Romeo and Romeo

SÏX

~LEVI~

Amelia and I exchanged a strange glance as we sat together in my father's office. He and my mother sat on the other side of his desk.

"You're probably wondering why we summoned you here," the King spoke. Neither of us responded, so he continued. "Your mother and I need to discuss something with you two."

"Yes," my mother said, her hands folded neatly on the table. She always had a very regal, businesslike posture, even with her own children. "Amelia, we've been thinking, and we decided to make a change that will benefit not only our kingdom but the kingdom of Elizabeth as well."

"Alright," Amelia said slowly, "what is it?"

"You're going to be marrying Prince Charles," my father announced.

I tensed and felt Amelia stiffen next to me.

"You're kidding, right?" I said incredulously.

"Why would we joke about this?"

Everything inside me seemed to deflate all at once. Despite my anger towards Prince Charming, I couldn't deny that I'd been grasping onto the hope that I still had a chance with him. He kissed me back, there had to be something there.

However, I was not selfish enough to make that my biggest concern. Amelia had a boyfriend, Adrian. He was a secret to mother and father; they'd never approve of her relationship with a commoner. Yet there was no denying that she was head over heels in love with him.

"You... You can't do that," I said shakily. I glanced to Amelia for backup, but she was frozen. Unshed tears sparkled in her eyes. A wave of protectiveness crashed over me, sending my brain into overdrive. "You can't."

"Yes," the King spoke, "we can."

"She'll be unhappy her whole life!" I argued.

"She will learn to love him!"

"That's not how love works! It can't be forced! Arranged marriages haven't occurred in this family for generations—why now?"

"Because," my mother's voice was calm, "it is what is best for the kingdom. As the royal family of Author, it is our job to do what is in everyone's best interests."

"How is Amelia marrying a near stranger going to affect anybody in the kingdom?"

"It is not about what it does literally," my mother spoke softly. She was trying to calm me down. Try harder. "It is about what it symbolizes. Our kingdoms have been at odds for centuries, it's time we form an unbreakable bond."

"So you're willing to let your only daughter be unhappy her entire life to end a stupid feud that shouldn't exist in the first place? What kind of parents—"

"Listen!" My father bellowed. "We are not making this decision as parents, we are doing this as the King and Queen of Author island. We are not asking you if she can marry him, we're telling you. The subject is not up for argument!"

"When," I spoke slowly, shaking with anger, "have you ever made any decisions for us as parents?"

"Enough!" My father's face was turning red. "I don't want to hear another word out of you!"

Part of me knew that my father wasn't one to push too far. That part of me forced my mouth shut.

"Amelia hasn't spoken a word of protest, and it's her business not yours!"

I wanted to say something, anything, but my voice simply wasn't working. I was glaring daggers at my parents, but I bit my tongue. The King gave a tight, satisfied smile.