Calvary

Chapter 6: My Betrothed

KNOCK KNOCK! I hear pounding on my door.
"Prince Ryder, could you please come out?", a feminine voice calls from beyond my door.
"Who is it?", I mumble yawning.
"Erika", she replies.
Huh!? I fall out of bed. I known Erika for about a year now. She is really pretty and funny. Even though she is a year younger than me, she treats me like a little brother. I quickly throw on my robe and try to straighten my hair as much as possible. Though even though I really like her she doesn't like me in return for one reason. She is my maid.
"Hurry up sleeping beauty!", Erika groans from outside the door.
I creak the door open revealing dark haired and tan skinned Erika with a smirk painted on face.
"I don't care if you're royalty, but you really need to be more responsible", she snickers.
"My apologies, I couldn't fall asleep.", my face turns bright red trying to hide the fact that I went to bed early and woke up late.
"Well sorry for the inconvenience Your Majesty", she rolled her eyes.
"But you have company down stairs", she walked down the marble hallway.
I close the door and change. A few moments later I skip down the hall hoping to see Erika on the way down.  When I get to about halfway down the stairs I see a pair of familiar faces standing in the throne room talking to Father.
"Thank you for your service to your country Lady Rosette", Father spoke to the familiar lady in a purple gown.
"My pleasure Your Majesty, please do tell me when shall I be able to meet my betrothed?", the lady asked.
"He should be right down", Father pointed at me and gestured me to come down.
My heart sank. Betrothed? I don't even know the lady's name. I walk down the stairs toward the lady.
"Greetings Ryder! I am not sure if you remember me. I am Rosette, we met each other when we were young children", she smiled reaching for my hand.
I want to turn away but knowing how my father  would respond if I did. I gently grasped her hand and lightly kissed it.
"Pleasure to meet you, my betrothed.", the words grudgingly fell from my mouth, my future and freedom fell with it.
The man next to her that looked barely older than me was dressed in a navy blue suit and a sash with multiple medals and badges pinned to it. Rosette gestured to the man and smiled.
"This is my older brother Brendon—", before she could finish her sentence a guard yelled from the top of the staircase.
"Your Majesty!Princess Abigale is missing", he yelled while my father's skin went pale.
I froze. As if this day could get any worse...