The Crown Prince's Unwanted Bride

Chapter 1: The Hale's Houshold

The Hale's Household

It was 6 am when a maid walked towards Starlight's room and knocked on the door. She waited for a response but didn't get any, the maid knocked a second time, but still didn't get a response.

Milady! Milady! Please open the door, you have a lot of activities today" but there was still no response.

It's a rule that a maid should not open the door of her masters until she is told to enter.

The maid wanted to open the door, but decided to try one more time.

Lady Starlight! Lady Starlight! When the maid still didn't get any response, she became really scared. They have all witnessed her running away many times.

The maidservant decided to get into the room but found that the door was locked, this made her more scared and so she decided to inform others. The maid ran and went to inform Starlight's parents that she might not be in her room.

Milord!! Milady!! She screamed as she ran towards their room. They heard the maid's voice and came out of their room.

What is it, why are you shouting?

The maid breathed heavily and told them what happened.

The face of Starlight's parents immediately changed, they knew immediately that she had run away again. But this time they were more scared than ever because the wedding of her and the prince would be held tomorrow, so they needed to travel to the palace today.

"Guards!! Guards!!" Lord Hales immediately called the guards.

When the guards got there he screamed at them. "Y'ALL ARE USELESS!! What were you doing when the prince bride to be ran away?".

The guards were both surprised and scared at the same time. Surprised by the fact that the soon-to-be crown princess was able to escape on their watch and scared of what the king of the East Kingdom would do if he found out.

"We were keeping a watch all through the night including this morning, we didn't notice when she ran away".

"Would you all get out of here and go look for her!! Lord Hale screamed again.

The guards ran off to go look for her. They ran towards the woods cause they knew that's where she must have taken to prevent drawing the attention of people.

"Oh my God, this silly girl", Starlight's mother wailed. She was also scared of the whole situation, if they can't find her daughter, she doesn't know what would happen after.

…………….

Starlight ran blindly through the woods, with the moon and the wee morning clouds as her meager source of light. She had been running for quite some time now, her arms getting harsh pecks from the tree branches. She was putting on boots and pants instead of the usual gown and sandals she used to wear. This isn't the first time she has tried running, but this time around she prayed she would not be caught.

Looking back severally hoping no one was chasing after her, she was not going to wait till they did. She left the house as early as 5 am before they will wake up but once they wake up, they were sure to find her room empty in the morning, and then the whole of the East Kingdom would start searching for her.

Her heart was beating hard in her chest, not because of the running but because she was scared she would be caught.

The East Kingdom is a very large kingdom that has many small and large towns. She was living in one of the large towns with her parents and siblings, which is called Valley. She was running in one of the bushes of Valley and was praying slightly for her to leave Valley in no time. She plans on going to the nearest town and boarding a ship that will take her to a place far from the East Kingdom.

It was no coincidence that she had been allowed to spend the previous night alone in her bedroom. If anyone had seen her creep through the window in the room, she would never have made it past the fence surrounding her father's house. She left the house through the fence which was why the guards guarding the gate didn't see her leaving.

Before she left the house she had carefully removed her night garment and changed to the pants, long sleeve shirt, and boots she bought from the market last week. She had carefully hidden them to use for this escape.

She took many of her jewelry to sell off to whoever was willing to buy it and she also saved a lot of money she would need when she successfully ran away. All these things were in the bag she held as she ran away.

Her marriage is to be held tomorrow, but she won't let that happen. So what if Alexandre was the crown prince? Who cares if he is the most skilled archer and swordsman in the East Kingdom? Starlight thought to herself. She doesn't care if he had won many battles for the kingdom, none of these concerned her, and yet she has chosen his highness, as a prize for his achievements. How can a man take a wife chosen for him? Shouldn't he make the choice himself?" She thought to herself as she ran.

If not for the boots she was wearing, sharp stones would have pierced her foot by now.

The more tired she became, the more her mind drove her feet to go on. She would not bring herself to do the bidding of the deities and the people of the East kingdom who have been worshiping the river deities for hundreds of years. She nearly stopped when she thought of how much she was going to miss her little ones, the orphans she often sneaked out to feed with the leftover food from her home. Life was unkind to the orphans in the East kingdom.

