There was one 'royal' family in Rochester – the Kings, ironically enough. The bank my father worked at was owned by the man of the family, Royce King. Along with that, he also owned every other profitable business in town. That's how Royce King the Second happened upon me. I had seen him around town before at his father's other establishments. He planned on taking over at the bank and began to oversee the different positions. Conveniently enough, two days later, my mother forgot to send my father's lunch to work with him. Wearing my new white organza and rolling my hair up seemed like a silly thing to do just to run over to the bank, but my mother insisted. I walked the way there with my father's lunch in hand, smiling at everyone as I passed by and waving at the people I knew as I do everywhere I go.
Iwas so used to people's gazes drifting in my direction, I hardly noticed Royce in particurlar, but I saw the sparkle in his eye and the smile on his face as he did so.
That night the first of the roses came. I was greeted by a beautiful bouquet of roses each night of our courtship. My mother brought them to me with a huge grin on her face. My room was constantly overflowing. At one point, I started to smell like roses at all times.
Royce was beautiful, with his light blonde hair – blonder than mine – and lovely pale blue eyes. He often compared my eyes to violets, which soon appeared alongside the roses, the night after he mentioned it.
To put it mildly, my parents approved. Royce was the son-in-law of their dreams. They couldn't think of anyone more perfect for their prized daughter. He treated me like the princess they knew I was. He was my prince. With him, came everything I'd ever wanted, but still no more than I had ever expected. I'd known him less than two months and before I knew it we were engaged.
I was only eighteen, and he was nineteen. No one seemed to care our ages. They thought we were in love. I thought so, too. He constantly wanted to be around me no matter who else was there. We spent most of our time together arm in arm. Even so, we spent very little time alone with each other. He told me he had many responsibilities at work, and, of course, if we did happen to be together, he liked people to see me on his arm. Of course, I enjoyed that, too. I loved the parties, dancing, and dresses. We went to parties often more than twice a week. He bought me a gorgeous new dress of my choice for each one. When you were a King, all your dreams came true – you were treated like royalty. Everyone offered you what you wanted when you wanted it without a word of objection. Everything was falling into place.
The engagement didn't last long at all. I couldn't wait for the wedding. It was supposed to be the most lavish wedding to ever have taken place in Rochester, and it was being planned just for the two of us. It would take place in the King's lawn. It was surprisingly big enough to hold all our guests. Friends and family were coming from as far as Georgia just for our wedding. I was getting the most beautiful dress from the most expensive dress shop in town, which Royce's father just so happened to own. Everything I'd ever wanted was appearing before my very eyes. I was ecstatic. I no longer felt the jealously towards Vera that I had before. It wasn't difficult to picture several fair-haired, blue-eyed children on the huge lawns of the King's estate, most likely alongside her young Henry, as well. I didn't think it would be long at all until that fantasy would come true, or so I'd thought.
I should have expected something disastrous to happen. A fairytale ending would have been much to perfect – even for me.