AN- Thank you to everyone who has stuck this far! I love and appreciate every ounce of effort you put in to review. Makes my day.
Also, I'm sorry if this chapter is boring or slow, but unfortunately I need to write it, so it can lead up to some fluff in the next chapter.
"Love lies in those unsent drafts in your mailbox. Sometimes you wonder whether things would have been different if you'd clicked 'Send'. "
Faraaz Kazi
Chapter 7: Into the maze
Sofia couldn't grasp the reality of what she just heard. Why had her father been so inconsiderate as to accept his request without at least giving an ounce of effort to tell her. Sure, Hugo was very handsome to be honest. But now that ship had sailed, he had his chance seven years ago to give her a slight inclination of his feelings. Unfortunately, he hadn't all those years ago. Maybe just maybe he was tremendously nervous, but nervous or not, Sofia knew her feelings had faded out for him over the years.
Once upon a time, she was like a moth drawn to a flame; she was simply infatuated with this dashing, noble prince of Malingrad. Eventually, after many months she began to loose hope. Winking, flirting, providing him with noticeable hints of her affections were wasted. He thought of her as a mere companion, nothing more. She didn't want to hang onto him like vines on a wall forever, but then it hit her. Miracles do happen, I mean look at Amber and Desmond now! She used to find Desmond boring and unattractively plain. Times change, growing up they began falling madly in love with each other. Desmond not an unattractive nerd anymore, but a gentlemen with knowledge and class.
Likewise, she assumed that's how Hugo must have felt. Feelings can without a doubt develop, but Sofia just couldn't bring herself to fake feelings in order to protect the heart she would crack. Truly, deeply she cared very much for him as a friend, but there is no point lying when she would eventually be caught.
Sofia crossed her arms, scolding an unpleasant frown directly at her father.
She didn't release this scowl, instead she let it boil and bubble, infesting itself into a full on death stare. How dare he resort to such...
Why couldn't he just be polite and ask for her permission?
But hell no to that idea, instead he allows her old crush to arrive at the palace later this very day in order to mend their bond. Leading onto a marriage in the near future! Why... why would he even contemplate it?
Admittedly, she understood that suitors were lining up every day, waiting patiently for a slim chance to court her. Problem is, she didn't find any of them likeable. Always too self indulgent, egotistical and arrogant. She believed that no matter how much power or wealth you obtain, never belittle people.
She remembered what her real father had told her when she was knee high.
"Never look into someone's bowl to see if they have more than you, look into their bowl to see if they have enough."
He was a generous man, loving, caring and charitable. Often, her family would help out villagers less fortunate. It wasn't because they wanted a medal, a commendation or to achieve anything. It was to change poor families lives for the better.
That was when Sofia realised that she could never marry someone with a high level of self entitlement. It would be immorally out of character. All those pompous princes, waltzing around prudently as if they were above the rest of the lower class. Disgusting. Utterly cruel.
"Sofia?" said Miranda, a quiver in her breathes.
Sofia took a deep breath, even her mother didn't inform her. "Why didn't you inform me that Hugo was visiting?" She hissed.
"I understand how this may provoke you, but on this occasion I wasn't prepared to cancel this reunion all because you have a childish tendency to refuse any suitor that comes your way. Please know we are only In for you best interests," said Roland, keeping his composure. "Quite frankly, I've become frustrated and appalled by how you seem to treat this as a little game. Alas, this is why your opinion was not needed."
Sofia felt flabbergasted, simply and utterly ashamed of her fathers choice of words. Without a word, she waited and waited for her mother to intercept this nonsense. But this time, she could only agree which angered her to the point where she felt like storming off.
"Sofia, I'm afraid your father is right. Although I wish he'd at least let you know... but Hugo is a lovely boy and I'm sure this reunion will be nothing but helpful," she said, attempting to lighten the situation.
How could she argue with that? Sofia's mind split into a thousand pieces, with all that had happened previously, there was no way she was ready for another cat fight. All she could do was act properly and brush through the reunion. As soon as possible.
"I understand... father," said Sofia, loosening her arms so that they dangled carelessly by her sides. Beads of sweat gathered in the corners of her temple, dancing there way down. She was nervous. She hadn't spoken to him since the celebration assembly on the final day of royal prep.
Her veins bounced, her blood drained to the bottom of her body, allowing a shroud of sickness to flush into her system. Her hands, cemented and cold, all the joy leaked down her spine and onto the floor, leaving a trial of liquid behind her as she began to follow her parents out to the gardens. Pleasingly, the sun was bright and the lofty air made breathing a lot easier.
If Hugo would arrive soon, at least she wouldn't die choking on her own self pity. If laws were changeable, she'd rewrite the one in which commoners are forbidden to marry any depiction of royalty. Ahem! Sofia rolled her eyes, shielding her eyes from the overbearing light. Her father was the absolute worse hypocrite she had ever encountered.
Once more, they beckoned her to sit around a charming little table, set with a vase full of dead flowers, drooping and wilted.
Once a bouquet, lively with an exotic flavour of colour, now however draping with a sense of bleakness. No more a vase full of flowers, but now a vase with nothing but the remains. The sun must've bleached them, sucking the life force right out of them. It's what happens when you overpower something, it is what happens when you present someone with too much of what they need.
Forced to be exposed to something they need but do not always want...
Sofia dragged her eyes to the floor, fixating them solely on the ground. Then it just struck at her, how many times would they put her in this position, how many times would they compel her to marry?
Until she finally would say yes? Or until they finally came to their senses and realise that she just held no interest for these awful suitors. Fingers crossed Hugo would merely want a friendship. It became a chore declining their proposals, it became so draining to put on a fake smile, laugh along with the lifeless jokes and worst of all, break their hearts into a million pieces.