They had no food, clothes, or proper shelter and roamed the town every day seeking help, so Starlight had made their welfare her secret responsibility. She would sit them at her favorite spot in a tall large tree in the woods not far from her home and sing them the songs her mother normally sang to her and her sisters when they were little. Right now she worried about who would take care of the orphans now. She could come back for them when things quieted down, and in the meantime send food to them through travelers.

She stepped on several stones and tinny woods that almost made her fall from time to time. Here she was making plans when she had no idea what destination her jumping heart would lead her foot to.

Running on toes that trembled from being caught and a heart that stilled at the sight of every tree shadow under the moonlight, Starlight continued to escape from the dream every young girl in the East kingdom would die for.

Just a week ago, she had wanted to run away with some Italians but her father would not hear of it. "Starlight I have heard enough! You will stay here and marry the prince. That is final !" her father said with his back turned away from her. Now she had taken matters into her own hands. She would go in search of the Italians and learn to speak their language and live among them.

After running for a very long time, she stopped and sat by a tree for a while, believing she had traveled far enough and was therefore justified in this luxury; a moment of relaxation. As she drifted off to sleep, a heavy load fell on her shoulder. Caught unawares, she moved to push the tree branch that must have fallen on her, only to feel the pulse of a man's thick hand. As she struggled to recognize the face, she knew that she had come to the end of her escape plan.

Moments later, tears slid silently down Starlight's cheeks as she rested uncomfortably on the shoulder of the man who was making his way through the very same path she had just escaped from. Starlight wept at the thought of the life that awaited her, which is getting married to the grown prince and living her life in agony.

……………..

Let me go!! Let me go!! Starlight screamed at the royal guard that was carrying her back to her father's house. She thought she had run far away for them not to be able to catch her, if she had known she wouldn't have sat down in that tree to sleep.

She didn't even know when she suddenly fell asleep all of a sudden, it felt as if someone put her to sleep so that she would be caught by the royal guards. The deities most have done it, she said to herself.

She was still struggling to let go of the hold the guards had on her, so she could run as far away from them. This time she will make sure they never get to catch her or allow herself to be tricked by the deities by falling asleep.

She kept on struggling, all to no avail. When she looked ahead and saw where they were heading to. She shed silent tears.

Just an hour ago, she thought she would successfully be able to run away, but as it is now, she won't be able to do that as far as the deities are concerned.

The royal guards approached her father's compound with them still holding her. She raised her head and saw how relieved her parents were to find out she is now safely back home.

The guards dropped her on one of the couches in the sitting room.

Oh my dear', her mom ran towards her and hugged her. Why would you think of running again, I thought you already agreed to marry the Prince', her mom said while looking at her with a sad face.

Starlight was still shedding silent tears. Her dad looked at her with anger, his daughter didn't know what she was doing.

Starlight! Her father screamed her name while looking at her with anger. What is wrong with you? Where do you think you were running to?. You are going to get married to the prince because that's what the deities have ordained for you.

Guards!! Guards!!

The guards immediately rush to the sitting room. Yes, master Hale's!

You people will take turns in guarding her room till we leave this evening for Lancaster, Is that clear!!

"Yes master Hale's" They chorused

You all can leave now', Her father said while waving his hand to them.

And for you maids, make sure you are with her all the time, do you hear me!! Yes, master, they all chorused.

Starlight knew this would happen the minute she stepped foot in this house again.

Her father just looked at her and went into his study room. Her mom kept on cleaning her tears and telling her that everything will be okay, that she would learn to live happily with the crown prince with time.

She looked up to her mom. Mom!! She said while shedding more tears.

Stop crying Starlight, you will be okay my girl.

The maids took her to her room after some minutes. She took her morning bath and wore a very simple long gown.

Starlight is a very beautiful young girl, even more, beautiful than her sisters. She has long thick black hair, dark green eyes, pink lips, and very fair skin.

She looked through the window and enjoyed the fresh eye coming through it. About 5 hours ago, she escaped from the house through this window. But look at her standing in that same window unable to escape again.