Chapter Nine

Emma

''You look beautiful, my dear.'' The queen says, smiling at me as she eyes down my dress while Emery and I stand next to each other, trying to reduce the awkwardness between us.

I look up at Emery, seeing him smirking as he glances down at my face—leaving my cheeks heating up. Then, I feel his hand on my waist, ''Clearly she's much more beautiful than the girls you've chosen before,'' He says, sarcastically.

''I can't seem to deny,'' The queen replies.

My lips curve up into a small smile, not really knowing what to respond as I keep quiet. Only keeping up with their conversation; hardly enough, I can't seem to respond with anything.

Emery clears his throat as he smiles playfully.

''Excuse me, Your Grace.'' One of the men says as he smiles at the queen. She smiles at us for a few seconds before making her way towards the crowd; socialising. I am only left staring at her back.

I turn to look at the mirror on the wall, seeing that I am perfectly dressed in a long black dress—defining my curves in the beautifulest way possible. From the side, I can see my waist and my hip could possibly be a seduction for men; that's probably one of the reason why most of them have been staring.

Yet, Emery has been standing beside me from the very beginning. Not quite sure of his intentions but I'm not complaining.

When I glance down at him, I can't seem to deny his attractiveness. As he stands tall with his confidence high, I can hardly spot a single flaw. He is in his black suit—he didn't seemed to wear his royal suit; that's what the servants have been saying in the hallways.

''Take a picture, it'll lasts longer.'' He says.

I quickly look away, trying to avoid his gaze but I fail once I hear him chuckle. His hand on my waist doesn't seem to be loosening any time soon. I may be slightly uncomfortable from his touch but deep inside, I'm screaming hallelujah.

''I think I should be the one saying that,'' I reply.

Then, I make my way towards the middle, leaving him staring at my back. Purposely, I sway my hips side to the side as I walk in a sexy and seductive manner. When I turn my head to the side, I see a few men staring but they don't matter, I only turn to look at Emery.

It surprises me to see him focusing on my body from behind yet he manages to hide it perfectly. He smiles but both of his eyes never seem to look away from me; even when there are decent women around. I can't help but smile to myself—feeling proud.

As I stand in the middle, I turn to the side, seeing him staring at me from my legs and up to my face; eyeing every inch of my body without even caring if people are looking at us.

To my surprise, he starts to make his way towards me, leaving other people looking at us as they whisper to themselves. They don't matter, I repeat in my head. Once he's close enough, he runs one of his hands at my back before slowly sliding down near my hips; causing me to look up at him.

I can't seem to breathe properly.

Our faces are inches apart but our lips seem too far. Yet, I can sense his aura; leaving me utterly speechless at his presence. I didn't know that I would have any sort of effect to him but it's clear that I do.

He leans in closer towards me before brushing his lips against my cheek, making me hold in my breath immediately, ''I don't like seeing you grabbing other men's attention.'' He whispers, causing me to slightly turn around and see most young men looking at me.

Then, he runs the back of his hand on the side of my face.

''What can I say? I attract everyone, not just men.'' I whisper back, purposely brushing my lips near his. It's quite a surprise to see him clenching his jaw when I leaned in.

''Only attract me, that'll be enough.'' He replies.

Without me realising, I am already laughing which seems to catches his attention as he looks down at my red coloured lips. I look straight into his eyes; loving how they are staring back at me with the same warmth. He's undeniably attractive. Yes.

''You'll have a lifetime with me, don't worry.'' I wink.

I, Emma Faye Parker will be marrying a prince.

''I don't know if we will actually last a lifetime,'' He replies, looking directly into my eyes, ''A lot can happen, Emma. We might end up hating each other and when that happens, it will probably be too late for us to go back. We wouldn't be able to start again.''

I keep quiet, listening to him, ''There are a few things that I fear once I am fully committed to someone for the rest of my life. I may not be a great husband but I'll try, we wouldn't have to dislike each other. Love is completely out of topic but we'll never know,'' He adds.

''Do you see that?'' I question.

''See what?''

''Love. Do you see love with me?''

He furrow his eyebrows in confusion and I know he wants to say no. He's trying to stay on my good side; I truly understand. Truth be told, I might not see myself loving him either—yet. It terrifies somehow.

Loving him. Loving someone. I've stopped. Fully.

Is it possible for me to begin again?

