Chapter Text
Sasha stood with perfect posture and her arms outstretched as her servants did one last check of her gown. That night there was a royal ball, where her parents would announce who she would be betrothed to. Sasha felt anxiety well up inside of her. It would most certainly be a stranger and per her parent's request, she would have to poison him a month after the wedding.
Her closest friends, Lady Erin and the daughter of a farmer, Tabitha, but she called them Tabii and Erin, were sitting on her plush bed watching as Sasha got ready. Tabii broke the silence of the room after Sasha's maid gave her a nod and walked out of the room.
"So Sasha, are you excited to find out who you're going to marry?" Her voice was filled with excitement as she moved off the bed. Sasha shrugged, "I guess." Erin stood up too, and spoke in her clear and calm voice, "Anyone, in particular, you want him to be?" Sasha shrugged again, "Not particularly." Tabii sighed, "I wish I could marry that handsome duke from Campbellia!" Erin rolled her eyes, "He's like, a total nerd though." Tabii growled, "You take that back!" Sasha stepped between the two, "Focus girls!"
Sasha moved gracefully over to her mirror, looking at her dress. It was a traditional ballgown and swept the floor. It was a rose gold color, appearing a dull pink but glimmering gold in the light. Her sleeves ending above her elbow and falling into an elegant bell sleeve. Her hair was pinned back into a loose and wavy bun, held together with pins adorned in pearls. She looked youthful, an odd choice for a wedding announcement but perfect for the innocence of a murder.
Someone knocked softly on the door, and Sasha moved elegantly to the door, having years of practice walking in heels and floor-length gowns. It was the head maid, Miss. Priss, "The ball is starting soon, your parents request your presence." Sasha smiled, "Thanks, Miss. Priss."
Sasha inwardly groaned, Talking to her parents was always an experience. Unpleasant to say the least.
Sasha glided down the hall of the palace, the ballroom wasn't far from her own room but it was still painful in six-inch heels. Arriving at the top of the grand staircase leading to the ballroom Sasha stopped and scanned for her parents. Thank God. They were only waiting at the base of the stairs. Sasha moved towards them, Tabii and Erin still trailing behind.
When Sasha and her friends reached the base her father flashed a charming smile, "Sasha, Tabii, Erin, good to see you two could make it. Could you leave us alone a second so we can speak to our daughter?" Tabii and Erin nodded in unison and hurried off to find the table they shared with Sasha.
As soon as the duo disappeared Sasha's father held her arm in a death grip, "Do you remember the plan?" Sasha nodded meekly. Her mother spoke with a sneer, "I don't trust you to but your our best hope. Screw this up and you might be sharing some bad wine with your dear husband." Sasha spoke in a quiet voice, far different from the one she used around other people, "Yes, mother." Her father released her arm from the grip sure to leave bruises and spoke curtly, "Now go run along with your friends." Sasha nodded and hurried away.
In about thirty minutes the ball was in full swing. People dancing, the music playing loudly and the chatter almost too much. Sasha slipped away from her friends to find some peace and quiet in the garden, a place she knew would be dead silent.
Quietly closing the door behind her Sasha let out a deep sigh as she got outside. The air was cool and calm and filled with the sweet scent of flowers. It was perfect until Sasha heard a sarcastic sounding voice coming from beside her.
"You know your not supposed to be out here you know that right, princess?" Sasha yelped and turned to face the voice. It belonged to a boy who looked about her age with dark colored skin and fluffy black hair. Sasha placed her hands on her hips and spoke angrily, "What the hell are you doing out here? This door was locked." The boy smirked at Sasha, "Was locked. I took care of that." The boy pushed himself off the wall and into the moonlight.
Sasha more clearly saw his features. His eyes were a bright turquoise and his suit was a midnight blue, his tie hanging undone on his chest.
Sasha rolled her eyes, "What are you even doing here? I've never seen you before at any royal events." He smirked doing a mock bow, "I am prince Maxwell, of Cordonia." He grabbed Sasha's hand and kissed it, "And you are?" Sasha looked away to hide the subtle blush that had appeared on her cheeks, "Sasha, of Rosescout." Max stood up with his stupid smirk still on his face, "So your the lucky lady one of us will marry? God, I sure hope it's me if I get to see your face every day." Sasha rolled her eyes for what felt like the millionth time that night, "Asshole." Max put on an exaggerated frown, "I am but a humble suitor, wanting to marry the girl of my dreams." Sasha pushed him away, just as she heard a loud clinking from inside the palace, "There announcing my husband now, let's get inside." Max grinned as he followed Sasha, "Place your bets. I've got my money on Jeremy from Woodland." Sasha had seen him before, it was not pretty, so instead of quipping back she made her way to her table, elegantly sitting down on her seat.
Her father began a long speech, people in the ballroom getting bored. Sasha heard quiet chatter from other tables until her father finally finished and said the words that would determine the rest of Sasha's life.
"The man who my daughter will marry is, Maxwell Pine of Cordonia!"
