Katherine's bedroom with a walk-in closet and bathroom^ 

Katherine's POV:

I woke up as usual, 6:00 am, as it is royal orders. My morning routine consists of taking a shower, doing my hair and make-up, and wearing suitable attire. As royalty, we are not allowed to hang around the palace in our pyjamas or any casual outfits for that matter. I must always wear a dress and be formal; actually even the dress has certain standards. It should not be too flashy, too short, too revealing, among many other conditions. Over all, life as royalty is extremely exhausting. 

I headed to the bathroom and started the shower. Meanwhile, I brushed my teeth. After I finished and the water was to my liking, I hopped in and started washing my hair. As soon as I was done with my hair, I washed my body with my favourite berries body wash.

After finishing my shower, I headed to my vanity table and started with my make-up. Usually, stylists are provided for us, but I like to do everything myself. I only let people do my hair and make-up when we have a grand occasion.

I put minimal make-up on my face, just some mascara, blush, and lip gloss. As for my long brown hair, I curled it lightly. Finally for my attire, I went with a mint blue flowy dress that reaches up to my knees paired with chic cream stilettos.  

I sprayed some perfume and headed to the dining room. Dad, mum, Edward, and Andrew were already in their seats and the servants were serving them their food.

"Take a seat Katherine" mum said as I was talking too long. No one calls me Katherine except for my mum and dad. They are always formal with everyone, including their own children. Never showed us affection or love and treated us just like the rest of the world.

Formal and distant.

I spent my whole life trying to change them and make them show us some love. I did everything they said, never disobeyed them, and always stuck by the rules; all in the hopes of getting their attention. Everyone loves me, even the public calls me "the sweetheart princess" yet I was never able to get the love of my parents.

"Katherine, we have something important we need to tell you" my dad announced, snapping me out of my thoughts. I nodded.

"Go ahead dad"

I sipped my coffee while waiting for him to start talking "The Queen and I have decided to merge both sides of the Island, west and east. Now in order to do that, blood is required. Meaning a heir from both sides. Since you turned 21 a while ago and you are old enough to be a queen, you are going to get married to King Benjamin's Son and both of you will rule the merged Island as King and Queen. Now this is going to be an arranged marriage with a contract, yet no one is allowed to know about it, especially the public" 

Say what now? Marriage? And he did not even give me a choice!

"Excuse me your majesties, I have lost my appetite" I gritted through my teeth. I stood up from my seat not bothering to wait for their okay and was about to leave when I decided to give them a piece of my mind

"You know what, I have spent my entire life trying to be the perfect princess for you guys, hoping that one day you might just notice me and love me. I guess I was wrong. The old me would usually say yes to anything you order me, but not this time. I am not going to marry some stranger so you guys could benefit. I apologize for disappointing you this time, Father, Mother" I bowed to them all and left the room.

I cannot believe I spent my whole life trying to impress them. They never cared for me and never will. I started pacing around my room trying to figure out what to do next. I stopped when I heard a knock on the door. I muttered a 'come in' and watched my older brother walk into the room.

"Eddy, if you are here to convince me to marry the guy, then you can leave" he shook his head no "I'm here to apologize Katy. If I would have known what their plan was, I would have tried to stop them"

I nodded accepting his apology even though it was never needed, especially from him "No need to apologize, it was not your fault"

"So what are you going to do" he asked as he took a seat on the lounge set in my room "I have no idea yet, but I am not going to marry him even if it costs me my title. I am done pleasing my so-called parents. I cannot even believe I considered them as my parents when they clearly do not deserve the title"

He nodded in agreement and stood up "Whatever you decide to do, I am here for you" he patted on my shoulder lightly silently giving me his support and left the room.

After he left I decided to call my best friend, as she is the only one who could help me in situations like these. Arabella is the duchess of the east side, we met in school back when we were kids yet. Some prince was teasing her for being just a duchess and not a princess, I intervened talking to him and made him leave her alone. Ever since we hit it off, and became best friends.  

"What's up Katy?" she squealed like a child. Sometimes I wonder if she is a 10 year old possessing a 21 year old's body

"Bella, this is serious, no time for joking. My parents sold me out! They set up my marriage to the prince of the west side of the Island just to merge both sides" I heard her gasp through the phone

"I cannot believe they did this to you; might as well sell you to the devil. Oh wait; they did that to you, just a handsome prince instead of the devil. A really really handsome prince" 

Her voice turned as she reached the last part into this dreamy tone she would always use fantasising about good looking guys

"Arabella! Snap out of your dreams, this is serious" she took a deep breath to recompose herself then started talking again

"You are right. Now I know you might not want to hear this, and I'm sorry but you need to. I know the truth hurts, but it needs to be said" she took a deep breath allowing me to prepare myself and continued "You have got to accept the fact that you're parents are not going to give you the attention you have been desiring and just move on" 

"I know" she did not hear me or something because she continued blabbering "I know it is hard but..... Wait, you said I know? As in you agree with me" she sounded surprised. I chuckled lightly at her reaction

"You are right, I came to agreement with the fact that they would never love me the moment they proposed marriage. I just do not know what to do right now" she remained calm for a while, probably thinking

"Run Away" 

What is it with people and shocking me with words today?

...............................

After recovering from Bella's words, I started pacing around again thinking of what she said. She might be right you know, you have no other choice but running away if you don't want to get married, my inner self argued.

"Ugh, bloody hell!" I screamed in frustration. I was about to throw a pillow but froze as I heard a knock

I put the pillow back to its place and yelled 'Come in' in my still frustrated tone. Barry came in and stood still by the door in his usual rigid form. Barry has been my father's most trusted assistant/adviser for as long as I remember, older than my father and barely able to make it through the day.

"Your highness if you don't mind me interfering, I would like to make a suggestion" I nodded giving him my permission 

"I heard the proposition earlier suggested by his majesty and I got to know of your opposition towards it. So if I may suggest, there is a mansion in New York for his Majesty that has been empty of the past couple of years. If you would like to go there and think things, I can arrange everything for you and no one has to know. The mansion only has servants living in it and a friend of the royal family who will be staying there for a while. No one is going to know that you are the princess to ensure that words do not spread out and get to the royal family. As of his majesty, he won't know anything of our arrangement and I will find an excuse for your sudden disappearance. No one would think of looking there for you so you do not need to worry"

I nodded to myself while thinking things "One question, why are you helping me? I know how much my father trusts you, so why are you willing to break his trust for me?"

"Because I know how it feels like to be forced into something you do not like, so what is your decision" he simply answered not giving room for more questioning

"Alright, I'll do it" 

He nodded "Very well, pack your things your highness, you leave tomorrow" he said and left the room.

I ran to my walk-in wardrobe and got out my suitcase. I made sure to pack most of my outfits casual since no one would know me there and I have to look like normal people. I did pack a couple of formal dresses and gowns in case something happens. I took out another suitcase and packed my undergarments and pyjamas that I usually wear. Then I got out my last suitcase, a smaller one in this case, and packed my beauty products. My hair straighter, different curling irons, make-up products, creams, perfumes, among other things.

After 6 long hours of packing, it was my bedtime. I took a quick shower, washing my body only, applied some cream and my night mask. I then headed to bed with only one thought in mind.

I am running away.

..............................

This is the first chapter, hope you like it. Next chapter you are going to see Nathaniel's reaction in his POV.