Chapter 8: I don't want to get married.

"I told you not to stand like that when you want to shoot, didn't I? You don't listen, do you?"

"Aurora! You don't have to shout at your precious student like that", Charlotte said smiling and hugging Aurora.

"Okay...okay. Let go of me. I can't breathe", she said and pulled Charlotte away.

"You know I love you, right?"

"I know. I love you too. But we need to continue. Just shoot this last time and we'll bake those cookies. I'm starving."

"Oh! I didn't know. Let me shoot this last one", she said and picked up the arrow again and stood to shoot. She pulled the arrow and released it before crying out loud. "Oh shit!", She shouted dropping the bow and wriggling her finger.

"What is it?", Aurora said and moved closer to her.

"The arrow grazed my finger and it is hurting like fuck."

"Language", Aurora warned and pressed her thumb in the finger to stop the bleeding. "I told you not to put your finger there but you wouldn't listen. Instead of you listening you are busy talking. I wonder what's wrong with you.

"Oh My God", Charlotte shouted and jumped up in excitement making the grip Aurora had on her loose. "I did it. The arrow struck the inner red close to the gold. It almost reach the gold, Aurora. It almost reach the bull's eye", Charlotte said still shouting and jumping. 

Aurora just stood there watching her and shaking her head. "Congratulations. But do you realize your finger is still bleeding."

Realization crossed her face. "Oh! I was just so happy I forgot the pain."

"Let's go in and clean that finger. We don't want it to get infected."

"Okay."

They got in and Aurora went to her Dad's room to get the First Aid box and began treating Charlotte's finger.

"I remembered when Mum treated my hand when I cut myself with a knife when I was in 4th grade", Charlotte said looking sad.

Aurora sighed and wrapped the bandage around the finger. "You miss her, right?"

"No, I don't."

"Don't lie to me, Char."

Charlotte dropped her shoulders in defeat. "Yeah. But she doesn't want to see me. I called her on my graduation but she said she was busy and would call back but she didn't. She doesn't want me. I just keep on forcing myself on her", she said almost crying.

Aurora stood up and sat beside her on the couch. She touched her shoulder. "Charlotte, you shouldn't be sad because she doesn't want you. You are a great girl and if she doesn't want you, she is missing a great opportunity. I hope she accepts you one day. But if she doesn't, who cares? I love you, your father loves you and there are lot of people who likes you. You are a fun person and anyone that doesn't get attracted to you is missing a great deal."

Charlotte smiled. "I know you love me but you don't just like accepting it. News flash, I love you too!", She shouted and hugged Aurora tightly.

"Oh My God! Char, you're strangling me."

"Oops! Sorry." Her stomach grumbled. "Hunger!"

"Let's bake those cookies."

"Okay", she said and picked up her phone. "Aurora?"

"Yes?", She said still mixing the dough.

"Do you know The Crown Prince of Valtoria, Prince Zuerien?"

"Who is that?", Aurora asked squeezing her nose.

Charlotte face pamled herself. "Do you live in a cave?"

"I think so."

"I can't believe you don't know him. He is so cute."

"And?", She asked showing a don't care attitude.

"He is my crush."

Aurora bursted out laughing.

"What? It's not funny."

"Of course it's not."

"Why don't I show you a picture?", She said and began scrolling down her phone.

Just then Aurora remembered she has to meet with Bianca tomorrow and suddenly felt nervous. She still doesn't know what to say to her and she was beginning to hate herself.

"See, isn't he cute?"

"He is."

"You didn't even look at the picture."

"Look, I have other pressing matters to attend to other than you and your Princey Boy."

"His name is Prince Zuerien."

"I don't care."

"What is it? Tell your sis", she said and dropped her phone and facing Aurora who was still making the cookies.

"The thing is Dad told me he has a lady that he likes and wants to marry..."

"Don't tell me you accepted."

"Why? I was actually the one that told him to get married."

"What the hell? How could you?"

"I don't get you."

"If I were you, I would NEVER allow that."

"And why is that?"

"I can't afford sharing my Dad with some woman."

"Really?" She sighed. "Charlotte, when will you have some sense in that your head? There are some things he needs that I can't give to him. Only a wife can."

"What could he possible need?"

Aurora face palmed again. "You really can not longer have sense. It's not everything you can give your Dad, Char."

"Things like what. Explain."

"Things like sex."

Realization crossed her. "Oh! I didn't know you were talking about things like that. But nevertheless I can't allow my Dad to remarry."

"Why?", She said placing the cookies in the oven.

