Breaking The Fate

 Chapter one: arranged marriage. ***        "We already have the money."  That's what I told my parents when they made me sign the contract, the contract that changed my life. I was a normal girl with many friends, the perfect boyfriend, outstanding grades in school, and a great family. Now suddenly, I am the queen of a country I had never lived in - until now. I am in a royal family, which makes me think I am insane. Even though three months have passed since August and I got married, I still can't believe it. Our parents forced us to marry each other, unlike other men; August was the sweetest man I have ever met until now; he has shown me nothing but respect and kindness, which I am thankful for. However, he hates one person I like a lot, and when it comes to that person, he becomes a man that I don't know.  Mateo.  But even if he can be the kindest man in the world, as much as I'd like to admit it, I still feel this emptiness in my heart that I honestly hate, and I don't know what to do. I smile at the guard as he bows to me slightly; he knows that I'm not too fond of it when people bow down. "Mateo." "Sorry, ma'am, but it is my job," he apologizes. Mateo is the only guard I chose to be here, even though this castle has more than sixty guards. Mateo is not the youngest, but he is the third-youngest guard in the palace. Mateo is twenty-six years old, and he is my dad's friend's son, who also happens to be my best friend's brother. Unfortunately, I haven't seen my best friend ever since the wedding, because she lives in California while I live in another different country. He begged my father to talk to August to let him work for him, but August refused. However, when I spoke to him about having someone I know live with me can make me feel safe because Mateo is the only person I know personally. So, finally, he agreed to let Mateo work for him. "How are you, Mateo? I was just on the phone with Sofia," I tell him. A smile forms on his face. "I'm good, ma'am. How is Sofia? Did she tell you how my parents are? Did m- I am sorry for all the questions,  I miss them so much." "I understand," I nod. "I haven't seen my family in so long too, but ask as many questions as you want, you can write them on a piece of paper- oh, wait! Let me go to August's office for a minute, and then you can call her and ask her yourself." "No, ma'am," he shakes his head as his eyes widen with fear. "If your husband-" "I don't care about my husband, I care about you, and I care that you call your family every day to check on them and see if they need something," I cut him off. "You don't care about me?" A new voice booms in behind me. I roll my eyes as an amused smile replaces the small smile I gave Mateo. I turn my head to meet my husband, August, and I find a curious smile on his face. "You know I do, your majesty. August chuckles. "I was going to let Luca call you, but I decided to visit your room for once." That's another thing I am thankful for; August, unlike any other man, has let me get my room. We don't share a room, and we are both okay with that because, let's face it- it's the only place and time that we get some privacy. We both needed privacy. "I was just coming to your room," I tell him, walking to him. "Hey, Mateo, why don't you get back to your job?" August asks, looking at Mateo. "Sorry, mister," he bows to him before walking back and forth in the hallway. I follow August down to his office, and he locks it once we are both in it. "Can you please be nice to Mateo? Take it easy on him." "Take it easy on him when he's flirting with my wife?" He puts his hands on his hips. "I am going to move him further away from you, and I can't let him near your bedroom." "I want to believe that you're not serious," I groan. "Mateo is the only friend I have here, who I talk to every day, who listens to me." He opens his mouth, but he closes it again. "This conversation is over; you can go back to your room." "That's it?" I narrow my eyes at him. Everyone has a wrong side. No matter how hard people try to hide it, everyone has a little bit of evil in them. August is always hard on the workers, especially Mateo - for some odd reason. Not only that, but if you press hard on August's buttons, he will end up blowing up on you. I have never seen August angry, but it shows in his eyes that the anger is slowly consuming him. August has raven black hair with blue eyes. If he were just a normal boy: I'd develop feelings towards him, but life doesn't work like that because I am married. "Just leave," he hisses, looking away from me. I look up at the ceiling. Start acting like a king, and stop acting like a child. But again, who can blame him? He never had a proper childhood, and poor August had to grow up in a different house from his five young siblings. August is the oldest, then comes Everly, Stella, Jacob, and Riley. He was raised in a different house because his parents feared that his siblings might affect his intelligence and maturity. I feel bad for him. He did not get to sleep with his siblings, or have sleepovers with his friends - or eat ice cream when you're heartbroken. He missed many things, and he grew up faster than any kid. I head to my bedroom, ignoring Mateo, who wanted to talk to me- probably to apologize for something he didn't cause. I lock myself in my bedroom, only to allow the tears