Never Forget You

Chapter 4- Conflict Between The Two Souls

Stefan's POV:

A week passed since our first meeting and things seemed to go pretty smooth between me and Anabelle, no set of troubles of such and I'm pretty glad that the two of us seem to get along perfectly, like two peas in a pod. I mean I may have over thought about her in the start but everyone has the freedom to think whatever they want and judge someone before you get to know then properly because well no problems should arise later.

My dad seems a little too fond of Anabelle ever since the first meeting but there is just something about that brute Louis' attitude that got me skeptical. Ever since the meeting he has been pretty quiet and has not been speaking alot about the incident. Even if father mentioned it once in a while, he would just show visible annoyance at the mere mention of Anabelle and storm off. Maybe it's because he might be envious about the fact that I got Anabelle as the future queen and he didn't but that's just what I think of him because the brute wants it all at once.

As I sat in my study reading a book, specifically Anabelle's favorite tale of Shakespeare, I suddenly broke out of my trance when I heard an urgent set of knocking on my door.

"Come in!" I called out, inviting the person who disturbed my one and only silent moment, up showing the brute as he came in with his obviously confident stance that got me scoffing.

"What is it Louis?" I asked groaning at the sudden intrusion by my annoying cousin.

"Uncle Charles has requested for your presence." He informed sending me sprinting to the palace thrones where my father sits on the throne powerfully.

"Son." He acknowledged my arrival as I bent down in a low curtsy as a form of respect. Just because he is my father does not mean that I don't know how to show respect.

"You requested for my presence, father?" I asked, curious to know what my father had called me for.

"Yes, Stefan. I just decided that it is just best that you marry Anabelle in 2 days time." He said, making my eyes widen in shock at my father's words. What?

"What? But why the sudden rush father?" I asked, distraught by my father as I started pacing back and forth as I started wondering what might be the cause of my father's sudden decision because even the brute is pretty quiet about it. I mean when is he not quiet ever since I met Anabelle....

"Well son it's time that you two get married in order to keep the marital status to present to the public. God knows what's going to happen to you when you two are not in your respective seats. And it's high time that you two even have children of your own-"

"Wait children?!" I exclaimed clearly shocked at his words. I don't think that Anabelle would appreciate that...

"Yes you would have to do that too. God knows if that girl is fertile enough or not to give you children." The brute spoke up from behind me making my anger spike up as I turned to face him, anger and spite evident on my face.

"You know what? Let us just give them a visit right now and know about this problem before we get married." I said with finality in my voice, my father clearly worried at my attitude as the brute smirked right at me.

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Anabelle's POV:

"Mum I still don't understand why you want me to do this." I muttered clearly annoyed by what I am forced to do.

"Trust me sweetheart it's just to show your endless beauty because my daughter is in fact the most gorgeous woman of all." She mused boasting about my beauty which made me roll my eyes because there are a lot of beautiful women over here, beautiful than me.

"Also what's with you trying to get me to marry Stefan as soon as possible? Didn't you suggest yourself to, and I quote, 'get to know each other better'?" I said clearly very stiff as I tried my best not to move around too much with the painter painting my portrait.

"Because dearest daughter, no one knows what the future holds for you or Stefan. No one knows if he will find someone prettier than you or when you will accept your place as future queen." She explained, which made me bend my head down in understanding, knowing the truth behind her words. And who knows? Maybe I might find another guy other than Stefan which will never happen but anyway...

"I understand mother, but why go through all of that when we know what kind of a guy Stefan is?" I asked skeptical, as my mother groaned in annoyance.

"Because my sweet daughter, we don't know how long it will be until we face the deadly and the dangerous people at our kingdom. And I don't even know how long I got until I turn to dust which will never happen but I need to have a certain assurance that my one and only heir will be taking the throne by force." She explained and I finally understand the reason behind the rush. We don't even know what awaits the kingdom and especially us for that matter and it will only be a matter of time until evil strikes at our kingdom soon if I don't take action as rightful queen.

