Chapter Eight

Emma

''Dad,'' My eyes widen as soon as I see him standing at the doorway with a smile on his face—so I immediately stand up, heading straight towards his direction; wrapping my arms around his neck before feeling his arms around my waist.

''How's my girl doing?'' He asks, pecking onto my forehead.

I smile up at him, ''I'm doing alright.''

His blue eyes are looking directly at me but a reassuring smile but before he can utter a single word, I grab onto his arm and widen my smile, ''Let's go for a walk,'' I say.

We both walk side by side towards the royal garden. I'm walking in the castle with my dad but my mind is occupied with something else; the engagement, the wedding, the queen and Emery. They come in a single package that I can't seem to dismiss.

''Is everything alright, Emma?'' He asks in his British accent.

I breathe out as we sit down on the nearest bench before I place my head on his shoulder—leaning in for support. Then, he looks down at me, ''Everything's alright. It's going as planned by your grandfather,'' I mutter, loud enough for him to hear.

To my surprise, he chuckles and I lift my head up, looking at him with a smirk on my face. He continues to chuckle, glancing at my direction for a few seconds, ''He can be very demanding sometimes and even though you haven't met him, it seems like you already know him well.'' He says.

My eyes remain to stare at the fountain; somehow mesmerised by the view but I can't seem to appreciate it. Not when my mind is giving me a headache.

''By the look on your face, it shows everything.''

I hear him say, breaking me from my thoughts. Our eyes meet and I just can't help but feel tears appearing yet I manage to hold them back—preventing them from streaming down my cheeks and weaken my state.

Dad pulls me closer by the shoulder, so that mine would bump with his, ''You can tell me anything and everything. You're my little girl—my only girl, it's always you and I against the world, Emma. There's nothing to hide from me. If you want to leave all of this behind, you can because nobody is going to hold you back.'' He says, soothingly rubbing my back.

''It's much more complicated than you think,'' I say.

He sighs, ''How come?''

''In the agreement, it states that Emery is only allowed to marry me and if he disobey, he will break the royal law while I can disagree and leave but it'll give him an impact. He won't be able to marry anyone else and he won't have an heir which ends their centuries of ruling.'' I reply, sighing afterwards.

''You agreed to this?'' My dad raises an eyebrow, making me close my eyes and look down at my fingers—breathing out.

The way he looks at me shows how he does not believe the choice I have made for the sake of Emery. He's probably right, I have ruined my future and my own life for him—he gets to keep the throne while I have to stay by his side whether I'll be happy or not.

Life is always unfair. That's a fact.

''It would be selfish and heartless of me to disagree.'' I reply, gripping onto his hand; trying to gain strength.

''But Emma, a marriage with one of the royalties is not a game. Once you agree and once you've been married, there is no way back. The Van Allans don't take divorces as an option; it has been going on that way for centuries, it can't be undone. You don't want to end with someone you don't know for the rest of your life,'' He says, clearly stating the truth.

Dad and I think alike. That's why I'm much more closer to him than with mum. We spend most of our times together but it has been less due to the fact that he moved, leaving me only seeing mum whenever she wants or whenever I want. She has been busy with her life too; besides, we don't think alike.

''I know, they take marriage very seriously.'' I add.

''You still choose to continue?'' He asks, making me hesitating over my own choice.

I look straight into his eyes, seeing his concern for me. Yet, I appreciate his effort trying to let me see the right choice; it might be leaving England but at the same time, it might be staying. Maybe when I think about Emery, it makes me feel sympathy for him. That's probably why I can't find the heart to leave.

''I'll take it as my fate,'' I reply.

''It might not be your fate at all. Emma, whatever you choose, I will always support you. No matter how far or how unrasional it might be, I'll try to reason with you and I'll try to help you get through this. Your mother or even the queen, can't force you into something that you don't want. Do you understand?'' He says, caressing the side of my cheek with a sad smile on his face.

