Sinead Cavendish is the perfect candidate for a future king's wife. Not only is she strikingly pretty –bright red locks of hair, captivating teal eyes and a splatter of freckles that delicately cover her nose –but she is smart, of noble family (she is the Duke of Devonshire's daughter) and perfectly well-mannered. Which is why even the most selfish, bad-tempered and arrogant young man –such as Crown Prince Ian Kabra –would fall in love with the girl in question and ask her to marry him.

And of course, after hearing the news, the entire kingdom of England is filled with joy and thrill for the young couple. Everybody thinks they'll make good rulers, after all. With her intelligence and good manners, Sinead may set an example for Ian and somehow incite him to change his ill-mannered personality. Thanks to this simple fact, even other kingdoms are delighted about the news.

Except one person. And that is the bride, herself.

As you might've already guessed, Sinead never loved Ian Kabra. He'd spent two years of his life trying to pursue the girl, and she only accepted because she was practically forced into doing so –and to not disappoint her best friend and the crown prince's sister, Princess Natalie. But even with all the hints that Sinead has thrown to the royal siblings about her true feelings, they don't even suspect such an emotion. Their egos are too big to imagine that someone doesn't really want to spend the rest of their life with them. After all, what girl in her right mind would refuse a marriage proposal from the gorgeous prince of England?

But maybe, if Ian had just removed the blindfold that love had wrapped around his eyes, and stepped down the imaginary stool that made him better than the rest, he would've noticed Sinead's true feelings. He would've noticed how closer she'd gotten to his cousin and second-in-line for the throne, Hamilton Holt, and he would've noticed that she had everybody fooled with her perfect girl exterior. If he would've noticed all those signs, he wouldn't have so enthusiastically opened the letter left by her in his bedroom's doorstep. He wouldn't have read it with growing happiness, and he wouldn't have risked going alone to the palace's large gardens to meet her. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. And it's a shame.

"Sinead?" Ian asks out loud, slowly looking around the beautiful gardens around him. She'd told him to meet her by the rose shrubberies, but she is nowhere near sight. Ian sighs, leaning against a tree. The rose shrubberies are pretty far away from the castle, so maybe she is still getting there.

After a few seconds, Ian hears soft footsteps. He stands up straighter, a smile forming in his lips. "You're finally here."

But no one emerged from the pathway in front of him. Frowning, he calls out. "Sinead, is that you?"

But there's no answer. Ian narrows his eyes, looking for a glimpse of red hair. When he feels a hand on his shoulder.

Ian turns around, and his eyes slightly widen.

"I'm sorry for the delay, Crown Prince," Sinead apologizes. Her coral dress is dusty, and her braids are disheveled. "I tripped with an overgrown root a few steps back."

Ian's features soften. "It's alright, Duchess. You did have me quite worried, though."

Sinead looks down, embarrassed. "Once again, I apologize."

"Now, don't feel bad," Ian replies. He motions toward the pathway in front of them. "Mind taking a walk with me?"

Sinead curtsies, and places herself next to Ian. After a while, they're both walking in silence between large bushes and trees. Ian is admiring the different shades of greens coloring the leaves, while Sinead has a faraway look on her face.

Ian, noticing, asks. "Could you tell me what's on your mind?"

Sinead looks up, slightly smiling. "It's about that scientist, Evan Tolliver."

Ian scoffs, looking away. "Why is that loony invading your thoughts?"

"Well… one of his new claims has got me thinking."

"Don't tell me that you actually believe those deranged 'discoveries' of him."

Sinead giggles. "Of course not. It's just that he's been saying that he's discovered a time machine, and-"

"Sinead, please don't listen to such a crazed man," Ian cuts in. "A time machine? Not even sane scientists have come up with such an idea. Why would some scrawny teenager suggest such an idiotic idea?"

"I know, but…" Sinead shrugs, looking up at the bright blue sky. "I was just considering something…"

Ian raises his eyebrow. "And what would that be?"

Sinead sighs, hints of a smirk forming in her lips. "What would happen if his claims were actually true? What if… what if the future queen of England believed him?"

"What are you saying-"

Sinead continues without paying attention to Ian. "And what if she asks him to help her get out of an unwanted marriage? What if she begs him to help her true love, the king's cousin, to become the king?"

Ian stops, his eyebrows furrowing. "Sinead, what in the world are you suggesting?"

Sinead stops, fully smirking now. "Don't worry, Crown Prince. You did say that a time machine is a deranged claim."

Ian's amber eyes widen, millions of emotions running through his mind –betrayal, hurt, surrealism…

Suddenly, a tall, blonde man emerges from out of nowhere. He grabs Ian by the collar, pulling him closer. "You don't know how long I've been waiting to do this, you fool!"

Ian pushes Hamilton away, snarling. "That is not the way you're supposed to address a future king. Who do you think you are to do so?"

"Why, the future king," Hamilton replies, grinning.

"Evan! Come out!" Sinead calls out.

Ian sputters, not knowing what to say. "Is… is this a joke?"

Hamilton grips Ian's shoulder. "You know I'm not the type to play pranks on people."

A brown-haired young man materializes next to Ian, holding up a brown suitcase. "Hello, your Highness."

Ian begins to squirm from Hamilton's tight grasp, trying to free himself. "Let me go!"

Evan opens his suitcase, and wraps a copper string around Ian's right hand.

Ian, enraged, kicks Hamilton on the shin, temporally liberating himself. But Sinead catches his shoulders.

"You won't hit your love, would you?" she coos, caressing his cheek.

Ian sets his lips in a tight, angry line. "You three will be severely punished by the royal court!"

"How… if they'll think that the French have captured and killed you?" Sinead innocently asks, placing her chin on Ian's shoulder. "Why the sad look? You should be thankful. Hamilton wanted to kill you, I asked him to just send you to another time."

Ian shakes his head furiously. "Stop this right now."

Sinead tilts her head, pouting. "Why? I'm just trying to see if this time machine is actually a deranged claim."

Hamilton smirks. "Why so scared? Weren't you saying earlier that Evan was just a loony?"

"Where do I send him?" Evan asks.

"To the year 2012… to the New World," Sinead instructs, her eyes covered with pure coldness.

Ian strongly shrugs Sinead's hands away from his shoulders, turning around to spat at her. "You're a witch, you mischievous rat!"

Sinead waves. "Then it's good that you won't ever get to see me again, right?"

Ian's eyes widen.

"Now," Hamilton barks at Evan.

Evan pulls a lever, and before Ian can remove the tight wrap of copper around his hands, he begins to levitate. Ian's face pales as the feeling of being disintegrated and spinning into thin air dominates his entire body. He can't feel a thing as everything he knows disappears into thin darkness. Bitter coldness wraps around him and finally, his surroundings stop spinning. With a great thud, he feels his head fall on hard floor.

Someone gasps and falls back.

The last thing he sees before fainting is a pair of emerald green eyes.

Author's Note: So, what did you think of it? Good? Bad? Confusing? Whatever it is, let me know :) Also, I know that the characters might seem OOC. But remember this story is completely AU. And even though I'll try to keep the characters' personalities as close as possible as in the books, they might still be different.

Anyways, thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed...