I stare across the river, a huge broken-down castle with black flags in my view. Our enemies are now going to be our guests for the evening. Being on opposite sides of the river has always caused friction between our kingdoms. Having to share our resources, and our land even though it is split in half like a sign for each to stay on our side. However, that is not how greed works.

Sighing I close my curtain, adjusting my laced corset that my maid tightened too tight. I’d rather be in my gown, painting in the garden but when I do, everyone calls me a mad woman. They expect me to be dressed to impress at all times, acting like a queen though deep down I don’t want to be. I never wanted to be queen but in this life, I didn't have a choice.

I grew up seeing how my mother reigned, with hatred and a broken heart. She would say, “It seems to be society’s expectation for women to remain silent as men take charge, and then blame us for the consequences”. She was never truly happy. She died a month ago from natural causes, leaving me to pick up where she left off.

Yet all the other kingdoms have declined my father's proposal for me to wed their sons. We were known to make hasty decisions when it came to war, poor use of our resources, and focusing on control but not in a way that benefits anyone. I won’t deny that they would be right to run far away from my family but if they can, why couldn’t I?

Well because one kingdom was left and although they are our enemies, a bonded marriage to make our kingdom more powerful is all that matters to my father. He was slowly going insane and everyone in the land knew it besides him. He plans to marry me off so he can run away with his mistress, a plan that he wanted to carry out long before my mother passed.

A knock on the door makes me jolt, causing a strand of hair to fall on my face. I quickly stuff it back into my braids, a single follicle can’t be out of place. Taking a deep breath, I hesitantly walk toward my door, unprepared for what this afternoon would bring me. On the other side is my maid, Sarah, looking at me with worried eyes as she moves aside for me to pass.

“My lady, your hair,” she mutters before standing in front of me, fixing the loose strand I must have messily readjusted.

“Does he look mean? Vile? Will I be happy?” I mumble above a whisper, my voice shakily as my corset feels like it’s getting tighter.

Sarah lets out a quiet breath as she looks around before leaning closer. “He doesn’t look as mean as your father,” she whispers before clearing her throat and leaning back. “We should get going and not have them waiting longer.”

I swallow thickly, placing my hands on my stomach as we make our way to the dining hall. Each step felt like it was going the wrong direction but I couldn’t turn back. God only knows if I did, my father would hunt me down just to disown me in front of everyone. I stare at the door ahead of me, Sarah behind me, and two guards looking at me with sorrow. I feel like I am being sent to my death, though I wouldn’t have imagined in a million years that it would be the opposite.

While the doors open, I keep my head high trying not to show any signs of fear. Walking in I was immediately hit with the scent of wood, whiskey, and smoke. My father sat at the head of the table, chugging what was in his chalice before rambling about future plans. A few guards with different armor than ours were on each side of the table, some with their arms crossed and others with their hands on their weapons.

The back of the man who I might be marrying is sitting on the other end of the table. Broad shoulders, short black shaggy hair, black clothing that shined as if it was gold, and a cigar in his hand. My dad sees me, and a lazy smile crosses his face before he stumbles on his feet causing the guards to take a step forward. The man's hand goes up which sends a silent signal, and the guards drop their hands and take poses like statues.

“My sweet gorgeous daughter has finally arrived!” My father raises his glass, spilling some liquid in the process. I sigh, a lump in my throat forming as embarrassment washes over me.

I slowly round the table, my eyes on my father as I feel another set of eyes land on me. “I apologize for being late, I didn’t know our guest had arrived,” I say half truth and half a lie. My father squints his eyes before plastering a bigger smile on his face.

“Better late than never,” he jokes, laughing at himself while the room stays quiet. I hear a throat clear, causing me to look towards the man whose eyes have been on me this entire time.

My breath catches in my throat, a wave of butterflies or wasps coursing through my body. The most handsome man I have ever laid eyes on sat before me. His sharp jaw that had a subtle beard growing, his deep baby blue eyes that mimicked the ocean, his pink plumped lips which were now smirking at me as I stared at him in awe.

“Angeline, this is Theo Lancaster, our friend from across the river.” My father had no friends, and by the annoyed look on Theo’s face, I could tell he didn't see him as such.

I look down, not thinking of the one rule my mother scared into my head. “Never look down, it shows weakness”. Though I couldn't care less about showing weakness right now, I was more worried about showing my flushed face seeing as I was gawking at the man.

“It’s a pleasure, my lord,” I try to sound confident but fail as my voice quivers at the end. He puts his cigar on the tray before standing up, fixing his vest, and reaching a hand across the table.

“The pleasure is all mine, Angel” Theo says the nickname above a whisper, loud enough for only me to hear it. I nervously extend my hand to his and he gently grabs it, before rubbing his thumbs on the back of my hand.

Daring to take a peek at him, his eyes roam my face before looking over my attire and landing on the black roses I sewed into my corset. His smirk grew wider as his eyes went back to my face causing me to quickly take my hand back and sit down. I had sewed the roses just a few days ago, something my mother taught me to do as she gave me lessons on how to impress my future king.

I hear my father sigh before sitting down and Theo soon follows. “Angeline, tell Theo how badly you want to become a bride. How our partnership would benefit his kingdom while I go take a piss,” my father stumbles over his words as he stands up and waves for me to speak before wobbly walking away.

My heart starts to pound in my chest, as my hands get clammy while I clear my throat. I don’t want to become a bride, at least not for the kingdom. If I get married I want it to be for love, for a family I could have of my own one day. Even though I didn’t grow up seeing the intense love parents could have for each other, I've dreamt it. Before I get a chance to make a fool of myself, Theo speaks.

“You don’t seem like the type to get engaged just for alliances. Tell me Angel, what do you truly want in life?” Theo surprises me with the question. That question that no one in this kingdom has cared to ask me. Not even my mother.

“Well uhm, I love to paint, if I could sell or even just share my paintings I feel like that would give me purpose in life besides controlling a kingdom that no one believes in anymore,” I shrug, feeling the tightness in my stomach loosen a little as I share my mind with him.

“What if you could do both? Paint a world, a kingdom that people could believe in?” He asks, leaning back in his chair as his eyes intently watch me.

I never really thought of it that way. I always thought I had to be one or the other, a painter or a queen. But what if I can be both? A queen who paints what people want, a kingdom that is fair and just, a kingdom that focuses on growing as a whole and not just in the castle. Maybe I could do that, but how?

“We don't have enough resources for that and it would take too long,” I shake my head, the thought leaving as fast as it came.

“If we were to marry, I could supply all the resources this kingdom needed,” Theo suggested. His eyes bore into not only my own but into my soul like he could see the real me.

My gaze falls on the empty plate before me as I take in his words. I hesitate before asking, “What would you get out of it?”.

“You..” he replies swiftly. His mouth holds an amusing grin as my eyes go wide for a second.

“Me?, What do you mean?” I slightly furrow my brows. I feel a shiver run down my spine as thoughts start to plague my mind and none of them are tame.

“You could have sold yourself and this kingdom but you didn’t. You aren’t like the others I’ve met and I think we could make a good team” Theo declares, carefully watching me as if I'd run away any minute. I can't lie and say the thought didn't cross my mind.

I fiddle with my fingers, thinking hard about our possible engagement. Would he want me to live with him? Or would we live separately? The thought of living with him, staying in his chambers makes my heart race quicken. However, It wouldn’t be from love, but just two people doing their duties for their kingdom. He speaks up again as if sensing the turmoil in my mind.

“You are beautiful Angel, I do not doubt that I could learn to love you, but if you don’t think you might learn to love me then I won’t ask you to commit your life to something this big,” he leans forward, speaking gently and slowly.

“You have a right to choose,” Theo’s eyes hold something in them, emotions or maybe just obligation.

“I think I could learn to love you,” I mutter nervously. Letting the words weigh heavy in my chest and mind.

Theo's smirk widens as he stands up and walks towards me. He grabs my hands, lifting me to my feet while his guards and mine watch us. I look everywhere but him, though his fingers gently touch my chin, guiding my head up to look at him. My gaze roams his face, taking in his sharp yet smooth features.

Slowly, Theo gets on one knee, his head piercing up at me as he holds my hands in his. “Will you, Angeline Nitengale, marry me, Theo Lancaster?”.

“Yes,” I breathe out. My body which was once half-lit with uncertainty on how to care for a kingdom, blazes at the mere chance of being able to do it while not losing myself in the process.

Maybe I can be happy and our kingdoms can become one.