"Seth!!!" Rose called his name, hurrying into his bedroom. She was holding a stack of papers in her hands. Seth was sitting on the couch, reading a book. "What?" he asked, his eyes were still on the book. Rose smiled. "Did you hear about it? My parents are visiting today!" She squealed. "Good," Seth replied, numb.

        Rose took a seat beside him. "So, I need your help with these!" She said, showing him the papers. Seth narrowed his eyes to the papers. "I'm no good in old English but I need to translate these. Can you help me?" She asked for help. She knew that Madam Hartford would extend her lesson if she didn't complete her work. Seth stood up to his feet. "I'm busy and I have a lecture now. Go help yourself in the Royal Library," he said, leaving the room.

        "Jerk," Rose said, sticking her tongue out. She looked back at her papers. There were tons of words that she had to translate. She went out from his room and headed towards the library with hope that she would find something to help her.

~~

     "Your Highness," Tom and Jennifer Humphrey bowed down to King Edward, Queen Carla and Princess Meredith. They smiled at them. "Please, have a seat," King Edward said, welcoming them to the castle. They took a seat on the couch opposite to them. "How are you, Mr Humphrey, Mrs Humphrey?" He asked kindly.

      Jen smiled. "We're fine, my Lord. Thank you for asking," she replied. Tom nodded. "Your Highness, we hope that our daughter didn't bother you too much," he said, looking down, shyly. Princess Meredith smiled. "No, she didn't. She's a very polite lady and cheerful," she said. Tom laughed. "Yes, she is very cheerful, has been ever since she was a baby," he said, proud of his daughter.

           Suddenly, Tom looked down. "But she never was good at studying. Hmm, maybe that's why she chose a ballet course," he said truthfully. Jen nudged him slowly, warning him not to talk nonsense. "I'm sorry, your Highness. But what my husband said is true. I'm sorry if you're having trouble in teaching her," she said, slightly embarrassed.

          "It's alright. We understand," King Edward smiled. Queen Carla coughed. "We're giving her the best education. I'm sure she'll get used to it," she added. Tom giggled. "Rose. I can't believe what she has become now. I could still remember the first time she walked. She was always a strong-willed and cheerful girl. Place her in the dessert and she'll be the first one to survive," he said in awe. 

        "Yes, you have raised a fine daughter, Mr Humphrey," Princess Meredith said, praising him. Tom looked around him, no sign of Rose. He turned his eyes back to the King and Queen. "I'm sorry, my Lord, but where's Rose?" He asked politely.

         "Rose is having her princess lesson. I'm sure she'll be finishing in a few minutes," Queen Carla answered. Tom and Jen nodded to her. "Please have some tea," Princess Meredith invited them and so, they took the cup from the table.

~~

         Rose wrote the translated script as fast as she could. Her eyes kept looking at the clock, afraid that her parents might have left. Her class had been extended for more than an hour now. Then, her phone rang and she glanced at the screen, dad. She tried to grab her phone from the table slowly, but then was startled, when Madam Hartford shouted at her, "Princess! I have told you so many time before this, that you must silent your phone," she said firmly. 

       "But, it’s my dad. He must be curious as to why I am late," she said sadly. "I'm supposed to be back by now." Madam Hartford looked sharply at her. "You must finish your script first, before you meet them. It's the Queen order," she said, raising her voice. Rose sighed. "When I finish writing this, can I go back?" She pleaded. Madam Hartford nodded. She looked back at her unfinished writing and continue to write. She kept praying that her parents would wait for her.

            After 2 hours, Rose finally finished her translating. She got up to her feet and rushed towards her room to get their gifts. "Princess, you shouldn't be running!" Alexa warned, trying to catch up with her as she was sprinting fast. "I want to take their presents!" Rose chirped and grabbed a few boxes from her bed. Then, she hurried towards the guest waiting room, where her parents were waiting.

       "Mom! Dad!" She called for them and ran into the room. But she was surprised when she found out that the room was empty. She motioned slowly towards the table and found a blue plastic container on it. There's a note left on top of it.

Darling, 

We've been waiting for you for more than an hour so we have to leave as your mother has a business appointment. Be good and make us proud, Princess Rose. We've brought you favourite roasted chicken breast sandwich. We love you.

          Rose sobbed. How could they leave the castle without meeting her? Didn't they know how much she missed them? Tears were trailing down heavily on her cheeks. She opened the container and found her favourite sandwich in it. Her dad always made the best sandwich. Its nothing compared to all the fancy foods that she ate here. 

