Chapter one - Rowena

I was about to do it. I was going to kill my grandparent's soldiers, so I didn't have to marry a stupid millionaire. I was going to kill them so I could run away and be free.

As soon as the carriage stopped, I jumped out of it with my sword in hand, first I went for the soldier that was in the back he didn't see me coming so I quickly I sliced his throat.

I could have run while the others were distracted but I couldn't risk it. I approached the next soldier we started fighting, our swords would crash trying to disarm each other. The other soldier's approach and finally they disarmed me.

My grandfather knew I would try to run away so of course all of them were prepared for something like this.

Captain Tomas quickly hold both of my arms back so I couldn't punch anyone, he knew me well after all we grew up together.

"I will go with her, so she doesn't try anything else" Tomas made me go in the carriage again.

"I told your grandfather it would be easier to take you on a plane or a train" he laughed as soon as he sat beside me. "I knew you would try something like this"

"You know me well" I smiled reaching his hand.

"Although it wasn't necessary to kill someone" he was using his disapproval tone.

"Well, you don't have to marry an arrogant millionaire" he looked at me with sad eyes.

"You know that if I could I'd marry you" by the tone of his voice I could tell he was being sincere. We loved each other, we wanted to be more than friends, but we couldn't. My grandparents wouldn't allow it, I was the daughter of the governor of Liphima, he was an orphan my parents decided to take in as if he was their own.

(...)

By the type of buildings, I knew we weren't in Liphima anymore. There were huge white mansions. It wasn't my first time in Flovous, in fact, I used to spend all my summers here in my grandparent's house near the beach but that was a long time ago.

Tomas was watching me because he knew that at the moment that he got distracted I would run away. We hadn't seen each other in a long time, 14 months to be exact, I accidentally ruined one of my mom's parties and she had me sent away so I would learn how to behave before I had to get engaged to a stranger.

We arrived at my grandparent's mansion, they would take me there so I could get prepared before I had to go to my "meeting" party. I knew exactly how it would go; it wasn't the first time my grandma tried to introduce me to a rich man who would ensure my family's future. As a young lady of the court of Liphima I had to behave, I couldn't date anyone that I wanted, he had to be approved by my parents before.

"Are you ready?" Tomas asked removing the handcuffs he put me when I tried running away ¡Yes I was handcuffed the whole road!

I walked out of the carriage finding my grandmother standing at the beginning of the stairs waiting for me.

"Come on we have a lot to do" she said entering the house. This was going to be a long week.

(...)

"Nana Ravenna, why there aren't people decorating the house for the meeting party?" Tomas asked my nana entering my bedroom. Nana Ravenna is an old woman who started working with my grandparents when they had their first child.

"Because there will not be a meeting party" my grandma appeared out of nowhere "Rowena is already engaged"

"What?! And you didn't tell me?" I started freaking out when I was little my mother always told me I would be able to give my opinion before they engaged me to someone. "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?"

"After your behavior, your grandpa and I decided that it was for the best" She looked at me with disappointment "it was decided almost 10 months ago when Thorin wrote us a letter about your behavior at his academy.

"Get out" I whispered; I don't want to see her ever again.

"Rowena we are only trying..." I interrupted her "GET OUT" I screamed taking the sword that was as a decoration in the wall next to me.

"Ro drop the sword," Tomas said "Please"

I sliced the pillow that was on the floor. "I will put it down when she gets out of my bedroom"

"Petra please go" Tomas looked at my grandmother "I will fix it."

Petra (my grandmother) and Nana Ravenna left the room leaving us alone.

As soon as the door was closed, I started crying, Tomas hugged me. He was the only one who had ever seen me cry.

"We'll fix this," he said whipping my tears with his finger "I'll fix this" he mumbled.

Tomas grabbed me by the chin and kissed me really slowly. It might be the last time that he can do that. I cried harder, Petra was going to ruin my life and if I tried to stop her, I could go to prison or worst for going against our traditions.

