One Plus One Equals One

Chapter 34 - Gwen's POV

I am back to my boring, nonconsequential life. I am in a position of power, yet prohibited to do anything with it. However, as I am eighteen now, it means I have rights; rights to choose my own path in life and rights to move out of home. I am moving out of the castle as soon as possible. Even though my time in America did not go exactly as planned, and I have returned early having lost everything of real meaning in my life, I have learned some valuable lessons.

There is so much more to life then reading and horse riding and looking pretty. I want to travel around the world and use my circumstances (trust fund) to help people. I want to wake up and just go where the day takes me, no rules or people holding me back. My mother has betrayed me and burned what little trust I had in her, and my father obviously does not care about me enough to be an active part of my life. My sister shall be getting married soon in the awkward-est wedding of the century, meaning she will not need me either. Even so, my sister was the only one who greeted me when I arrived, as my mother and father were too busy with affairs of the state to even see me after six weeks of being parted from them.

I do not belong anywhere. I am unwanted.

My sister tried to get me to tell her why I look like a train wreck, but I told her I was not ready to talk yet, and thankfully she left me to flee to my room to mourn for a few hours. I know I cannot stay hidden in here forever though. In fact, I do not want to. I am planning on announcing at dinner my plans to travel around the world (alone) for a few years to experience all life has to offer and to help those who are in need. There is no way my mother would let me miss dinner anyway. It is a 'sacred' event in my family as it is the only time we are all together, not that I am actually permitted to speak freely though. I guess my mother may think that because I have run home I want to be with her and have been weakened, but the opposite is true. If anything, this horrible, horrible ordeal has toughened me up. I do not need anyone. Especially a man. I want to do something worthwhile in my life, as Rayne Woods not Princess Gwendolyn. I am thinking of starting my journey in Africa, helping to build homes and schools for the people that need it out there.

Anywhere that is far away from my family and Cohen sounds perfect.

As the evening meal is such a big event in my household, it has been drilled into me since I was a child that you have to dress up in your finest clothes and look perfect. Well, that is not happening tonight! No way. My family and whatever idiots they have invited to dine with us are going to get barefaced, frizzy-haired, sweat-pants wearing me. I ignore the beautiful blue lace midi dress laid out on the bed for me with matching lace pumps. My mother cannot buy my forgiveness. When the bells chime for dinner, I pretend to ignore them and wait for my mother to send one of the maids to fetch me. Exactly five minutes later, there is a knock on my door.

"Oh, your highness! I am sorry, did I awaken you? Would you like me to ask your family to wait whilst you get ready?" Alexandria the maid asks me once I open the door.

"No, it is fine, don't worry. I shall be going like this tonight." I announce, causing her to gasp.

"What? Are you quite sure your highness? I am not sure you are quite meeting the dress code." She splutters.

"I know and I do not care." I shrug as I make my way past her and her hanging jaw and down to the dining hall.

Once I have made my way through the winding hallways and come to the majestic dining hall, I notice the grand oak doors are opened, and my mother is standing anxiously outside, probably waiting for my arrival.

"Oh Gwendolyn, how wonderful... oh, what are you wearing?" She asks, turning her nose up in distaste.

"My comfy clothes mother, and spare me the formalities." I hiss, causing her to gasp as I ignore her outstretched arms and make my may into the dining hall.

She does not deserve any love from me.

I defiantly walk in with my head held high, leaving my shocked mother in the dust, when I jerk to a halt. What on earth... am I seeing things? My eyes nearly bulge out of my head as I see Cohen sat in the seat opposite mine, looking a little worse for wear with black circles under his eyes and a grim smile. For a moment, I forget everything, only remembering his sweet words, magical kisses and lingering touches, before I remember why am I here in the first place.

He is with Raven. He does not care for me.

Everyone (my father and sister, luckily there are no other guests tonight) is quiet at the table, waiting to gauge my reaction to seeing Cohen in my birth country. I am in a total state of shock, and my heart breaks all over again as I am once again assaulted by his beautiful eyes that look so lovingly towards me.

"Come and sit down Gwen." My mother whispers as she guides me towards my seat, surprisingly having gotten over my rudeness. For now.

I quickly snap my eyes away from Cohen, feeling quite lightheaded. He is not supposed to be here. What the hell is going on? As soon as I am seated, the chefs roll out great silver trays of food and start serving our meals onto the china plates, whilst I sit sullenly. I want to leave, I want to scream, and I want to hurt Cohen for doing exactly what I didn't want him too.

"Gwendolyn, it is lovely to have you back with us. How was your time away?" My father asks in his loud voice from the head of the table, and I mumble a response, turning us back to awkward silence.

I just cannot get over the fact that Cohen is here, sat right in front of me. What is the point of running away, if what you're running from appears in front of you?

Knowing I cannot leave now without a god almighty fuss, I decide instead to keep a low profile and just focus on my food. It will be as if Cohen isn't even here. But even though my brain is attempting to forget about Cohen, my heart stupidly soars just because he stupidly came for me.

"So Cohen, it is nice to have you join us for dinner tonight." My mother breaks the awkward silence.

"Thank you for having me." Cohen replies smoothly with his thick American accent.

Finally I am not the odd one out, he is.

"It's no problem dear." My mother replies, as if she is some sweet lady. I 'humph' in response, causing all attention to go to me.

"So tell me Cohen, what is America like?" My sister asks quietly, and he easily makes conversation with her, although I constantly feel his eyes on me.

What on earth does he think he is doing here, looking so handsome and charming my mother and sister? I am deeply annoyed that he is here, so annoyed in fact that I do not enjoy my fine Losingese salmon salad as I usually do. Once I have finished eating my rosemary potatoes, I am so fired up that my mother could let Cohen into our home that I find I have no respect for her rules or etiquette at all. I chug the rest of my wine down before abruptly standing up, casting all eyes on me again, and with an angry glare sent in the direction of Cohen and my gossiping mother, I march out of the room without being excused.

It is quite exhilarating, as I have never done this before!

My mother gasps and cries out in indignation behind me, but I am already bursting out of the doors and hear them slam shut behind me before she can stop me.

I am seething, heartbroken and drained - the worst cocktail of emotions.

Two chapters and an epilogue left guys! Vote for quick updates xo

Edited