I entered the ballroom and all the people in the room turned to look at me. The guests started clapping as I made my way to the podium where Anton was seated on a gold and white sofa. He was dressed in a blue suit and he looked so nice I could eat him raw (I mean what was to be expected, he was arguably the hottest guy in the world and the most sought after bachelor). I gave him my best faked smile then sat beside him.

He smiled in return then leaned towards me, still smiling and whispered in my ear "What you did today was not nice."

A lot of people 'awed' because they thought he was whispering sweet nothings to me. If only they knew.

From the corner of my eye I saw father looking at me with disapproval. So when I said that I was only going to be thirty minutes late, I miscalculated because I went back to the castle an hour after the bash started and took another thirty minutes to get dressed.

"How did you find your way back to the castle?" I asked not bothering to apologise.

"After getting wet and muddy, I found a farm then asked an old man there for directions."

I nodded saying nothing more, I was observing the scene in front of me.

Soon the two of us stood up and mingled with the guests. We were mostly surrounded by girls dressed in slutty dresses. They all asked Anton irrelevant questions and complimented him on anything he said or did. Urgh I thought how desperate could they get? Some of them where actually nice to me but the others openly glared at me. I couldn't believe it, they were glaring at their princess because of a guy.

I zoned out thinking of when the bash was going to end, I was looking foward to that time when I wouldn't have to play happy couple with Anton.

"So how many children would you like to have?" I looked up to see that it was the chancellor of Lumeria and his wife with us now. Where did all the slutty girls go?

"Er," Anton struggled to answer, "two. A boy and a girl." He turned to look at me smiling lovingly, he looked so fine I almost swooned "Ain't that right mon amour?"

Oh God who knew Anton was a closet romantic. I nodded "Yes."

The chancellor's wife gushed "Uh they're such a cute couple."

Her husband nodded a 'yes' and I silently whooped, we were very good actors.

After introducing Anton to my friends (They kept complimenting him and telling him embarrassing things about me), everyone went to the dining hall. There where three long tables: one for the royalty, the second for the noble men and women and the third for the other guests which included the Lumerian citizens and other people from Monaco and Delgaria (The country next to Lumeria).

I sat in between Anton and Louis who flashed me a smile and said "You look very beautiful."

I blushed then said a thank you. I secretly felt nice because apart from my friends and some other people no one said I looked nice, certainly not egotistical Anton.

I couldn't talk to Louis because all eyes were on me and Anton, 'The royal couple'.

Dinner was eaten in silence, well our table was the only one that was silent, table three was the noisest.

Father headed straight for the podium after dinner was finished and everyone had entered the ballroom.

"Today," he started as everyone kept quiet, "we're all gathered here to celebrate my lovely daughter's nineteenth birthday." He looked at me smiling widely "McKenzie Blair you look so beautiful, happy birthday!"

I grinned bowing my head at father and all the people started clapping and cheering. He continued after the clapping subsided, "And another thing is that the king of Monaco and his two sons are in our midst. Welcome again to Lumeria king Francis, prince Anton and prince Louis." Another round of applause came.

"Okay," father said smiling, "I call upon Anton and McKenzie Blair to come up here."

Anton offered me his arm and I took it. Smiling both of us went up to the podium. "These two everyone are the royal couple, they have been bethrothed for nineteen years now but today," he paused to look at a smiling king Francis who nodded, "today, their marriage is being announced." Father smiled at Anton then me "You two are getting married in a week's time." His declared and my world crashed as cheers even louder than befores erupted.

I was getting married to Anton in a week's time. Was all I could think of.

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My eyes almost bulged out and when I say bulge out I mean literally. "What?!" I couldn't help but exclaim in a hushed whisper. I gave Louis a confused look and he shrugged grinning sheepishly.

I turned to the audience and quickly excused myself and Blair who was still holding onto my arm, apparently too shocked to react.

Once we entered the library which much to my relief was empty save for Blair, myself, Louis, my father and king William, Blair broke the silence:

"Father, what is this all about?"

"What do you mean McKenzie Blair?"

The king tried to sound clueless.

She gave him a look, "I mean you announcing my engagement and 'upcoming wedding' to Anton." She air quoted the words upcoming marriage.

