April 2002

Disclaimer: These character's aren't mine, but the story is..



Chapter 14


Selenity stepped into her house with a sigh. Martin had been
removed, her father wasn't back yet, and Charles was the only other person
around. "Charles, when will my father be back?"

"In about thirty minutes, miss."

"Call me when he gets here, please," she walked towards her room, one
hand on the banister or wall as she did. The house was silent, but
brilliantly lit. The many windows were wide open, bright sunshine pouring
in and warming the floors. She smiled as she stepped through the sunbeams.
Her smile died as she neared her room and the hold in the door near her
handle caught her gaze. She hesitantly opened it and was almost overwhelmed
with relief when an inspection of the room left it empty. She went through
the motions of locking the door, not that it mattered, and walked through
the connecting bathroom. She hesitantly peeked into the room Darien had
been occupying for the weekend and smiled, seeing a small black ball of fur
curled up in the middle of the bed. She quietly stepped inside. "Luna."

The small head came up and she yawned, opening her eyes to slowly
look at the Princess. Her red orbs widened and she stood, stretching her
legs out as Selenity sat on the edge of the bed. Luna meowed and stepped
towards her, receiving a caress for her trouble. Selenity picked the cat up
and went back into her room, cuddling the purring cat in her arms. "What a
day," Selenity sighed, sitting on the couch, "daddy is not going to be
pleased with Darien over his announcement to the Mayor. Did you know, Luna,
that daddy intends to take me away?"

Luna licked her hand, making her smile, "Darien won't let him though.
I refuse to go with him and be coerced into something I don't want. Do you
think that's selfish of me?"

Luna continued to purr in her arms, nudging her fingers when they
slowed in their petting. "Of course not. I've been daddy's little Princess
for so long, giving up everything to make him happy and proud of me I
haven't done anything for myself beyond coming back here in a long time. I
deserve to be happy. I don't think I deserve your master sometimes, he is
the most caring man I have ever met, but I want him whether I deserve him or
not. Is that wrong of me?"

She was quiet for the next little while, thinking deep thoughts as
she caressed Luna. The cat finally stirred in her arms and meowed, jumping
to the bed and then the floor as she made her way towards her food dish.
Selenity chuckled, "Sorry, Luna. I didn't mean to keep you from your food."

Luna disappeared into the other room as Selenity sat back, fiddling
with her nails, not really seeing the unpolished surfaces. She bit her lip.
Daddy is going to be angry, she thought sadly, so very angry. Am I strong
enough to tell him I will not go with him if he tells me I must? Do I have
the strength to stand by my convictions? A smile crossed her face. Of
course she did, she was Princess Selenity, heir to the throne, afraid of
nothing. She giggled. Yeah right. She was terrified of a lot of things,
especially her father. However, if she wanted this, if she wanted happiness
in her future, it was time to start standing up for what she wanted. Alone.
Against her father. She would make him understand or he would be passing
the throne and his title to another.

She jumped as a knock sounded on her door. "Enter."

"Your door is locked, miss."

She rolled her eyes, "Just stick your hand through and unlock it,
Charles." She pushed herself to her feet and brushed her hands across her
skirt. She heard the lock click and walked towards the door as it opened,
"My father has returned."

"Yes, miss. He is awaiting you in his study."

"Thank you, Charles. Could you make sure the carpenter comes and
replaces my door today?"

"Of course, miss. Your father is expecting you."

She passed him in the doorway and heard him close the door behind
her. Walking fast, she stepped through the beams of warm sunlight on her
way to her father's rooms. Her two were outnumbered by the six set aside
for the King. The king. Her father. Tuskino Francis. She shook her head,
picking up her pace. She wanted to get this over with. The rooms and
hallways near her father's study were darker, their drapes closed against
the sunlight. She took a deep breath as she stopped outside her father's
study, suddenly feeling like she was 15 again, waiting to be chastised for
something she'd done wrong. Shaking the feeling away with difficulty she
knocked on the oak door.

"Enter."

She grimaced. She'd picked up the habit from him, but his voice
sounded so commanding when saying the word, it dared her not to come in.
She opened the door and stepped inside, her heart racing. Her father was
seated behind his desk, his eyes on something in front of him. His study
was lined with books, more like a library than a study, some of which were
priceless. Glass cases held the valuable books in between the shelves, and
several pieces of furniture were arranged artfully, un-obstructing the way
to the desk. On one wall was a portrait of her, at 16, before anything had
happened to destroy her view of the world. She carefully looked away from
it and walked towards the desk, the door closing behind her. "You wanted to
see me, father?"

He picked up a newspaper from his desk and slapped it down across the
desk so she could read it. "Are you happy now?" he asked softly.

She blinked, taking a step back from the unexpected angel he'd taken.
She glanced apprehensively at the headline on the front page of the Tokyo
Journal. "Mystery Man, A Princess Love Interest?"

She swallowed hard as another newspaper, the Tokyo Sun, was put on
top of the Journal and read the headline, "The Duke of Elridge and Princess
Selenity; A Match made in heaven."

She blanched as a third paper, The New York Times, was thrown on top
of the Sun. The English headline read, "Selenity; Princess or Pawn?"

