This chapter is dedicated to @zimm_fah for always waiting for me to post a chapter and  encouraging me to update <3 

Riveria's POV

At last I decided to leave the hall. Most of the guest have left by now. Nakia and Jonathan left a few hours ago because they were exhausted and it was way past their bedtime. Victor, mother and father are still present though.

Father went into one of the office rooms a few hours ago, I am assuming, to talk business with a few other monarchs.

Mother is still enjoying herself with her friends while surrounding one table, drinking wine and laughing rather loudly and elegantly, but loudly nonetheless. Wow, I am actually impressed, these women do not run out of gossip or things to talk about.

Well Victor is with the other 'Next in line princes' -that is what Em and I call them any way- talking about God knows what and with him I saw Xavier and Ashton too. They look like they are having fun as I saw all of them burst into laughter after what a blonde haired prince said.

Emeliene is sitting infront of me busy on her phone and when I asked what it she is so indulged in she said she reading a book on her phone and if I know my friend well, which I do, I know immediately that she is reading a Wattpad book. Frankly I have absolutely no know idea why she is so obsessed with Wattpad.

She gasped and looked up slowly in my direction all while her frown deepened and her glare towards me intensified as she shot dagger my way.

Oops did I say that out loud. Oh no.

"How dare you?! Have you even read a Wattpad book in your life before? Because if you have read one you would have known why I'm so obsessed with Wattpad.", she whisper yelled while poking the table so dangerously...I think she imagined me instead of the table.

Yeah, she is definitely tired, she gets cranky when she is sleep deprived- more than usual anyway but don't tell her I said that or she will have my head, if she doesn't kill me righting now anyway.

I sigh and shake my head, "No, maybe I will read one some day and you need to sleep you are cranky." I stated tired of this already.

I think I need sleep myself.

I get of the chair and take my stuff. I pull Emeliene off the chair.

"Where are we going?" she questions confused and slightly annoyed.

"We are going to the Crystillion palace, we need our beauty sleep.", I explained as I dragged her to the exit.

"Ooooh sleep over tonight!", she exclaimed in a sing song tone.

We reach the our ride, this time it's a black Range Rover SUV that shone due to the moonlight.

The driver in black uniform and snow white gloves opened the door for the both of us to enter. I thanked him as he tipped his hat.

Emeliene took out her phone as I looked away out the window as the car started driving back to the palace, frankly disinterested on what she was doing.

I sighed silently, what a long night, I can't believe I am officially 18 years old. I should be happy but I know better tha-

I was suddenly disturbed from continuing my chain of thoughts as I heard music playing in the car. My brows furrowed as I looked at the dark tinted screen currently separating us and the driver along with the radio, as I requested in previous occasions.

I soon realise that the music is coming from Em's phone. I looked straight at her and she grinned showing her pearly whites.

Oh no, the night just got longer...

I recognised the song she had put on, Unholy by Sam Smith and Kim Petras. She started to shout out the lyrics not putting much effort into actually singing melodically.

"A LUCKY, LUCKY GIRL
SHE GOT MARRIED TO A BOY LIKE YOU
SHE'D KICK YOU OUT IF SHE EVER, EVER KNEW
'BOUT ALL THE- YOU TELL ME THAT YOU DO!", she shouted

I shook my head in disbelief actually no... disapproval. If you saw her in this state right now you would think that she is actually drunk, which she is not true due to the confirmed fact that she didn't even have a single alcoholic beverage tonight. Her behaviour is truly unbefitting of a royal.

It was the sleep deprivation, I thought it was supposed to tire you not enable you to have energy to shout out lyrics to a song at the top of your lungs for God's sake.

The torture continued for what seemed like hours but in actuality it was really 3 minutes.

An unexpected obnoxiously loud beep abruptly stopped the song that was currently playing, and on her phone appeared the red low battery icon and I silently snickered.

Her battery is dead. Thank God the torture is over and before she could start a conversation I leaned against the door and closed my eyes pretending to fall asleep.

Don't get me wrong, I love Em, it's just that she is a hassle when she is sleep deprived. Major mood swings. Like moods swings from hell.

"Hey Riv, you awake?", she asked but the only reply she received was silence, telling her that I am indeed asleep, which I wasn't really.

"I guess my melodious singing must have lullied you to a peaceful slumber.", she thought out loud with pride.

I bit back a sarcastic remark, Were we even in the same car? Melodious my foot.

After a few minutes I head soft snores coming from my left. I peeked through my eyelids and a saw a peacefully sleeping Em.

I smiled and decided I needed a little rest myself.

----------------

I open my eyes and look around and I notice that I am no longer in the car with Em but I am in my dark room, the only light is coming from my windows preventing it from being fully immersed by darkness.

I get off my plush bed queen sized bed and went to the toilet to pee and when I look into the mirror and notice that I am no longer wearing my green gown anymore but I am wearing my comfortable pyjamas. Strange I do not remember changing or even getting into my room for that matter. I shrugged it off and walked back lazily into my bedroom.

I get into bed but have a sudden realisation that I did not brush my teeth. I groan in annoyance and reluctantly head into the bathroom to brush my teeth.

As I head into my bedroom eager to enter dreamland  once more and get my mind off all my problems.

The moment my head hit the soft pillow a knock resounded in my room making me immediately groan, sit up and lean on the headboard.

"Come in!", I shouted tiredly.

The door knob turned and in came my brother Victor he looked tired as well and my eyes softened as I noticed that.

"Is something the matter?", I inquired with concern.

He sighed,"Yeah, everything is fine, I just came to call you into father's office, there is something you need to be informed of."

I nodded,"Okay, I will be there in a minute."

