With an open book on her lap, she was sitting on her bed reading. Many people will find it hard to read in this moment but she chose this moment to read so that she can take her mind off everything for that moment and imagine the story. Ir doesn't matter if it's 5 minutes or 1 hour, all she wanted to do at that moment was to forget she was going to be a Queen, forget that she'll leave her friends and family soon, forget that she'll be locked up in the castle forever, forget...

Just then there's a knock on the door, she sighed and looked up as her mind came back to reality.

"Come in..." She said softly but loud enough for the person behind the door to hear. She stood up from her bed and placed the book back on the rack when she heard the door cracked open. She turned around to see her dad walking towards her bed before sitting comfortably on it.

"Hey Papa..." She greeted with a small smile. "Mother want you to talk me into marrying the King, is it?"

She asked as she made her way towards her father and sat beside him, not facing him.

"Well..." He said with a chuckle. "She did ask me to talk to you, but I wanted to talk to you about it too..."

Gabriella let out a sigh. Usually her father was the only one who will support her, but right now he's doing otherwise.

"So tell me Gabs, why don't you want to marry the King?" Her father asked in a soothing voice.

"I don't get it. What's so good about marrying the King?" She asked.

"If I did marry the King, then I would not be able to see you and mom again. And what about Tay and Shar? Can we still be best friends despite miles apart?"

"Well you can always come to visit us, and we can visit you too..."

"That's not all, it's just that..." Her voice trailed off as she looked down at the carpet floor.

"Just what?" Her father asked again.

"I know this would sound stupid, but I want to fall in love..." She take a breath before continuing. "I've read lots of books that said how wonderful and magical love is and I want to experience it..."

She then looked at her father " Ever since I was a little girl, I've always dreamed of marrying someone I love and live happily ever after. Like you and mom, you two met in a dance and fell in love before marrying, I want that too."

"But now you wanted me to marry someone I barely know? Someone that I've never seen him before? It's like crushing my dream!"

She glance at her father as he took her hand in his before patting it lightly. "We only want what's best for you, Gabs..."

"But I don't want that..."

"We're both afraid that you might not be able to marry anyone else and you're not getting any younger."

"But I'm only eighteen? And what about Taylor and Sharpay? They're still not married yet."

"Yes, but they always attend parties and dances unlike you who always locked yourselfs in your room reading at night." He said gently with a small smile. "And besides, you wouldn't want your head to be chopped off, do you? Because no one dares to say no to the King..."

"So does that mean that I'll have no choice but to marry him?" she asked glumly.

"I'm afraid so..." Her dad said before standing up from the bed. "Do you believe in fate, Gabs?"

Her dad asked while looking down at her.

"Yes."

"Then believe that it's your fate to be a Queen." Her dad said with before adding with a proud smile. "You would bring honour to our family..."

She forced a smile at her dad as she watch him leave her room.

Once the door's closed, she let out a small sigh and whispered.

"What if I won't?"