She looked up from the papers to meet her father's gaze, "You do not
think I had anything to do with these-"

"Martin." He cut her off, his eyes were hard, "Martin is going to do
everything to discredit this family thanks to you and your games."

"Games?" she gaped at him, "I am not playing, nor have I been,
playing games! I love Darien, daddy!"

"Do you?"

She nodded at his soft question, her own voice soft when she spoke.
"He saved me, daddy. He took me away from myself when I most needed it and
stopped me from hating myself."

"You have no reason to hate yourself, Selenity."

"You are wrong, daddy."

He looked at her, as if trying to read her mind, his face immobile.
Finally he sat back in his chair, "I am in a rough position, Selenity. I
have my values, ones that I was brought up to believe, and I have a daughter
in front of me who is stepping all over those values, refusing to accept
them as her own. What am I to do with such a disobedient child?"

She remained silent as he stood and walked around the desk, moving
past her to pace back and forth in front of her. She sat on the edge of his
desk, watching him.

"I am a patient man, Selenity, but you have worn me down in a matter
of days. I find myself on the receiving end of opinions and words that
bother me. The Mayor believes I am old fashioned and that my ideas and
ideals are out of date. One does not change values he, or she, grew up with
overnight. Where did you get these values, Selenity? Where did I go
wrong?"

She watched him pace for a few moments, "Are you asking my opinion,
or a rhetorical question?"

He stopped and met her gaze, "I want to know why you grew up without
the same sense of duty I had."

She swallowed hard, "I have a sense of duty. I am loyal and
dedicated to my family and your crown. I am a dutiful daughter; I have not
fought you on any plans for my future until now. My education has been
second to none and I have excelled in most of the subjects you have put
before me. I can speak the twelve languages you insisted I learn fluently.
I know enough of eight more to not embarrass you in any social situation.
I have been understanding and tolerant of your need to move me all over the
world. I was willing to accept the betrothal to Martin because I was given
another option, but I will not betray myself, daddy. You do not seem to
understand that this man you promised me too has hurt me. Hurt me beyond
anything you have ever done to me. I will not live the rest of my life in
fear. I cannot."

He stepped towards her, looking at her searchingly. "Would you have
me betray my word to his family? To bring disgrace upon yourself for
bearing another man's child out of wedlock?"

She smiled sourly, "I am not carrying Martin's child daddy. If you
like we can go to a doctor and have them administer a pregnancy test."

"Then you would dishonor yourself by not marrying the man who took
your virginity?"

She nodded, "I would, and will. Martin hurt me daddy, he raped me,
brutally stole what should have been mine to give. Why can you not see that
I would rather die than marry Martin?"

"The Mayor and I spoke at length once you and your companion left.
If you are not with child, as you say, and we can obtain proof, I will
consider allowing you to break your betrothal to Martin."

Her eyes widened as he turned away and paced back towards the doors
before spinning around and pacing back towards her, "However, if you are
indeed carrying his child, you will marry him so you do not disgrace our
family. Agreed?"

She nodded, "What kind of proof do you want?"

"In a months time we will go to the doctor and obtain a pregnancy
test." he stopped a few feet away from her, "I will be in Germany and Italy
this coming month before flying to Canada for a few days. Charles will know
how to reach me should anything go wrong. During my absence you are not to
make any kind of announcements to the press."

"What if Martin does?"

Francis' eyes hardened, "I will deal with Martin, you will resume
your activities in the city according to the schedule I have left for you."

"Will I have time to see my friends?"

He nodded, sighing, "I do not see why you must spend time with them,
but Charles has made a few revisions to your schedule. One last thing."

She looked at him expectantly.

"No staying over at Darien's in the time I am gone."

She nodded, "Yes daddy."

He stepped to the side and motioned for her to leave. She was
reaching for the door when her father's voice rang out again. "Selenity."

She paused, not turning around.

"Be careful."

She smiled as she let herself out of the study, almost skipping as
she made her way back to her room.

Francis watched his daughter leave and sank down in one of the
chairs, looking at the portrait of her, "For your sake, Selenity, I hope
Martin has lied."


Francis stopped at the bottom of the stairs, "Charles!"

"Sire?"

He nodded to the servant, "I need your services. Will my daughter be
safe here alone for a little while?"

Charles nodded, "The reporters outside are no threat and only
someone, be it myself, you, Selenity or Darien, who has the pass codes can
get in."

"Darien?"

Charles nodded, "He is coming over for dinner this evening, I felt it
better to give him access to the house rather than leave him to the
reporters."

Francis clapped Charles on the shoulder, "Good show. Are you aware
of when he is finished his classes this evening?"

Charles looked beyond the King to a clock on the wall, "A few hours,
sire."

"Care to join me in 9 holes of golf before we go and talk to the
lad?"

Charles blinked. "Excuse me, sire?"

"Come now, Charles, you have been with me for many years. My
daughter has shown an avid interest in the young man, I intend to speak with
him alone before I go away."

Charles nodded, "As you wish, sire."

"Good man, get the Rolls, would you Charles?"

"Yes sir. And sir?"

Francis glanced at the servant.

"Thank you."


Author's Note: Comments, Questions, Suggestions, flames... all go to

Jademax@hotmail.com

Unless of course you'd like to write a review!

Thanks for reading!

Jade_Max