I lean closer towards him by placing my head on his shoulder, sighing deeply. I'm really glad that he's here because I can pour everything; anything that I've been holding in just for the sake of feeling some sort of released. My heart starts to beat normally, stabilising my body.

''I'm sorry to interrupt,'' I immediately turn.

My eyes landed on Emery who is currently standing a few feet away from dad and I. Both of his eyes are looking straight at me before turning to look at my father; slightly confused at his figure. With a small smile, I stand in between, ''Emery, dad. Dad, Emery.'' I say.

Emery blinks a few times, ''Sir.'' He says.

I start to roll my eyes at his manner but I stay still, waiting for my father to respond properly, ''I'll give you two some space while I earn mine.'' Dad clears his throat, exiting the garden and leaving Emery and I.

Once he's gone, I see Emery clenching his jaw; probably not realising that he just met my father. Correction, his father-in-law. I take a few steps closer towards him, slightly hitting his arm, ''You just met Mr. Parker.'' I break the silence.

''Coincidentally,'' He replies.

''Whatever, what do you want?'' I ask, raising an eyebrow at him; waiting for his respond.

''Just come with me.'' He answers, grabbing onto my wrist before starting to pull me out of the garden—heading straight towards a black motorbike, leaving me slightly breathless but then I realise that he's a prince. For some reason, it feels like he's just a normal person. Are all princes like this?

''Let me get this straight, you want me to ride this with you?'' I ask, pointing at his bike.

Emery smirks but he ignores my question as he gets up on the bike, holding onto his helmet. I roll my eyes, crossing my arms while I wait for him to say something but he doesn't even start. He throws a helmet at my direction which I luckily managed to catch.

''Get on, cupcake.'' He chuckles.

''Oh yeah? Make me.'' I challenge but he shrugs, putting on his helmet before pulling down the dark tinted visor—preventing me from seeing his face. He starts to hardly twist onto the handles; making the bike roar to life.

Let me rephrase that, making the bike disturbing peace.

''Emery!'' I shout out his name but he keeps on twisting harder, making it harder for him to hear my voice. Then, he turns to look at me for a few seconds—purposely grabbing attention. While my eyes wander around, I manage to see a few royal servants looking at us in confusion.

With a loud groan, I put the helmet on and immediately get on the bike. Just like that, I find myself wrapping my arms around his waist due to the fact that he ecalarate towards the castle's exit, leaving me grabbing hard.

He purposely speed down the road, not letting me put any distance between us. Well, he may find some sort of excitement from this but all I want is to kick him off and let me ride properly; unlike him, riding like a complete maniac.

Once we've reached further away from the castle, he starts to slow down the bike until fully stopping it at the side of the road. I get down from the bike, taking off my helmet—quickly tying my hair up into a messy ponytail while I turn to eye him.

From the side, I see his perfectly shaped body on the bike. Somehow, it defines a better side of him; honestly, I've always had a thing for guys who ride motorbikes because they always seem cool and hot. Then again, it's very rare to find someone who rides a motorbike but still manage to look endlessly hot like Emery here.

As he sits up straight, he starts to take off his helmet; letting me see his profile while his hair is currently in different places—messily making him much more attractive.

''You were being crazy,'' I mutter.

''I must say that you're right.'' He replies, glancing at my direction for a few seconds. I manage to see that his eyes are looking up and down my body, ''It's quite surprising, though.'' He adds.

''What?'' I confusingly ask.

''Unlike any other girls that I've been with, you actually enjoy riding.'' He continues, ''Well, most of them would be giving excuses, for instance, riding a bike would highly damage their hair or ruin their makeup but look at you, still on fleek, I must add.'' Then, he laughs, somehow not meaning what he said.

''What do you want, Emery?'' I ask.

''Nothing, mother asked me to take you out. Ever since you came here, you didn't get to explore London and all you ever did was stay in your room; acting like you were trapped forever. She said today is a beautiful day to spend with a—uh,'' He stops, frowning.