"She would turn my Dad against me. You know ladies nowadays are just so stupid. She would surely make my Dad hate me and still make it seem like my fault."

"You have to like her then."

"I can't like another woman for my Dad."

Aurora sighed. "I know what's wrong with you."

"What is wrong with me?"

"You are still hoping your parents would get back together."

"I...um... It's not true."

"Okay. If you insist."

"Continue with what you were saying", she said changing the subject.

"Okay. So, I went to the company to visit Dad and a lady and I bumped into each other. I didn't know that was Bianca. So, she apologized and all I could do was give a slight nod and walk away. She probably thinks I'm a snub and hates me right now."

"Woah! This is new."

"What is?"

"This is actually the first time I have ever seen you cared about someone calling you a snub."

"She's not just anybody, Char. She is my soon to be step mom. And she would be here tomorrow and I don't know how to talk to her or apologize."

"Okay. You seriously need help."

"Yeah."

"You just imagine you've known her all your life and speak to her."

"But I haven't."

"Just assume, babe. Assume. And calm down. Don't think you are gonna make a wrong impression. Just apologize from the heart and you'd be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"100%. You will be fine."

Aurora thought about it and decided it was not a big deal after all. "Easy. I'll do that. Thanks, sis", she said and hugged her.

"You're welcome. You have to pay me back."

"What should I pay you with?"

"Extra cookies to take home."

"Okay then."

"I love you!", She shouted and hugged her again.

"I love you too. Can you just stop with the hugging already?"

"No."

"Okay, then."

¶*¶*¶

Charlotte has gone home and Aurora decided to continue with the book she was reading. She really thought Africa is a great continent. She wished to go there one day and smiled to herself as she thought about it.

"What are you smiling about?", Charles said coming in.

"Dad!", She said and stood up to hug her Dad.

"How are you, little princess?"

"Fine, Dad. How was work?"

"It was fine."

"You are early."

"Yeah. I told you I wanted to see how good you are in archery, right?"

"Oh! I almost forgot. You want to see it now or..."

"Why not? Let me just change. I'll be back."

"Okay, Dad."

Minutes later, Charles came down putting on some shorts and a t-shirt.

"Let's go", he said and they went outside.

They got to where the target was and she picked up an arrow and bow. She stood right and fired and the arrow went straight to the gold circle. Bull's eye.

"Woah! That was incredible."

"Practice makes perfect."

"Yeah! That's true", he said and brought out an apple she didn't even know he was holding. He went to where the target was and placed the apple very close to his eyes.

"What are you doing, Dad?"

"Shoot at this apple."

"What? No no no no. That's insane. I'm not doing that."

"You are."

"I'm not. I could injure you. You might go blind. I don't want to do this."

"You can do it. I know you can. I trust you. You wouldn't miss this."

"You think so?"

"I know so. Now shoot."

He placed the apple close to his eyes again and she stood to shoot. She let out a breath and concentrated on the apple. She imagined her father's eye wasn't close to it amd it was only the apple there and she fired.

Thud.

The arrow hit the apple and she jumped up. "I did it. Dad, I did it", she said hugging her Dad.

He smiled and hugged her back. "I knew it."

"God! I thought I would miss."

"I knew you wouldn't. I trust you."

"Thanks, Dad. I love you."

"I'll always love you, princess. Let's go prepare dinner."

"Okay, Dad", she said smiling all the way.

She did it!

¶*¶*¶

Lady Sophie walked to where Prince Zuerien had the car parked. She sighed as she got closer to him.

He stood by the door opening it for her and she was a little bit surprised. Since she arrived, he had never opened the door. Instead left her and go into the car.

As she moved closer, he smiled at her and she returned with a sweet smile of her own. 

"Good morning, Milady", Prince Zuerien greeted.

"Good morning, Zue", she replied. "You look...um... different this morning."

He smiled. "Yeah. I feel different this morning. Get in."

She got into the car and the closed the door before going to the driver's side and getting in. "You wanted to say something?", Lady Sophie asked.

"Yes. Let's go somewhere else."

"Okay."

He drove the car out of the palace to a restaurant. "Have you eaten breakfast?"

"No."

"Let's eat first."

"As you wish."

They got into the restaurant and they were greeted before escorted to the VIP part of the restaurant. They sat down and placed their order and were served before Lady Sophie cleared her throat.

"Actually, there is something I also wanted to tell you."

"What is it?"

She adjusted on her seat. "The thing is..."

"You can talk to me. I know I've been kind of bad to you since you came but I'm sorry."

She smiled. "It's okay. I forgive you."

"Then what is it you wanted to tell me."

