In Love With The Ebony Queen

Prince James

We pull into the gate and get out of the SUV. My father practically drags me into the castle. "Come, Serena. Let's get you a bite to eat, quickly. You must get ready for the Prince James' arrival."

I yank my hand from his grip. "I am not hungry anymore." I seethed. "Good, then you can go up to your room and get ready now." Before I could object, he walked out of the room. 

I stormed to my bedroom and slammed the door. I threw my bag to the floor and buried my face into my pillow and cried.

I was crying so hard that I did not hear my grandmother come into my room. "Serena? My dear, what is the matter?"

I try to dry my tears before turning to her, but she is not fooled. "Come now, sweetheart. Tell me what it is that is bothering you." She sits on my bed beside me and rubs my back.

"Nothing." I lied. She scolded. "Now, Serena. You know you can talk to me. I will not tell a soul if you wish me not to. You are definitely not in here slamming doors and crying for no apparent reason."

I tried to hold back my tears, but they just kept coming. "This is about that boy, isn't it? Dimitri?" I looked at her, surprised.

"You thought grandma did not notice how you too look at each other? You thought I didn't see how close you two had become?" She smiled.

"You could never hide anything like that from me. You love him, don't you?" My tears were flowing uncontrollably at this point. 

"Does he know how you feel?" I nodded. "He said it first. I didn't realize just how much he meant to me until he touched me." Grandmother's eyes grew wide. 

"Did you two...?" She jerked her head. "No, no grandma. We only kissed. That is all." I could feel the butterflies in my belly return as the memory of last night flashed before my eyes. 

"You would not understand." I walked over to the large window and sat down. "I understand very much, actually. I remember what it feels like to be young and in love. Your grandfather and I had a relationship like yours. 

We grew up together. His father and my father were best friends, so we were always together. One day, I was about 13 and he was 15. We were in the garden reading together, like we often did. 

I just leaned in a kissed him right on the lips. No warning, no nothing." I looked up at her. "Really? What did he do?"

"He looked at me like I was absolutely nuts. I thought I had ruined our friendship forever. I thought he did not feel the same way I did, so I got up to run away. But he grabbed my arm and pulled me into him. 

He looked deep into my eyes before laying a big kiss on my lips. We were inseparable after that. I just knew he was the man I was going to marry. 

We got married when I was 16 and he was 18, and we ruled this kingdom together for many years. That is until it was your father's turn to rule. We stepped down and left the kingdom for a permeant honeymoon."

I could see the sadness wash over her face as she reminisced about my late grandfather. "Anyway, I know what it is like to fall for your best friend." 

I got up and began pacing. "That is easy for you to say when your best friend was the next king in line. My best friend is a-" 

"Commoner?" she finished my sentence. "Yes, a commoner." She squinted her eyes. "But I thought that does not bother you?"

"Grandma, it does not bother me. But you know the law I must marry a prince or a nobleman that will become the new king of Aramus. I will never be as fortunate as you or my father was to actually love who you married. 

I am obligated to marry someone on my 18th birthday so that Aramus will have a king." The tears were like a waterfall all over again. My grandmother wiped my tears away, then held me close. 

"Oh, my dear. You are so much like your mother. You care not about people's positions or wealth or ranks. You see people for who they really are. Your soul is just as beautiful as your mother's." 

I smiled at her words and the thought of my mother. If I can be half the woman she was, that will be the biggest accomplishment of my life. 

"You stop all this crying now, Serena. You leave that stuffy old king to me." She winked at me and I laughed. 

"I love you, grandma." She gave me a kiss on my forehead and began walking towards my door. "Grandmother! Please, do not tell my father about Dimitri and I."

She said nothing. She only made a gesture like she locked her lips and threw away the invisible key. I smiled at her as she walked out. 

Only moments later did I head a knock at my door. "What?" I was in no mood to be my usual polite self. The door opened slowly and 5 young women came in with their heads bowed.

"Your highness. We have been sent by the king to assist you in getting ready for your meeting with Prince James."

I wanted to scream at them to get the hell out of my room, but it would have only caused my father to come in here with more of his lecture about how this is bigger than me. How this is for the kingdom. 

I nodded and they closed the door, and began helping me get ready. After my bath, they did my hair, make up and helped me into a dress that my father picked out. I hated it so much.

It just wasn't me. I was far more comfortable in a t-shirt, jeans and a pair of sneakers. My father says they are peasant clothes and inappropriate for royalty to wear. 

The dress was a long ballgown- as usual. It had a light, lavender purple bottom and a white corset with a sweetheart neckline that showed a bit of cleavage. 

