His queen

CHAPTER 3: Duke Jake

Lea's POV

Dad looked at us but we shrugged. He opened the door and talked with the guard but we couldn't hear what they were talking. After a while dad closed the door and sighed.

"I'm going to my office." He said and left.

After dad left to his office we sat around the table chatting about everything. I was tense the whole time afraid to ruin the mood. I was thinking the whole time about what the beast just told me. Am I ready to spend my whole life with someone I don't love? Will I be able to cooperate with the lifestyle of being a queen? Of course not I can barely take care of Elli how will I rule a whole kingdom??

"Lea sweetheart are you okay?" Mom asked me.

"Is dad okay?" I asked her. Dad was still in his office and he hadn't come out yet. I'm afraid something bad will happen.

"Honey your dad is busy." She said with a smile.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"Hopefully. Now go to your room and sleep honey. Wait!" I looked at her surprised. "Is that Dracula?"

"Good night mom!" I yelled and ran to my room.

*Dracula chapter 2

Later

When the carriage stopped in front of the castle, the driver jumped out to help me down the steps. I noticed the great strength in his hands-

My mind drifted back to the beast and his strong posture. He looked so powerful sitting in his seat at the office and my heart skipped a beat. Focus Lea! s**t! What do I do?!

"Lea." Elli's head popped from the door of my room.

"Come in Elli." I said with a smile on my face. She entered and sat next to me on my bed.

"Will you tell me what the prince wanted from you and what happened at the castle? I saw your tears tonight. Heck you even were pale when the guards knocked on our door." I sighed.

"Go to sleep Elli sweetie. Tomorrow I promise to tell you everything." She nodded, hugged me and left.

____________________

"Good morning mom and dad." I said as I entered the kitchen, sat next to them and started eating breakfast.

"Lea is something wrong? Do you want to tell us something?" Mom asked when she saw my pale face.

"Yes mom actually I have something to tell you both." They nodded.

"The prince. H-he wants me to marry him." Both my parents froze. They looked at each other and dad sighed.

"What is your decision honey?" Mom asked worriedly.

"He threatened me that if I refuse he'll kill me. I don't have a choice but to run away." I said with tears running down my face.

"That's not the right decision to make honey." Mom said. My dad was still silent this whole time.

"I think you should marry him." Dad finally spoke. Oh how I wish he didn't.

"WHAT?" I stoop up abruptly and looked at the man who raised us with love. The man who said that a marriage without love is nothing and he told us that we should love a boy in order for us to be able to marry him and live happily. How can he say it this easily.

"Baby I'm thinking about you trust me." He said trying to take my hand.

"Lea I think your father is right." Mom said. I looked at her in disbelief.

"What happened to you guys?" I yelled.

"There's something you don't know happened Lea. This is something you can't away from."

"What are you hiding from me?" I asked them standing up.

"Lea you have to listen to us." Father yelled.

"What's happening here?" Elli came running and rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Mom and dad want me to marry the prince." I deadpanned. "And they are hiding something from me."

"Great." She said excitedly but I glared at her and her smile vanished. "Or not?" She didn't meet my gaze.

"Of course not! Is it because I will become queen? Is it power that you want?" I yelled.

"Lea enough! You can't speak to us in this tone." Dad yelled. "This was bound to happen."

"No! What are talking about?" They stayed silent.

I ran back to my room and started packing my belongings. I will run away and no one will stop me. Not even my own parents. I'm not marrying the beast no matter what. I looked outside to see the royal carriage coming towards our house. Immediately I jumped outside the window and run towards the forest.

"Hey! Catch her she's running away." A guard yelled.

I ran until someone tackled me to the floor. I couldn't see his face because he was wearing his armour which was covering his whole face.

"Get off me!" I yelled. He held my hands above my head and stopped me from moving.

"We caught her!" Another guard yelled and I was yanked to my feet. I struggled to break free but to no vail.

"Did you try to run away? His highness the prince won't be happy when he knows." The guard said.

"Stop Arnold." A strong voice boomed. I looked at the source of the voice to see duke Jake . Of course I know him. He's the most kind hearted man you'll ever know.

"Duke Jake." I bowed.

"Sir she tried to run away." Arnold the guard that has been chasing me since day one said.

"I know Arnold but you can't speak with this tone with the woman you will bow to in a couple of days." Jake smirked when he saw Arnold gulping.

"Sorry sir." He said and retreated back to his previous position.

"Listen Lea. 2 guards will stay here to watch you. You have 24 hours to say goodbye to all your family and friends and to your old life, as a commoner, because in a couple of days you will become her highness the queen."

"Hopefully not." I said when a traitor tear escaped my eye.

"Its not that bad Lea." I shook my head and entered the house not caring about my scattered belongings outside.

"Yes it is. IT f*****g IS!"

"Just give him a chance." He sighed. In his dreams.

"I'm going to town. Please I don't want guards to follow me." I said to Jake.

"Okay."

____________________

"Mrs. Garfield!" I knocked on her door but she wasn't answering. I turned to leave when I heard the door opening.

"Lea? Are you okay dear?" She asked with a tender voice.

"No!" I cried and she opened her arms for me to get a warm hug.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Yes. You're the only one who can help me."

"Come in. I'm alone the kids left with their parents." I nodded and entered her home.

"The prince wants me to marry him." She stopped what she was doing and looked at me.

"Finally." She muttered under her breath.

"Excuse me what?" I looked at her with a questioning look.

"Oh dear. You should be happy." She said.

"How can I be happy when he threatened me in order to marry him?" I rolled my eyes.

"Maybe it's not as bad as you think. Maybe it's your fate."

"My fate is to marry someone I don't love." I raised an eyebrow.

"When I married Christian we weren't in love. Actually we hated each other." My mouth formed an 'O' shape.

"B-but everyone speak about your love story."

"Yeah that love was created after we got married. Actually after I gave birth to Princeton's mother. That's when people started noticing our love, because when we were still young it was uncommon for couples to be in love." She explained.

"Really? But at least Mr Garfield wasn't a cold hearted bastard." I said in a duh tone.

"He was. Maybe nobody knew because he wasn't a prince but he was mean to me. We were always fighting and yelling at each other."

"No way! Mr Garfield was the nicest person I ever knew."

"Oh dear that was after 25 years of marriage. We were in love and he changed for the better. Who knows maybe you can tame the beast." She winked and I laughed. Yeah never.

"But it is a huge responsibility to rule a kingdom. I barely know how to rule my house." I was panicking.

"Dear no one is born knowing everything. The prince spent his whole life learning how to rule this powerful kingdom."

"You said it! He spent his whole life. I spent my whole life planning my fairy tale."

"Everything happens for a purpose. Now drink your hot chocolate and relax dear. Everything will be okay."

"Thank you so much Mrs Garfield. You helped me a lot."

"I'm glad sweetheart." I stood up and left with a less heavy heart than an hour ago.

I know it will be hard but like she said everything happens for a purpose and it will be alright. I walked freely around the shops enjoying my freedom a bit.

"Lea!" Mr Johnson called me.

"Yes Mr Johnson?" I ran to his bakery and smelled the most delicious smell.

"I want you to taste this new invention of mine." He said handing me a baguette.

"What's inside?" I asked excited to taste it.

"You'll have to taste it." I took a bite and instantly I was overwhelmed but the amazing taste of chocolate and something sweet and white.

"What is thi-"

"Lea! You have to come back immediately to your house." Jake said.

"Why?"

"The prince wants to see you." I tensed.