Pirate Princess

Introduction

It was the first day of spring and I was walking around the beautifully arranged garden of my family's estate, if you were to ask me, I would say that it's a little bit dull but that is just my opinion.

I think that all this structure, the accurate cut bushes and perfect paving stones take away nature's natural beauty.

I've always prefered wild flowers over symetrical cut roses but as long as it's to my fathers liking, King Richard, I'm okay with it.

This is practically what I do everyday, I get up in the morning and my maid Faye helps me get dressed and does my hair.

Then i eat breakfast and take a walk in the garden to get some fresh air. Practically everything in my life is already planned out.
My father makes plans for events that I have to attend and it's even almost decided who I am going to marry soon. Duke James of Edgewater, he is as boring as he sounds.

Sometimes I wish I could escape this estate just once and see what the wide world has in store for me, outside of these walls but my father would never let me. After my mother's death, he kept me practically locked up here.

I mean, to be fair, there are worse places to be locked up than a 100 square kilometers estate with butlers and maids that do practically everything for you but at the risk of sounding spoiled, I still felt like something was missing.

My mother always used to tell me stories about knights, dragons and discoverers on great adventures, is it too much to ask for a little adventure?

I turned my head to look at my guard, standing a few feet away from me, clearly bored of accompanying me everyday. I couldn't blame him. But why miss this opportunity to make it a bit more exciting for him? (And for me)

I took my chance when he turned to look at the sky for a moment and quickly hid behind a big rose bush. The look on his face when he could no longer see me was priceless. His face showed a mix of panic, worry and annoyance.

„Princess Amelia?" he said concerned and quickly hurried into my direction. Letting out a giggle I ran away to the next bush to hide, when I suddenly bumped into somebody.

I looked up to see my father eyeing me angrily.„Father...I...didn't know you were outside" I stuttered and quickly dropped my gaze to start fixing the wrinkles in my dress.

„Amelia, when will you start acting like a lady?" he asked and looked at my wrinkly dress, displeased.
Behind me, my guard finally appeared, panting and sweating in his armor. It took just one look of my father to know what was going on.

„Amelia you have to start taking responsibility, you're 18 years old and running around in the garden like a child" he said and frowned. „I'm sorry Father, I'm really trying but I just needed some diversification for once" I said quietly and looked at my guard apologetically.

„Alright enough of this, I just came outside to tell you that you have a visitor" he said a little more cheerful „it's the Duke, he's already waiting for you in the Saloon"

Oh no, not him...could this day get any worse? I wanted nothing so badly as running towards my chambers right now but that would pique my father even more, so I quickly made my way to the saloon, I didn't even bother to fix my dress more, I hoped that maybe if I looked repulsive, he wouldn't like me anymore but his look when I approached him said otherwise.

„Aaah Amelia my love" he greeted me and took my hand in his to give it a kiss. His fingers were cold but somehow sweaty and he smelled like he used 20 different strong perfumes all at once. Maybe to try and outperform the smell of rectal expulsion coming from his mouth.

„Princess Amelia" I said in response. Normally I don't insist on people saying my title but I'd do anything to create some distance between him and myself.

He clears his throat, not really bothered by my attitude and continues: „Princess Amelia, I am here to tell you that I would like to take you as my wife. Your father and I are close allies and I have a lot to offer for you. Plus, you are the most beautiful woman in the entire land and I would like you to be by my side forever" he said and his mouth curved into a sly smile.

I was speechless, was...was that a proposal? I mean he didn't even ask.

„I would like to take you as my wife" ...that sounds more like an offer to me. As if he gave me the opportunity to finally be with him.

Goodness gracious, finally. Ugh.

I looked at him in shock as I tried to find the words to turn him down in the most princess-like way possible.

„James I don't think that..." I started but I was quickly interrupted by my father who appeared behind me.

„Did you tell her?" he asked happily and I turned around in disbelief. He was in on this? James must have seen my confusion and quickly stated that my father had given him his blessing to propose to his daughter.

„I figured he would make a good husband. He is wealthy, well behaved and Edgewater is one of our closest trade partners" my father explained and patted James on the shoulder, approvingly.

„Father, can I please talk to you for a moment?" I whispered and looked at him with pleading eyes but the look he gave me said that he did not take no for an answer.

„Amelia, I'm only doing what's best for you. I promise you will be in good hands with James. You're old enough to marry now and I hope that you're going to be mature enough soon, too"

I looked at him with tears in my eyes, trying to process what was happening.
„Please father, give me a chance to choose my husband myself. I promise I will not disappoint you" I pleaded and his gaze softened.

„Alright...we will have a ball where I invite only the most eligible men of the country and you shall choose somebody by the end of the night" he demanded. That didn't sound much better but it was at least something. „Thank you father" I said and gave him a hug.

„The ball will be in two days" he said and I froze.

Two days....

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