only to celebrate your birthday but also your engagement."

"My what? Mom I am not engaged. I don't really even know any men other than Dad."

"My dear, you have been engaged since they day you were born. Do you remember the Flynn's? From Masonia?"

"You mean Wyatt? I am engaged to Wyatt?" Lucy was beginning to think that maybe this wouldn't be to terrible if that were the case. She remembered Wyatt from her childhood and they always got a long very well.

"No, not Wyatt. He is the younger brother. He wont take the throne. No you are going to wed to his brother Garcia, you remember him don't you?"

"Garcia?! No please mother do not make me marry him. he was always so creepy, always following me around and being so horribly mean to poor Wyatt. I cant marry him we could never make each other happy."

"Luceilia! Happiness is not what matters here. This marriage is to unite the kingdoms. It is for our people. You read the journals surely you should have expected this, been ready for this."

"But, there must be some other way...."

"No, there is no other way. Tonight the engagement will be announced then tomorrow you will be going to Masonia to be introduced to their people as the next Queen. Then one day all of Masonia and Rittenhouse shall be yours to rule over. Now Ill leave you to finish your breakfast and make yourself beautiful for the ball." and with that she was gone leaving a stunned Lucy in her wake. When Jiya came in shortly after, Lucy was still sitting there starring at the tiara in her hands.

"Lucy? Are you alright? What has she said now? Today is supposed to be a happy day."

"Oh Jiya, today is anything but happy."

"What are you talking about its your birthday. In my book that is always a reason to celebrate."

"Not when I am about to be married off to the worlds greatest ass."

"Wait, what? Married? To who?"

"Exactly. I hardly know the man. His name is Garcia Flynn, from Masonia. I used to be friends with his brother when we were younger. Before our families stopped getting together every summer."

"I remember Wyatt, you guys were more inseparable then we are. Why not marry him? That wouldn't be so bad."

"I suggested that as well. Apparently since he is younger and not to inherit that makes him unsuitable. Tomorrow I am supposed to go to Masonia and meet their people. Maybe I can demand that you go with me and we can somehow escape once there? Their guards wont be expecting us to sneak out like ours would. I say we go along with everything for now. If we play our cards right, hopefully, we will be out of here in no time." Lucy hoped she was right and that she wasn't leading Jiya straight into danger.

"Ok, yea, sure. Well lets get dressed. You have a fiancé to re-meet." They spent the next few hours getting ready for this grand ball that they felt anything but ready for. Maids would come in and out assisting them in preparations and packing their things for their journey to Masonia tomorrow.

Meanwhile in the ballroom guests were arriving and gathering awaiting the princesses arrival. King Benjamin and Queen Carolyna were sitting on their thrones with Queen Emma, and princes Garcia and Wyatt seated there with them. Everyone seemed to be having a great time... everyone that is, except for Wyatt who looked perfectly miserable. At least until he looked up and saw the most beautiful scene he had ever seen in his life.