Declared as his

Chapter 2

Calla POV

“Mom, I don’t understand why we have to go. We only met them for a few minutes. I’d rather stay home and read a good book or check to see if all my school work is on date for Monday.” I complained for the millionth time. I don’t really care who they are and that it is expected of us, it also doesn’t matter that Marcus made my heart speed up, he is so cute with his curly dark blonde hair…and those deep green eyes of his that watched me so closely. It doesn’t matter I’m only 14 I have my whole life to worry and fascinate about boys. I don’t want to be like my mother her only aspiration for life was to get a well off husband and she did that she married my father who is a Duke and is the owner of many residence. I want to see the world and most of all I want an education. I don’t want to to be just an accessory to some rich guy.

“We were invited by the king, of course we are going and that is the last time that I’m going to hear anything about this Calla. Just get dressed.” This is my mothers way of communicating, she speaks you do. My father gives her anything she wants so she has never had to plead out a case. Their marriage is not one I would ever want. My father is never home his lack of presence is filled with gifts. I don’t think they have shared a room in at least five years. Of course they have been married for a very long time. My mother is queen of plastic surgery. They put of having kids for a long time, not for the lack of trying, my father wanted children more than anything. My mother was secretly on birth control since she was young and wished to maintain her body and enjoy herself. Which is why I am an only child, let’s just say my moms clock ran out on her and she was never able to give my father more kids. I’m going to inherit all this.

“Don’t you think it’s odd for them to have invited us. We are basically strangers to them. The King is a widow so it’s not so that you can socialize with his wife. It will be just the two of you and the two of us. People will talk about the King and the married Duchess spending time together alone.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s as clear as daylight that the only reason we were invited was because the prince likes you. If you play your cards right you could be a princess. A real princess. They haven’t adjusted to the modern world as much as your father has, with them it isn’t only a title like with us. You’ll be living in a real life fairy tale.”

“I’m fourteen could we please be realistic. He might like me now, but we are so far away from any of that. Also I don’t want a fairy tale. I want to live in the real world with normal people problems.” My moms head is running away with her again. She is dreaming of a life that doesn’t exist.

“Where did I go wrong in raising you. I raised you to be a lady, you’re supposed to like shopping and living a glamorous life. Instead you prefer books to people and learning to shopping. That needs to change really. Now get dressed we are leaving in an hour. No pants.” Just like that she left. Maybe if she raised me differently I would be more into it all, but being constantly dragged from one store to another tired me out. Being pampered constantly got boring and in the end I would make up school event just to get out of all of it. That is how I started enjoying school and realized I’m actually good in it. Now I need to get dressed, what do you put on for brunch with a king. I don’t want to go overly fancy, but I also don’t want to be to casual. I got dressed in a simple, but beautiful white sundress with tiny pink flowers on it. Then I put on high heels, because my mom would have a complete meltdown if I wore flats with a dress. I combed my hair out a few times before sliding a white headband on. I didn’t put make up on, just applied some glossy lipbalm. I looked girly, but it was understated. My moms going to hate it. I went looking for her so that we could leave. It was still early, but we don’t live in the same town as them so it’s better to get a head start, I hate being late, my mother hates being early. It won’t kill her to be punctual for once and we probably can’t have a King waiting for us.

The drive was quiet after my mother had criticized every aspect of my outfit and effort. We made it just in time which I was truly grateful for. We were escorted outside to a table that was set up for brunch, the table overlooking a beautiful garden surrounded by large walls that separate it from the forest that surrounded the entire castle. The castle is quite beautiful and scenic. It is build high up on a mountain. The whole road up you can see glimpses of the white brick five story walls. The whole town is actaully beautiful. It’s old, small and quaint at the bottom of the mountain with a large lake that is edge in by mounting on all sides and the town on the other. It’s all very breathtaking my mom was right about it being like a fairytale. We were told to take a seat and that the King will be with us momentarily. I sat down and started to wonder how many servants they have to take care of this place. As the King and Prince Marcus came in we got up greeted them formally, curtsied and waited to be told to sit again. We had a rather quiet brunch. My mom tried small talk for a while, but the conversation died down every time, I focused on my food intensely, but every time I looked up I was caught by Marcus eyes. It seemed like his eyes were always on me. It made me blush feverishly. I’m not use to all this attention. I usually keep to myself even at events like yesterday that I am required to attend. I never flock with the other girls, I’m usually glued to my mothers side. It’s my safe zone. How ironic. When I looked up again the prince was standing next to me with his hand held out towards me.