He was adorned with crystals and ugly, frilly, lacey straps. My naturally curly hair was straightened and pulled back into a high ponytail. I had not had my hair straightened in a very long time and it was awkward for me to see. 

I had lots of make up on. I thought it was way too much and made them redo it. That is wear I drew the line. 

As they helped me get prepared for this meeting, I felt my stomach began to turn. The thought of meeting this prince made me feel like a house that was being prepped for a potential buyer. I wanted to throw up. 

Once they were done, the women left and my father stepped in. "Oh wow. My little Serena is not so little anymore. You look stunning sweetheart." he gushed as he wrapped his arms around me.

"Daddy, I don't want to do this. I don't want to get married to someone I do not know." I pleaded. "That is why you will spend the next two years getting to know your suiter before you get married and he becomes king. 

That is plenty of time for you to get comfortable with them." He began walking out of my room. "That was not how it was for you and my mother. That was not how it was for your mother and father. 

How is it that two generations of this family got to have a life with the one they love and I don't?" He raised an eyebrow as he stepped to me.

"And who, exactly is it you love, Serena?" He had speculation in his eyes. "N- no one. But if I did, would it matter?" His speculation only seemed to grow. "It would not matter as long as he was of royal or noble blood. What are you trying to say to me, Serena?"

"Nothing! I am just saying that you are putting me up on display like a prize to be won. How could I ever love any of them when they would only want me for my kingdom, anyway?"

The sound of horns announcing someone broke the eye contact that we had with each other. "They are here. It is time for you to put aside your pride, and come down to meet Prince James."

He darted his eyes at me once more before opening the door and standing there, waiting for me to walk out. I comply without any further resistance. 

As we step downstairs, each guard bows their heads to us as we pass. We step into the main hall and just walking in from the other end is a tall man I presume to be the king, and a younger man who looks just like him, who I assume is the prince. 

We all step towards each other as the guard announces them. "King Marcus and Prince James of the kingdom of Podadia." 

I curtsey to them both. Both men bow to me, and the younger one reaches for my hand and kisses it. 

"Princess Serena. It is an honor to finally meet you. I have only heard rumors of your beauty, but it far exceeds my expectations."

I fight the urge to roll my eyes into the back on my head. I try to smile without looking completely fake as the older man kisses my hand as well. 

"What a lovely young lady you have turned out to be. I met you once when you were a small child. I am sure you do not remember me." the old king said. 

"I am sorry. I do not." I said. "Well now is a time for you to get acquainted with my oldest son, James." He patted his son on the back and James looked at me, smiling. 

"Our gardens are especially beautiful this time of year. Why don't you show them to him, Serena?"

I shot my father a look before putting my fake smile back on. "Sure. Shall we?" James offered me his arm and I led him towards the west wing and out of the door. 

"Your beauty is even more radiant outside in the natural light. Truly a sight to behold." James cooed. "Thank you very much." I smiled, trying to be nice. 

I pulled away from James and sat in the bench near the gardens. James sat very close and stared at me. "You will make someone a fine queen someday." 

"And how do you know that? You don't even know me and we have barely spoken in the last 5 minutes since we have met." I was becoming more annoyed with each passing moment. 

"Well, I have heard of you being very active with the common people in your kingdom. I find it to be very admirable." Surprise crossed my face. "You do?"

"Why yes. You are of royalty and yet you make those nobodies feel like somebody just with your presence." He smiled. I stood up quickly, very frustrated by his words.

"The people of my kingdom are not 'nobodies' as you call them. They are people- good people." He stood with his hands up in self defense. 

"Please, princess. Do not take what I said offensively. I just mean that they are not as good as us." His words made me even angrier. 

"Says who? Why are we better than them? Because we have more money and live in castles?" He paused for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, yes princess. That is what sets us apart."

I looked at him with distain. I wanted this meeting to be over now. I am over it already. I just want to go back to Dimitri's house and be around him. 

"James! We must cut this visit short. A matter has arisen back home that we must attend to immediately." King Marcus yelled from the doorway a few yards away. 

"I am afraid I must leave you now, my future queen." He kissed my hand and bowed to me. I shot him a sarcastic smile and he smirked at me. 

"Beautiful and feisty. I like that." He said before walking back inside to his father. I sat down on the bench trying to hold in a scream that begged to be released. 

I was so angry. I was more than angry. 

I see my father walking towards me and I kick off the heels I was wearing, rip the dress and run to the stables to ride my horse, Julius. Being anywhere is better than being here right now.