''—beautiful lady,'' I smirk after adding.

Emery's brown eyes are looking deeply into mine but he shrugs, ''Not quite but sure, it's acceptable.'' He jokes even though he may sound a bit more serious.

Jerk. I thought to myself.

''So, what are you waiting for? Show me England.'' I say; earning myself a smile from him as he puts his helmet back on, waiting for me to get back up on the bike. Once I'm up, I quickly put the helmet on and wrap my arms around his waist.

I know he's hiding a smirk behind that helmet.

Emery speeds down the road, letting me enjoy the view. I close my eyes for a few seconds; enjoying the feeling of being in someone else's country and just appreciate the moment. It feels slightly weird that their prince is currently wandering around the city with his destined fiancée and no one even knows about it.

He stops in front of an old café and as I step down from his bike, I take the helmet off, looking up at the signboard; seeing that they serve freshly homemade cakes. For some reason, it triggers my hunger.

''You'll like their cakes,'' He says before getting in the shop, leaving me following behind him.

Once we're inside, I see an old woman around her seventies smiling widely at Emery while she makes her way towards us. Her arms are wrapping around Emery's neck as she reaches closer and Emery responds back with a smile on his face—pulling the old woman close.

''How are you, Ma?'' He asks.

''Oh dear, I've been well as usual.'' She answers before turning to look at me. Her eyes widen in respond, ''Who is this beautiful lady, Emery? She's very breathtaking,'' She chuckles as she smiles.

Emery glances at my direction, ''My fiancée.''

My heart starts to beat at an unstable pace, leaving me smiling awkwardly as her eyes widen. As I turn to look at Emery, I see him taking a bite of one of the cookies, nodding his head ay the questions that is being asked by 'Ma'.

''Oh my, what's your name, dear?'' She asks.

''Emma,'' I answer with a slight smile on my face.

Her eyes twinkle with shine as if she's glad to hear such news. The way she looks at Emery shows how she cares for him in a way that any grandmother would care for their grandchild; that's probably the reason why they're close.

''Emma, such a beautiful name for a very beautiful young lady. How did he propose? I can tell he's not much of a sweet talker, he might've asked you straight forwardly.'' She laughs, earning another smile from me as I glance at Emery; seeing him looking back at me.

''Ma, I think your cookies are burning.'' He interrupts, causing Ma to quickly make her way back to the kitchen; leaving Emery and I.

I furrow my eyebrows, ''I don't think her cookies are burning.'' I mutter under my breath and he chuckles, taking a sip of his water.

''They never burn, Emma.'' He says.

''You're very close with her, I can see that. She's a wonderful person, I can see that too.'' I add, wanting to reduce the awkwardness between us; my mind drifiting apart, probably making me think that I'll receive some childhood stories from Emery.

''Well, that's the thing. It all started when I was lost in the city, probably at age six or seven. My mother and I went to London to bond like all mothers do with their child but unfortunately, I had mistaken someone else as her. Then, that was how I made my way towards Mary's little café. That's also why I call her Ma,'' He says, ''She's a very close friend and yes, she's definitely a wonderful person.''

I smile, ''That's very sweet of you.''

His lips curve up into a small smile, leaving me completely astonished by it. The way he smiles, the way his perfectly straight teeth are defining his smile, it's making my knees go weak; really weak.

''You can say that,'' He replies.

''Emery! My cookies didn't burn,'' Ma or Mary says as Emery and I chuckle at the tone of her voice; realising that she was very worried before.

''They never do, Ma.'' He says, taking a few steps towards her as he wraps his arms around her neck from behind; lightly pulling her close for a peck on her temple.

This is the first time that I've seen Emery showing the sweet side of him, making me realise and notice that he's not really as heartless or as selfish as I think he is. Well, not quite heartless or selfish but he was a bit—that's all forgotten now due to this scene in front of me.

Emery, that's actually a very nice name.