"Son I present to you, your new wife, Lady Audrey," Lord Adam said, pressing his hand to his son's back, trying t usher him forward into the dining hall, where their latest guest awaited him. "She and her family have traveled very far to be here. I want you to show them utmost respect today, and regard your new wife with respect. She must be treated like the lady she is."

"Yes father." Young Benjamin learned at a very young age, that when it came to his father, It was best to swallow your words and do as you're told. It was the only way the household functioned. It was the only way Lord Adam would tolerate his household to function.

Two servants, standing on either side of the doorway, pushed the large wooden double doors open, revealing the grand dining hall where Lord Adam and Benjamin dined almost every single night. It was a bit too flashy in Ben's opinions. He had realized when he was a bit younger that none of his others friends and their families lived as he did and his own family did. His father said it was because they were of nobility, and that his friends were mere commoners.

Back then Ben had no idea what the difference between the two was. But now that he was going on nineteen, he knew more than he cared to think about.

Lady Audrey and her family were sitting around the long table, Just as Ben's father had said they would be. It was quite easy for Ben to make out who his new wife was. Audrey was dressed head to toe in the finest of silk the land had to offer. Her jewelry was made of diamonds and jewels that even Ben's own father had not yet added to his collection. Lady Audrey sat up ramrod straight with a sense of purpose and belonging.

She was pretty, Ben could not find it in him to deny this fact.

He sat down across from Audrey, As his father sat across Lord Philip and his Lady Aurora.

"Adam," Philip finally said. "It is so very good to see you again, old friend, and your son of course." He nodded towards Ben, who averted his gaze. Prince Philips eyes were bright and demanding. Unlike his own eyes, that were boyish and not worthy of the older man's gaze.

"We just wanted to thank you so very much for accepting our invitation," Adam said, sipping lightly on his champagne.

Ben noticed Audrey's eyes shift towards him, and he immediately felt uncomfortable. He only wore the most casual of the suits that were available to him, not wanting to come off as snobby and rich, yet Audrey was wearing at least a million dollars worth of clothing and jewelry.

"So, you are to be my husband." Audrey sized him up as if he were a cow being auctioned off.

"And you are to be my wife."

She shrugged. "It does appear that way, doesn't it?" She looks around the massive dining hall. "This is such a cozy little home of yours. Unlike the manor back at home. It is much bigger than this quaint little cottage." She lets out a sigh of longing or disappointment. Ben couldn't really tell with her.

Ben didn't know what else to discuss, so he decided to just start at the top of his list. "Your father," he began, "he told you about the wedding...my father had arranged for us?"

Audrey stared up him blankly for a moment before letting out a small laugh. Even when she laughed, it was done with perfection and grace. "Oh, I suppose nobody told you then?"

Ben smiled awkwardly. "Told me what?"

Audrey reached under the table and began tracing patterns on Ben's knee with her finger. "I was the one that requested your hand in marriage," she explained, smirking. "I've always admired you and your family, Benjamin."

Ben tensed. He didn't want her caressing his knee like that. But he didn't know how she would take it if he pushed her hand away from him. Would she be offended? Would she tell her father that Ben was unwilling to undergo the marriage procession? Even if it was true, Ben didn't want his father's reputation to be tarnished.

He cleared his throat and interrupted his father, who was chatting quietly with Lord Philip and Lady Aurora.

"Yes, my son?"

"Father, may I show Lady Audrey to mother's rose garden?" Ben asked. He pleaded, he would say yes. "I think she would like that very much."

Adam nodded approvingly. "Of course, tend to your wife, my son."

Ben pushed himself way from the table fast, almost too fast, relieved to have Audrey's fingers away from him. He saw her frown for a hot second, but then the face of a pleasant, well-brought up daughter replaced it, and she carefully stood up from her seat and allowed Ben to lead her out of the dining hall.

"I will not!"

"You will too!" Lady Maleficent gripped her daughter hard by her bicep and dragged her through the long corridor into her bedroom, which she shoved her roughly into before closing the door behind them. "I am your mother, and I know what is best for you!

No!" Mal grit her teeth. "You only know what is beneficial to you, mother!" She spit the last word out, letting her spite show.

Maleficent pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why must you fight me, Mal? Isn't Lord Chad a suitable husband for you?"

"I am only eighteen, mother! I do not wish to be married off to that swine!"

Mal's head jerked back, and a sharp pain spread across her face. It took her a moment to realize that her mother had just slapped her right across the face. Her eyes began to water.

"You are selfish!" Her mother growled. "If you do not marry him, our lives will be ruined. Our home, our money, our servants!"

"I'd rather lose it all then be Lord Chad's wife!" Mal hissed in between gritted teeth. Her cheek still burnt, as well as her anger.

"You do not have a choice!" Maleficent glared at her daughter, getting up close and personal. "You are still under my authority, therefore you will marry him, and I will not take no for an answer."

"But mother-"

"No!" Maleficent was burning with rage now. "Goodness, for the millionth time I wish your father could have taken you with him. Then i'd be rid of you for good!" And with that, Maleficent turned on her heels and exited her daughter's chambers, making sure to lock the door behind her as she went, so her daughter could not come out.

Mal pulled at her hair in frustration and groaned miserably. The hot tears finally pooled over and slid down her face. She stuffed her pale yet fair face into a pillow and sobbed loud and hard. She didn't want to be married. She didn't. She just wanted to be free. The word echoed in her mind again. Free.

She sat up in bed, wiping away her tears. She walked towards her vanity table and opened the drawer, revealing some string, some measuring strip, and some scissors. She pulled the scissors and pulled as hard as she could until the two parts of the scissors broke apart to make two separate sharp knives of her own.

If her mother wouldn't let her be free in this life. Perhaps she would be free in the afterlife.

Tee Hee

I have the feeling this is the beginning of a beautiful new series.

DOn't forget to leave a review if you would. It really does motivate me.

Inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet