Arranged: A Future Decided

The City of Lights

PeopleTV presenter:

"Goodmorning lovelies, if you're dreaming of becoming a princess then I'm sure you know about Prince Nikolai of Denmark. He's been listed countless times as the most eligible royal bachelor since Prince Harry announced his engagement to now Duchess Meghan Markle. The thing is, he's not eligible anymore as of this morning, the 24th of March, the Danish royal family announced his engagement to billionaire heiress Eva D'Abruzzio. And if you've never heard her name before you're not alone. Despite being the richest heiress in the world, with a jaw-dropping inheritance of $70.7 billion USD, she has lived a very private life. She was privately tutored at the family estate in Italy until she was eight when she then attended, the most prestigious boarding school in the USA, King Louis Academy in Minnesota until last year when she turned fifteen. Sorry for breaking your hearts, and we'll be back to you soon with more info on this mysterious heiress."

Eva's Pov

I picked up my phone answering Victoria's call.

"Bonjour," I said as I walked into my closet.

"Hey, do you want to meet for dinner with me, Kathy, and Char?" She asked.

"Oh, sure. Kennedy and Gene haven't flown in yet?" I asked as I kicked off my sneakers.

"No, they got grounded for two hours because of weather in New York. They'll land around eleven."

"That sucks, anyways what did you have in mind for dinner?"

"We're here for you so it's your choice," 

"How about La Gare at eight?"

"Are you crazy? That place is going to jam-packed with tourists. Plus I'm not going halfway across Paris,"

"Fine, then we'll go to Pasco. It's just three blocks away from me. I'll send the car for you guys at 7:30,"

"Sure, and what should we wear?"

"Country club casual," I said before hanging up.

I glanced at the time on my phone, 4:52 pm, I have plenty of time. With that, I walked over to my desk to go over my schedule for the next twoish months. A few minutes later the door opened and I jumped. 

"Gesù Cristo!" I exclaimed before turning around. 

"I'm so sorry Eva, I did not mean to scare you," Said Ricci.

"Chao Ricci," I replied as I turned away.

"I came to check on you. I know this time of year gets hard for you, even harder I'm sure with the wedding," Ricci said as he entered the room and sat on my bed since I didn't reply he continued, "Eva my sister, do you still feel the pain of the scars that won't heal?"

I turned around and glared at him but bit my cheek to keep from crying, "Why are you bringing this up?"

"You're eyes have died! But, you see more than I. You don't look like you did four years ago," He pleaded.

"I've gone through puberty that's why," I grumbled as I turned to my desk.

"Eva, you know what I mean. You used to have this glint in your eyes, you used to be so brave, so confident,"

"People grow up Ricci," I said before looking down to hide the tears forming," I just had to grow up a bit faster."

"Your a star in the face of the sky, you're just like her. You can bring that shine back," 

"You didn't know her like I did Giambattista! You didn't watch her wither away for months as she was slowly ripped from us! Hell, you weren't even there when she died! So do not tell me I can ever go back to how I was before. You didn't watch her be killed," I snapped standing up so my chair toppled over.

"Eva," Ricci said as back away across the bed.

Just then our dad walked by and stopped at the door asking, "Is everything alright?"

"Ricci was just leaving," I said coldly as he got up and left. 

A few minutes later Vallea gently knocked on the door before entering. 

"Are you still up for your dinner with your friends?" She asked timidly

I stood up from my desk letting out a long sigh before answering, "Yes, I could use the distraction anyway."

"Good, and where will you be going for dinner?" She asked.

"Pasco," I replied.

"Very good, Signorina," She said as she turned to leave before pausing, "And I've decided I'll go with you to Denmark."

Hearing that my head shot up from my phone, "Oh! That's awesome! And, thank you. I know this is a huge sacrifice for you Vallea."

"My family has served yours for decades Signorina and you have always been kind to me. This is the least that I can do," Vallea replied with a smile before leaving. 

With that, I had an hour and a half to do whatever I wanted. 

Time skip three hours

I stepped out of the car before stopping in front of the paparazzi.

"Have you met Prince Nikolai, Eva?" Asked a reporter as a microphone was shoved in my face.

"Maybe three times," I replied as me and my friends started to make our way to the restaurant doors. 

"How do you feel about being in an arranged marriage?" Asked another.

"I don't know any different," I said as I stopped to get all these questions over with. 

"When's the wedding?"

"June 15th,"

"When do you move to Copenhagen?"

"In three weeks,"

"Will you live at Fredensborg Palace up until the wedding?"

"No, I will live at the family's summer residence. That's all the questions I will answer at this time," I said before rushing into the safety of Pasco.

My friends and I quickly got to our table and sat down.

"That was exhausting!" I exclaimed as I set my clutch down on the floor beside me.

"It looked like it," Charlotte said as she opened her menu. 

"I still can't believe you're getting married in two months!" Kathy exclaimed as she leaned towards me. 

"I can!" I joked as I scanned the menu, "What are you guys thinking you'll order?"

"I'm eyeing the escargots sauteed in garlic and rosemary," Charlotte said.

"You're such a tourist!" Teased Victoria as she sipped her water.

"Am not! I actually like escargots!" Charlotte whined.

We laughed as the waiter came over to take our orders for food and drink.

"I'll have the olive-crusted orange fillet of duck breast," I said in French when he got to me. 

"Very good miss," He replied a bit shocked that I could speak the language before rushing off. 

"You guys still want to be my bridesmaids right?" I asked looking around.

"Of course!" 

"Obviously,"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world!"

"That takes a weight off my shoulders," I said with a smile as I sipped my drink.

Hey guys! Here's a long chapter for you! Please vote and comment. I want to hear what you guys think and want to see. Thanks for reading!