She sighed again and decided to let it out once and for all. "Zue, I don't want to get married to you."

Prince Zuerien was surprised to hear that because that was the reason he brought her here to talk. "Really?"

"Yes. I like you but just as a friend. I honestly don't want to get married to you. I'm sorry if you feel something for me but I feel nothing for you. I'm sorry."

Prince Zuerien smiled. "Thank God."

"What do you mean?"

"That was what I wanted to tell you. I also don't want this marriage to happen. I only like you as a friend and nothing more. And that explains the way I treated you lately. I wanted you to hate me and didn't want this marriage to work. But I realized that I don't want to lose my friend."

Lady Sophie was surprised because her own intention was also to make Prince Zuerien hate her. "I also wanted you to hate me."

"Really?"

She exhaled a laugh. "Yeah. When Father said he wanted me to get married to you, I was sad because there is someone else I like. So, I came up with an idea to make you hate me."

He smiled. "Great minds think alike, right?"

"Yeah. They sure do."

"Now, I feel like a burden has been lifted up my shoulders."

"Me too."

"So."

"So?"

"Do you forgive me? Are we still friends?", He asked.

"We'll always be friends, Zue", she replied.

He raised his glass. "Cheers to being friends forever."

"Cheers", she said and clicked her glass with his before they drank their wine.

"You said there is someone else you like. Who is it?"

She smiled. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Why? Of course I would. Tell me. Who is the lucky one?"

"Jacob."

"Jacob?"

"Yeah! My personal guard."

He opened both his eyes and mouth wide. "Woah! I didn't know. Does your father know about you two."

"No, he doesn't. But I'm planning to tell him when I get back to the Duchy."

"That's great. I want ask you a question, as your friend."

"Go on."

"Do you think he likes you for you or because you are the Duke's daughter. No offense."

"I already thought about it too but later I figured out that he loves me for me."

"Are you happy with him?"

"Yes. I'm really happy."

"If he makes you happy, then...", He said and shrugged.

"Yeah. I kind of miss you."

"Me too. It's been long you've come to the palace. Since your Mother passed."

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry for not coming to visit you often in the Duchy."

"It's nothing. At least you came for some time."

"Yeah but I should make it frequent."

"You cared. That's all that matters. You don't have to apologise."

"Okay. Thanks."

She smiled at him and they made to leave the restaurant. "Are we going back to the palace?"

"Don't you want to go back to the palace?"

"Nah."

"Okay. What do you want to do?", He said narrowing his eyes at her.

She smiled suspiciously. "Let's go", she said and pulled his hands to the car. "Drive to the central park."

"What to you intend doing?"

"Let's go and play like we used to when we were kids."

"What? Sophie, we are no longer kids."

She pouted. "Please, Zue. Please", she pleaded giving him the puppy eyes.

He laughed. "You want to get me into trouble."

"As far as I know, you were never scared of trouble."

He laughed again, rubbing his face with his hands. "Okay. Okay. Just few minutes."

"Yeah!", She said bumping her fist in the air.

He laughed. "You can't change, can you?"

She shook her head. "I can't."

"Okay, let's go."

"Call Marco. I miss him too."

"I think he misses you too. I'll call him. Wait in the car", he said and opened the door for her to get in.

"Thank you.

He nodded and dialed Marco's number. "Hello, Marc", he said as soon as the other picked.

"Hello."

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

"Okay. Can you meet me in the park in 5 minutes?"

"Isn't Sophie with you?"

"She is. She requested it."

"Okay. I'll be there."

"Okay. Thanks. I'll see you."

He cut the call and went back to the car.

"What did he say?", Lady Sophie asked as he came in.

"He'll meet us there."

"Okay", she said grinning.

¶*¶*¶

"So, what's the occasion?", Marco asked as he walked towards Prince Zuerien and Lady Sophie.

"Hello to you too", Lady Sophie said.

"Hey. How you doing?"

"Good. I actually asked him to call you here."

"Okay?"

"Just wanted to have fun with the both of you. Like we used to before."

"And you don't think we are a little bit old for that kind of fun?"

"No."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you for real, Sophie?"

"I also asked her the same", Prince Zuerien said.

"I miss you guys and I want to catch up", she said pouting.

Marco smiled. "You look like a baby with that face."

"I'm a baby."

"Really?" This time he let out a laugh. "You really haven't changed."

"I said the same thing", Prince Zuerien said.

"No, I didn't change. So stop wasting time amd let's go before your Father ask of you."

"Okay", they said.

Lady Sophie linked her arms with the both of them and they made their way towards the park.