Little Queen

Chapter 5

"This is...! This is...!" I don't know what to say. I feel like steam might come blowing out of my ears any minute now. "Ludicrous!" I spit. I place my hands on my hips and stare at my dad.

"Averi, your overreacting."

Overreacting?! "Overreacting!" I yell, appalled. "I have done so many things for my country, dad. I've had to make plenty of sacrifices. But marrying someone I don't even know?! It's crossing the line!" I cross my arms, defiant as ever. Nobody can make me do this.

He sighs, rolling his eyes. "I take it you don't think this is a good idea?"

Good idea? Good idea?! "Are you insane? Of course I don't." Shouldn't he know that I don't want to be forced into marriage? That I want to marry a man I actually love?

My dad starts to look around his room, refusing to look at me. I then ask a question that I never thought I would. "Do you think I should do this? Marry someone I don't know? Don't love?"
I expect to hear the words 'Of course not, Averi you should live a happy life.' or, maybe 'No one can tell you who to marry, Averi'. But instead I hear nothing, just the sound of my heart cracking into a million pieces.

"You do," I accuse, my voice hardly above a whisper. "You think I should follow through on this, don't you?" I say, my voice getting louder. Dad finally turns to face me, the look of guilt in his eyes. "I wholeheartedly think you should live a happy life," his face is so sincere, that I do believe him. "I want what is best for you, Averi and I think marrying this man will do you the world of good."

"You know who it is?" I ask, confused

He nods his head.

"Who?" I ask.

He chuckles once. "That I'm not aloud to say."

I'm really confused that he's not aloud to tell me since I'm supposed to be marrying the guy, but I let it slide. I don't really care anyway.

"So you'll do it?" His voice is so hopeful.

Closing my eyes, I sigh. Dad smirks. "I knew you would do it." Then wheels himself out of his room.

I'll let dad think that I'm going to do this for the time being; but I'm not going to give in that easily, I'll find a way out of this.

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Dear Hailey,

I have so much to tell you. I'm sorry I haven't written you in a while, so much has been going on.

I want you to know that I'm doing fine and so are Ethan and Oscar.

I also want you to know that I am going to be crowned queen this month. Surprise! It took a little bit of effort to persuade parliament, but in the end we got there! Don't tell anyone though, okay? No ones allowed to know yet.

How are you? How's school? Are you still living in that house in Mosman Cove? I bet your mums belly is getting big! How many months along is she now?

The pen hovers over the page as I decide whether to tell her about the arranged marriage thing. I decide not to. Since it's not happening. And parliament still have to make up a story of how we met and all that.

You will receive an invitation to my coronation since you are my best friend and I totally want you to be there! Write me back soon!

Love ya!

Xoxo Averi.

I fold the letter, slide it in the envelope and seal it.

I'll give it to a maid at dinner.