Within seconds, the music starts to play, interrupting our conversation. I know that we will never bring this up—it'll be the end of it. I look down at my hands as I look around, realising that my life is not made for this.

Surrounded by royalties, mostly. My eyes wander around to groups of women, seeing them eyeing me from afar. Even though they might not show it truthfully but I see envy in their eyes in every way possible. I notice.

Emery holds onto my waist a little bit tighter before pulling me close as a sign to dance. Once we're close enough, I look up into his eyes; loving how he's looking back at me without a single blink interrupting our gaze. As the music starts to play slowly, we also start to move our legs.

We are in the centre of the ballroom and we are also the being the centre of attention. Everyone in here is looking at us in respect; especially because Emery is here. I can't help but feel myself being so small.

My body fits perfectly with his; due to the fact that I've never really felt this way with anyone before. The way everything fits, it's what they call fate. Fate that I can't seem to believe.

''I don't see love when I look at you,'' I say.

Then, we stop in the middle but both of our bodies are still close. We might even end up kissing each other if he leans in any further. I don't understand the meaning behind his stare but I stay calm, controlling my breaths.

''And I don't think I deserve to be here.'' I add, ''Look at me, I'm a normal city girl who lives in New York and I own a restaurant instead of a country. I don't have people to take care of, I only take care of myself. There's a lot of differences between you and I.''

He touches the side of my face before slowly leaning in that our noses are touching. I immediately look down at his lips before feeling the entire crowd looking at us—some even gape.

''You're different, that's why and I don't see myself loving you too. It might feel to surreal but then again anything can happen, Emma.'' He mutters, near my lips.

''We can try,'' He adds, smiling.

Then, he brushes his lips against mine in slow motion. My eyes are closing immediately after feeling his lip meeting mine; letting me feel electricity flowing through my veins and my entire body. I know he felt it too and I know he feels it whenever we touch but he wouldn't just tell.

As we passionately kiss, I feel him pulling my body close towards his; leaving no space in between. For once, I actually forget about the whole crowd—not even the slightest fear of them might gossip around.

It doesn't matter, I'm kissing my fiancé and it's not a wrong thing to do; he's my future husband.

Husband.

I break the kiss but I still feel his lips against mine yet it feels far away at the same time. My heart beats at an unstable pace due to the kiss; deep inside, I liked it. I wish that I didn't pull away but I can't help it.

Spontaneously, I lean in once more, kissing his lips for a few seconds before pulling away. Emery seems surprised at the sudden gesture but he smiles, kissing onto the side of my cheek—leaving me with a smile on my face.

''I'll try,'' He whispers near my ear.

''It takes two to tango,'' I add and he chuckles lightly.

When we both turn around to look at the guests, I see the queen staring at us in surprise but her lips immediately curve up into a smile. It's probably because we're actually progressing.

My eyes can never seem to look away from the amount of people; realising that we kissed in front of them and yet, they have slipped my mind perfectly. Not a single trace of their faces inside which is pretty much worth questioning.

The queen walks towards Emery and I, ''The wedding shall happen in a week. No buts and no excuses, I will have to say that everyone has agreed to this.'' She says, making both of us to stare at her in surprised.

''But, mother—'' Emery starts but his mother raises her finger immediately.

''Like I said, no buts. Everything will go as planned so there won't be any delays. The sooner, the better.'' She replies with a small smile on her face, leaving me looking at her, utterly speechless. I don't have the power to disagree because for god's sake, she's the queen!

From the side, I see Emery clenching his jaw but he stays calm, not wanting to cause a scene. Then, the queen dismisses herself with grace.

''I'll talk with her in the morning,'' He says.

My eyebrows furrow in confusion but I stay calm. I can't seem to accept the fact that the wedding will happen in a week; I mean, it's not something that can directly happen. Yes, Emery and I are destined ever since we were born—that's one of the things they call fate.

I just don't understand how on earth is it possible for me to ever marry a prince? Things like this happen in movies or in stories, they can hardly happen in real life, furthermore in the twenty-first century.

''I don't think it's going to be an easy week,'' I mutter.

He glances down at me with a sigh before clenching his jaw once more; as a sign that he's thinking about it, ''This time, she'll hire hundreds of people for the wedding. I can see that.'' He replies.

As we both look at each other, we start to realise; she will definitely hire hundreds of people for our wedding which causes both of our eyes to widen immediately. I blink a few times before sighing deeply, ''Well, damn.'' I mutter under my breath.

Well damn, indeed.