Not This Time

Oh no

'Why, why why, is it always me!?!'

I was speed walking down the hallways of the castle trying to hurry to where my father and fiancé are waiting for me. I was told to be ready in an hour and I know it's a well bit past my hour mark. But I couldn't help it, I had just started an amazing book. I did not want to put it down! 

As I rush into the common room where my father hosts his many guests, I see a disapproving look on his face. "Valeria, I gave you a notice so you would be ready! Why do you always feel the need to stress me out?" He barked at me.

I apologized and gave him a curtsy. "I'm so sorry father, I ended up taking longer than I meant to." I gave him my best "I'm really not troublesome and I really did try" look.

He sighed and put an arm out to me. "Let's go, our guests are waiting for us." I wrapped my arm around is as we walked over to where my fiancé prince Allen and his parents awaited us.

When we walked up Allen got up and gave us a bow in greeting. When my father turned his head, he gave me a wink. I shook my head and rolled my eyes at him, he always acted like this when we were together. I'm really not looking forward to marrying him. My father said we needed this union to expand our territory and our army though. We couldn't risk getting into another war after we almost lost the last one. So I sucked it up and acted like I was okay with this marriage.

"My, my, my, don't you look as beautiful as a flower today dear." Allen's mom, Genevieve, told me with a smile. She gave me a curtsy then came up to me for a hug. She's a very beautiful woman with black hair that goes a bit past her shoulders. Bright blue eyes that always hold kindness, and her smile .... she has the kind of smile that makes it so you can't help but to smile back. She is the sole reason I'm actually happy to marry Allen. I still have no clue how a woman this amazing ended up with him as a son.

"It's so great to see you again, Eve! It's been too long since we talked!" I told her happily. I gave her a huge smile and hugged her back hard.

Allen's father spoke up then, "I'm so glad the two of you get along so well. Makes the transition to the married life easier, huh sweetheart?" He gave me a kind smile. I have no problem with his father either, he's actually a really nice man and a wonderful king. From all the rumors and stories we've heard about him he's a stern but caring king to his people. I admire him greatly and I can only hope his son can live up to him when we take over the kingdom one day.

I smiled at him and agreed. "Are you guys staying here long, sir Nathaniel? You know we have plenty of space for you."

"Indeed we are, our wedding is very close. Why shouldn't we take the time to get to know each other better?" Allen cut in before his father could answer. He gave me a smirk that sent chills threw my body.

"Well you know just as I do we must always have a chaperone when we are together. I do not plan to dishonor my kingdom by breaking rules." I told him. All of the parents in the room gave me approving looks while Allen looked annoyed with me. He excused himself, mumbling as he walked out of the room.

Father and I spent the rest of the day catching up with Eve and Nathan. We did so many things around the castle I was exhausted by the time night came. I walked quickly but quietly to my room. That way if Allen was lurking anywhere he couldn't jump me from behind, and attempt to shame our families.

"You're so much better than Val.... She won't even let me be alone with her! But you... you let me do all sorts of things to you. " I heard a voice faintly from the hallway. Walking up as quietly as I could, I looked through the crack of the door. I gasped in disgust at the sight of my fiancé on his bed with a woman under him. This woman was completely nude, legs wrapped around the waist of the man I was betrothed to. When he moved his body to grab the liquor bottle on the stand next to his bed I saw the woman's face. There was nothing that could have prepared me for seeing who she was. On the bed laid my cousin who was engaged as well. She was to be married off to a member of Allen's court in a few short months.

'What is wrong with him? We are to be married in a week! She is my cousin, my cousin who despises me. My cousin who is betrothed, betrothed to Allen's bestfriend. How could either of them do this? I know she wanted to marry Allen herself but she also knows the importance of this alliance!'

"You should marry me instead, I'll be a better and more obedient wife than she ever could." Ginny said. She speaks of me with such distaste. As if I did something incredibly awful to her.

"Sorry but no. Val will have to do what I say after we're married anyway. I just wanted some company from a woman till we were married. Which you have proven to be very good at." He said with a smirk on his face.

Ginny looked completely mortified, expecting him to agree to her offer after what she let him do to her. Instead he wrote her off like some cheap prostitute you find in the village roads. She started to cry, "You are a piece of trash! Men like you shouldn't exist...why not me? What does she have that I don't?"

He smirked at her, "She has the power of a whole kingdom at her disposal being the only heir to the throne. I can't get this kingdom unless I take her with it. I'm willing to deal with her for the power of this kingdom

Suddenly Ginny slapped him, hard. "I hate you, despicable scum!" She screamed. She started running towards the door. I had to quickly hide before she caught me spying on them.

As soon as she was gone, I hurried to my room. Once I was in bed I thought about what I just saw. I never knew how horrible Allen was till now. I'm stuck marrying such a awful person. While my cousin hates me even more. This keeps getting worse and worse!

I was awoken later to the sound of my door being opened slowly. The person opening it wanted to be careful not to wake me. I was trained by my father to be cautious of someone trying to sneak into my room. Being the only heir to our kingdom made me a target for other kingdoms. Father had me train to be a light sleeper for this exact purpose. Which gives me the upper hand in this situation.

Once they were in my room, they walked to the side of my bed I heard her whisper, "I never thought it would come to this... I didn't want to literally take you out of the picture. He won't marry me if you're alive. So, I will give myself the life I deserve."

Before she could stab me with the knife I had tackled her to the floor. Falling onto the cobblestone floor hurt me more than tackling her. She was surprised but quickly got herself together. She rolled us over so she was on the top. She went to stab me in the neck but I quickly squirmed out of the way.

"Please, you don't have to do this!" I begged her. Ignoring me she kept attempting to land a blow on me with the knife. Consistently dodging her, I was slowly reaching peak exhaustion. I wouldn't be able to keep this up much longer. So with what little strength I had left i pushed her off me. She fell off of me and hit her head against the wall.

I crawled over to her but it was too late, she was dead. I killed her! I would be thrown into the dungeon for murdering her. No one would believe that she snuck in my bedroom to assassinate me. With a hit of inspiration I made it seem like I was kidnapped. I quickly changed of my night gown. I packed a couple things to take with me that would not be noticed as gone. I ran threw the castle attempting to memorize everything I could about it since I knew I could never come back. I ran through the nearest village as the sun came up. All you heard were screams of sadness coming from the castle.

Hola! This is my first ever short story I'm posting on here, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks to whoever takes the time out of their days to read this !

As always, have a wonderful day/night!
~ Cupcake

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