Desires

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"E-Engagement? To Prince of Scotland?"

"Yes."

"On my coronation?"

"Yes."

"Father, I still have a long life left, why are you tying me down with some Prince I barely know?"

"'Tis not in my hands, daughter." He paused, taking a deep breath. "'Tis your mother's last wish."

MOTHER?

"But is it really something you want? Something she wants?"

He ran his hand through his jet-black curls. "You see, your mother and I were engaged at your age, too. Everything turned out just okay."

"I do not want okay! I want things to be more than 'just okay'. I want to explore the world and enjoy its beauty. I want to be independent and live a life like a normal person before I am able to take the crown. I want to soar high like a bird. Is it too much to ask for?"

"Royalty cannot be the same as those who are not, young one. You must understand this. We are always superior to them and have a reputation to uphold. We cannot be seen doing the same things as they do in public." Father reasoned.

I fumed in rage, my insides burning with the fire inside of me. "Then I do not need the crown."

Before I could turn my back on him, he grabbed me by my arm. "You are not thinking straight, young one. You cannot just turn down the throne. You were made to rule. You would be a fantastic ruler."

"Then you shall allow me to live a life like a normal person." I snapped.

"That I cannot do, daughter." His grip tightened and it took every ounce of everything I had in me to not flinch in pain.

There was a knock on the door.

"Princess Beautiful, we need to-" Sam paused, staring at the scene in front of him. Father quickly let go of my hand and straightened himself before scolding Samuel.

"Samuel, you should not walk in here whenever you wish to."

"What is going on and why were you gripping Liz's hand like that?" Samuel asked, his ocean-blue eyes communicating with my sea-green ones.

"'Your sister is speaking like a rebellious teenager, Samuel. Will you please do me a favor and talk some sense into her? It shall be highly appreciated."

Sam looked from me to father and back at me before nodding in agreement, taking my hand, and walking out of the throne room.

---

"What was that old man talking about?" He inquired, locking the room so that no one was able to walk in between our sibling-conversation.

"He shall make me Queen on the day of my twenty-first birthday."

His eyes widened in surprise. "That is great news, Liz! Con-"

"And engage me to the Prince of Scotland on that very occasion." I slumped on his bed, slouching my shoulders.

"What?!"

"You heard me, brother. 'Tis what he decided."

"He shall not do that! That old man should not marry you off to someone you barely know and even so young in age. You have a lot to live for, Liz. A lot to live for."

"He shall. I tried to stop him but he accused me of being a rebellious teenager and asked you to talk some sense into me." I sighed.

He sat beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I shall not talk some sense into you when he is the one who should be in your shoes at this point. We should rather talk some sense into him."

"You're right, but we cannot do anything about it. Father shall not let me leave the castle walls while I want to explore the world, brother. I want to understand how normal people live before I rule. I should be allowed to understand their needs, their sentiments, to be able to rule fairly."

He smiled. "He is wrong to hold you back from living a life of your own."

I nodded.

"But he isn't wrong in one thing."

I stared at him in confusion, my eyebrows furrowed.

Seeing my confusion, he clarified himself. "You'd be an amazing ruler."

I shook my head in disbelief. "You're delusional. I am not what the kingdom needs."

"You are what the kingdom deserves." He retorted back.

After a few minutes of silence, Samuel jumped on his feet while clapping his hands. He always seemed to do that when he got an idea. Whenever he did that, I almost compared himself to a cartoon character where the one who got the ideas always had a light bulb that glowed.

"I have an idea." He uttered.

"What kind of idea?" I stood up.

He grinned, a hint of mischief flashing in his ocean-blue orbs.

"Something that shall help you in achieving your desires."