CHAPTER 1
This is where it all began. This is where it all went wrong, my parents thinking I am not old enough to make decisions for myself. They believe they should make the most important decisions in my life.
I wanted to study medicine, but they told me to study law. It's not like I can say no, that is known as rude and disrespectful.
Being the only child of a king that is well known and respected by many is a burdening responsibility. You must watch how you eat, talk, walk, dress and even who you date.
"Marveline, you seem to be deep in your thoughts this morning, why is that?" Asked dad, who was sitting on the other side of the unnecessarily long wooden dining table with thrown like chairs that were also wooden with crown designs on the edges.
I poked the salad infront of me and released a sigh tossing my eyes to him, "Daddy, do I really have to go to dinner this evening?"
He took a sip from his wine glass, "Is that what is bothering you?"
"Yes father. I don't want to go, I can just go stay at Charley's tonight."
Charley is a male friend of mine, at least that's what my parents think. Charley is what I can call my soul mate. He is funny, smart, handsome and I always feel like I can be myself around him. I've been dating him for six years now, we met during my first year in varsity, then he told me that he lives in the same village as I and he knew I am a princess, but he never treated me like royalty, bowing and stuff like that and I prefer it that way. On my second year we started dating and we've been holding it since then.
I am planning on telling my parents about him and I. Ever since I was young, my mother has always told me that one day I will have to marry and have children in order to keep the royalty house alive. But I would need to marry someone who is filthy rich and Charley is no where near filthy rich.
"Charley? That friend of yours who is ridiculously goofy? Why would you want to miss such an important dinner for that person?"
Honestly I was not looking forward to this dinner. I would have to dress up in a fancy dress, hat and shoes. I just wished I was still in university in the big city of Javan, where nobody knew I am a princess except for Charley, where I was treated no differently from other people.
"He is not goofy dad, he's funny, sweet, loving, handsome and would make a great-" I paused just before I said something that would raise a lot of questions.
Dad frowned with a serious look on his face, placing down his eating utensils next to his plate, "I hope you are not falling for him Marveline."
I laughed nervously looking away from him and into my plate, stabbing the salad and shoving it into my mouth, "what?nooo, I-am-not."
"Well I hope so. And don't speak with your mouth full, you are a princess soon to be queen so act like it."
I rolled my eyes slightly throwing my fork on the table next to my plate, moved my chair back and stood up, "I know dad, there's no need to remind me every two seconds."
I turned on my heels and stormed out.
I walked straight to the corridor that lead outside the palace.
'I swear if I meet my mother on this corridor I'm gonna go crazy. She will either pull me into a dressing room and put all kinds of gowns on me wasting hours of my life or bore the life out of me teaching me for the hundredth time how to act like a queen and how to lead the people' I thought.
I quickened my steps as I saw the front door that lead to heaven, and by heaven I mean out of this palace.
"Good morning princess." Said a guard with a smile on his face bowing as I reached the door.
"Oh good morning Richard. Please don't tell my parents I stepped out." A desperate look on my face.
"You know I can't lie to the king and queen princess." His smile still on his face, I don't know why every single guard and servant in this palace is always smiling.
"I will be back in 10 minutes Richard, I promise."
"But still princess. And you can't leave without atleast two bodyguards."
Bodyguards?are you kidding me?
"I'm going to Charley, I won't need any bodyguards."
He looked at me with a nervous look on his face.
"Please, I promise I'll be back very very soon." I was on the verge of kneeling at this point, I really needed to see Charley before this stupid dinner or else I would go off the rails.
"O-okay," He hesitantly agreed, "10 minutes only princess"
I jumped up and down in excitement, "I promise!" I ran straight to the big gold gates that were slowly opening for me. My parents like exaggerating things, there was no need for such tall golden gates like you're about to enter heaven.
"Take a car!" Uttered Richard behind me.
"I have feet Richard thank you!" I uttered back disappearing behind the closing gates.
*"*"*"*
I could see Charley through the waist high green grass standing next to a big rock that laid peacefully a few feet away from the calm river that ran through out the village not far from the palace.
My smile widened as I ran through the grass, jumping on his beefy back, and wrapping my legs around his waist. He held my inner thighs and spun around making me giggle and laugh.
He placed me down on my feet, turned around to face me with a huge smile on his face, "Marve!" He exclaimed, grabbing me by my waist and pulling me tight into his body, I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders.
His pleasant scent of cologne hitting my nostrils making me melt into his beefy, strong arms that felt like a shield protecting me from the brutality of the world.
We stayed that way for a few seconds then he pulled out of the hug, "How are you my sweet snuggle muffin?" He asked, his voice soft and full of excitement, his small brown eyes lit with tenderness making me love him even more, I've never had someone look at me with so much love in their eyes.
"I am great pumpkin and I'm sure you're great too." I said giggling.
"You have no idea my love. I have been waiting for you here so impatiently, I even thought you weren't coming." He stated, holding my hand and leading to the big rock where we always sat and chatted for hours.
"Sorry about that. There is this dinner thing that will be at the palace today, so I kind of got caught up."
He gently lifted me, placing me on the rock. It wasn't a very big rock, you could easily climb up and down from it, but not for me, since I'm short.
"What is the dinner about?" He asked curiously, also climbing easily on the rock, sitting next to me, pulling me close to him and wrapping his arm around my waist.
I placed my head gently on his shoulder, "Do you remember king Jahova?"
"Yes."
"Well, he is visiting with his family." I stated releasing a sigh.
"But he hasn't visited in 15 years."
I lifted my body up, facing him, "15 years ago I was only 7 years old, I don't even remember what he looks like. I don't understand his visit, my parents say it's to mend the relationship between them but I don't see anything that needs mending, it's not like they fought or something."
"Maybe it's to renew the relationship love, since they haven't visited each other for 15 years."
I groaned dropping my head on his lap, "I just want to be with you."
He chuckled, running his fingers through my hair, "You are with me love."
I got up again facing him, "I mean I want to be with you forever, marry you, live with you, have children with you and just be happy with you."
A comforting smile appeared on his lips, he took both my hands and placed them in his, "That will happen love, you just be patient, okay?"
My shoulders dropped, I forced a happy smile on my face, "Okay pumpkin." I knew it wasn't okay, I knew my parents would be doubtful of our relationship and even get angry.
"Now give papa bear a kiss." He instructed with a baby voice.
I giggled placing a perk on his lips, then another, then another, until our lips were moving in rythm. He pulled me closer closing the space between us, I acted on instinct and climbed on top of him.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, he wrapped his around my waist crashing my body into his.
I could feel the adrenaline rush through my body, quiet moans escaped me.
I felt his warm hands going under my long sleeve pink shirt, trailing gently up and down my back which made me excited even more.
Suddenly he stopped, and backed up squeezing his eyes, "Let's not not get too excited."
"What? Come on baby." I said going back to kiss him.
He stopped me, "Marve, no. We can't. Not until we are married." He glanced into my eyes, his eyes begging me to not fight him on this one.
Charley is a very religious person, he believes in marriage before the deed. He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke.
I nodded, "You're right. It'd be wise if we didn't."
A thin smile appeared on his lips, "I love you, okay?"
I bit my lower lip smiling, "I love you too."
He smirked, "You naughty girl." He tickled me everywhere. I screamed, laughed and tried to get myself off his grip but I couldn't.
"Stop!" I uttered between the laughs.
"Why should I?"
"Be-beause-oh my God-just.." I continued to laugh my lungs out.
He finally stopped, leaving me out of breath, "You better get going before the queen reports you missing."