I went into my walk in closet and took my black robe and wore my black slippers. I went back into my room shocked to still see Victor standing there against the wall near the door with his eyes closed

"I thought you left already.", I said not hiding my surprised.

His eyes immediately opened the moment he heard me speak.

"I just thought you would like it if I waited for you, maybe you would like some company. I know you are going through a lot right now. I can't even begin to imagine how you feel.", he said as he pushed off the wall opening the door for me.

I smiled as happiness creeped in and my sour mood lifted almost instantaneously. I smiled slightly thanking him. I noticed the corners of his lips slightly rise but it vanished as quickly as it appeared making me think that I was imagining it and that I really need to go to sleep.

As we walked side by side to father's office I realised that a few things did not add up.

"Hey Vic, where is Em and how did I end up in bed. The last place I remember being in is the car when we fell asleep.", I couldn't stop beating myself up because of how oblivious I was to what was happening around me.

"Emeline is in her room sleeping and Ashton took you to your room while I took Emeliene up to her's.", he said nonchalantly.

Emeliene comes over to my house a lot, so much so that my mother suggested that she have a bedroom to herself were she could keep her clothes and things in it when she comes to visit instead of bringing things over all the time and using the guest room. She says it helps her escape from her parent's constant arguments.

"Oh okay... Wait what! Ashton took me up to my room?", I stopped dead in my tracks and looked towards Victor horrified.

"Did he... change me into my pyjamas?!", I asked as the mere thought of that self-absorbed playboy seeing me naked immediately made want to throw up and feel used, exposed and self-conscious making me unconsciously wrap my arms around myself.

Victor's eyes widened and he backed away and raised his hands,"No of course not, he would never do that, Alisha changed you into your pyjamas after Ashton suggested to me that you might be uncomfortable in your gown.", he said trying to reassure me.

I sighed in relief. Well that was nice of him, I guess.

"What was Ashton doing here anyway? I mean I know his your friend but you guys are not that close."

"He came here for... diplomatic affairs.", he answered after a pause not quite sure what to say.

"At 1 o'clock in the morning.", I wanted to asks knowing there is more to it than what he was telling me but decided against inquiring any further. I am sure he has his reasons not tell me, I trust him.

We continued walking in silence both of us in deep thought.

We finally made it to the polished Blackwood double doors of my father's office.

Victor opened the door revealing to me My father who is behind his big mahogany office desk and my mother who is sitting on the couch at the right side of the room. I wonder what she is doing here?

I greeted my parents and sat next to Victor on one of the chairs infront of the desk.

I did not have to wait long to know why I was summoned here because the moment I began to become comfortable my father cleared his throat. He immediately gained the attention of everyone in room as our wandering eyes snapped in his direction and we waited expectantly for him to talk.

"I am sure Victor told you that we have something to discuss with you.", he said looking between Victor and I.

I  look at Victor pointedly, he didn't say anything but regardless replied," Yes father, he did."

"Okay, good. What we need to discuss concerns your... marriage. As you would have guessed we already picked out your suitor and we thought you would like to know as early as possible. I hope you know doing this is hard for me too Riveria."

He sighed and took out some paper documents, held together by a gold paperclip, from a drawer and slide them towards me with one hand as the other rubbed the bridge of his nose. I am guessing these will tell me the identity and details of my mystery suitor. I picked them up and flipped a few pages as I scanned through them.

My breath immediately hitched and my body visibly tensed as I read who he was. No way, there is no way. I put down the documents on the table and look up.

I sigh defeated and tired,"Out of all the bachelor princes out there you chose him. Why him of all people."

"Riveria, I know you might think Ashton is a bad guy but if I am going to be completely honest with you, he is not, he is just going through a lot. I will not deny the fact that sometimes he is difficult and unpredictable...", Victor said not hesitating to jump at his friend's defence.

Wow, what happened to blood is thicker than water.

I stood up from my chair in anger towering over a seated Victor who had turned his swivel chair to face me.

"What do mean, I think he is a bad guy, he is a bad guy. Everyone has their struggles and problems Victor, he is not the first and is definitely not the last so you cannot simply excuse his behaviour because he has problems!", I exclaimed furiously putting air quotes at 'problems'.

"Riv, calm down. He is just trying to help you understand the situation.", my mother says in her sweet calming voice.

I turned my head quickly, almost so that I almost had a whiplash, to face my mother who is now sitting at the edge of the couch looking worried.

"I can't just calm down. Do you understand that I will have to live the rest of my life in misery with him.", I point out the window to nothing in particular.

"I know how feel right now Riveria,  but you don't know that. You don't know what is to happen in the future, maybe you will learn to love each other and-"

"Mother please, DO NOT ACT LIKE YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW. You and Father were already head over heels before you were even paired. SO PLEASE DON'T PATRONIZE ME WITH the I know how you feel right now  speech!", yelled at her and instantly regretted it.

"Enough of this Riveria! You cannot speak to your mother that way are we clear?", my father commanded.

I bowed my head in submission but did not say anything.

My head snapped up as father banged his fists on the table.

"Am I clear?", he asked as he clenched his jaw.

"Yes, father."

"Good. You knew before hand that you had no say in the matter of who you are going to marry and that it is not debatable. You have to do it whether you like it or not. Now go to room and process the information you just received. Good night."

With that being said I scurried to my room leaving behind my almost tearful mother, my stressed out brother and my father who looks like he has a headache from hell.

It feels like an eternity when I reach my room. I plop myself onto bed and think, why? Why was I born a royal? Why me?

My eyes glaze over and a lone tear escapes and I wipe it as soon as it fell.

Why Ashton Ezekiel Vermillion?

----------------------------------