A/N: Sorry to keep you waiting, but there were a few distractions along the way.
The servant finally stopped at a balcony entrance. Through the window she could see Stephan and his parents waving at a cheerful crowd. The servant motioned her inside where her future in-laws awaited her.
"Ah, Rapunzel," said the king, his voice filled with joy, "I'm so glad you could join us my dear."
The princess let out a small nervous chuckle. She wasn't sure how to really react around Stephan's parents.
The prince approached his fiancée and took her hand, dragging her to the other end of the balcony. "Citizens of Cassiopeia," he shouted, "I give you, your future queen!"
The crowd cheered at the top of their voices. They were much overjoyed at the idea of their prince's new bride. There was no woman more loved and more admired in all of Corona than their very own princess, having Rapunzel as a potential consort was sure to stir few romantic stories.
Rapunzel tried to protest. "What are you…?"
Stephan placed his finger against her lips. "Shhhhh… not another word my sweet- at least, not until we're alone," he said with a gentle voice.
Rapunzel tried to protest over and over again, but her fiancé wouldn't let her utter out a single sound. In the end, she gave up and let Stephan and his parents work the crowd.
At the end of the festivities, Stephan gripped Rapunzel's wrist tightly and wandered off to an empty room at the other side of the hallway. Once they were there, Stephan closed the door, slowly released her wrist and his expression changed from calm to seriously cold.
"Well my sweet," he said enticingly, "I suppose you're wondering why I told my entire kingdom of our wedding without even asking for your hand."
She nodded sharply and abruptly.
He stared at her coldly, his eyes as smooth as ice, as he slowly crept closer towards her. "Well my dear, we have an old saying here in Cassiopeia, 'You might as well take what you can't have.'"
"What a refreshing philosophy," she whispered to herself.
Stephan approached her again with a tiny sneer plastered to his face. "Whether you like it or not princess we will be married."
"Give me at least one good reason why I shouldn't tell everyone that I never agreed to this in the first place," she threatened.
"You know just as well as I do that your kingdom is in danger. And love or not your thief won't be as much help to it as I would," he threatened back.
As much as she hated to admit it, Stephan was telling the truth. Thieves and bandits were coming in and out of her Kingdom each day and, despite Eugene's expertise and Maximus' experience, it was becoming practically impossible to gather enough forces to sustain the Kingdom's protection. And to make things worse Cassiopeia has some of the finest troupes in the entire country. No matter how hard the princess thought that she might be able to turn this situation around, she knew that her fiancé had already won.
By reading the expression on Rapunzel's face, Stephan could tell that no matter how things would turn out she wouldn't stop fighting, even if they were married. Stephan had dealt with his share of stubborn women before; unfortunately charming a young lady who's only begun to understand men is isn't an easy feat. Not to mention she was already in love with someone else. But one thing was perfectly clear for the time being she was to be his bride.
With that statement verified, Stephan left Rapunzel alone in the room, to further ponder on the outcome of her situation.
Alexandra and Eugene searched every law book they could find, but they still couldn't find a loophole to Rapunzel's marriage.
Eugene nearly gave up all hope it seemed as though Rapunzel was destined to marry Stephan. But, despite everything, he couldn't let her marry someone she doesn't and will never love. After all, Rapunzel obviously deserved so much better than him.
Alexandra, on the other hand, who had plenty of expertise on her kingdom's laws remembered that there was one book that would be able to help them in their situation. Now if only she could find the missing tome.
She searched from shelf to shelf trying to remember where they could have placed that law book. Unfortunately, there was no avail, she searched every inch of the castle library. It seemed as though that book had vanished into thin air.
As the two continued to search, the head librarian entered the room. He was a tall middle-aged man, wearing considerably sophisticated clothes as well as a long pointy nose and a pair of polished red glasses.
The princess approached him, and as she approached he dipped himself down into a deep bow. "Good day princess," he said politely. "And how may I be of service to you?"
"And a good day to you sir. I was wondering have you seen that law book of royal marriages that I read earlier today."
"I believe your brother has taken off with it Your Highness."
"Of course he does," she chuckled nervously. "Very well then. Good day to you."
"And to you as well, Your Highness." He left the room after respectfully bowing once again.
After her discussion with the head librarian, Alexandra went to tell Eugene of what she had just learned.
"So, you think this book will be able to annul her wedding," he asked hopefully.
"Yes. But the unfortunate thing is that there is only one copy of the book and my dear brother happens to be in possession of it."
"Can't you just tell them the law you read yourself?" he asked, adding a hint of force in his voice.
"It's not that simple: in order to impose a law you must prove its existence."
At that moment, Eugene felt like hitting himself hard on the head with a frying pan. The one chance of freeing Rapunzel from such a binding wedding, disappears in the smoke.
"Isn't there any other way to stop that marriage." Eugene was still hopeful on stopping Stephan.
"Only if you can get Stephan to confess to his misdeed."
"What misdeed?"
"Well, the Stabbington brothers told me that their employer came in possession with a large sum of money, which, of course sparked their interest. And they also mentioned that such a sum would rival a royal treasury of any caliber." She said thoughtfully.
"So… you think Stephan hired them to kidnap Rapunzel."
"Well, we are short by several gems and there was no sign of a break in, not to mention that's the main reason why our economy's been so poor."
"But why would he go through all that trouble just to marry Rapunzel." It really didn't make sense, the marriage between Rapunzel and Stephan was to supplement a sturdy economy for Cassiopeia as well as stronger defenses for her sister kingdom.
"If you knew my brother like I do you would realize he cares much about his reputation. And a princess as fine as yours would gather much talk from two kingdoms so prosperous."
"Why that little sniveling rat." Eugene punched the stone wall so hard he peeled off some his skin.
"Calm down Eugene. Hitting yourself isn't going to get us anywhere. We have two options right now: getting that book back or getting my brother to confess."
"And how do you propose we do either."
Before Alexandra could reply, Rapunzel came bursting through the doors with an unpleasant look painted on her face.
A/N: Again sorry for taking so long, but you know how life can be. Full of crazy twists and sharp turns that become unpredictable if not properly cared for. Anyway, I hope this chapter wasn't too short for you. Please review to your hearts content.