A/N: I was thinking about how people waaay back when sometimes married to receive a higher financial status, as opposed to falling in love, etc., and that thought gave birth to this idea. Just came up with this idea yesterday, so bear with me! The title for this fanfiction was inspired by "Wanted" by Hunter Hayes - I recommend listening to it; the song is amazing and Hunter Hayes is amazing.
Moving on.
"By day's end, we'll be married, Princess Rapunzel of Corona. You're to be the Princess of Aberdeen."
Rapunzel gaped at the man standing in front of her, holding out a ring he hoped - no, flatout expected - her to take.
Right in the middle of the town square.
Her mother had requested she go on a walk with Prince Edward of Aberdeen, who was visiting the country with his father. She had been eager to show him around the town square, until...well...until this happened. The very arrogant prince, who had hardly even spoken to her today, was asking for her hand in marriage.
"We've only known each other for three hours, Edward!" Rapunzel cried, shocked.
Everyone had gathered to watch the scene unfolding.
"Say yes!"
"Say yes, Princess!"
"Do you see? She's going to get married!"
"Whoo, about time!"
"He's a looker! Say yes!"
"Marriage between royalty does not hinge upon love," the young man smiled at her, still holding a flashy ring out to her.
"Well-well...how could you even know me? I-I...what if you don't like the person I am?" Rapunzel bombarded him with questions, growing panicked by the second.
"I know you're the famous lost princess, and that's all that matters," he nodded, as if that explained everything.
Several girls in the crowd swooned.
Yes, he was handsome. Rapunzel had heard plenty about his good-looks...from Edward himself. His dark hair and stark grey eyes were unusual; he had a strong jaw and a muscular build. But he didn't have a good heart.
"That's all that matters to you?" Rapunzel asked quietly. Was she a prize to be won? This was the third time this had happened in the past year; her parents refused to explain it. Did her famous title as the now-returned Princess make her a rare opportunity; whoever married her would receive the grand prize and their country...oh...would their country receive recognition or something?!
"Well...you're not much in the appearance category. Why else would I ask for your hand in marriage, except for the fact that you were the lost princess?" he shrugged, trying to give her a flirtatious expression.
"No. I, Princess Rapunzel of Corona, reject your request of my hand in marriage, Prince Edward of Aberdeen." she hissed. She was close to tears. She had to tell her parents, right now!
"Wait. Wait, wait, wait." he stood up, trying to grab her hand. "It's all planned and-"
"It's all planned?" Rapunzel squawked. Was he insane? "I'm telling my parents that you-"
"Go ahead - what do you think I mean when I said it was planned?"
Rapunzel froze. "No."
He nodded. "That's why I came here, to this country with my parents."
"How...you don't even know me..." her mind was racing, and she couldn't spit out all that she'd like to say to him.
"I don't have to. Our failing country would get so much recognition if I brought the lost Princess of Corona home with me as my wife," he nodded. "You do realize how the system goes when you're of age to be married, correct? This will just keep happening until you finally take someone as your husband. I understand it has already happened twice. Correct?"
Rapunzel shook her head vehemently. "No! No, it won't. I-I...I have to go. Do you know your w-way back to the castle?"
"Oh, come on. I wouldn't be that bad of a husband, anyway. Better than what you could find around here," he glanced around the town square with a filthy expression. "And much better than that thief that brought you here. You didn't expect your parents to let him marry you..did you?"
That was it.
She strode off, but he dogged after her, clear to the castle. Finally, he grabbed her roughly and administered a swift slap across her face, yelling angrily at her to stop because she was embarrassing him.
And that's when she grabbed a heavy terracotta pot from the walkway and slammed it down on his head. She didn't care that her parents - and Edward's - were waiting, previously with smiles and open arms, and had seen the entire scene.
The Queen of Corona yelled. "Rapunzel! What on earth are you doing?!"
"He-he grabbed me and yelled at me! Did you not hear him?! He-he...he slapped me!"
"You hit him with a terracotta pot!"
"He-Mother!" Rapunzel sobbed, her face throbbing. "How...?"
The King of Aberdeen gave the princess an infuriated look, advancing towards her. "You ugly rat! How could you do that to my son?" Edward's mother raced to help her precious son to his feet.
The King of Corona intervened before the King could grab and shake Rapunzel, like he'd been planning to. Rapunzel's mother grabbed her and dragged her inside the castle.
Sniffling, Rapunzel looked up at her mother. "H-he was a...if I didn't know he was royalty, I'd say he was a ruffian!"
"Rapunzel!" she gave her daughter a terrible, irritated stare. "When a prince asks for your hand in marriage, you do not simply refuse, and you definitely do not hit them over the head with a pot! How could you? This could start a war! You were supposed to accept!"
Her eyes widened. "So this was arranged? What about the other two?!"
