Dreaded Fate?

Amie had to do everything she could not to weep when she entered the Palace of Aragon. King Javert, Prince Felix, and Prince Jacques were with Amie in a room they were instructed to wait in until King Charles was ready. The anticipation was crushing Amie.

King Javert was in a bitter mood. His ego was still bruised from his encounter with King Olaf, and now being made to wait was grinding on his patience, "How insulting! How arrogant does one have to be to make guests of the same status wait!"

Prince Jacques decided now was the perfect opportunity to aggravate his father, "Actually Father, we're of lower status. Aragon is easily twice the size of Lutetia."

King Javert and Prince Felix spoke at the same time, "Shut up Jacques!"

Almost immediately after silencing Prince Jacques, King Charles came through the door. He was the same age as Prince Jacques, but looked twice that. His jaw protruded forward so much so, that Amie wondered how he could talk or eat.

King Charles had a cane he used to walk. Each step was emphasized with the tapping noise from his cane as he approached the group, "Welcome, friends. Pardon my tardiness."

King Javert perked up, his anger seemingly disappearing in an instant. Somehow he was able to fabricate a story within seconds, "No worries! We were just having a chat with my beautiful daughter Adeline about her new attire. She says it's the latest fashion trend."

King Charles' attention shifted to Amie. A shiver went down her spine as his eyes looked her over from head to toe, "Yes, that is the latest trends. Marie was just wearing something similar today when she came to visit."

King Javert's party gave each other looks of confusion before he spoke up, "Apologies, but who is Marie?"

King Charles paused for a moment. After realizing his blunder, he spoke, "Apologies again. I completely forgot what this meeting was about," he directed his gaze back at Amie, "Forgive me, Princess Adeline. You traveled so far due to my lack of communication and forgetfulness." He turned back to King Javert, "I already have a bride. We are to be married by the year's end. I was going to write to you, but I got busy and forgot to send my messenger." Turning yet again to Amie, he said, "Princess Adeline, you are so beautiful, please don't take the rescinding of my marriage proposal negatively."

Amie was relieved beyond imagination. In a state of euphoria, she answered King Charles in the sweetest tone, "No worries, Your Majesty. Congratulations! I hope you two have a wonderful life together."

King Charles was grateful for the well wishes, "Thank you, Princess Adeline. Again, my apologies for having all of you come out here for nothing. I am honored to have such noble guests. If you wish to stay a few days to rest and relax before making the trip back home, I can have my servants show you to the guest rooms."

King Javert was struggling to keep his temper under control, "Thank you for the offer, but if there is no business here, then we really must be taking our leave now. It always seems as though there's too much to do and not enough time."

King Charles nodded, "I understand. Well perhaps we can meet some time soon to update our trade agreements."

Still trying to be cordial, King Javert replied, "It might have to wait until next year. I have quite a bit to do this year."

King Charles nodded again, "I understand. We'll meet again when there is a chance I suppose."

King Javert replied, "Congratulations on your marriage."

After the brief meeting, King Javert ushered his party out of the palace and back into the carriage they just exited.

Prince Jacques was quick to complain, "Why do we have to go? We could have stayed the night at least."

King Javert snapped, "Quiet!"

Princess Adeline was overjoyed but seeing the mood the King was in, she did her best to hide it.

When they arrived back home, Amie rushed to find Julia to tell her the good news. She found her in the kitchen, chatting with Edith, "Julia! Edith! I have good news! I'm not marrying King Charles! I'm not marrying him!"

The two of them didn't look as happy as she thought they would be. Amie was confused, "What's wrong?" It took her a moment to realize they weren't looking at her, but behind her.

Before Amie could turn around, she heard a familiar voice, "It's good news indeed!"

Jacques had followed her without her noticing, "Jacques! Don't scare me like that!"

Edith and Julia were confused. Amie and Prince Jacques appeared as though they had become friends. Julia got as close to Amie as she could to whisper, "Amie, what are you doing? I thought you were trying to avoid him."

Amie decided to address the two at once and lay down her intentions, "Right. Well, after careful consideration, I don't think Jacques is as terrible of a person as I initially thought."

Jacques muttered under his breathe, "Jeez, thanks."

