"Where have you been?" My mom, Renee, had her arms crossed as she caught me sneaking back into my room.
"And what are you wearing?"She looked down at my outfit disapprovingly.
"It's just a t-shirt and jeans," I shrugged, plopping down onto my bed.
My mom sighed. "You cannot keep sneaking out into town. It's dangerous, and you have responsibilities."
"I know...It's just," I ran a hand through my hair. "I want a chance to be normal, to experience what it's like to be a normal teenage girl before I get married off to some guy I don't know for the sake of everyone else."
Renee sat down next to me, pulling me in for a hug. "I know, honey. I know this is hard on you. Your father and I both realize you never asked to be in this position, but it's your birthright, just like it was for your father and I. Our lives have always been one full of unwanted press, boring meetings, and feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders but we've done the best we could to keep you out of that for as long as possible. But you're getting to the age where it's time for you to start taking over."
"I know," I nod.
My parents have kept me out of the press as much as they could since I was born, which basically meant that I was always stuck in the castle. On the bright side, nobody knew what I looked like, well besides the descriptions and rumours spread throughout the city. But my photo has stayed out of the media, so I could go around town without being easily recognized.
"Hey, look on the bright side. How many girls get to say that they're an actual princess," Renee jokes.
"Lucky me," I grumble.
"Aw, cheer up, buttercup," Renee kisses my head. "The chefs made cookies for you in the kitchen."
I brightened up a little bit. The cookies that the chefs made were honestly to die for.
"Now, your father and I are willing to cut you a little slack the next few days, considering what's happening this weekend but if you're going to sneak out again, please be careful and take your phone with you," Renee winks, heading out of the room.
I quickly slipped on some sweatpants and a tanktop and made my way into the kitchen.
"Bella!" Angela came up to me as soon as I walked in.
"Hey Ange," I gave her a smile. "I heard there were cookies down here."
"Of course," Jessica laughed, coming around the corner with a plate of cookies. I eagerly took a couple.
"So...are you excited?" Jess asked, wiggling her brows.
"About what?" It came out much more muffled because I had a mouth full of cookie.
"Getting married!" Jess squealed. I raised a brow at her.
"Not really. I'm only 17. I don't know, I guess I wanted more in life than to be married to a guy I might have nothing in common with, or worse, hate, just so our stupid kingdoms could expand, or whatever," I sighed, sitting on the counter.
"Oh, come on, Bella. You're marrying the prince Edward of Ruthenia. A prince! Who is in line to become king. Not to mention, I've heard a bunch of rumours that he's like, super hot," Jess told me in a sing-song voice.
"But I don't know him!" I threw my hands in the air in frustration.
"Look, I know you're obsessed with all those old timey books where people fall in love because they accept each other's flaws or whatever, but suck it up. There are a lot of girls who would kill to be in your position," for a second, Jess looked a lot less than friendly.
"Right. Uh, it's getting late. I should get to bed. See you guys later?" I gave them both a quick smile before heading back up.
"Bye, Bella!" Angela called out after me.
As I walked around the castle back up to my room, I wondered if Jess was right. I was acting entitled, like this was some terrible thing that was happening to me. It was for the good of our people so it should make me happy...right?