The Prince's Marriage
A/N:Okay possible my shortest chapter :( I don't know what happened, I m here trying to create longer chapters not shorter ones, I'll make up for it next chapter. Anyways I m sure many of you will like what happens in this chapter. THANKS to all my reviewers who leave me their very important opinion of my story, it's what keeps me going and updating every couple of weeks, anyways I hope you all enjoy :D.
Disclaimer: Own nothing but the simple plot :D.
Chapter 9
King's POV
"What's wrong, Laura?" I asked my pacing wife.
"Oh Joseph! I'm worried that girl is going to ruin our son!" Laura cried, upset seeping into her voice.
"I thought you liked her? In fact, if I remember correctly, you pushed for this marriage."
"Have you talked to her?"
"Not really," I admitted, and Laura snorted in response.
"She's so selfish! I feel bad that we're leaving James with…with… with an uncaring little child!"
"James likes her,"
"NO!" Laura yelled. I watched her take a calming breath and listened to her try again. "He cannot. We can't leave. It would be disastrous. She'll hurt him."
"James is a big boy."
"We can't let him like her. We have to put a stop to this Joseph!"
"There is nothing that we can do. They're married."
"We'll see." Laura murmured and walked from the room, leaving me slightly worried. It was important that I talk to James about telling Lily to be wary around his mother.
This was just what I needed- more problems to solve.
-- James POV
I walked towards my father's office, wondering what he would lecture me about. I knew I was slacking in my duties, but I was distracted and couldn't focus on the tasks at hand. I knocked lightly, hoping he wouldn't answer, but also knowing that he would, seeing as he had summoned me.
"Come in James." I opened the door slowly and walked into the room, dragging my feet.
"Hello, father." I said politely.
"Your mother has been acting strange lately and I must inform you that she isn't as fond of Lily as she was at the beginning of your marriage."
"I'm aware of that. She has been saying some pretty foul things to Lily and I must speak to her about them."
"She does it out of love for you."
"I know father. She's always babied me, hasn't she? It's time she seems that I'm a man now."
"Be easy on her, son. She isn't used to you being married and misses her baby. I will talk to her while we are gone."
"Thank you."
"How are things with Lily? The last time we spoke you were seeking advice."
"Not the greatest, to be quite honest father. I've done some things I shouldn't have. We have agreed to be friends, well that was before..."
I looked into the king's eyes hoping he wouldn't ask what had happened, though I knew he wanted to. He only nodded and looked down at his desk.
"Son... marriage is tricky. Please don't expect to understand right away. It takes time, and you have the time. Remember that James."
"Yes, father."
"Now I'm told you are slacking in your duties?"
I had hoped that he wouldn't bring up my work and wanted only to speak to me about Lily and my mother. I tried to quench my disappointment at being faced with the conversation I didn't want to have when I'd thought I'd gotten out of it.
"Yes, I apologize. I have been a bit distracted and can't focus."
"Try a little harder, won't you?"
"Yes, and I will see you in the entrance hall for the farewell."
I stood up from my chair and walked to the door, eager to get out of there before he brought up anything else that I didn't want to be faced with.
"James!" The king's voice sounded old and weak, something that I was accustomed to hearing.
I turned around to face him, only to see him looking old and displeased.
"Love can win. Please don't make the same mistakes as I have."
I nodded and left the room, wondering if my dad had been in love with someone before he married my mother. I knew he did not love my mother- he had told me before, but did that mean he gave up on love?
I couldn't think of this right now. I went to my sanctuary and hoped everybody would leave me alone until my parents left.
--Lily's POV
I awoke to a pounding headache and remembered the night before- James fist hurling towards me. I sighed and sat up. I was still in my dress and my hair was still coiled up. I rang the bell to have a maid sent to me.
I looked into the looking glass and could see a bruise across the right side of my face- large, blue and ugly. I sighed, thinking this wasn't going to look good. I just hoped I didn't see anybody until the swelling went down and James wouldn't be held responsible.
"What can I get you, your majesty?"