Amie continued, "I've decided to try to make peace with him and thought we could perhaps be friends."

Everyone, including Prince Jacques was befuddled by the announcement. Jacques was the first to speak up, "Are you sure about that? I'm sorry Amie, but even I think that's a bad idea and I'm the one who has been following you around like a stalker for the last year."

Amie was annoyed at his boldness, but continued, "Yeah, I was thinking about it. Because of your nosiness, you already know too much about me, and you've never done anything to actively try to hurt me, so I figured you're not that bad of a guy."

Julia interjected, "Uh... Amie. He's literally punched you before."

Edith was just standing in stunned silence. She hadn't been made aware of everything that had happened, "What is going on? I mean really? What is going on?" She turned to Prince Jacques, "And did you really punch Amie?"

Prince Jacques, in a unusual show of vulnerability, remorsefully lowered his head and mumbled as quietly as he could, "Yes."

Edith's anger got the best of her and she took a swing at Prince Jacques, "Don't you DARE hit my child!"

Jacques doubled over in pain. Through his grunts of pain, he managed to get out a weak, "Yes ma'am."

Amie tried to steer the conversation back onto topic, "Ok, anyways. Now that you've punched him, that makes us even. Can we all calm down now? Jacques may be annoying, but I don't think he's a bad guy."

Julia was hesitant about the idea, "I still don't trust him, Amie. Please watch out for yourself, we don't know what kind of tricks he'll play."

Just barely recovered from the surprise attack, Jacques muttered, "You do realize I'm right here, right? I can hear everything you're saying."

Julia retorted, "I know. You may be Amie's friend, but you aren't mine."

Jacques responded back, "Just what exactly have I done to you, miss maid?"

Julia quipped back, "Your family isn't exactly known for treating their servants well."

Jacques responded, "Well that's my family, not me."

Amie interrupted their conversation, "Anyways, No more King Charles!"

Julia replied, "Oh yeah, what happened with that?"

Jacques answered, "Amie got rejected."

Amie corrected him, "He is already engaged, he forgot to tell the King."

"You mean Father?" Jacques asked.

Amie responded, "Yes, your father. Anyways, I'm exhausted from such a long trip, I'll be heading to bed now. Goodnight everyone!"

Amie was making her way back to her room when she realized Prince Jacques was still following her, "Jacques, didn't I tell you I'm going to bed?"

Jacques caught up to her, "I want a proper conversation with you. First off, Father adopted you when you were young, correct? You had to have been what? 6? 7? Why do you not call him Father?"

Amie replied, "You do know how I grew up don't you? And did they not tell you of the circumstances of my adoption?"

Jacques said, "The only thing anyone has ever heard about you was that you were adopted into our family as a token of goodwill. Nobody knows where you came from."

Amie was a little confused, "I was told growing up that I was adopted to keep the peace within the country and I was to be married out to help create alliances. Is that not what you've been told?"

Jacques thought a moment before speaking again, "Well, that's not exactly what I heard, but at the same time that sort of is... Moving on, if the orphan part is true, then why do you treat Father as though there's no relation? And why aren't you grateful about being rescued from a worse fate?"

Amie's voice became stern, "The woman that raised me is the same woman who punched you in the gut. As far as a father figure goes, I had none. I didn't meet anyone in your family until my 16th birthday. The name my birth parents gave me was Amie. And even though I was young, I still remember the day they died like it happened yesterday. So no, your father will never be my father and as far as gratitude goes, he tried to marry me off to a man that is the product of so much inbreeding that it is a miracle he survived childhood. I'm not sure what fate you were told was worse, but I think I'd rather that than this."

Jacques thought about everything Amie said for a moment, "You know what? Your story makes a lot more sense. I believe you."

Amie was curious "More sense than what?"

Jacques elaborated, "Than any other rumor I've heard about you. Your mysteriousness has attracted quite a bit of gossip."

"You know what? Nevermind, I don't want to know." Amie reached the entrance to her room, "goodnight Jacques."

Jacques replied back, "We'll have to chat more later. Goodnight Amie."

Jacques left for his side of the palace while Amie entered her room. Completely out of energy she eagerly changed into her nightgown and collapsed onto her bed.