All of my thoughts came to a halt when the royal maid burst through the doors with sudden urgency as she panted,

"Your Highnesses! King Charles and his sons are expecting you urgently they are down in the halls." She said in one breath making me stand up in shock and a tinge of happiness. Stefan's finally here... But for what?

I put all of my questioning thoughts aside I raced down the stairs with my mum at my tail till I reached the place where King Charles, Stefan and the brute, whose name i forgot, were right in front of me.

"My Queen. Princess." all three men bowed down in curtsy as my mum and I did the same.

"Charles is everything alright? Why the sudden arrival at the palace?" My mother asked King Charles as he cleared his throat while he fixed his suit.

"Well Victoria, Stefan and I have thought about getting their marriage fixed in 2 days time. I think that it is high time that the two of them get married soon." King Charles said, making my eyes go wide in shock and my mouth open in disbelief. What on earth?

"King Charles! Mind my interruption but isn't it too soon for Stefan and I to get married? I mean we have only known each other for a week and forgive me for my rude behavior, but I don't want to be sitting in a royal box waving at people when I have other duties as queen to attend to." I asserted which then made Stefan speak up and the anger and exasperation that I saw in his eyes towards me had caught me off guard.

"God will you please just stop with the questioning? It's honestly really annoying." Stefan exasperated right in front of me as if I just said the most annoying thing in the world and honestly if that didn't catch me off guard then I don't know what will because this attitude is just unacceptable and completely different of Stefan to say.

"Stefan! What are you saying? Are you in your senses?" My mother exclaimed, clearly distraught by what this asshat had to say. What is wrong with him?

"Oh I am completely in my senses, Your Majesty. But please enlighten me why your daughter does not want to marry me sooner? Hmm? Is it a possible new suitor that wooed her maybe?" He asked curiously stepping near me as I backed away a few inches, clearly uncomfortable by the proximity this man is giving me. What the hell got into his head?!

"Stefan, you're completely out of control. Stop this nonsense right now. You don't even know what you're saying." I muttered, trying to get him to stop but this asshat started laughing straight at me making fun of me.

"Oh i know exactly what I am saying Princess. I think you should get your head checked. What happened? You're trying to fool me just so that I can believe that you are not capable of carrying a child? My heir?" He asked, as if he just exposed my biggest weakness but really he just ignited my anger as I looked at him in pure shock and disbelief as tears filled up in my eyes. What? Why...?

Seeing the tears in my eyes and hearing my mother's shocked gasp, Stefan was bought back to his senses and he widened his eyes at what he said before his eyes narrowed in an apologetic stance, as he tried to move near me.

"Anabelle I- oh God. I am sor-" Slap!

It wasn't in my books to ever slap a man but this time, I didn't hold back. This man, who I grew to fall in love with within a short period of time, just tried to hurt me by holding a false statement right at my face and using it to fakely expose me.

"I'm surprised by how blunt you were with your question and how quiet you are right now. Because for all i know, I was trying to extend the date for us to know about our responsibilities and our respective roles as King and Queen. So whoever decided to fill your dumb brain with that false information will surely face my wrath. But what surprised me, was the fact that you believed that crap and tried to use it as my weakness." I said, as he clutched his cheek with the force of my slap. I scoffed as I turned towards the King who had his head down and the smirking brute who I knew for sure said that crap about me.

"I'm sorry to tell you King Charles but there will be no wedding for now. Our future king and your heir must learn how to respect his future queen. Until then, please see yourselves out before I am forced to call the guards to pull you out of the castle dismissively which I am sure no one from your kingdom would like to see." I warned, making every man standing in front of me freeze in fear before they all left, one by one, the asshat being last as he stayed a while until he left with his shoulders slumped. Once everyone left, I turned to my mother, my eyes to the ground as I said,

"Please excuse me mother. I would like to get my portrait done." I finished, ending my sentence with a curtsy as I slowly walk back to the painters room, not even feeling a single ounce of regret at what I said to the three men.

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3rd Person's POV:

As Stefan left the castle, he only had regret and sadness for what he just said to the woman he grew to love. God what have I done?

Meanwhile, things seem to go smoothly for one person who was behind all this and the only thought that came to his head was let the games begin....

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