          "How could they leave? Why'd they leave?" Rose cried and couldn't hide her homesickness. "I miss them so much. I just wanted to see them." Alexa looked pitifully at her, and listened to everything she said. She didn't know what she could do to comfort her princess. Rose turned herself facing Alexa. Her eyes were red, filled with tears. "Why is it so hard for me to meet my own family?" She croaked and cried harder, releasing all her stress. "I even bought presents for them!"

        When Rose was calmer, she went out from the room with her broken heart. But tears never stopped trailing down her face and her eyes started to swell. She bumped into Seth who was going to enter the room. "Why are you crying again?" He asked. He thought that she'd be happy if she met her family.

         Rose looked into his eyes through her eyelashes. "This is all your fault!" She blamed him. "Why didn't you stop them from leaving? You should have told them that I wanted to see them! You really are a jerk!" She cried harder. Seth was silent, and now knew why was she crying. He didn't dare to look into her eyes. 

          "I'm sorry, Princess Rose," Mr Jameson interrupted. "But, Prince Seth didn't know that your parents left the castle. He wasn't here before this, as he didn't want to disturb you and your parents," he explained. Rose looked at what Mr Jameson was holding. It looked like presents. Was Seth going to give them some gifts? She looked down and knew that she misunderstood everything.

        Seth shrugged. "Make sure you send it to their house," he instructed Mr Jameson to send the gifts to her parents. Then, he made his way out from the room, leaving Rose behind. She tapped her forehead, regretting that she had just blamed him for something he didn't do. Now, she had to say sorry to him or she was no different from him. Rose realised that it wasn't his fault.

         She walked to his bedroom and cracked open the door slowly. "Seth?" She called for him but no one replied. She made her way into the bedroom and found him, sitting on the couch, reading a book. Typical boring life of his. She stood in front of him and smiled. Seth glanced at her but then looked back at his book. He turned on his CD player and put on his headphones.

      Rose winced on the armchair, on his left and found a white teddy bear. She grabbed it and cuddled it. "Is this yours?" She asked smiling. Seth's eyes widened and he grabbed the bear from her hand. Then, he got back to his reading. Rose sulked and seized the bear from his hand. "This is so cute. I don't know you had a teddy bear. I have one too. Dad gave me for Christmas," she said, pinching it nose. 

             Seth shrugged and ignored her. "Prat," Rose mouthed at him and he didn't hear her because he was wearing his headphone in. She just got an idea. "You're a prat, jerk and full of yourself, Seth Larston," Rose mocked again, to make sure that he was completely deaf. Again, no response from him. His face was blank and numb.

       She smiled and looked at the teddy bear. "Do you really like Jessica?" She asked the teddy bear. "If only I didn't agree on this marriage surely you'll be a lot happier. You won't be moody like now," she said, looking down. Her heart clenched. She looked at him. "I just want you to be happy. I know this is nuts but..." her words trailed off. "That's what I wanted the most."

       Seth turned his eyes to her and he pulled off his headphone. "I'm going to the bathroom," he said and stood up on his feet. Then, he inched towards the bathroom. Rose put down the teddy bear to her side and grabbed his CD Player. "What are you listening to, Seth," she asked herself and opened the player. Rose gasped when she found out that it was empty. "What?!" She shouted. 

          If the player was empty, that just mean he didn't listen to any songs. So, if he didn't listen to any songs so what was he listening to? Did he hear everything Rose was saying? "No..." Rose sighed and kept hitting her mouth. "Damn it! He heard everything! Why are you so stupid!!" She cursed under her breath. Then, she heard movement from behind her so she turned herself.

       Stood there, Seth with his arms crossing to his chest and he was smiling. Rose turned back and her cheeks were blushing. She got up to her feet and ran away from his bedroom, rushing towards hers. She slammed the door close and cupped her face, it was hot. How was she going to face him now that he knew everything? She crawled onto her bed and covered her face using the pillow. 

          She needed to tell someone about this or she would die because of stress. So, she pulled out her phone from her pocket and dialled Lily's number. She'll know what to do. "Hello," Lily answered the phone. Rose shouted, "Lily!!!! I'm in a deep trouble!"

        "Why did you do?" Lily asked, ready to hear her friend's whining. Rose bit her lips. "Its Seth," she blurted. Lily sighed. "What is it? You killed him?" She said sarcastically. Rose told her everything that happened and how she accidentally confessed her feelings. Her face was still blushing and her hands were trembling. She kept rolling on her bed. 