We stayed in there for what seemed to be hours until nana Ravenna came in to help me get ready to meet the man I was engaged to.

Tomas went out and Petra entered with a lot of fancy dresses for me to choose from.

I looked at her to let her know I was still mad at her and that I wanted her o to get out. She only stood there watching how Nana tried to convince me to pick a dress.

When I was ready, we all walked out, downstairs Tomas and Grandpa were waiting for us.

"Tomas go get Rowena's bags" My grandma ordered him.

When a woman of the high society got engaged it was a tradition that she moved to her soon-to-be husband's house, just to have a little more of control over them.

(...)

We arrived, I knew it because the car stopped, I wasn't really interested in where we were going or talking to Petra, so I slept the whole way.

When I opened my eyes, I could see that we were at the palace, I was surprised because it was a very clean, fancy place, even more than the ones I'm used to.

"Don't do anything to ruin this" Petra threatened. "Behave like the proper lady you should be"

"Don't listen to her, be yourself?" my grandpa said loud so she could hear him.

"They will love you as much as I do" Tomas whispered to my ear.

How could he be so calmed when we would probably never be able to see each other again?

The guard at the entrance introduced me as Rowena lady of Liphima.

I walked in hugging Tomas's arm, everyone thought he was only my brother.

"Tomas there is someone I would like you to meet." Of course, my grandma was trying to break us apart from so I could go meet the man that I would marry in a few months.

"Coming Grandma" Tomas said. Petra only allowed him to call her grandma when we were in public because she said he wasn't her grandchild.

They left me there in the middle of the ballroom. Suddenly I saw my papa talking to king Poll, they were great friends since they were kids, but they broke apart when my father moved to Liphima.

I suppose my future husband is someone very important in the government, maybe it's one of the sons of the prime minister.

My parents also arrived today, but they came directly here. I don't understand how papa didn't ask me or told me anything about the engagement.

Mama appeared with Tomas a few minutes later.

"I'm sorry baby, we couldn't tell you." She hugged me "It was supposed to be a secret and if we told you while you were at the academy someone could hear."

Papa came and hugged my mom then he kissed my forehead.

"I'm sorry Ro, they were going to give us time but the people aren't happy with the government and they think this is a good way of making..." my papa got interrupted by the king.

"My dear subjects, today we're here to celebrate the engagement of two of the strongest families Olympia" he paused "These union will not only benefit our families but it will also benefit the country."

"Mom?" I asked

"Shhh, listen," She said holding my hand.

I looked over at Tomas, he looked sad.

The king kept talking but I couldn't hear him because I was concentrated in Tomas.

He looked handsome, I started thinking about how we were happy before his parents died, we used to dream about a future together. Tomas was my best friend since elementary school, his parents worked as gardeners in my parent's house. One day I was playing with my dog when he accidentally hit me with a soccer ball.

When he was twelve and I was ten his parents died in a car crash, so my parents took him in and said that he was my cousin that they adopted.

As we grew older we realized we wanted to be together but my parents wouldn't allow it because he was supposed to be their nephew.

His eyes meet mine and I knew that if I accepted this without fighting my world would end. I had to fight for him, for us.

"My son the prince Aaron of Olympia is engaged Rowena of Liphima."

As soon as I heard the announcement my whole world came down, I knew I was getting engaged but not to who.

Everyone turned around to look at me. I could see Tomas pain in his eyes, we both knew what it meant... We couldn't be together anymore because I would be accused of treason to the crown.

The next thing happened really quickly, Tomas knew that he was the one that had to take me with the price.

He held my left arm and started walking towards the prince, I could hear everyone whispering curiously about me.

"Prince Aaron" he bowed to him "I hope you take well of my little sister because I don't care who you are if you hurt her I'll kill you" he whispered to the prince so only we could hear it before handing my hand to him.

Prince Aaron took my hand and helped me up, we walked holding hands to where his father was.

"I wish you two the best" the king continued his speech "Welcome to the family Rowena."