Sasha stood frozen in her seat. She had done this rehearsal a million times, and knew it was time for her to go onstage and receive her wedding ring along with her betrothed, but she couldn’t.
That asshole who had flirted with her in the garden was now going to be her husband? She couldn’t do it. After 10 seconds Sasha realized her parents would raise hell if she remained rooted, and she moved up onto the stage.
She offered her hand to her father, her gaze vacant as she felt the cold ring onto her finger. Looking out over the crowd Sasha couldn’t see her betrothed anywhere. Sasha heard her father murmur under her breath, “Where is he?” Sasha whispered back, “I can find him. Give me the ring.” Sasha heard her mother whisper, “No! You’ll lose it!” Sasha’s father however, apparently entranced by the embarrassment, handed Sasha the ring.
Sasha murmured a thank you before rushing off the stage. As Sasha passed tables she heard yelling and felt people trying to stop her. As she started running she kicked off her heels and hiked up her dress, moving as fast as she could towards the garden.
As Sasha opened the door and quickly shut it and locked it behind her. Noticing immediately the smell of cigarettes Sasha looked around the garden, seeing Max lurking on a bench.
Sasha moved over to him and sat down her voice quiet and gentle, “You okay?” Max laughed bitterly and pulled his cigarette out of his mouth, “What do you think?” Sasha frowned and clutched the ring in her hand, the ring on her finger felt heavy.
Max frowned and spoke through the silence, “Fuck this.” Sasha looked up at him, “What?” Max stood up, “Fuck this. It’s bullshit they can’t control our lives.” Sasha shrugged and looked back down at her feet, “Appearances. Act like you are and they believe you if you’re parents are like mine.” Max laughed, “Give me the ring.” Sasha looked up, “What?” Max repeated his words more clearly, “Give me the ring.” Sasha shrugged and dropped it into his palm.
Sasha actually saw it for the first time. It was a gold band with diamonds embedded into the middle. As should be expected from her parents, a flaunting of their wealth. Sasha was mesmerized by the ring before chucking it far away, probably landing in the pool. Sasha laughed, “My parents will be so pissed.” Max shrugged, “Who cares you’ll be heading to Cordonia in like a week.” Sasha suddenly felt the situation tense,
“That won’t be fast enough.” Max stopped smiling and whipped around, “What?” Sasha shrugged, tears welling up in her eyes, “It’s nothing.” Max sat down on the bench and held his hand hesitantly above her back, “Is it ok if I-” Sasha let a few tears slip out and pulled Max’s hand down onto her back, “Fucking commit to it.” Max let out a nervous laugh, “I’ll be here the entire week and I’ll stay by your side the entire time and if they fucking dare to try to touch you I will fucking murder them.”
Sasha laughed and leaned into him, “Want to go skinny dipping?” Max looked up and stopped rubbing her back, “W-what?” Sasha laughed, “When I’m upset or spiralling I do something impulsive and it clears my mind.” Max smiled, “Ok then.” Sasha smiled and stood up, “Let’s get going!” Max smirked, “You’re eager to get me into my underwear.” Sasha rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the gravel path to the pool.
The lights were on in the pool, and the water was kept at a perfect 60 degrees. Sasha began to pull her dress off, twisting it around to reach the zipper she turned to Max, who still stood near the bushes, “You trying to get caught, Princess?” Sasha laughed, “You’re the one who promised you’d murder my parents if they tried to hit me.” Max shrugged, “Fair point.”
Soon the pair were in nothing but their underwear. Sasha stood awkwardly, “So you want to go in first or…?” Max laughed “Sure thing, Princess.” He started running towards the water and effectively closer to Sasha. Sasha smiled as she watched him run towards the water. Her smile melted off when he grabbed her hand and pulled her in with him. Sasha let out a shrill giggle, soon drowned out from the sound of the two hitting the water.
As Sasha surfaced she pushed her hair out of her face, the pins being knocked out by the water, and laughed, “You dick!” Max shrugged, “I take an opportunity when I see one.” Sasha smiled and moved closer to Max, “So we’re getting married.” Max blushed hard. Sasha continued to smile seductively and moved to kiss him. Max’s voice was shaky, “You sure about this, Princess?” Sasha smiled, “Hell yes.”
Sasha wrapped her arms around Max’s neck and pushed him under the water before laughing, “Bitch!” She continued laughing until she felt something tug on her laughing. She let out a small scream before going under. Sasha opened her eyes under the water to see Max smirking back at her. She smiled before resurfacing.
Max smiled at her as they bother stood in the water, each of them only barely clearing the surface of the five foot deep water. Sasha smiled at Max and he smiled back. Sasha felt her impulsiveness rise to a boil as she pushed forward and kissed him. He let out a muffled grunt as Sasha made contact. Sasha mumbled, “Shut up let me kiss you.” Max tapped her, “Princess, Sasha!” Sasha broke away, “What?” Max pointed behind Sasha, “We have a tiny problem.” Sasha turned to see a crowd of party goers and paparazzo standing behind them.
“Well shit.”