Chapter 2

My ladies shuffled in front of me, each one afraid I would take my anger out on them. Even Lissa, my best friend was staying silent and keeping her eyes fixed on the floor. My anger grew and the silence surrounding me was deafening, it seemed everyone was waiting for me to explode. Immediately I felt ashamed, I felt like a spoilt child and this wasn't going to help me to find out more. I sighed.

"I suppose it is time to greet him then." My tone was cool and my ladies took this chance to dress me in a deep emerald green dress. The dress was sensational, and I had to admit I adored the bodice. The bodice was adorned with small pearls and some beautiful roses were embroidered on the dress in black. It was tight and revealed my assets. My breasts were pushed up so they looked bigger than ever, and my collar bone, a pure milky white colour seemed to shine. Viktoria placed some emeralds around my neck and some other ladies straightened the large green skirt so it hid my soft green slippers. My hair was out into an elaborate hairstyle and the French hood was placed over the top. I looked at myself in the looking glass and I felt a tinge of pride go through me. I was beautiful, and I was about to see Dimitri for the first time in months! My heart began to beat faster in excitement and I nodded to myself. I was ready.

We left my rooms, following behind Stan, who's had orders to wait for me. Arriving in the clustered hall, I immediately spotted the Duke. He was with my father and, as my father is the most important man, everyone surrounded him, hoping to get into his favour. As soon as people noticed me they began to crowd around me too, I was used to this. People came up to me saying "Princess can you get me an audience with your father?" and "Your Royal Highness would you tell the king my name?" It was all so repetitive, but I donned a smile anyway and nodded everywhere as I made my way towards the thickest crowd. Halfway there, I noticed someone, someone who was staring at me with his deep, dark brown eyes, eyes that saw into my soul... Dimitri Belikov.

I was jolted back into my senses by Stan. Just another reason to hate him. I shot him a glare and continued walking towards father. I tried to ignore the feelings that had risen from the sight of Dimitri, now wasn't the time, but I could get him to visit just by asking Viktoria to bring her brother, after all, she's not seen him in a very long time...

As I approached, people melted away, bowing and nods of respect greeted me and the noise level in the room dropped slightly as more people noticed me. The drop in volume alerted my father, and he turned around. Seeing him turn, the duke followed suit. I tried to keep my eyes on my father as I dropped into a curtsey but I couldn't help but study Lord Ivashkov's facial expression as he saw me. What I saw didn't please me. The first emotion I saw was lust, and this grew as he looked me up and down, his eyes lingering at my breasts and at my lips. My lips tightened slightly at this reaction but I gave no other indication that I had been looking.

"Father" I murmured, I stayed in my curtsey until he placed two fingers under my chin and encouraged me to rise.

"Our darling daughter!" He smiled at me. I groaned internally, I hate the royal plural thing that goes on. He only does it in public any every time it drives me to distraction. It also means he's up to something.

"We should like to reintroduce you to your future husband, if you except..." he continued. I struggled to not roll my eyes at the last bit. Everyone in this room is aware that I have no choice in who I marry. Remembering the audience who had inhaled sharply at "future husband", I forced my most sickly sweet smile, though all I felt like doing at that moment in time was running away and hiding under my bed. I had no desire what so ever to marry the Duke. I wish I had a choice.

"Father, if you have come to the conclusion that Lord Ivashkov is a suitable husband for me, and I have every desire to make you happy then I will gladly give Lord Ivashkov my hand in marriage." I think my sarcasm came through as I said gladly, but truly, I wanted nothing more but to kill this man. He smoked continuously, and was often drunk. The rumours were that he had a new woman every night and had fathered many bastards. This was not a man I wanted to marry. However, my father would never consent to me marrying a Duke's advisor. My father nodded approvingly at my speech and Adrian beamed at me. My eyes wandered from my father and fiancée, and onto the one man I loved. His eyes were unreadable, and his face impassive. Words cannot express how much that face hurt me. I knew he understood, but I could feel my heart break as I pulled on my own poker face.

"Then it is settled! Our daughter Princess Rosemarie shall marry Duke of Serbia and Lord of Winchester, Adrian Ivashkov! May they have many sons together!" Cheers erupted as the King made the announcement. I kept my smile on my face as Adrian grabbed my hand, bowed over it, and kissed it. I stared at the man I'd just agreed to marry with disdain. Please Lord, let my father change his mind...

After a few hours I curtseyed to my father and my new fiancée and retreated to my room claiming I was suffering a migraine. I dismissed my ladies and told them to have some fun, I was well aware that many of them had sweethearts in the crowd, and I wanted to find my secret one.

I had just entered a deserted corridor when a rough, familiar hand covered my mouth preventing me from screaming while another one wrapped around my waist and together the two hands pulled me into a deserted room. As soon as the door was shut, my captor released me. I spun around expecting to see Dimitri, and a large smile adorned my face, instead, Adrian Ivashkov was staring expectantly at me.

Hey

I have a feeling Adrian's going to be a git in this fanfic...

Anyways... Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far! :D It really makes my day to read them all so please keep on reviewing!

I'm wondering if I should introduce Tasha as Adrian's illegitimate daughter... hum. Let me know what you think!

DarkRomanceAddict