Hi sweeties. Sorry I haven't updated in a while - school's been kinda crazy. Anywho, here's Chapter 14.

Just a quick note: a few times in this chapter you will see conversations that are written in italics and bolded italics. This means that it's going on inside the character's head. It's supposed to be them arguing with their conscience. Read the chapter - it will make sense, I promise.

Chapter 14 – Restrictions (Rosalie's POV)

I stared at Royce. "My… fiancée?" I asked.

"That is correct," Royce said. "We are engaged. Soon, we will be married and you will be Rosalie King."

"Oh…" my voice trailed off. In the silence that followed, I heard the front door open and close. A swift peek out of the corner of my eye told me that Emmett had left. I paid it no mind; instead, I went and sat on one of the vacant couches in the sitting room. Royce followed me, sitting beside me.

The parents resumed their discussion of marriage plans. I immediately was distracted by the mystery of my fiancée's family name. It sounded so familiar, but I couldn't place it. Suddenly, I realized why I recognized the name King.

I stifled a gasp. Royce was a King. The Kings were the richest family in all of Forks and their son wanted to marry me. I was going to be a King!

The sound of someone calling my name broke my reverie. "Rosalie?" my father said.

"Yes, father?" I answered.

"Before we make anymore wedding plans, we need to be sure that you've consented to the marriage. So, Rosalie, do you want to marry Royce?"

I opened my mouth to answer, then closed it, my mind working rapidly, thinking things through. I couldn't think of any negatives to marrying Royce; I would get everything my heart could desire and more. I'd be rich, a wanted woman; I'd have fabulous clothes and jewels and houses and servants to tend to my every whim. I'd be the envy of all of Forks. Nothing at all could be wrong with that.

"What about Emmett?" my conscience asked me.

"What about him?" I replied in my head.

"Don't you care about him? Don't you know what it will do to him if you marry someone else?"

"Why should it matter to me? My happiness should come first, not his."

"What can Royce give you that Emmett can't?"

"Emmett's not a King."

"And your happiness depends entirely on what family you marry into? Your happiness is totally dependant on whether your husband is a King or a McCarty?"

"I've made my decision. I'm marrying Royce."

"That's fine. I just hope you know what the consequences of your decision are before it's too late."

"Well, Rosalie?" my father prompted.

I didn't hesitate. "I'd be honored to be your wife, Royce. I accept your proposal."

"Very well," my father said. He turned back to the other parents and returned to the discussion of marriage plans.

"Come with me," Royce murmured. Obediently, I rose and followed him out of the room.

"Where are we going?" I asked Royce quietly as we left the room.

"Somewhere quiet so we can get to know each other better." I followed Royce outside to the back patio and over to a cluster of chairs. Royce picked a chair and sat down, gesturing to me to sit in the chair nearby. I sat down without delay.

"So, Rosalie…." Royce said once I was seated.

"Yes, Royce?" I replied.

"I was wondering…. who was that man you came in with before?"

What an odd first question, I thought. "Do you mean Emmett?" I asked.

"Yes…Emmett." Royce paused, deep in thought. "Are you to close to each other?"

I thought about the night Emmett and I had met, about the afternoon playing croquet at his house, and about the necklace he had just given me this morning. The realization hit: Emmett was courting me. Royce mustn't know, I thought. "No," I lied. "Our relationship never extended beyond friendship."

"I see…" Royce said, deep in thought once more.

"Royce…" I said.

Royce ignored me. "It's just friendship, nothing more," he said to himself. "Still, he could pose a potential threat. But what to do about him?"

"Excuse me?" I asked Royce, confused.

Royce didn't answer. "Yes," he said. "I suppose that's the only way."

"I'm afraid I don't understand," I said.

"Rosalie, dearest, words cannot describe how overjoyed I am at your acceptance of my proposal," Royce said. "Our impending marriage means so much to me and I would be devastated if something were to happen that could halt our wedding. Now I know that Emmett is simply a friend, but I just can't take the risk of another man coming into your life and ruining our engagement. So, Rosalie, as your husband, I'm afraid I must forbid you from remaining friends with Emmett."

"I told you there would be consequences," my conscience said.

"It's a small price to pay,"I replied.

"Emmett's your friend! Not something you can trade in like a ware at a market!"

I thought of all the moments Emmett and I had shared. "He was getting too involved. It's for the better."

"How is ending your friendship for the better?"

"It will keep him from getting any closer to me than he already is."

"I thought that you wanted to be close to Emmett."

"That was before."

"Before what?"

"Before I met Royce. Before I realized what my future holds."

"So you're willing to give up your friends for material possessions you think will make you happy?"

"I'm only giving up Emmett. I still have my other friends."

"Your other friends can't give you what Emmett gave you."

"I have Royce now. He can."

"I hope you know what you're doing."

"I do."

"Well, Rosalie?" Royce asked. "Are you going to end your friendship with Emmett?"

I took a deep breath. "I'll inform Emmett right away," I answered.

Royce smiled. "Wonderful," he said. He glanced around before continuing to speak. "I think we should return to our parents. Come," he ordered. Rising, I followed him back inside. We rejoined the adults and I was immediately lost in fantasies about my perfect life with Royce. Then something in the fantasies changed. Now Emmett stood beside me, instead of Royce. As I watched, the fantasy Emmett slowly reached his hand out to stroke my cheek. The closer his hand got, the more he faded into the darkness. Just as his hand was about to make contact, he faded entirely.

"No," I breathed in a whisper. But it was too late. The fantasy was gone, replaced by real life. Royce was at my side and our parents chattered away, happily planning our wedding. "No," I breathed again. Then everything went black.

Gasp. Is Miss Stubbon having a change of heart? Keep reading and you'll find out.

xoxoxoxoxoxo, TwilightTeen212