to fall finally. I think I have been holding back the tears for so long, and now I have finally exploded. I cry into the pillow, and I try to drift off to sleep- and finally, after a couple of tries, I fall into the darkness. * I used to be a fun teenager, and I used to sneak out of the house to meet my boyfriend, who I had to break up with because I was marrying the king. He was my first love, the guy I truly fell for. His name was Andrew, he had gorgeous blond hair that reached underneath his ears and blue eyes that attracted many girls, yet he chose me, and it looked to him that I decided another guy over him. He used to come over to my place to kiss me, and he always bought me flowers. He used to call me randomly to tell me that he loves me and that I am the one. Tears stream down my face as I remember every memory we had together, he was great, and he understood me. "So, how was your day?" He asks. I look up to stare into his eyes. "Bad, my mom was talking about moving to someplace far away." "Moving away? Who?" He gasps. "Leah," a voice interrupts me from my thoughts. I look up to see August with a slight smile on his face. "Do you need something?" "I came here to apologize for my actions last night," he licks his lips, sitting on the edge of my king-sized bed. It is currently eleven in the morning, and since I don't have anything else planned for today, I stayed in my bedroom alone after I had my breakfast with August quietly. None of us dared to open our mouths and utter a single word, and we just ate peacefully and quietly. I want to tell him that next time he decides to enter my room, he has to knock, and then I can give him my consent. However, I give him a small smile. "I have an event that I have to be at, and it's okay if you don't want to go with me," he smiles at me. "I trust you, okay?" I furrow my eyebrows, sitting up from my bed. "Why won't you trust me, August?" "Look, I trust you, but I just don't trust Mateo at all," he sighs. "I know that this is not the first time I leave you alone for a couple of hours, but I don't want to come home to-" "Do not even dare to continue what you're about to say!" I snap, standing up from my bed. "You do not just stand in my room and accuse me of something I didn't do, and I never even thought of doing." "I didn't mean it like that, Leah," August shakes his head, waving his right hand in the air. "I don't care how you meant it," I glare at him. "You don't know me, August, so do not press the wrong buttons." "I don't know you? I am married to you," he growls. "You know what? You're not allowed to contact any of your family members or friends." My eyes widen. "You cannot do that." "Watch me," he says through gritted teeth. I gasp. "Don't you dare?!" Everyone in this place worships him, so no denying; he will be able to disconnect the internet and the wires. He doesn't care since his family's close to home, literally. They live a few minutes away from us, so of course, he doesn't have a problem with that. He doesn't understand the pain that these poor bodyguards or the workers and I feel. He doesn't know that being away from your family feels like you're trapped in your head, and there is no way out. Trapped, and you feel like there is no one to lean on. You feel alone. Feeling and being alone is just too much to handle, and it's something I can't take. I have to pretend that I am brave and strong because of August. I cannot show him that I am a weak girl. I don't believe I am weak, though, and I willingly accepted to marry August because of my mother. Anyway, I curse underneath my breath, and I am starting to dislike August. We did not do anything physical together if it's not apparent. We don't have any connection or whatsoever. I hate this, everything about living here; I hate it more and more each day. Look, I know that I will be okay, and life will move on. Life goes on, and I won't let these dumb obstacles come my way. I look down at my bare feet and walk over to the bathroom. I look in the mirror, black circles underneath my eyes. I don't look good at all, so what makes August think that Mateo likes me? Mateo is my best friend's brother, and I consider him as a brother, so he has the audacity for him to accuse me of cheating on him with him, just psychotic. After I finally gather myself, I make my way out of the bedroom. Mateo approaches me with an apologetic smile on his face. "Ma'am, I am sorry if I caused you any trouble with-" I cut him off. "Don't worry, and it's not a big deal." I look at my phone with no signal and huff out, and I avert my eyes while Mateo is staring at me. "Are you okay, ma'am?" Mateo asks. "I am okay," I nod. "Are you sure you're alright, ma'am?" He asks again, which kind of pisses me off. "Didn't I say that I am alright?" I put my hands on my hips, snapping at him. "I'm sorry, I'm just pissed right now." "I understand," he nods. "I am sorry again, and I feel like it is my fault." "It is not your fault," I mumble. "It's August's because he doesn't understand what we go through." August smiles. "It's all worth it in the end." "Is it now?" I ask. "What's the point of me staying here? I don't like it in here, but hey, who's going to hear me?" "Me, I am going to hear you," he says with a wide grin. "I was your friend before I was your bodyguard."  I bite my lip. "Thank you; you're such a great friend."  ***