I turned around to see the maid standing there waiting for her orders. As she saw my face she gasped and I went to hide the bruise with my hand.
"Draw my bath and bring me some tea."
"Yes, ma'am."
It didn't take long before my bath was ready, and the maid helped me strip the previous nights gown from my aching body.I slipped into the warm water and felt all my sore muscles drown in the liquid heat.
After bathing and tea I was ready to go to breakfast. I dreaded having to face the King and Queen, knowing they would see the damage when I appeared to say my farewell in the entrance hall.
I walked in to the dining hall and found Laura and Joseph there, but no James. I wonder where he was. Neither commented on my face and I was secretly glad. I didn't want to make James look bad, but what else could I tell them? I could hardly come up with a suitable lie. We made idle chit chat and I wondered whether they already suspected what had happened.
"Could you come see me after breakfast Lily?" Laura asked me, and I nodded my head. I noticed the King shake his head lightly from beside her.
--
I sat with Laura drinking tea after breakfast, knowing she had more to say on my marriage. I didn't understand why she wanted me to love James so much. Other then him being her son, it was none of her business- it was our marriage, not hers!
"How are you Lily?" She asked, and I scoffed lightly.
"Fine, thank you."
"I didn't see James at the table. Did something happen between you two?"
"No. He must have been caught up in some sort of business."
"It's not ladylike to lie, Lily."
Laura seemed to surprise me every time we talked. How could she openly call me a liar?
"I don't know what your talking about."
"You know you deserved it!"
"Deserved what?" I was slightly shocked by her outburst.
"The mark on your face. Apparently James agrees with me and is tired of waiting. Personally I had hoped he would of done something sooner. Marking your pretty face may teach you a lesson. I hope it does, for your own sake." She seemed unusually cold to me, and it made a shudder travel down my spine.
I felt my jaw drop. I wouldn't let myself cry. She had won last time, but not now. I would not give in, no matter what I was feeling.
"I had hoped we could be friends Laura, but I see your going to make that impossible for us. If you don't mind, I would appreciate it if you would stay away from my marriage." I said in a crisp tone, keeping the tears locked inside as best as I could.
"I'm only trying to help, dear."
I could smell the lie coming from her, it was so strong. I could see it in her eyes. How could she be such a horrible person? How James turned out half decent I couldn't imagine. By no means was James perfect- he gave me proof of that, but he had been in a blind rage. Laura was just plain spiteful. To think, when I met her I thought she would be my rock! I guess I was just a bad judge of character.
"Now who lied?"
"I think this tea time is over. I must go get ready for my departure," Laura said, and I could tell she didn't like the way I'd stood up to her instead of crumbling.
I couldn't help but feel triumph run through me, I had won that round, but I knew she would return with an even bigger fight.
-- James POV
I stood, unhappily, in the entrance hall beside my wife. I had wanted to stay away, but manners called. I couldn't stop looking at the evidence of my rage. The power I had put into the swing was disgusting. She was a woman and I couldn't believe my disrespect!
I know I couldn't get into trouble for the punishment, but I felt as if I should be hurt in return. I said I cared about Lily. If that were true, why had I hit her? Anger or no anger I wasn't going to agree with my actions.
I turned to my parents to wish them farewell, though my mind was nowhere near my body, stuck on what I'd done to Lily the previous night.
"Do enjoy your trip, father. Mother." I shook my father's hand and hugged my mother. Stepping away I saw Lily hesitantly say her farewell with a hug for the King and the Queen.
I couldn't help but notice the tension in her shoulders as she hugged my mother. I felt guilty I had been a bad husband for the two weeks we'd been married. Remembering my father's words, I tried to relax. It would not help if I tried to rush things like I had been doing. I needed to give Lily space and that's exactly what I would do.
I walked away from the entrance hall without a word after my father and mother left. I didn't deserve somebody as caring as Lily. Even though Lily had been nothing but mean so far, I knew deep down what kind of a woman she truly was. I went to my sanctuary to give myself and Lily space, that's all we needed at that point.
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