Chapter Six

Elizabeth slammed her door harshly the moment she passed through it. She was seething as her heart beat quickly as though it was running a marathon, her face flush with rage, frustration, embarrassment and several other emotions. All she could think of was driving a blade through the smug face of Jasper. She fell onto a plush couch by her bed, hiding her face in the pillow before letting out a long scream. Of all places to lay his hand, he had to hold her waist.

She still remembered the way his firm hand melded with the indentation of her slim waist. All she wanted to do at that moment was scream and run off, but her pride as a princess didn't let her. Worst of all was the fact that she couldn't hold in the squeak that escaped her lips.

"That idiot!" She picked up the pillow and threw it across the room. She abruptly got up from the couch, storming across the room and towards the door. With a mighty slam, she shut it behind her. Servants moved out of the way as she stormed down the corridors with one goal in her mind - find Jasper, give him a piece of her mind, and then get out of there. She had way too much work which she would rather do than waste time thinking about a boy.

She questioned numerous servants and guards on Jasper's whereabouts, every inquiry turning up empty. This carried on until she got an answer from one of the guards that was stationed at the stairs on the bottom floor.

"Sir Jasper was actually looking for you a while back, Princess. I'm not sure where he is now, but I think I heard some of the servants saying he was heading to His Majesty's personal study on the second floor." The guard told her.

"Thank you." She turned to leave but the guard stopped her.

"Do you need any help, milady? An escort, maybe?"

"No, thank you. I'll make do by myself." She waved him off before setting off for the stairwell. She made quick time, soon reaching the second floor. Servants bowed and curtseyed whenever she passed by them, the guards dipping their heads in respect as well. She soon arrived at her destination, hesitating before the door. The two guards before the door didn't move to let her through when they saw her.

"Let me through." She demanded.

"His Highness gave us orders not to let anyone through." One of the guards stoically replied to her. She narrowed her eyes, staring the guard down until he began to frown, showing signs of discomfort.

"Please wait a moment." He spun on his heel, cracking open the door and slipping through the small opening.

Inside the King's study, Jasper sat opposite the King and Queen, their gazes crossed.

"What exactly do you mean, my King?" Jasper asked, his breath slightly hitched.

"Oh, nothing much. It's just-" King Elroy's sentence was cut short by the sound of the door of the study opening up. The trio instantly looked over to see one of the armored guards stationed outside the door hastily closing the door before bowing from the waist down. If they didn't know any better, they would suspect that a vicious beast was waiting outside there.

"I thought I told you I want no interruptions?" The small smile which always remained on King Elroy's face, whether out of politeness or it was just frozen there, was gone, replaced by a stern scowl.

"Y-yes, my King! It's just that Princess Elizabeth is outside, demanding to be let it." The guard hurriedly explained.

King Elroy's brows immediately furrowed, as his wife's face took on a concerned expression.

"Let her in."

The guard quickly opened the door, moving aside to make way for Elizabeth. She strode into the study with strong steps, stopping before her parents and Jasper. The door silently closed behind her.

"Elizabeth, darling. Take a seat." The queen gestured to the empty space beside Jasper. Elizabeth hesitated for a moment before sitting, although she gave him a more than healthy amount of space. Her actions prompted a raised brow from her father, but aside from that, no words were spoken on the matter.

"As much as I wanted to speak to both of you individually on this matter, I guess I'll have to make do with the situation as it is now." King Elroy spoke up. Jasper nodded tensely while Elizabeth just shot a confused look at her mother who avoided her gaze.

"Elizabeth. Jasper. What I am about to say is of utmost importance to the interests of the kingdom as a whole. This decision is to help us strengthen ourselves against the other kingdoms that are bearing down on us and so, I do not have much choice but to do this." King Elroy's gaze held each of theirs for several seconds before he spoke up again.

"I want to arrange a marriage. One between the two of you."