Hah. Revealing her little crush on the sorcerer might not be a bad idea to end this escapade. A daring and risky choice, yes. But as time seemed to fly by she felt more and more willing to just spill the tea. If her pleas sounded mute, then perhaps telling them her true feelings for Cedric just might do the trick.
Funny thing about love, it makes you put all your needs behind you. Gives you this super human strength in where you feel you can accomplish anything...
Sofia brushed those impossible thoughts far out of her mind. Horrific images popped up in her mind, her father transforming into that beast or that depressing day when Cedric was flung into the cold, damp dungeons of her castle.
Both scenarios were not pleasant, so for Cedric's sake she'd purse her lips to save him from a life filled with horror. Rats scuffling beside him, a box for a cell, little lighting and fixated on a diet too crude to imagine. She would never allow Cedric to endure that period of his life, rotting in a tight cell until he finally went insane. Insanity claiming him like most of the other inmates down there; dragging him below the depth of a traumatic hell with no way out.
Around the table, no snacks were present which was beyond annoying. Normally, little cakes or biscuits would be dotted around on little plates, along with a tea pot and cups. None were sighted which could only mean one thing...
They weren't having a tea party...
That didn't bother her as such, but it was common for her parents and the suitors parents including the suitor himself to sit around this table and chat about politics. Drinking from their china cups of tea, nipping at their biscuits once in a while. Step two, the parents all leave and Sofia would be succumbed to fake a grin for the arrogant prince. Step three, this tyrant-ish prince gabbles on about how delectable she is, how happy he can make her. Bullshit. There is only one guy that drives her compass crazy.
"Sofia, you aren't looking yourself, is anything the matter?" Miranda questioned her.
Yeh, everything is peachy, I mean it's not like I was forced into this or anything!
"Everything is fine," Sofia lied, biting down the temptation to mouth off at both at them. Her mother had always been her role model, the one who inspired her to be the best person possible. Now that had changed... instead of attempting to consider her feelings, she's siding with Roland.
"Chin up, Sofia. Hugo is a wonderful man, handsome and kind and I'm sure you two will make great rulers one day!" said Roland, enthusiastically.
Are you kidding me! Amber is next in line!
"Father... Amber is to be Queen."
"Of course she is, but you two will need to prop yourselves as next after her. Besides, I didn't say you would rule Enchancia. There is a chance that you could rule Malingrad with Hugo as the princess consort," he added, unhelpfully.
I will never marry him! Please why are already deciding my future!
Miranda coughed dryly, propping herself up more. She wasn't at all pleased with her husbands decision to force poor Sofia onto hundreds of suitors, but there wasn't really anything she could say to drive him out of this lane. But she couldn't let her daughter suffer.
"Sofia, don't worry. I'm sure the right man will show up one day!" She said, smiling gleefully.
Sofia took a deep breath, concealing her discomfort from both her parents. "Thank you... mom."
Just as the silence became awkward and problematic, heavy footsteps drew louder. Glancing up, she saw her parents leave their seats to greet the new arrivals. King Gilbert of Malingrad, along with his wife, Queen Petunia and their eldest son, Prince Hugo. All dressed smartly in their royal attire, equipped with badges, pinned onto their breast piece.
Hugo stole a glance at Sofia, smirking flirtingly. The message needed to be promptly shown, instead of smiling she shot a grimace back at him, turning her back to him in disgust. His fault or not, she had no interest in him. Once again, the chats arose as they seated around the table. Sofia waited patiently for anything peculiar to happen, but she found herself in the midst of this muffled conversation.
Prince Hugo sat opposite her, every once in a while starting a conversation starte on her. Such as: How's the weather over here? , How have you been lately? , Did you fall from heaven? Those questions were very common and rehearsed, but then the last one really evoked a conscience inside of her; the last question stirred up her thoughts to make her actually want to reply.
"What happened to us... why have we drifted so far apart?" He said quietly, looking incommodious by the large crowd surrounding him.
"We... uhm…" Sofia forked out, achily. Her knees trembled waywardly, her memories flashing back at her dauntingly. She wanted to leave, she wanted to run away from her problems, hide in the shadows until they disappeared.
"We had so many good times together, why are you ignoring that?" said Hugo, unsettled by the blank reaction she would give him.
The table quietened, suddenly her father spoke distinctly.
"Prince Hugo, I assume you would like some privacy now?"
Why?! No no no! He wasn't going to propose already!
"I'm just so thrilled you wanted to tour our maze, for long now it has been quite abandoned," said Miranda, giving a small chuckle.
Hugo rubbed the back of his neck, "I always enjoyed mazes as a young child, I think me and Sofia will have a good time in there."
The maze, that confusing part of their garden with a wishing well in the centre. Hopefully he's oblivious and doesn't know of it, or things could go horrifyingly wrong. Hugo stood up and wandered over to Sofia, taking her hand softly. "Shall we?"
Sofia nodded, mazes were actually one of her strong suits so she could use that as an advantage to win and divert him out of the centre. Or get lost on purpose perhaps. It never once crossed her mind that Hugo would want to do something more enthralling. Usually, princes would only want to sit on their asses for a couple of hours, sipping tea whilst boasting about how many ships they have inherited or how much money they owned.
This time for a change, Hugo wanted her and him to go into the maze? That scared her greatly, what if he wanted to wish her in love with him? She would never get her future with Cedric... oh how much she wished to be with Amber right now, plotting another crazy romantic accident to fall into his arms. No matter how stupid the idea, it was a hundred times better than brainwashed by a wish to fall in love with Hugo.
But wishes always come with a price and so he would need to be careful what he wishes for...