"Yes," I added, "we'd like you to explain." I crossed my arms over my chest. For the first time, Blair and me were on the same team; team no marriage in a week's time.

"Well," my father started, "the whole reason for this trip to Lumeria Anton is because you're getting married to McKenzie Blair." He paused to look briefly at king William then continued "We had planned that you two will be getting married a week after McKenzie Blair's nineteenth birthday and your marriage announced on her birthday."

Trying to remain calm I asked "When did you plan this?"

"Since the day you were bethrothed which was when McKenzie Blair was born." King William answered.

It was all too much to take in, my head was reeling; I'm getting married to Blair in a week's time was all I could think of. I would have to leave my lifestyle to take in a wife and settle down and make a family. No more late night parties, one-night stands, flirting and all the rest of the stuff I did. It was unbelievable.

Apparently I was not the only one who found the situation hard to believe because Blair finally burst out, "Impossible, I'm not getting to him," she pointed at me with indignation, "in a week's time. I have a life, does that mean I'm going to abandon all that to marry him?! I haven't seen a lot of places yet, I haven't gotten drunk or pole-danced or made-out with a black yet. I'm just nineteen!" She finished, breathing heavily her cheeks flushed. Everyone present was startled by what she just said. My father's eyebrows had disappeared into his hair, the king's eyes had widened.

"Calm down will you." Louis spoke up, "You both are acting like you were told that both of you are getting killed in a week's time not married."

"I'd rather die than marry him." Blair mumbled but I heard her.

That hurt! I thought, a big blow to my ego. I turned to look at Louis who was staring at Blair and me amused then it clicked, "Traitor," I accused him, "so you were in on it, that's why you said 'I suggest you come to Lumeria."

"No," Louis immediately denied, "I got to know about all this ten minutes before it was announced. Anyways," he headed for the door, "I'm going back to the ballroom, I'm sure people are starting to get suspicious." And his was gone.

"Come on McKenzie Blair," the king held out his hand for her, "lets go back to the ballroom this father and son have somethings to settle."

She nodded, took his hand and they were gone leaving papa and me in the most awkward silence. The tension in the air was so thick I could almost feel it.

"Son," my father started as he sat down and patted the seat beside him, "come sit."

After I sat on the chair he cleared his throat and said "Anton you're getting married to McKenzie Blair."

"But I don't want to."

"But you have to, don't worry once you get married and start knowing each other you'll fall in love."

I huffed not believing what he said. "Its true ma'boy, love is a gradual process. Take a look at Pierre and Chloé, they didn't love each other when they got married but now they are very much in love."

"Yes papa, I'll give it a try." I lied.

Papa grinned, "Now take this," he brought out a box from his pocket and gave me, "this is the ring my father gave your grandmother and she gave it to me to give your mother. Now its your turn to give it to McKenzie Blair."

I took the box and opened it, the ruby ring inside was so beautiful and intricate that it must have cost a fortune back then and still cost a fortune. "Why didn't you give it to Pierre?" I asked puzzled.

"Because," papa explained, "your grandmother told me to give it to my favourite son and if I recall clearly, Pierre may be my heir but not my favourite."

My heart swelled, "Thank you father, I shall give it to Blair."

He nodded and we walked out of the library and headed for the hall.

I located Blair at the centre of the hall surrounded by her friends. I took a deep breath then walked to her, "Blair." I whispered.

When I caught her attention I went down on my knees, they way I saw guys do in the movies when they were going to ask a woman to marry them. "McKenzie Blair," I started. The whole hall grew silent, "I'm not perfect, I don't like fish, I always eat my bananas with chocolate and I sleep like a log. You deserve better cuz you're the best," I paused laughing silently at my cheesy words. Everyone 'awed', " but will you do me the honour of spending the rest of my life with me, will you marry me?"

Blair closed her eyes then opened then and I saw fear and panic in her eyes. I knew the feeling, we couldn't possibly say no and we didn't want to say yes.

"Yes." She whispered.

I faked a grin, stood up gave her a very chaste cold kiss on the lips and slid the ruby ring in her hands as everyone clapped and cheered. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Thomas and Jean enter the hall looking amused. Mes amies, I thought I'm getting married.

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Book recommendation for today: I was never yours.

Parker
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