"Darling, we'd love to keep you here forever, but it's high time you grow up and start a family of your own; to be married off to a prince-"
"He just wanted me because of my title as the former lost princess!"
"Rapunzel, most princes do not look for a princess because of love, physical appearance, or anything else. Heavens, they are only looking to further their country; to aide their country and to receive a better financial standing! It's how royalty works, and it's been this way for centuries!"
"But it's not-"
"That is how I met your father, young lady. We learned to love one another, did we not? You would learn the same as us."
"And what about Eugene?"
"Rapunzel, you need to think for a moment. He's a commoner; a thief! We've asked for his leave from the castle already - you were supposed to accept this proposal!"
"How dare you," Rapunzel shook her head. "How. Dare. You. You didn't even tell me! And-and...he-grabbed me and slapped me!"
"No, Rapunzel, how dare you! This may very well set off a war!" the Queen grabbed her daughter's arm and twisted it in a moment of sheer, blind anger, and Rapunzel looked at her, terrified. Was she just like Mother Gothel?
"No!" she cried. "Let me go! Let me go right now! I-if this is how a country is run, I-I want nothing of it!" Her sentence, spoken in a tone somewhere between terror and defiance, echoed down the hallways. She knew her mother was the straighter-laced one of her parents; she'd received a few disciplinary words from her before, but this was new.
She struggled to get away. She didn't even care that she'd probably have a bruised arm after this; she just wanted to flee to her room. Or to find Eugene. Or...or something!
Her father walked in at the opportune moment, just as her mother was fairly yelling at her to stop being so hardheaded.
"Laurel," the King said sharply. "Let her go."
"She has to learn that this is not how you act as a princess! She's been unruly for-"
"Let her go," he shook his head and repeated it calmly. "You don't remember how you reacted to the same thing."
Her mother, surprised at his firmness, let go of Rapunzel's arm.
The second she could, she ran down the hallway, her thoughts racing.
She slammed her heavy wooden door and collapsed up against it, sobbing harshly. Did her parents even want her? They had tried to...to send her off with a man she'd just met three hours ago! She glanced towards her bed, and noticed that her wardrobe was open; a burlap bag full of her belongings had been set out. Pascal was waiting patiently on top of it.
They'd expected her to leave today! She stormed angrily to her bed, about to cram all of her belongings back in their rightful places, but paused, her hands shaking. She could leave. Eugene had helped her escape her tower; surely she could escape the castle unnoticed...on her own. She could leave as soon as her parents retired to bed. If they didn't want her...if nobody would want her...she'd leave!
Sobbing, she sank to the floor, burying her face in her hands. Pascal nudged her knee, clicking his tongue. He was a dark shade of blue.
"Oh, P-Pascal...I don't know what to think anymore...let alone do!" she cried, her stomach tangling in knots. She felt so...alone, she decided. She hadn't felt this way since she'd found out her true identity. "They tried to send me away with a-a...a ruffian! Well...I guess he was a prince, b-but...he sure didn't act like one!"
Pascal made a neutral expression, and Rapunzel sighed, bringing her knees up to her chest. Burying her face in her knees, she realized why she hadn't seen Eugene at all today: he had been evicted. He was probably elsewhere right now. A sob ripped through her as she realized that she might not even see him again. All because of her stupid title of princess.
She knew how silly it was, weeping over things she couldn't change, but she couldn't help it. Her heart felt empty, and she felt unwanted and useless. And...and now there might even be a war!
A quiet knock came at the door, and the King came in, silently shutting the door behind him.
His face fell when he saw his daughter crumpled on the floor, staring dejectedly at him.
"Oh, my poor girl," he heaved a huge sigh and strode over, sitting down beside her. She wanted to jump up; to rid herself of his very presence right that instant, but she didn't. She was too tired. "I'm sorry."
She shook her head, rubbing at her eyes. "I-I suppose I should be the one apologizing. Are they...were they...mad?"
He chuckled. "Oh, they were mad. But luckily enough, we managed to come to an agreement and they won't be waging war against us."
She nodded silently, and he offered to hug her. She didn't allow herself to be enveloped in his arms like she generally did when she was upset. "This is how my life will be, if I'm the princess? I can't even decide who I marry?"
He paused. "You obviously chose not to marry Edward - as was a good move, in my opinion. I didn't like him. Your mother was just stressed about a war, and angered because she feels you should be married already. But yes; you will have to, one day, accept a prince that we select for you."
She bit back a sob. "Okay."
The King's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Okay? He'd expected her to fight it like the spirited girl she normally was. "Well...if you're okay, I'll see you later for supper, okay, sweetie?"
"Mhm," she nodded. Her father didn't know that she planned to leave - that's the only reason she was so accepting of being given away like some terrible prize: she wasn't about to be!