“Would you like to take a stroll with me through the gardens?” I was put on the spot he was already next to me, I couldn’t say no so I nodded and placed my hand in his. My felt so cold and tiny in his. I thought he would let go as soon as I’ve stood up, but he just held it tighter as he lead me down the steps towards the garden.

“They struggled to manage a garden here, with it being up in the mountains and the terrain having so much rock.” It was a very interesting fact.

“It’s very beautiful, sir.” I answered back while looking anywhere except at him.

“You can call me Marcus, the formality is more for my father.” I looked up at him shocked, my mother made it clear that they are very strict in following the rules.

“I..I guess I’m intrigued by you. It feels ridiculous when you call me Sir. I can’t imagine that I’m much older than you. You must be 16 I guess.” He wasn’t that far off.

“I’m 14, how about you?” Making conversation is good, if we can manage to talk casually I’ll remember to actually breath again. I’m still very aware of his hand holding on to mine and I also have to focus on not to fall down with my heals sinking into the ground.

“I’m 17, see there isn’t such a great difference between our ages. You do look older than your age though.” Having a prince saying I look older than I am. I’m trying not to take offence, I mean he only thinks I look 16. I guess most people do, my body is a bit more developed than your average 14 year old girl. I started developing at 12.

“Thanks.” I said simply not knowing what else to say to him.

“Let’s go take a walk in the maze.” I looked to where he was looking and froze. We’d be alone, I’ve never been that alone with a boy before.

“Oh I don’t know, shouldn’t we be getting back. My mother must be waiting for me.” I bit down on my bottom lip and looked at the ground.

“You can’t run away today, like yesterday. Anyway your mother is probably having a lovely conversation with my father about us. I would like to get to know you, away from their prying eyes.” How could I say no to that. I just nodded at him, attempting to follow turned out bad since we stood still for awhile my heal had gotten stuck. He looked at my shoes and then smiled. I did not feel anything but dread from that smile, before I could move he scooped me up in his arms like I didn’t weigh anything. He carried me over to a near by bench and place me down. To my further amazement he took off my shoes. He then took off his own I guess so that I didn’t feel out. He held our shoes in his one hand and held the other one out for me. I took it and this time the warmth of his felt familiar and I enjoyed it. He lead us over to the maze where we started walking through it.

“So Calla what do you do for fun?” Fun?

“I like reading a lot, how about you?” Reading isn’t really seen as fun by most people but it’s so calming. I can transport into different worlds without leaving my room.

“I like playstation games and hanging with some friends.” He is a clear extrovert, I guess he needs to be one day he’ll be King. It’s so simple to forget that walking in the garden barefoot with him. It feels so normal. I still haven’t looked at him again. I don’t want to get lost in his eyes, I don’t want to be intrigued by him as he is by me. This isn’t the life I want.

“You look uncomfortable…” So he picked up on that.

“A bit, I’ve never been alone with a boy like this. I also find your role in life a bit intimidating.” I told him looking him straight in his eyes trying to convey how I feel about the situation as clearly as I could.

“Your eyes are begging me for a quick escape, whereas I want the complete opposite.”

“The complete opposite of escape is capture. Seems a bit drastic.” I guess he likes drastic. He swung me against the hedge trapping me in between his arms. He was so close. I had to look up because all I could see his chest in his tight shirt.

“You summed that up so perfectly.” I looked in his eyes searching for some answers, his eyes looked like they were challenging me. Challenging me to do what though? I swallowed hard, my heart beating like crazy. I don’t know him and we’re alone… His one hand moved to my cheek, he cupped it. His warm hand against my face felt nice and I found my self leaning into that heat. His thumb then moved over my lips softly caressing it. I swear I stopped breathing in that moment, staring up into his eyes.

“I’d like to capture something else.” Just like that he leaned down, his lips pressing against mine, he was kissing me, I’ve never kissed anyone, I don’t know what to do. His lips moved softly against mine and mine move in unison. His arm that was on the hedge moved around my back, he pulled me flush against him. I found myself going on my toes to be even closer. Then everything stopped as he pulled away. I just stood there flushed. He had captured my lips. I raised my hand and touched my lips that felt almost swollen.

“You’ve never been alone with a boy, so presumed you’ve never been kissed. I would dare let anyone else have the honor of stealing that first, but me.” Stealing is the right word, never did I think that stealing could ever been seen as good, but that kiss was good.

“I like you Calla. From the first moment I saw you I knew I had to have you. You tried to tell me that this isn’t what you want, but I’m not willing to let you go. I’m going to be your first in everything. You are going to be mine.”