Chapter 7

A trolley was dragged in by a maid to clean away the dining table, the rolling of its tires loud in the otherwise silent room. 

Cecilia's hair covered her expression, she was thankful for it, her haunted expression would raise too many questions.

"-er!"

"SISTER!"

She startled.

"I've called you five times now!" Julia rubbed at her forehead, looking annoyed then swiftly it changed to concern.

"Are you not happy?" 

"I'm-I'm shocked is all!"

She smiled as best as she could, hoping it didn't look like a grimace. 

"I'll need some time, it's too sudden" Cecilia quickly stood up, praying that she wouldn't stumble on her unstable legs and rushed to her room.

Legs giving in as soon as she slammed her door shut, she slowly fell to the floor and began sobbing. She didn't know why the tears wouldn't stop, it just hurt so much, excruciatingly so.

It could've been a few minutes or a few hours as she sat there collapsed, petrified of what has taken place and what's yet to come. However, by the end of her meltdown, one thing she knew for certain.

She would not marry Peter.

•

Perfect.

This was perfect. Lounging lazily in his personal garden, smelling the fresh scent of earth around him, nobody to gasp at him lying freely on the grass bed, no duties, no one to disturb him-

"Your highness"

He'd spoken too soon.

Crimson eyes snapped open, laser focusing on the unfortunate soul that dared to disturb him. The guard flinched, knowing full well that he'd intruded on the prince's only break of the day.

"This better be important"

"Lady Rosen wishes to see you" The guard stammered out.

"Oh for the love of-" The prince pinched the bridge of his nose, stopping himself from screaming at the guard just doing his duty.

"I'll take it from here" Alan walked in, dismissing the guard who looked all too happy to leave.

"Don't be pissy, No one would ruin your precious sunbathing time if it were not important" His advisor and one of his closest friends stood above him, arms crossed. 

"Pray tell, how that stupid girl coming here to annoy me, during my break time nonetheless, important?" The prince scoffed.

"You're wrong there. It's not Lady Julia but Lady Cecilia, she insisted on meeting you, said that it's important."

That's how he found himself, in a private audience with Lady Cecilia Rosen. 

"I apologize for coming here unannounced and disturbing you, Your highness, Please forgive me but I had no other choice" She genuinely looked regretful, fiddling with her fingers, chewing her lips in worry.

Having no choice but to rest her anxiety, he exhaled out through his nose.

"It's quite alright"

Observing her, he'd admit she was pretty but not pretty enough to excuse invading his rest time. No, he was not overreacting, tackling the rest of the day's paperwork without having his rest was about to give him an aneurysm. 

He figured it wouldn't be so bad talking to her though, unlike her creepy sister she appeared normal.

"Why did you wish to see me?" 

"Please marry me" He almost spat out the tea he had sipped. It was a miracle he didn't choke.

What was wrong with these sisters?

He was so close to putting a restraining order on the younger one. Julia has been basically harassing him for god knows how long, he's stopped keeping count.

She'd use underhanded tactics to seduce him, it never failed to gross him out. She was relentless in her pursuit and he's so sick of it. By the looks of it, the older one wasn't any different.

Mind already working on how to politely excuse this Lady, he tightened his hold on the tea cup. However, her next words made him pause.

"A contract marriage, your highness" He'd be convinced she was jesting had it not been for the fierce determination in her eyes.

"I need help and you're the only one who can. I'm about to be married off to a man I do not want to, I've no power over this decision. If you, a prince were to ask for my hand, there's nothing anyone could hope to do." 

She took a deep breath in, as if steadying herself to continue.

"I'm afraid I can't disclose my reasons. I assure you, you will not be tied to me. 

I'll be your wife in name only, you can divorce me in the future, whenever need be."

He let her words sit in the air, letting them sink in. Carefully going over the proposition she set forth, he couldn't help but ask,

"What do I hope to gain from this? You clearly need me, but it can't be said the same for me. What are you offering on your end?"

He wasn't sure about helping her. If not careful, he would be knee deep in something he hadn't foreseen. He was a prince after all, his actions had a greater impact than one could imagine.

"I'll help you find her" 

"Her?"

"Your sister"