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“I will not marry her!” I yell at my father. “You will marry her like it or not.” He says calmly. I growl. “Make Ethan marry her! Why should I be forced to!” “You are the middle child not the heir to this throne. Your brother will be king in a year. Your little brother will marry princess Lenore when he comes of age.” Father explains.
“Know the princess will be here tomorrow evening. I expect you to be on your best behavior.” He says sternly. I roll my eyes and I walk out of the room. Ethan is leaning against the wall in the hallway. “You know eavesdropping is rude right?” I ask him. “It’s not eavesdropping when you’re shouting loud enough for the entire kingdom to hear.” He replies. I sneer. “Shut up.” I mumble.
“Marrying Princess Guinevere won’t be so bad Vincent. I’ve heard she’s pretty.” Ethan says trying to cheer me up. “I don’t care if she’s pretty. I don’t know her, and she doesn’t know me.” I tell him. “Look it’s not the worst thing in the world alright. Johnathan married amber after only knowing her for a day and they are practically attached at the hip.”
“Honeymoon phase. I give it a month and she’ll be bitchin about him or vice versa.” I reply. “You know what be miserable I’m just trying to help.” Ethan yells turning around. “I didn’t want help, so your efforts aren’t appreciated.” I tell him over my shoulder.
The next afternoon I watch maids and other servants cleaning the courtyard from my window and frown. “Cleaning for that princess.” I mumble to myself. I look to my bag on my bed. “After the dance I’m out of here.” I talk to myself again.
A maid sees me watching and waves with a smile. I wave back then look away. “Oi! Princey come down here!” Philip one the knights in training call to me. I smile. “Give me a minute you brute.” I reply to him. I hear his laugh as I walk away from the window.
I walk past people walking around the castle. Many carrying linens and cloths a few carrying cleaning supplies. When I finally reach the courtyard Philip. I look for him till I get dragged into an alcove. I squeak as he kisses me. I kiss him back but pull away after a moment.
“Are you insane? The maids are gossipy. Do you want to get caught?” I ask him. He chuckles. “I have to kiss you as much as possible before your nuptial.” He tells me kissing my neck. I hold in a moan as he kisses me. “Quit it brute.” I scold him hitting his shoulder. “You love it.” He says with a smirk.
“Of course, I do but we can’t be caught. You know how the maids are and gods forbid another knight catches us.” I scold him. Philip frowns at the mentions of the other knights. “Fine… but I can’t help it. Your beautiful.” He complements me.
I look at him with a frown. “I don’t want to marry this girl. I love you.” I tell him. “I know but there is nothing we can do about it.” “Actually, there is something we could do.” I tell him. “Oh, and what is that?” He asks. “Runaway with me. We can start over be together away from my family away from everything.” I suggest. Phillip looks at me with a look I can’t quiet name.
“Baby do you know what your suggesting? We could get in trouble. There will be search parties looking everywhere for you and if they figure out, I’m missing they could think that I kidnapped you or some shit.” He explains with a frustrated look. “It would be worth it in the end. I know it. Please. I’m leaving with or without you. I just can’t marry Guinevere.” I tell him. He sighs. “Fine we meet on the other side of the castle. The window on that side of the castle is where they got me stationed tonight. I’ll have a horse ready.” He tells me. I kiss his cheek. “I love you.” I tell him. “I love you more baby.” He replies.
I’m sitting in the throne room to the right of my mother listening to the music from the harps as guards from the button kingdom walk into the room. They stand in formation of two lines making a barrier between our citizens so there king and queen can walk in. I watch as man and woman walk in.
The women have her brunette hair braided in a bun. She is wearing an elegant brownish gold dress with simple designs along the skirt part of the dress. I look away from the queen to the tall king beside her. again, brunette but his hair is short and combed close to his head. He is wearing a suit much like my father does but in brown and red. I stop paying attention as they greet my parents.
After they move to stand to the right of the formation a girl walks into the room. She must be Guinevere. She is tall and looks like a carbon copy of her mother. She stops in front of us and curtsies.
“It is a pleasure to meet you king and queen Tentia.” Father and mother nod and she stands to full height again. I glare at her as she walks towards her parents. Ethan notices my glare and steps on my foot. “Ow.” I whisper.
Mother and father smile at the other royals. “It is wonderful we can finally meet. We have been waiting for your arrival.” Father tells them. I turn away looking into the crowd. I watch as a red head walks through the doors and stands at the end on the formation. they look towards Guinevere and then to me. They quickly look away noticing me staring. I look away to the ceiling. During my spacing out the formation stands at ease and walk out away. The band starts and everyone starts to dance.
I stand from my chair and walk to the balcony. I stand out there for ages staring at the stars. A cough from behind startles me and I turn around. I frown seeing princess Guinevere standing there.
“Good evening princess.” I mumble turning away from her. “Beautiful night huh?” She asks walking closer to the railing beside me. “I guess.” I answer. She doesn’t say anything else and neither do I. I turn around and walk back inside.
My father binds everyone good night and everyone leaves the throne room making sure to remind everyone of the wedding that is to be had the next morning. I roll my eyes and walk to my room. I wait until I know the coast is clear.
I run down the hall with a bundle of ropes in my arms. I look out the window as soon as I get to it and smile as I see Philip at the edge of the forest with a horse. I smile as I tie the rope to the curtain holder.
I throw the rope out the window then start to climb down. I’m halfway down the castle when I look over to see Guinevere climbing down tied together bed sheets. “What the hell are you doing?” I ask her. She looks over. “I’m escaping what does it look like?” she asks with a harsh tone.
“Making a bed would’ve been my guess.” I snap back at her. I let go the rope when I’m a few inches from the ground. I look up and notice the red head from the party coming down the bed sheets. I look at her confused.
“Why are they escaping?” I ask out loud. “They’re my partner. I can’t leave them here.” Guinevere explains. I nod then I realize. “Ha-ha!” I laugh. Everyone looks at me and Phillip walks over to us. He looks puzzled at the princess and the red head.
“Vincent why are they with you.” He asks. “They’re escaping.” I tell him bluntly. “I can see that but why?” he explains farther. “Because I love my partner and don’t want to marry him.” Guinevere says pointing at me at the end.
“We’re escaping for the same reasons. Now I suggest we go. Before the guards figure out, we have left.” I suggest. They nod.
We walk quietly for ages through the forest. I look to the ginger in our little group. “What is your name? I can’t keep calling red head or ginger in my head forever.” I ask them. They smile. “Ezra and your name is Vincent, right? I wasn’t there when they announced your name.” They ask me. I nod. “Yep, that’s me.” I answer. They giggle.
“What’s your boyfriends name?” Guinevere asks from in front of us. “My names Phillip.” He answers from a head of Guinevere. “Alright now that we know everyone’s name what we are going to do know?” Ezra asks.
“Adventure till we’re old and gray.” I answer with a smile.