           "You're an idiot," Lily made a conclusion. Rose sighed and looked down. "I know," she agreed. "But, he's an idiot too. Maybe he wouldn't think that way, would he? I mean, I just said that I wanted him to be happy. That's all,"

         Lily shook her head. "That's the same thing, Rose!" She gushed. "You really are falling for him, aren’t you?" Rose didn't say anything. Maybe she is. "I don't know, Lily. I really don't," she said, almost inaudible. "There's something about him."

        Lily sighed. "I don't get it, Rose. You hated him a week ago and now you're saying that he's special? I've been doing a research, and you know what? 70% of people who get into an arranged marriage would ended up falling in love with each other," she exclaimed.

     "Really?" Rose asked worriedly. "Do you think I'm one of those 70%?"

          "You are. Its obvious," Lily assured. Rose sighed. She never thought all this could happen and she would actually fall for him. "Okay, now all you have to do is pretend like nothing happened. Like you never did confess to him," Lily suggested.

       "How am I supposed to do that? He was smiling at me just now, so obviously, he heard everything," Rose said in a disappointed tone. "Just pretend like nothing did happen! You're always good in that!" Lily said swiftly. 

~~

        "Morning," Alex approached her in the classroom and took a seat beside her. Rose looked up at him. "Hi, Alex," she said. Then, she got back to what she was doing, staring at the wall. Alex beamed at her. "Everything alright?" He asked. Rose nodded and sighed. "I did something really stupid yesterday," she said, disappointed. Alex grinned. "What?" He asked, curiously.

          "Do you know 70% of people who got into an arranged marriage would ended up falling in love with each other?" She stated Lily's fact. Alex was taken aback. "What?" He crinkled his nose. Rose bit her lips. "Lily told me yesterday. She's weird that way," she explained. Alex nodded. "So?" He asked, puzzled. Rose looked at him. She couldn’t decide whether to tell him the truth or not. Then, she looked away. "I'm just telling you," she kept the secret.

         Alex said nothing. He was afraid that Rose was trying to tell him that she liked Seth. His heart started to burn. "Rose," he started. She looked at him, smiling. "Are you trying to say that you're in that 70%?" He stuttered and his heart skipped a beat. Rose looked down and wimbled with her fingers. "I don't know, Alex," she sighed. 

         So, she didn't know. Alex looked away from her and took a deep breath. His fist were clenching and his heart was panting for oxygen. He was hurt. Then, he looked into her brown eyes. "You have to be sure," he drawled. Rose nodded. "I know but... even though, I'm sure about my feelings, Seth would still hate me," she said slowly, looking down.

      "And he likes Jessica," she closed her eyes. Alex took her hand. "Hey, who knows that, maybe he likes you?" He said playfully even though his heart broke into pieces the moment he said that. All he wanted is was make her happy. Rose snorted. "Like me? Not in a million years," she blurted.

"Be positive. Where's that optimist girl gone?" Alex cheered her up. Rose let out a small laugh. This time she just couldn't be an optimist.

         "There she is," Alex joked when she smiled. "Stop thinking about it, Rose. Everything's going to be fine. Plus, next week is Seth's birthday," he let out the news. Rose raised and eyebrow. "What? Seth's birthday is next week?" She asked, puzzled. She felt odd, as she didn't know her own husband's birthday. Alex nodded. "Yeah. I thought you knew?" He said.

        Rose sighed. "I just know him, Alex, what do you expect?" She bragged. Alex was taken aback. "No, it’s just that, everyone already knew about it. About the party," he said sceptically. Rose was even more puzzled. "Party?" She mimicked.

           "Yeah. Seth's birthday party. They're going to celebrate it in Hawaii. Luke and Alan invited me yesterday. Looks like everyone's going to be there," he explained, awkwardly. Rose didn't say anything. "You didn't know anything, did you?" Alex asked awkwardly. Rose shook her head, slowly. How could they didn't tell her anything! She was his wife. 

      Alex was surprised. "Wow, I thought you would be the first one to know," he rubbed the back of his neck. He realised that her expression changed. "I'm sure Seth will tell you later. Maybe he forgot," he coaxed her. "Or maybe he just don't care," Rose snorted. She was so disappointed that he didn't tell her anything. She was sure that Jessica had been told.

~~~

Yes, another simple chapter.

Thanks for reading! xxxx

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