Arrangement

Chapter 1

It took nearly two weeks to arrive in the country of Willowdale.

Everyone welcomed you with open arms, watching as their future princess rode up to the palace in a tinted car.

You smiled and waved, but deep down you hated this, hated the fact you were married off to a complete stranger that you only heard of from stories.

You knew what happened to the mysterious prince, everyone did, but nobody had seen him for 25 years. So when your mother told you that you were going to be married off to him, you felt confused more than angry.

You knew your mother would do this since you were 10.

She'd always told you how you were destined to marry for love and also to bring countries together, whether that was through an arrangement or a suitor of your choice.

But when you turned 21 nearly a year ago, your mother had been trying to set you up with eligible bachelors, and when you kept denying them your hand, she went to more drastic measures and chose someone for you.

And that someone you'd never met.

The carriage finally slowed to a stop and you looked up to see Queen Diana waiting for you

"Welcome to Willowdale!" Diana exclaims with a bright smile adorning her face

"Its lovely to be here, your majesty" You smile back, shaking her outstretched hand

"Please call me Diana" She says "Please come inside, you must be exhausted from your tiring trip"

"I am just a little" You reply sheepishly

Diana guides you up the stairs and through the double doors of the palace

"If you don't mind me asking, but when will I meet your son?" You ask, your voice echoing throughout the entrance

"My son, Spencer, is not used to visitors..." She winces

So I'll be married to a Phantom pretty much...Great

"It took him nearly two years to face me and another year to actually hug me, it'll be a huge adjustment since your now his betrothed. And since he doesn't know much about you he won't talk to you until he's comfortable" Diana explains

"When will I know he's comfortable?" You ask

"He'll come to you, he might not show himself just yet, but he'll speak to you" she replies "now you must be absolutely exhausted from your journey, I'll show you to your room" you follow a few steps behind her, allowing yourself to admire the paintings on the wall.

You knew that most of these were the original Willowdale royals, but one of the paintings made you stop and stare

"Diana?" You ask, she hums and moves to stand next to you "who's that?"

"That is Spencer before the fire, he really was a handsome boy" she sighs, memories of her and Spencer playing outside flooding her memory "but alas he's much different now, he got older, anyway, let's continue"

You look at the portrait for a few more seconds, something about the eyes made you feel like someone was watching you.